Skip to main content
Uncategorized

New proteins required for correct embryonic development

By 22 de July de 2011November 18th, 2020No Comments
< Back to news
 22.07.2011

New proteins required for correct embryonic development

Researchers at IRB Barcelona –based in the Barcelona Scientific Park– discover new roles of p38 proteins during embryonic development. The study, headed by ICREA Research Professor and BBVA Foundation Cancer Research Professor Ángel Rodríguez Nebreda, has been published this week in the online version of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS).


The proteins p38α and p38β are key components of cells that control essential functions such as cell proliferation, differentiation and death. This would explain that a defect in these proteins causes alterations in cell regulation, which may lead to the development of tumors. Although many studies have characterized these proteins, few genetic studies have been done on their function “in vivo” in mammals.

The study has been conducted mainly by Dr. Iván del Barco Barrantes, first author of the article. Using gene manipulation, he has managed to deleted p38α and p38β from the mouse. This new approach has allowed these researchers to study for the first time the role of those proteins as a whole rather than the separate function of each, which is what has been done until now.

More information