YAP inhibitor JUN: New findings on liver cancer

Research project funded by the Wilhelm Sander Foundation successfully completed: Researchers led by Dr Björn von Eyss at the Leibniz Institute for Ageing Research – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) have discovered a surprising protective function of the JUN gene. JUN, previously known as an enhancer of inflammatory and growth signals, has the opposite effect in certain situations. In such cases, it acts as a cellular safety mechanism. If the growth protein YAP becomes too active, JUN curbs its activity. In this way, JUN prevents uncontrolled cell growth and cell proliferation. This protective mechanism could help curb the development of tumours, particularly liver cancer.