A team of UK scientists have discovered that a gene that can trigger the development of breasts. This has important implications for breast cancer, as reported in the journal Genes and Development.
During the development of an embryo, formation of organs is tightly controlled by specific genes. In the case of breasts, this process controls the development of two breasts in humans but this can go awry, resulting in fewer, extra or misplaced breasts or nipples. However, little has been known about how this process is governed, until now.
Scientists at The Breakthrough Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre and The Institute of Cancer Research, report that a gene called Scaramanga is involved in triggering breast development.
"Identifying the Scaramanga gene is a real advance in our understanding of the early steps in breast formation. By learning more about this gene and the protein it produces, it will allow us to determine how normal breast development is initiated and, importantly, examine how this is connected with breast cancer," said Professor Alan Ashworth, Director of The Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre.
By studying abnormal breast development in the lab, the researchers identified the Scaramanga gene, which regulates the early stages of breast development, and influences the number and position of breasts. The realization of the importance of their work came when they discovered that the Scaramanga gene produces a protein called NRG3 and that this provides a signal telling embryonic cells to become breast cells. They also showed that a synthetic form of NRG3 was able to initiate the formation of breast cells, confirming the protein's involvement in this intricate process.
Professor Ashworth continued: "Whilst proteins carefully control the development of breast cells in the embryo, inappropriate signals to breast cells during adulthood by these same molecules may cause breast cancer. We already believe that the protein produced by the Scaramanga gene is linked with breast cancer and the next steps are to study this in more detail."
SOURCES:
Genes and Development, September 1, 2005
Breakthrough Breast Cancer (http://www.breakthrough.org.uk)
Cold Spring Harbor Lab (http://www.cshl.org)
