When targeting cancer genes, home in on the one percent
Wednesday, July 27, 2016 - 14:01
in Biology & Nature
Drugs that stop the overproduction of proteins by cancer cells may shut them down, but it also shuts down production of essential proteins in healthy cells. Researchers have found a protein with an active site that opens and initiates translation only when the protein binds to a small subset of mRNAs -- those critical to regulating the growth and proliferation of cell. Drugs to block this protein may allow a more targeted drug approach, say the investigators.