The membrane lipid Gb3, the cellular receptor for bacterial Shiga-Toxins, is a promising target present on the surface of many gastrointestinal cancer cells. Despite its frequent overexpression in cancer, the role of Gb3 is currently largely unknown. It could be demonstrated that Gb3-biosynthesis is regulated by epigenetic mechanisms via the enzyme A4GALT, and that Gb3 expression enhances invasiveness and migration of cancer cells. Using a CRISPR/Cas9-based model for A4GALT deficiency, targeted tumor therapies were evaluated in vitro. The cellular model enables future research on Shiga-Toxin-based therapy and the role of Gb3 for malignant cells in the context of a living organism.
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The membrane lipid Gb3, the cellular receptor for bacterial Shiga-Toxins, is a promising target present on the surface of many gastrointestinal cancer cells. Despite its frequent overexpression in cancer, the role of Gb3 is currently largely unknown. It could be demonstrated that Gb3-biosynthesis is regulated by epigenetic mechanisms via the enzyme A4GALT, and that Gb3 expression enhances invasiveness and migration of cancer cells. Using a CRISPR/Cas9-based model for A4GALT deficiency, targeted...
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