A new discovery by researcher at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute could pave the way fornatural anti - cancer fightingusing a protein called p53 .
The finding , publish inNature Communications , present that an anti - oxidant particle find ingreen teacalled epigallocatechin gallate ( EGCG ) at once interact and increases levels of p53 , an important protein that is often nonadaptive incancer .
“ Both p53 and EGCG mote are exceedingly interesting . Mutations in p53 are found in over 50 % of human cancer , while EGCG is the major antioxidant in green tea , a popular beverage worldwide , ” say ProfessorChunyu Wang , the represent author of the subject , in astatement . “ Now we find that there is a antecedently unidentified , unmediated fundamental interaction between the two , which points to a raw path for recrudesce anti - cancer drugs . Our work helps to explain how EGCG is able to supercharge p53 ’s anti - cancer activity , open up the door to developing drugs with EGCG - like chemical compound . ”
The p53 protein has important anti - cancer belongings and because of the proteins ' very flexible shape on its N - terminal end , it can perform various dissimilar function in prison cell . It facilitates DNA stamping ground and initiates cell death when DNA ca n’t be repaired , a unconscious process call caspase-mediated cell death . It also stop cell growth when thing go wrong , all map that go astray in cancer due to mutations or changes in p53 activity in cells .
P53 is normally present at depressed levels in cells . This is due to a natural cycle of product and degradation of the protein . When the N - depot of the protein interact with a mote call MDM2 , p53 is rapidly break up down . This leads to comparatively low levels of p53 in cells but enough to do its functions under normal conditions . However , in cancer , a slew of these function go into overdrive , and if more p53 were available at this period , more could be done to battle cancer at a molecular level .
Now the new findings have indicate that EGCG molecules present in abundance in unripe tea can prevent the degradation of p53 by interact with the N - terminal final stage of the protein .
“ Both EGCG and MDM2 bind at the same space on p53 , the N - terminal domain of a function , so EGCG competes with MDM2 , ” said Wang . “ When EGCG adhere with p53 , the protein is not being demean through MDM2 , so the level of p53 will increase with the direct fundamental interaction with EGCG , and that means there is more p53 for anti - cancer function . This is a very important fundamental interaction . ”
The finding shape an important apprehension of the molecular interaction of p53 and antioxidants and how the N - terminal of the protein might be used as a alterative butt in thefight against genus Cancer .
“ By developing an discernment of the molecular - spirit level mechanisms that moderate key biochemical interactions unite to annihilating unwellness such as Crab and Alzheimer ’s disease , Chunyu ’s research is laying the groundwork for raw and successful therapy , ” Curt Breneman , doyen of the Rensselaer School of Science reason out .
