Cancer
cells growing without controls
Cells in our bodies are carefully regulated so that they divide, grow, and die according to the best plan for keeping us alive. When they lose these controls, they can grow into deadly cancers. Atomic structures have revealed how cell growth is normally controlled, and how cancer cells circumvent these essential controls. Explore the Structural Biology of Cancer resource to find out more.
See also Molecular explorations of cancer biology and therapeutics at PDB-101(2022) Oncogene 41: 4333–4335 doi: 10.1038/s41388-022-02424-5
Molecule of the Month Articles (80)
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Actinomycin
Some antibiotics attack cells by intercalating between the bases in a DNA double helix |
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Anaphase-Promoting Complex / Cyclosome
APC/C guards the checkpoints that regulate key steps in the cell cycle |
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Apoptosomes
Apoptosomes make life or death decisions in cells |
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ATM and ATR Kinases
Dividing cells use ATM and ATR kinases to respond to DNA damage. |
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c-Abl Protein Kinase and Imatinib
Protein kinases are being targeted by new anti-cancer drugs |
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Caspases
Caspases disassemble proteins during the process of programmed cell death |
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Chimeric Antigen Receptors
T cells may be engineered with chimeric antigen receptors to attack cancer cells. |
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Cisplatin and DNA
Cisplatin treats cancer by causing damage to the DNA of cancer cells. |
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Cyclin and Cyclin-dependent Kinase
Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases control when cells divide, making them important targets for cancer therapy. |
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Dihydrofolate Reductase
DHFR is a target for cancer chemotherapy and bacterial infection |
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Epidermal Growth Factor
EGF is part of a family of proteins that controls aspects of cell growth and development |
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Estrogen Receptor
Estrogen binds to receptors in the nucleus and affects key genes in development |
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Glutathione Transferases
Glutathione transferase tags toxic molecules, making them easy to recognize and remove. |
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Hepatitis C Virus Protease/Helicase
Structures of hepatitis C viral proteins have led to the discovery of direct-acting antivirals. |
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HER2/neu and Trastuzumab
Trastuzumab monoclonal antibodies targeting HER2 receptors are at the forefront of breast cancer treatment |
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Histone Deacetylases
Histone deacetylases regulate access to genetic information by modifying histones |
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Hsp90
Heat shock proteins ensure that proteins remain folded and active under harsh conditions |
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Human Papillomavirus and Vaccines
The capsid protein of papillomavirus is used in vaccines that prevent cervical cancer. |
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Initiation Factor eIF4E
Initiation factors for protein synthesis interact through disordered chains. |
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Major Histocompatibility Complex
MHC displays peptides on the surfaces of cells, allowing the immune system to sense the infection inside |
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MDM2 and Cancer
MDM2 controls the action of p53 tumor suppressor, making it a target for cancer chemotherapy. |
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Microtubules
The largest filaments of the cytoskeleton provide tracks for transport throughout the cell |
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Nanodiscs and HDL
Nanodiscs conveniently package a small piece of membrane for experimental studies. |
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Nicotine, Cancer, and Addiction
Nicotine causes addiction by interacting with receptors in the brain |
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Non-Homologous End Joining Supercomplexes
Lethal double-strand breaks in the DNA genome are repaired by NHEJ |
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p53 Tumor Suppressor
p53 tumor suppressor protects the body from DNA damage and cancer |
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PD-1 (Programmed Cell Death Protein 1)
PD-1 and its ligands are a new target for cancer therapy |
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Pyruvate Kinase M2
Pyruvate kinases are the paradoxical gatekeepers for cancer cell metabolism and growth. |
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RAF Protein Kinases
A single mutation in a RAF protein kinase can help transform a normal cell into a cancer cell. |
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Ras Protein
Mutation of the growth-controlling ras protein can lead to cancer |
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RecA and Rad51
Broken DNA strands may be repaired by matching sequences in a duplicate copy of the DNA |
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Ribonucleotide Reductase
Ribonucleotide reductase creates the building blocks of DNA |
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Simian Virus 40
SV40 hijacks the cells it infects using only a handful of proteins |
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Small Interfering RNA (siRNA)
Our cells continually look for pieces of double-stranded RNA, a possible sign of viral infection |
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Spliceosomes
Cryoelectron microscropy is revealing how spliceosomes cut-and-paste messenger RNA molecules. |
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Src Tyrosine Kinase
Growth signaling proteins play an important role in the development of cancer |
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Telomerase
Telomerase maintains the ends of our chromosomes. |
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Thymine Dimers
Ultraviolet light damages our DNA, but our cells have ways to correct the damage |
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Topoisomerases
Topoisomerases untangle and reduce the tension of DNA strands in the cell |
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VegF) and Angiogenesis
VegF promotes blood vessel formation (angiogenesis), affecting cancer proliferation, wound healing, and other bodily processes. |
![]() |
Actinomycin
Some antibiotics attack cells by intercalating between the bases in a DNA double helix |
![]() |
Anaphase-Promoting Complex / Cyclosome
APC/C guards the checkpoints that regulate key steps in the cell cycle |
![]() |
Apoptosomes
Apoptosomes make life or death decisions in cells |
![]() |
ATM and ATR Kinases
Dividing cells use ATM and ATR kinases to respond to DNA damage. |
![]() |
c-Abl Protein Kinase and Imatinib
Protein kinases are being targeted by new anti-cancer drugs |
![]() |
Caspases
Caspases disassemble proteins during the process of programmed cell death |
![]() |
Chimeric Antigen Receptors
T cells may be engineered with chimeric antigen receptors to attack cancer cells. |
![]() |
Cisplatin and DNA
Cisplatin treats cancer by causing damage to the DNA of cancer cells. |
![]() |
Cyclin and Cyclin-dependent Kinase
Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases control when cells divide, making them important targets for cancer therapy. |
![]() |
Dihydrofolate Reductase
DHFR is a target for cancer chemotherapy and bacterial infection |
![]() |
Epidermal Growth Factor
EGF is part of a family of proteins that controls aspects of cell growth and development |
![]() |
Estrogen Receptor
Estrogen binds to receptors in the nucleus and affects key genes in development |
![]() |
Glutathione Transferases
Glutathione transferase tags toxic molecules, making them easy to recognize and remove. |
![]() |
Hepatitis C Virus Protease/Helicase
Structures of hepatitis C viral proteins have led to the discovery of direct-acting antivirals. |
![]() |
HER2/neu and Trastuzumab
Trastuzumab monoclonal antibodies targeting HER2 receptors are at the forefront of breast cancer treatment |
![]() |
Histone Deacetylases
Histone deacetylases regulate access to genetic information by modifying histones |
![]() |
Hsp90
Heat shock proteins ensure that proteins remain folded and active under harsh conditions |
![]() |
Human Papillomavirus and Vaccines
The capsid protein of papillomavirus is used in vaccines that prevent cervical cancer. |
![]() |
Initiation Factor eIF4E
Initiation factors for protein synthesis interact through disordered chains. |
![]() |
Major Histocompatibility Complex
MHC displays peptides on the surfaces of cells, allowing the immune system to sense the infection inside |
![]() |
MDM2 and Cancer
MDM2 controls the action of p53 tumor suppressor, making it a target for cancer chemotherapy. |
![]() |
Microtubules
The largest filaments of the cytoskeleton provide tracks for transport throughout the cell |
![]() |
Nanodiscs and HDL
Nanodiscs conveniently package a small piece of membrane for experimental studies. |
![]() |
Nicotine, Cancer, and Addiction
Nicotine causes addiction by interacting with receptors in the brain |
![]() |
Non-Homologous End Joining Supercomplexes
Lethal double-strand breaks in the DNA genome are repaired by NHEJ |
![]() |
p53 Tumor Suppressor
p53 tumor suppressor protects the body from DNA damage and cancer |
![]() |
PD-1 (Programmed Cell Death Protein 1)
PD-1 and its ligands are a new target for cancer therapy |
![]() |
Pyruvate Kinase M2
Pyruvate kinases are the paradoxical gatekeepers for cancer cell metabolism and growth. |
![]() |
RAF Protein Kinases
A single mutation in a RAF protein kinase can help transform a normal cell into a cancer cell. |
![]() |
Ras Protein
Mutation of the growth-controlling ras protein can lead to cancer |
![]() |
RecA and Rad51
Broken DNA strands may be repaired by matching sequences in a duplicate copy of the DNA |
![]() |
Ribonucleotide Reductase
Ribonucleotide reductase creates the building blocks of DNA |
![]() |
Simian Virus 40
SV40 hijacks the cells it infects using only a handful of proteins |
![]() |
Small Interfering RNA (siRNA)
Our cells continually look for pieces of double-stranded RNA, a possible sign of viral infection |
![]() |
Spliceosomes
Cryoelectron microscropy is revealing how spliceosomes cut-and-paste messenger RNA molecules. |
![]() |
Src Tyrosine Kinase
Growth signaling proteins play an important role in the development of cancer |
![]() |
Telomerase
Telomerase maintains the ends of our chromosomes. |
![]() |
Thymine Dimers
Ultraviolet light damages our DNA, but our cells have ways to correct the damage |
![]() |
Topoisomerases
Topoisomerases untangle and reduce the tension of DNA strands in the cell |
![]() |
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VegF) and Angiogenesis
VegF promotes blood vessel formation (angiogenesis), affecting cancer proliferation, wound healing, and other bodily processes. |
Learning Resources (6)
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Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Paper Model
The capsid protein of papillomavirus is used in vaccines that prevent cervical cancer.
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Immunology and Cancer
Video
This three-part series explores the human immune response to cancer focusing on cellular and molecular details of the process.
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2023 Molecular Mechanisms of Targeted Cancer Therapies
Video
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2022 Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer
Video
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Bound! Protein-drug matching game
Other Resource
Bound! is a card game for students 12 and up, where players compete to match the most drugs to their protein targets.
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Exploring the Structural Biology of Cancer
Article
Cells capture and utilize many forms of energy to power their molecular processe
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Structural Biology Highlights (4)
Goodsell Molecular Landscapes (1)
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VegF) Signaling
Cross section of two cells showing the VegF signaling pathway and some of its consequences.
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