Navigation Links
Structures of marine toxins provide insight into their effectiveness as cancer drugs

Vibrantly colored creatures from the depths of the South Pacific Ocean harbor toxins that potentially can act as powerful anti-cancer drugs, according to research findings from University of Wisconsin-Madison biochemists and their Italian colleagues.

The research team has defined the structure of the toxins and provided a basic understanding that can be used to synthesize pharmaceuticals, according to a study published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

"We've determined how this class of toxins interacts with actin," an important protein responsible for cellular structure and movement, says Ivan Rayment, a professor of biochemistry in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences who worked with John Allingham, a postdoctoral fellow, on the study. "We're adding to fundamental understanding which will be taken up by others to simplify chemical synthesis of what could potentially be powerful cancer treatments."

The toxins, which are produced naturally by organisms that exist symbiotically on deep-sea sponges, work by disrupting the activity of actin, an abundant protein that gives structure to eukaryotic cells.

"Actin forms long chains, or filaments, that are essential for cellular locomotion, division and growth," explains Allingham. "Because cancer cell masses grow faster than other cells in the body, actin provides an excellent target for drugs that could inhibit such rapid growth."

Adds Allingham: "These marine toxins can knock out the lynchpins in these long chains or cap their ends and kill cancer cells. Moreover, initial work shows that even a low dose of these toxins can bring a significant response."

Prior to the study published in PNAS, it was known that the marine toxins affect several forms of cancer - but not how they worked, says Rayment. The recent findings will enable the toxins to be synthesized in a lab instead of harvested from the depths of the ocean floor, mea
'"/>

Source:University of Wisconsin-Madison


Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. The Shapes Of Life: NIGMS Project Yields More Than 1,000 Protein Structures
2. Sequencing of marine bacterium will help study of cell communication
3. Solutions that reduce death of marine life reeled in by International Smart Gear Competition
4. UN environmental agency steps up battle against marine pollution
5. Evidence of 600-million-year old fungi-algae symbiosis discovered in marine fossils
6. Deep thinking: Scientists sequence a cold-loving marine microbe
7. UNC computer, marine scientists collaborate to predict flow of toxic waters from Katrina
8. UF study first to quantify validity of DNA I.D. tool using marine snails
9. Prenatal exposure to marine toxin causes lasting damage
10. Restaurant seafood prices since 1850s help plot marine harvests through history
11. Compound from marine bacteria shows potential as multiple myeloma therapy
Post Your Comments:
(Date:5/16/2013)... For decades, scientists have used ancient shorelines to predict the ... Markings of a high shoreline from three million years ago, ... period were thought to be evidence of a high ... This assumption has led many scientists to think that if ... they may do just the same in our modern, progressively ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... 16, 2013 The relationship between the heritable ... not been clear. Schizophrenia is commonly associated with ... are clues that reduced IQ may be linked ... reduced cognitive ability may precede the onset of ... in healthy relatives of people diagnosed with schizophrenia. ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... fossils that are about 23 million years old ... the gobioid order, one of the most species-rich ... led by paleontologist Professor Bettina Reichenbacher from the ... of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) ... analysis of fish fossils which they assign to ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):World's biggest ice sheets likely more stable than previously believed 2Genetic risk for schizophrenia is connected to reduced IQ 2Paleontology: The eloquence of the otoliths 2Paleontology: The eloquence of the otoliths 3
... a metal detector is the most common technique when ... 90 countries around the world. Many of these countries ... are prevalent. These tropical soils have certain properties that ... soil magnetic susceptibility. This problem is enhanced by the ...
... DENVER, Feb. 5 Quest Product Development, teaming ... NASA research program,and successfully demonstrated a new thermal ... Innovation Research Phase II grant to develop and,commercialize ... ("IMLI"), vital for NASA,s new,spacecraft and exploration missions ...
... CITY - Dr. Ussif Rashid Sumaila, an Associate Professor ... Vancouver, Canada, is among five ocean experts to be ... which supports critical marine conservation projects around the world. ... financial factors contributing to unsustainable commercial fishing and depletion ...
Cached Biology News:Tropical soils impede landmine detection 2Colorado Engineering Firms Win NASA Grant to Develop Innovative Insulation for Next Generation Spacecraft - Super-Insulation May Allow Future Energy Efficient Appliances 22008 Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation awarded to Dr. Ussif Rashid Sumaila 22008 Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation awarded to Dr. Ussif Rashid Sumaila 32008 Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation awarded to Dr. Ussif Rashid Sumaila 4
(Date:5/16/2013)... -- Scientists at the Center for Learning and Memory, ... California -based biopharmaceutical company Magceutics, Inc. ... reversing memory decline in mice with Alzheimer,s Disease. By ... in advanced stage AD mice. The study is the ... for advanced stage AD mice, and is also the ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... 16, 2013 Reportlinker.com announces ... is available in its catalogue: ... Analysis: Therapeutic Proteins – Biosimilars, Biobetters ...   Product ... The new Competitive Intelligence Report Therapeutic ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... Ottawa, ON (PRWEB) May 16, 2013 DNA ... today announced ‘Spit for Africa’, a sponsorship program in conjunction ... Africa is designed to improve access and reduce the cost ... genomic projects such as the Human Heredity and Health in ... of the AfSHG. , The aim of the AfSHG ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... NY (PRWEB) May 16, 2013 ... Market Access Success for Companion Diagnostic–Drug Pairings in ... issues that biopharmaceutical manufacturers should understand when developing ... gaining traction, particularly in oncology, with two recently ... Zelboraf for BRAF-mutation positive melanoma. Payors are willing ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Elevation of Brain Magnesium Reverses Memory Deficits in Alzheimer Mice 2Elevation of Brain Magnesium Reverses Memory Deficits in Alzheimer Mice 3Competitor Analysis: Therapeutic Proteins - Biosimilars, Biobetters & Biosuperiors 2Competitor Analysis: Therapeutic Proteins - Biosimilars, Biobetters & Biosuperiors 3Competitor Analysis: Therapeutic Proteins - Biosimilars, Biobetters & Biosuperiors 4Competitor Analysis: Therapeutic Proteins - Biosimilars, Biobetters & Biosuperiors 5Competitor Analysis: Therapeutic Proteins - Biosimilars, Biobetters & Biosuperiors 6Competitor Analysis: Therapeutic Proteins - Biosimilars, Biobetters & Biosuperiors 7Competitor Analysis: Therapeutic Proteins - Biosimilars, Biobetters & Biosuperiors 8DNA Genotek Inc. Announces Spit for Africa Program 2DNA Genotek Inc. Announces Spit for Africa Program 3Market Access Expert Firm, PRMA Consulting, Launches Companion Diagnostics Handbook 2
... I. Introduction , ... assay conditions for screening GPCR agonists on a LabChip 3000 ... results in low cell and reagent consumption, high data quality ... accesses test compounds from a microtiter plate and mixes them ...
... James Batchelor, Lynn Jordan, and Ed Alderman , ... Sciences, Inc., Hopkinton, MA 01748 , ... Agencourt Bioscience Corporation, 100 Cummings Center, Suite 107J, Beverly, MA 01915 , ... The goal for plasmid purification is isolation of nucleic ...
... Lynn Jordan , ... Introduction , ... commonly carried out using manual pipetting. As the demand for greater ... a necessity for most laboratories. The most critical aspect of an ...
Cached Biology Technology:HEK293 Calcium Flux Assay 2HEK293 Calcium Flux Assay 3HEK293 Calcium Flux Assay 4HEK293 Calcium Flux Assay 5High Throughput Plasmid DNA Preparation Using A Magnetic Bead Kit On An Automated Workstation 2High Throughput Plasmid DNA Preparation Using A Magnetic Bead Kit On An Automated Workstation 3384 Well Pipetting Precision and Accuracy Testing Using the Sciclone Advanced Liquid Handler 2384 Well Pipetting Precision and Accuracy Testing Using the Sciclone Advanced Liquid Handler 3384 Well Pipetting Precision and Accuracy Testing Using the Sciclone Advanced Liquid Handler 4