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Cell growth is regulated via events that include extracellular growth factors, transmembrane receptors, as well as intracellular enzymes and mediators. In cancers,  genetic mutations are often found in many of these signaling components and when these mutations combine, they lead to unrestricted cell growth. One of the intracellular enzymes involved in cancers is Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk), an intracellular tyrosine kinase. Activating Syk mutations are found in certain types of leukemias. In her doctoral dissertation Lina Antenucci studied the activation mechanism of Syk enzyme.

While the mechanism was earlier know how immunoreceptor family cell surface receptors activate  Syk, it was unclear how Syk activation is trickered by cell surface adhesion receptors, integrins. In this study, Syk-enzyme was purified and its activity was studied with biochemical methods. The results showed that Syk is activated by integrin receptors via a different mechanism than by immunoreceptors. The interactions site of integrin on Syk was also studied.

The research utilized Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy facilities in the Nanoscience Center, Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥. This is basic research that it important for the understanding of fine molecular details of cellular growth regulation.

The dissertation is published in JYU dissertations series, Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥, N:o. 63.

ISBN 978-951-39-7691-0 (PDF)

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More information:

Doctoral Student Lina Antenucci, lina.antenucci@jyu.fi

Communications Officer Tanja Heikkinen, tanja.s.heikkinen@jyu.fi, tel. +358505818351

Faculty of Mathematics and Science