Cancer genes, Beware!!! A new enemy is on the Block!!!
Source: Science Daily
Wikipedia
So...I'm pretty regular in posting new articles now!!!! Ok...let me proceed with the latest news that I've just got.
Researchers have found out a new drug which inhibits the cancer genes. This drug is a variant of vitamin A. The name of the drug is All-Trans-Retinoic Acid(ATRA). This drug stimulates and increases the amount of certain microRNA in the promyelotic leukemia cells and these miRNAs bring about inhibition of the cancer genes. Confused?
Lets get some concepts right here...
What is Promyelotic leukemia?
It is a type of cancer where abnormal white blood cells (WBCs) are produced and they outnumber the normal WBCs.
What is this microRNA?
MicroRNA are small single stranded RNA whose main function is to regulate genes. Basically, it is the mRNA which is translated into proteins. But these miRNAs are non coding RNAs ie... they don't code for any protein. Like mRNAs, they are also processed from primary transcripts and mature to form miRNAs. These have some complementary sequences to mRNAs and they go and bind to them and thus repress the genes.
Hope its clear for you now... Lets come back to the news...
The drug ATRA raises the level of 3 particular miRNAs called miRNA 15b, 16-1 and let-7. The first two bring about inhibition of the antiapoptotic gene BCL-2 so that cancer growth can be arrested. What is this antiapop... whatever?
Let me clear it...
Apoptosis is the name given to "programmed cell death" or "cell suicide". Basically, when a cell undergoes some damage, it doesn't like to stay and trouble us. So it commits suicide. This suicide is brought about by some set of factors and inhibited by another set of factors.
Now, it should be clear...
The last miRNA let-7 brings about inhibition of the RAS oncogene. RAS brings about cell proliferation and inhibition of this halts cancer growth.
How does this drug exert its function?
Researchers added the drug to leukemia cells in culture and they found out a decrease in BCL-2 gene activity and an increase in the amount of miRNAs. They confirmed the function of miRNA by adding it artificially to the cells without adding the drug. The results were the same!!!
This research has been carried out in Ohio State University.
Wikipedia
So...I'm pretty regular in posting new articles now!!!! Ok...let me proceed with the latest news that I've just got.
Researchers have found out a new drug which inhibits the cancer genes. This drug is a variant of vitamin A. The name of the drug is All-Trans-Retinoic Acid(ATRA). This drug stimulates and increases the amount of certain microRNA in the promyelotic leukemia cells and these miRNAs bring about inhibition of the cancer genes. Confused?
Lets get some concepts right here...
What is Promyelotic leukemia?
It is a type of cancer where abnormal white blood cells (WBCs) are produced and they outnumber the normal WBCs.
What is this microRNA?
MicroRNA are small single stranded RNA whose main function is to regulate genes. Basically, it is the mRNA which is translated into proteins. But these miRNAs are non coding RNAs ie... they don't code for any protein. Like mRNAs, they are also processed from primary transcripts and mature to form miRNAs. These have some complementary sequences to mRNAs and they go and bind to them and thus repress the genes.
Hope its clear for you now... Lets come back to the news...
The drug ATRA raises the level of 3 particular miRNAs called miRNA 15b, 16-1 and let-7. The first two bring about inhibition of the antiapoptotic gene BCL-2 so that cancer growth can be arrested. What is this antiapop... whatever?
Let me clear it...
Apoptosis is the name given to "programmed cell death" or "cell suicide". Basically, when a cell undergoes some damage, it doesn't like to stay and trouble us. So it commits suicide. This suicide is brought about by some set of factors and inhibited by another set of factors.
Now, it should be clear...
The last miRNA let-7 brings about inhibition of the RAS oncogene. RAS brings about cell proliferation and inhibition of this halts cancer growth.
How does this drug exert its function?
Researchers added the drug to leukemia cells in culture and they found out a decrease in BCL-2 gene activity and an increase in the amount of miRNAs. They confirmed the function of miRNA by adding it artificially to the cells without adding the drug. The results were the same!!!
This research has been carried out in Ohio State University.
1 comment:
Excellent article! Topical and well researched, this has everything a cancer sufferer could want- and if it hasn't it will find it for you! I am 'beyond' impressed! Top work!!.
Post a Comment