Targeting the transcriptional activity of STAT3 by a novel fusion protein
Yanqiong Chen,
Wenting Zhang,
Xiufeng Bai,
Yi Liu
Affiliations
Yanqiong Chen
National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Laboratory of Human Disease and Immunotherapies, West China Hospital, Sichuan University
Wenting Zhang
National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Laboratory of Human Disease and Immunotherapies, West China Hospital, Sichuan University
Xiufeng Bai
National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Laboratory of Human Disease and Immunotherapies, West China Hospital, Sichuan University
Yi Liu
Research Institute of Inflammation and Immunology (RIII), Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University
Abstract Background The continuous activation of transcription factors drives many diseases, including tumors, autoimmune disease, neurodegenerative disease, and male infertility. Thus, Blocking the transcriptional activity of these proteins may inhibit disease progression. In this study, we developed a new method to specifically inhibit the activity of the transcription factor STAT3. Methods Fusing the transcriptional inhibitory domain KRAB with STAT3 successfully blocked the transcription activity of STAT3 in cancer cells without affecting its function in the mitochondria and lysosomes. Results the expression of KRAB-STAT3 fusion protein inhibited the growth of tumor cells. Conclusions The KRAB-STAT3 fusion protein provides a novel approach for drug development for the treatment of cancer or autoimmune diseases.
