Poster Presentation 2014 International Biophysics Congress

Functional and structural characterisation of the L-type amino acid transporters (#323)

Josep Font Sadurni 1 , Jeff Holst 2 , Renae M. Ryan 1 , Mika Jormakka 3
  1. Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Science, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
  2. Gene and Stem Cell Theraphy Program, The Centenary Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  3. Structural Biology Laboratory, The Centenary Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Amino acid transporters regulate intracellular amino acid levels, and therefore changes in transporter expression or activity may affect cell growth and survival. 

Among the amino acid transport systems, system L is a major route for providing cells with large neutral amino acids. Moreover, L-type amino acid transporters are highly expressed at different stages during the development and progression of prostate cancer, suggesting these proteins are suitable targets for therapeutic drug design [1-3].

In order to provide more details about these essential membrane proteins and to elucidate their role in prostate cancer, we are currently using a range of structural and functional approaches.

These studies will facilitate the design of specific inhibitors to modulate leucine uptake during the different stages of prostate cancer.

  1. J. Blando. et al. Am. J. Pathol. 174, 1869-79, (2009)
  2. Q. Wang. et al. Cancer Res. 71, 7525-36, (2011)
  3. Q. Wang. et al. ACS Chem Biol (2014)
  4. Q. Wang. et al. Int J Cancer (2014)