A functional approach to questions about life, death, and phosphorylation.
The success of the family of kinases as targets for small-molecule cancer therapeutics is probably best illustrated by the efficacy of the drug Gleevec. In spite of this, the function of many of the kinases in the mammalian genome remains unknown. In a recent paper, MacKeigan and colleagues report a functional genetic screen using RNA interference to identify kinases and phosphatases involved in programmed cell death (MacKeigan et al., 2005). Functional annotation is a prerequisite for selection of new drug targets. Such studies may therefore lay the foundation for the next generation of cancer drugs.
Bernards
René
R
Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Center for Biomedical Genetics, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121,1066, CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands. r.bernards@nki.nl
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001549:Benzamides; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D034622:RNA Interference / Q000502:physiology; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D011494:Protein Kinases; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases