Navigation Links
Study suggests enzyme crucial to DNA replication may provide potent anti-cancer drug target
Date:4/14/2011

ctures of DNA before and after being cut by FEN1.

Earlier crystal structures suggested that FEN1 first grabs onto the flap of the 5' single stranded DNA, slides down to the joint where DNA is duplicated, and cuts and patches the primer there. But the new study found that, in fact, FEN1 binds, bends, frays, and then cuts the DNA.

"It binds duplex DNA, bends it into a single-stranded DNA right at the flap, flips out two base pairs, and cuts between them," said Tainer. "This gives FEN1 very precise controla sophistication we had not expected."

Clues to cancer control

Researchers know that mutations in FEN1 can predispose humans to cancer growth because errors in flap removal can create unstable DNA that promotes cell growth and division. And studies in mice have shown that when one of two inherited FEN1 genes are knocked out, the mice are predisposed to cancer development if their DNA is damaged.

While other DNA repair systems can help compensate for FEN1 mistakes, or for missing FEN1 activity, "you need a lot of FEN1 for DNA repair and replication to work properly," Tainer said.

This suggests that, in tumors already missing one set of repair proteins, selectively inhibiting the function of FEN1 in rapidly replicating cells may prove to be an effective anti-cancer therapy. "The Achilles heel of cancer cells is defective DNA repair pathways," said Tainer, "because that makes them more sensitive to traditional therapies, such as chemotherapy and radiation. If cancer can't repair the damage these therapies do to tumors, they will die."

This is the paradox of DNA repair: while a defect in DNA repair can cause cancer, knocking out a number of backup repair systems may make tumors vulnerable to anti-cancer therapies.

"My hope is that our finding of how FEN1 works mechanistically might provide a foundation for a next-generation cancer drug," said Tainer. "We need to cut as many lifelines as pos
'/>"/>

Contact: Mika Ono
mikaono@scripps.edu
858-784-2052
Scripps Research Institute
Source:Eurekalert

Page: 1 2 3 4

Related medicine news :

1. Despite Treatment, Employees with Depression Generate Higher Absentee Costs, According to Thomson Reuters Study
2. American Council on Exercise (ACE) Study Reveals Kettlebells Provide Powerful Workout in Short Amount of Time
3. TV drama can be more persuasive than news program, study finds
4. Study carried out into biological risks of eating reptiles
5. Neuroimaging study may pave way for effective Alzheimers treatments
6. Study finds racial gaps continue in heart disease awareness
7. Luth Researchs IndicatorEDG(TM) Study Finds Americans Hopes of Achieving Their Dreams Are Fading
8. First blinded study of venous insufficiency prevalence in MS shows promising results
9. Soothing infants with food focus of childhood obesity study
10. People with anxiety disorder less able to regulate response to negative emotions, study shows
11. American Heart Association Rapid Access Journal Report: Study Finds Racial Gaps Continue in Heart Disease Awareness, Low Knowledge of Heart Attack Warning Signs Among Women
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/24/2013)... have today released updated guidelines on Hormone Replacement Therapy ... the benefits and the risks. The new guidelines appear ... published by SAGE. , Over the last 11 ... of youth" to being considered extremely risky and only ... of the Women,s Health Initiative (WHI) trial in 2002, ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... May 24, 2013 Today marks the ... online Itinerary Builder. , The redesigned and enhanced ... unique vacation itineraries on their computer or mobile device ... The interactive tool allows users to fill in their ... through and select their choice of vacation packages, accommodations, ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... (PRWEB) May 24, 2013 DiaperBuys.com is ... Baby Photo Contest. Lindsey Willis of Olathe, Kansas, won ... from DiaperBuys. Second prize was a three-month supply ... North Las Vegas, Nev.; and third prize, a one-month ... The contest was run through the company’s Facebook page. ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... 2013 Wednesday, 15th May 2013 | 10am ... to access webinar playback: http://bit.ly/10Rt0ZH , Ongoing regulatory ... markets. Across the globe and particularly in Europe, a number ... M&A activity . For dealmakers, understanding how the likes of ... Tax’ affects your corner of the market will give you ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... 24, 2013 http://www.resource4thepeople.com/defectivedrugs/Zithromax-lawsuits.html ... latest update involving allegations that the use of ... can allegedly cause potentially fatal irregular heart ... May 17, 2013* that Health Canada has joined ... that Zithromax can cause abnormal changes in the ...
Breaking Medicine News(10 mins):Health News:Create and Win the Perfect Halifax Getaway with the All-New Itinerary Builder 2Health News:DiaperBuys.com Announces Photo Contest Winners 2Health News:Register to Access Webinar Playback - The Impact of Financial Regulation on M&A in 2013 2Health News:Register to Access Webinar Playback - The Impact of Financial Regulation on M&A in 2013 3Health News:2013 Alleged Zithromax Arrhythmia and Sudden Death Cases Update: Canadian Health Officials Issue Warning 2Health News:2013 Alleged Zithromax Arrhythmia and Sudden Death Cases Update: Canadian Health Officials Issue Warning 3Health News:2013 Alleged Zithromax Arrhythmia and Sudden Death Cases Update: Canadian Health Officials Issue Warning 4
... now choose a gender of their liking and some can ... procedure developed at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences ... already given proper gender identities as males or females and ... the premier research and referral institute said. ,"Treatment ...
... now looking at lactate with a much more positive ... brain in the immediate //hours after a traumatic brain ... are right, it could change how emergency room physicians ... in the first critical hours after injury. ...
... screen all 20,000-plus human genes for biological activity, scientists have ... cancer cells are to certain chemotherapy drugs.// ,In ... edition of the journal Nature, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical ... molecules – the first used by a university research center ...
... in full bloom, the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head ... can do to cope with the pollen in the air, ... // ,This spring, pollen from blooming trees and plants ... causing itching eyes, sneezing, nasal stuffiness, nasal congestion and drainage, ...
... may result in erectile dysfunction, decreased libido, anemia, sarcopenia, ... ,While a low serum testosterone level is ... hypogonadism on overall physical functioning and fall risk has ... 23 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, Orwoll ...
... than one-third of Queensland men have never been screened for ... ,Screening for colorectal cancer currently has stronger scientific ... prostate or skin cancer, but a new study in the ... undergo the colorectal cancer test than the other two. ...
Cached Medicine News:Health News:New Procedure Paves Way for Eunuchs to Choose a Gender and Conceive 2Health News:Study Challenges Conventional Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury 2Health News:Gene Screening Points Way to More Effective Chemotherapy 2Health News:April Showers Bring May Flowers – And Plenty of Pollen, To 2Health News:Low Serum Testosterone Levels Associated With Fall Risk in Elderly Men 2
(Date:5/24/2013)... , May 24, 2013 The ... for systemic delivery of therapeutic agents has been receiving ... drug delivery showing significant promise. The crucial formulation considerations ... delivery device play a major role in the efficiency ... in the development of new formulation techniques and devices ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... England and BOSTON , May 24, ... discovery and development company, is pleased to announce that it has ... to augment the Company,s business development capabilities in Japan ... more than 15 years of experience in business development, licensing and ... Sciences, Inc., Roche Pharma ( Japan ), Nippon Roche ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... , May 24, 2013 3SBio Inc. ... "Company"), a leading China -based ... marketing biopharmaceutical products, announced today that, at an ... Company,s shareholders voted in favor of the proposal ... and plan of merger dated February 8, 2013, ...
Breaking Medicine Technology:Inhalaltion Drug Delivery: 11-12 September - Berlin, Germany 2Heptares Augments Business Development Capabilities in Japan and Other Asian Territories 23SBio Inc. Announces Shareholders' Approval of the Amended Merger Agreement 23SBio Inc. Announces Shareholders' Approval of the Amended Merger Agreement 3
... Rochester Medical's line of ... intermittent catheters you would ... four product configurations - ... antibacterial hydro - are ...
The latex-free, PVC-free Antibacterial Hydro Personal catheter combines two remarkable innovations into one exclusive catheter that delivers an antibacterial agent while providing the virtually frict...
The Antibacterial Personal Catheter® features a unique silicone composition that provides an antibacterial coated soft outer layer of silicone combined with a firm inner layer....
... Rochester Medical's line ... the intermittent catheters you ... All four product configurations ... and antibacterial hydro - ...
Medicine Products: