JIC Scientists Discover Gateway Enzyme for Anti-cancer Drug Production
November 28, 2012| |
John Innes Centre (JIC) researchers found a natural enzyme that make powerful chemicals from catnip (Nepeta cataria) to a drug known as vinblastine. These powerful chemicals are known as iridoids, which have anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial effects. In addition, the chemicals are also similar to sex pheromone produced by aphids. Such chemicals can be used to destroy the breeding cycle of aphids or to fend them off from crops.
To maximize the biotechnological potential of iridoid chemicals, a study was conducted by Sarah O'Connor and other JIC scientists. They discovered that the enzyme iridoid synthase is the one responsible for the production of the iridoid chemicals, and how the gene encoding them is expressed through biochemical assays, gene silencing, co-expression analysis, and localization studies. Results of the study could help in large-scale production of iridoids in plants and organisms for agricultural and pharmaceutical use.
Find our more details about the study at http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature11692.html and http://news.jic.ac.uk/2012/11/gateway-enzyme-for-chemicals/.
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