Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-II binding specificity of IGF binding protein-6: structural and functional studies.

胰岛素样生长因子II（IGF-II）是一种参与正常生长的蛋白质。然而，在某些情况下，它也可能刺激癌症生长。IGF结合蛋白-6（IGFBP-6）与IGF-II结合并终止其活性。现代生物学的主要挑战之一是理解为什么一些蛋白质与其他蛋白质结合。蛋白质以各种方式折叠并具有特定的三维结构。两种相互紧密结合的蛋白质具有相互匹配的结构，就像“锁和钥匙”一样。该项目的目的是通过观察其三维结构来了解IGFBP-6如何与IGF-II结合。利用这些信息，有可能开发出新的治疗方法，可以抑制IGF-II的活性，因此可能有助于治疗某些癌症。

Insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) is a protein which is involved in normal growth. However, in some circumstances it may also stimulate cancer growth. IGF binding protein-6 (IGFBP-6) binds to IGF-II and stops its activity. One of the major challenges of modern biology is understanding why some proteins bind to other proteins. Proteins fold in various ways and have specific three-dimensional structures. Two proteins which bind strongly to each other have structures which fit each other like a 'lock and key'. The aim of this project is to understand how IGFBP-6 binds to IGF-II by looking at its three-dimensional structure. Using this information, it may be possible to develop new treatments which can inhibit IGF-II activity and therefore may be useful in the treatment of some cancers.