title: Inhibition of tumor angiogenesis by a natural fragment of a tRNA synthetase.
abstract: Human tyrosyl- and tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetases (TyrRS and TrpRS, respectively) link protein synthesis to signal-transduction pathways, including angiogenesis. Fragments of TyrRS stimulate angiogenesis, whereas those of TrpRS (T2-TrpRS) inhibit angiogenesis. Thus, these two synthetases acquired opposing activities during evolution, possibly as a coordinated mechanism for regulating angiogenesis. The recent identification of the cellular target of T2-TrpRS sheds light into the mechanism of angiogenesis inhibition. This mechanism provides a molecular basis for the lack of effect of T2-TrpRS on the normal vasculature. With these features, we suggest that this fragment of a tRNA synthetase might safely be used to arrest neovascularization of tumors. In particular, an anti-angiogenesis agent that stops the growth of tumor vessels without affecting normal vessels might serve as an adjunct to cytotoxic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, Departments of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Ellie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tzima
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schimmel
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014369:Tryptophan-tRNA Ligase / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014448:Tyrosine-tRNA Ligase / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D014448:Tyrosine-tRNA Ligase; D014369:Tryptophan-tRNA Ligase