Scientists Engineer Algae to Produce Anti-Cancer Drug

University of California San Diego scientists reported the successful development of a genetically engineered algae (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii) that produces a complex and expensive human therapeutic drug for cancer. According to Stephen Mayfield, one of the researchers, this breakthrough provides an opportunity to significantly bring down the price of the drug.

The method was specifically used for algae because it won't work with bacteria or even in mammalian cells. The same group of researchers produced complex proteins such as mammalian serum amyloid, human antibody protein, and malarial vaccine from green algae. But this time, they developed a a three-dimensional protein which has two domains. One domain contains an antibody that can attach to a cancer cell while the other domain has a toxin that kills the attached cells. Such "fusion proteins" are used by pharmaceutical companies.

The fusion protein developed by the researchers are currently being utilized by pharmaceutical companies with a projected price of over US$100,000. With the use of algae in production, the drug will cost much cheaper than the projected price.

For more details, read the article at http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressreleases/biologists_engineer_algae_to_make_complex_anti-cancer_designer_drug.