Actin framework is widely accepted as the basic engine for cell motility. The molecular machinery controlling the assembly/disassembly of actin filaments consists of several actin-binding proteins that regulate the dynamic behavior of actin cytoskeleton. Of them, cofilin, an actin-binding protein which disassembles actin filaments, plays an important role in invasion and metastasis.

Researchers discover that JG6, an oligomannurarate sulfate, suppressing the depolymerization/severing activities of cofilin on F-actin via occupying the actin-binding sites of cofilin, which largely accounts for the suppression of breast cancer migration by JG6. This work promises JG6 in particular and oligosaccharide possibly in general, to be a new and hitherto unrecognized therapeutic class in cancer therapy, and further support cofilin as an emerging target in cancer therapy.

This work has been recently published in “Oncotarget” and is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China and National Science & Technology Major Project “Key New Drug Creation and Manufacturing Program”.

The link to the article:
http://www.impactjournals.com/oncotarget/index.php?journal=oncotarget&page=article&op=view&path%5B%5D=1959&path%5B%5D=2755

(Image by SIMM)