Kaposi's Sarcoma Herpes Virus
Section: Section of Cell and Molecular Biology including the Cancer Research UK Tumour Cell Signalling Unit
Kaposi's Sarcoma Herpes Virus-associated Cancer Induction
Maria Emanuela Cuomo, in collaboration with the MRC Protein Phosphorylation Unit, University of Dundee
Source of external funding: Cancer Research UK
Kaposi's sarcoma herpes virus (KSHV), a human tumour virus associated with Kaposi's sarcoma and certain forms of B cell lymphomas, encodes a cyclin-type kinase activator (K-cyc) that is thought to contribute to the cancerous process associated with this virus. Using KESTREL screening, a biochemical method for the unbiased identification of kinase substrates we have identified several novel targets for the Kcyc-activated kinase. Their phosphorylation appears to explain the deregulation of the centrosome cycle known to arise in K-cyc expressing cells and further implies this cyclin in the modulation of actin cyctoskeleton functioning. Deregulation of both these processes is a well recognised hallmark of cancer cells and is associated with cancer progression. Thus phosphorylation of these substrates may explain how this cyclin executes its oncogenic function.
In the Section of Cell and Molecular Biology including the Cancer Research UK Tumour Cell Signalling Unit
