Protein farnesyltransferase and adenosine receptors.
Many exciting advances in the treatment of cancer were presented at the symposium entitled 'Protein prenylation' which was chaired by Professor Richard A Gibbs (Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA). Prenylation, or the covalent attachment of isoprenoid lipids, is now recognized as an important component in the post-translational localization and functionalization of many cellular proteins. The majority of prenylated proteins are modified by one of two specific enzymes: protein farnesyl-transferase (FTase) and geranylgerany-ltransferase type I (GGTase-I). The finding that farnesylation of oncogenic forms of Ras proteins is required for expression of their transforming activity has led to FTase becoming an important target for anticancer drug design.
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