Research findings that first had scientists scratching their heads have turned out to be “quite revolutionary,” according to study leaders at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI).

The scientists found that in a competition between two apparently equivalent proteins, one protein wins out every time as it swoops in to claim a cellular binding target. This protein is of special interest to researchers because it can trigger cancer cells to kill themselves. In fact, the researchers now hope future therapeutics that mimic this protein may work as potential cancer drugs.

“This work at the molecular level has a real potential to benefit patients,” said TSRI Research Associate Rebecca Berlow, first author of the new study, published online in the journal Nature.

Human cells, including cancer cells, can activate a set of genes that enable them to go into “survival mode” when deprived of an oxygen–carrying blood supply. This mode switches on when a protein called HIF–1alpha binds to a part, called TAZ1, of a second protein, called CBP.

Cells have an “off” switch too. To turn off the “hypoxic response” to low oxygen, a protein called CITED2 jumps in to bind to TAZ1 when oxygen levels go back to normal.

As intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), neither HIF–1alpha nor CITED2 folds into a stable shape by itself; instead, these domains remain unstructured, ready to change conformations to wedge themselves into the right binding site on TAZ1.

HIF–1alpha and CITED2 have an equal affinity for TAZ1, and scientists didn’t expect one to bind more effectively than the other. So TSRI Research Associate Rebecca Berlow was surprised to discover that, when forced to compete, CITED2 pushes HIF–1alpha out of the way every time.

“This finding totally violated everything we know about equilibrium,” said Berlow. “My first reaction was ‘how did I mess this up?’”

CITED2’s behavior seemed to contradict a tenet of thermodynamics that states that a system should become less ordered, not more organized over time. Obviously, something else was going on – but what?

Puzzled, Berlow presented her findings to TSRI Professor Peter Wright, Cecil H. and Ida M. Green Investigator at TSRI, and study co–author TSRI Professor Jane Dyson. They decided to investigate further. If the initial finding was correct, Wright realized, this would be “quite revolutionary.”

Berlow’s initial findings weren’t wrong – in fact, they revealed a new phenomenon in protein competition.

The researchers found that the system is not randomly becoming more organized. Rather, CITED2 appears to be the first example of a protein that uses its disordered shape, not its binding affinity, to win out.

“Discovering CITED2’s ability to win these battles is a paradigm shift,” said Wright, senior author of the new study.

This finding could have implications for future cancer drugs. The researchers explained that past drug candidates have tried to interrupt the cancer cell survival mode by stopping HIF–1alpha from ever reaching TAZ1, but they haven’t been very effective. The new study suggests that it may be more efficient to mimic nature’s own response and use a CITED2–like drug to knock HIF–1alpha away.

“This is a very, very efficient switch,” said Wright. “You only need a small amount of CITED2 to switch off the hypoxic response, and no amount of HIF–1alpha can switch it back on.”

Next, the researchers plan to study the detailed mechanisms that allow CITED2 to take over the TAZ1 binding site. They are also looking into the therapeutic potential of CITED2 in other diseases where HIF–1alpha can intensify a dangerous low–oxygen response.