AsianScientist (May 30, 2014) – Scientists at the University of Queensland have uncovered new insights into the molecular workings of growth hormone, which could lead to potential therapies in cancer, diabetes, and other prevalent diseases.
The research, led by Professor Mike Waters and Dr. Andrew Brooks at the University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience, has been published in Science.
In humans, growth hormone is involved in many crucial processes, including height determination and metabolism. It has been observed that people lacking growth hormone receptor do not seem to develop cancer or diabetes. However, the receptor’s activation mechanism – and therefore the cellular chemistry underscoring the link to disease – had yet to be fully elucidated.
Using fluorescence resonance energy transfer, atomistic modeling, and crystal structure to study the movements of both the receptor and its associated JAK2 protein kinases, the research led by Waters and Brooks showed that the presence of growth hormone induced a separation of binding motifs within the receptor. This then enabled the JAK2 molecules to activate each other, and subsequently induce a cellular response.
According to the study’s authors, this model could facilitate the design of targeted drugs that are capable of switching the receptor on or off. The ability to regulate growth hormone signaling could help combat diseases like cancer and diabetes, which seem to be affected by its presence or absence.
Growth hormone receptors are themselves part of a larger family of cytokine receptors that play prominent roles in many signaling pathways throughout the human body. The scientists hope that their model for the activation of growth hormone receptor will enable a broader understanding of these other cytokine receptors and their functions, ultimately resulting in therapies for other disorders such as osteoporosis and inflammatory bowel disease.
The article can be found at: Brooks et al. (2014) Mechanism of Activation of Protein Kinase JAK2 by the Growth Hormone Receptor.
——
Copyright: Asian Scientist Magazine; Photo: University of Queensland.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.
