Biochemical controls: cell conversion controls (Introduction)

by David Turell , Thursday, June 29, 2023, 17:19 (303 days ago) @ David Turell

A study of biochemical steps:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/06/230627225200.htm

"Central to the study is C/EBPα (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha), a protein that orchestrates the conversion of B lymphocytes to macrophages, another type of immune cell. C/EBPα is a transcription factor, a type of protein which binds to specific DNA sequences in the regulatory regions of genes to influence the rate of transcription, the first step that leads to the activation or silencing of protein expression. Transcription factors play a vital role in the transformation of one cell type to another during differentiation and development, as well as in the growth and function of cells.

"Like many other proteins, C/EBPα is modified by enzymes, for example through the addition of a methyl group to specific amino acids. These modifications can have significant effects on interactions of the protein. The researchers found that when one specific arginine residue of C/EBPα is left unmethylated, it greatly accelerates the conversion process of B lymphocytes to macrophages.

"The study also found that the methylation of this specific arginine residue is mediated by the enzyme Carm1. Previous research has shown that Carm1-deficient mice are resistant to induced forms of acute myeloid leukaemia. The researchers hypothesise that the mechanisms they uncover in the present study can explain why: the unmethylated version of C/EBPα is a stronger inducer of macrophage differentiation compared to its methylated counterpart. As macrophages are a non-dividing cell type, this could prevent the formation of cancer cells.

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"To induce a cell conversion, C/EBPα works by interacting with another transcription factor called PU.1, which itself is essential for the development of immune cells and is already expressed in B cells. C/EBPαR35A had a much higher interaction affinity with PU.1, increasing the speed by which the combination of the two proteins silence the genes associated with B cells and activate the genes associated with macrophages.

"The methylation of C/EBPα is an example of an epigenetic mechanism. These are mechanisms which modify how the genome -- the instruction manual inside every cell of the human body -- is read. "Drugs that affect epigenetic mechanisms as described in the present study may indeed alter the function of transcription factors and correct cells that went astray, such as seen in cancer and leukaemia," says Dr. Achim Leutz, senior author from the Max-Delbrück-Center.

"'In this novel mechanism PU.1 is triggered by C/EBPα to switch from a B cell regulator into a macrophage regulator, an elegant 'on-off' mechanism that ensures the faithful formation of a mature cell type, avoiding the formation of 'confused' cells often seen in blood cancers. Therefore, drugs might be found that target this mechanism to correct such defects" adds Dr. Leutz."

Comment: this is a look into how cells convert themselves biochemically. This is what stem cells do as a source for all cell types. It requires specific enzyme activity. Enzymes are giant specifically designed molecules to force reactions to occur. A cell conversion in form requires all these exact steps working together. It must appear through evolution in complete form. Stepwise formation is impossible by chance innovation. It is evidence of a design by a designer.