Analysis of Signal Transduction Mediated by LLPS in Cancer

Many biomolecular condensates play important roles in cellular signaling cascades, including the assembly of T cell receptor signaling clusters and clusters associated with adhesion receptors, as well as downstream effectors, including NCK and N-WASP. Typically, such signaling condensates are formed at or near the cell membrane and are thought to be important for the complete activation of signaling pathways, their spatiotemporal control, and ensuring signal specificity. Recent studies have shown abnormal regulation of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) signaling by cancer cells. For example, EML4-ALK particles in lung cancer are not simple liquid droplets but have solid-like properties. In conclusion, alterations in phase separation can drive changes in biochemical selectivity associated with cancer signaling.

Fig. 1. Alterations in signaling condensates and other cytoplasmic condensates in cancer cells. (Suzuki HI, et al., 2022)

Customized Services

Aberrant LLPS is triggered by oncogenic mutations that dysregulate signaling pathways that control cell viability, growth, division, and motility. Thus, a properly regulated LLPS can serve as an important hub for promoting signal output to regulate cellular activity. CD BioSciences offers specialized services to analyze signaling pathways disrupted by aberrant LLPS in cancer.

In collaboration with cancer researchers, cell biologists and biophysicists, we provide cutting-edge technology to analyze biomolecular condensates associated with dysregulated cellular signaling processes in cancers, as follows. If you would like to analyze other biomolecular condensates associated with cellular signaling processes in cancers, you can contact us directly for a customized service.

• Beta-catenin (Colorectal cancer)
• Estrogen receptors (Breast cancer)
• EML4-ALK (Lung cancer)
• CCDC6-RET (Lung cancer)
• DnaJB1-PKAcat (Fibrous lamellar hepatocellular carcinoma)
• DACT1 (Breast cancer, prostate cancer)

Our lab has a proven cellular, in vivo, computer, and bioinformatics one-stop platform to help our clients analyze the aberrant regulation of the signaling pathway of condensates by cancer. We aim to develop therapeutic targets for cancer by modulating LLPS in signaling pathways. The signaling pathways we focus on include:

• LLPS in the cGAS-STING signaling pathway.
• LLPS in the Ras-MAPK signaling pathway.
• LLPS in synaptic signaling.
• LLPS in Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
• LLPS in RAS signaling pathway.
• LLPS in Hippo signaling pathway.
• LLPS in cAMP-PKA signaling pathway.

Combining proteomics, transcriptomics, imaging, genetics, epidemiology and computer data, CD BioSciences aims to analyze the negative regulatory effects of phase separation on signaling pathways in cancer to help our clients develop therapeutic targets and novel biomarkers for cancer treatment. Our services are widely used in preclinical research in cancer biology, diagnosis and treatment. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.