LARNER COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT Considered the most lethal form of DNA damage, double-strand breaks must be repaired to prevent cell death. In developing therapies for hard-to-treat breast and ovarian cancers in patients with BRCA gene mutations, scientists aim to identify ways to keep cancer cells from using DNA break repair...
Tag: <span>Enzyme</span>
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Scientists discover key enzyme responsible for skin blistering in the elderly
by University of British Columbia Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The Granzyme B (GzmB) enzyme, which accumulates in certain tissues as we age, has been identified as a driver of itchy and sometimes life-threatening autoimmune conditions known as pemphigoid diseases (PDs), which cause blistering and skin erosion below the skin’s surface. New research led by University of British Columbia...
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Enzyme discovery can help rein in blood vessels that fuel cancer
by The Scripps Research Institute Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Most living things need oxygen to grow and thrive. Even cancerous tumors. That’s why tumors will readily sprout new blood vessels if their oxygen is starved, creating new lifelines for survival. A study published today from Scripps Research pinpoints the precise molecular machinery that makes this happen,...
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Researchers discover enzyme suppressing immune response to viral infections
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA Viruses such as HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C evade or disrupt the immune system to create persistent infections. These viruses remain a serious health threat, but researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine have discovered how an enzyme that regulates several cellular processes might be a key target to preventing viruses...
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Enzyme insight could lead to new diabetes treatment
by Centenary Institute Credit: CC0 Public Domain Research led by the Centenary Institute has discovered that the lack of an enzyme in the liver called sphingosine kinase 2 (SphK2) results in pronounced insulin resistance and glucose intolerance, both symptoms of early stage type 2 diabetes. The findings raises the possibility of a new treatment approach for diabetic...
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Drugging the undruggable: A treatment path for muscular dystrophy
by Yale University Credit: CC0 Public Domain Researchers at Yale have identified a possible treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a rare genetic disease for which there is currently no cure or treatment, by targeting an enzyme that had been considered ‘undruggable.’ The finding appears in the Aug. 25 edition of Science Signaling. DMD is the most...
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Re-engineered enzyme could help reverse damage from stroke, spinal cord injury: U of T study
A team of researchers from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering and the University of Michigan has redesigned and enhanced a natural enzyme that shows promise in promoting the regrowth of nerve tissue following injury. The new version of the enzyme is more stable and could lead to treatments for reversing...
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A metabolic enzyme as a potential new target for cancer immune therapies
by German Cancer Research Center The metabolic enzyme IL4I1 (Interleukin-4-Induced-1) promotes the spread of tumor cells and suppresses the immune system. This was discovered by scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH). The enzyme that activates the dioxin receptor is produced in large quantities by tumor cells....
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Exercise Enhancement
Loss of a specific enzyme increases fat metabolism and exercise endurance in mice. Sugars and fats are the primary fuels that power every cell, tissue, and organ. For most cells, sugar is the energy source of choice, but when nutrients are scarce, such as during starvation or extreme exertion, cells will switch to breaking down...
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Unlocking how cellular proteins control cancer spread
A new insight into cell signals that control cancer growth and migration could help in the search for effective anti-cancer drugs. A McGill-led study reveals key biochemical processes that advance our understanding of colorectal cancer, the third most common cancer among Canadians. Using the CMCF beamline at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University...