Proteins that can block cancer gene
Monash University scientists have identified two proteins that can block a gene involved in cancer development. The proteins, Smad3 and c-Myc, can switch off a gene that is essential to the multiplication of cancer cells.
The protein telomerase is now believed to play a vital role in the proliferation of cancer cells. Telomerase controls the lifespan of cells by modifying structures called telomeres, which are found at the end of chromosomes.
Telomerase abounds in stem cells, allowing them to divide without limit, which is a necessary step in the repair of damaged or worn-out human tissue but one in which tumours also form.
If the production of telomerase can be controlled, cancer cells and therefore cancer formation can also be controlled.
