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South African Researchers Map Cancer-Related Changes to MUC1 Protein
A University of Cape Town team used computational models and test-tube experiments to trace how cancer cells alter the MUC1 protein. The study, published in Nature Communications, shows the relocation of sugar-building enzymes inside tumor cells.
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South African researchers have detailed the molecular steps by which cancer cells change the sugar coating on the MUC1 protein, turning a protective structure into one that can shield tumors from immune detection. The work focuses on the epithelium, the cell layer that lines organs such as the breast, colon and lungs.
In healthy tissue, MUC1 carries long sugar chains that help signal threats to the immune system.
The change observed in cancer cells In tumor cells the sugar chains become shorter, forming structures known as Tn and sialyl-Tn antigens. These altered sugars reduce immune recognition and support further cell changes that promote tumor growth. The team recreated the shift from normal to cancerous sugar patterns using an in-vitro model of the cell's sugar-assembly process.
They found that the enzymes responsible for starting the sugar chains move from the Golgi apparatus to the endoplasmic reticulum.
Methods and next steps Quantum chemistry simulations were used to identify the atomic sites most likely to undergo the change. The resulting map of sugar positions on MUC1 supplies a reference for future work on detection markers and potential therapies. The study states that understanding these positions provides a basis for developing cancer vaccines, biomarkers and therapeutics.
