Evaluation of the antitumor activity of Azurin by crotamine-mediated gene transfer in melanoma cells.

• Grant number: 23/01291-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2023
• End date: February 29, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Rodrigo Esaki Tamura
• Grantee: Laura Maria Pinto Dias
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas (ICAQF). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Diadema. Diadema , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/15619-2 - Development of high capacity adenoviral system expressing antitumoral genes, AP.JP

Abstract

Cancer is the second disease that most affects the world's population. According to the worldwide data of new cancer cases in 2020, it was estimated that about 324,635 people would be diagnosed with melanoma. Some bacterial toxins have already demonstrated antitumor activity. Azurin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa binds to receptors present on the cell surface of tumor cells and activates mechanisms that can lead to the death of these cells. Crotamine is a toxin present in the venom of the rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrifus, native to South America. Being a small penetrating peptide, capable of electrostatically with the centrioles and nucleic acids and capable of carrying molecules from the cytoplasm to the nucleus of tumors because they have selectivity for cells in a state of proliferation. Thus, the aim of this project is to develop a gene therapy exploring crotamine as a carrier of plasmid DNA containing the gene for the bacterial toxin Azurin. As crotamine and Azurin have selectivity for tumor cells, they can promote a decrease in the adverse effects presented by other forms of therapies against melanoma.