Korean Scientists Find Gene to Kill Cancer Cells
By Kim Yoo-chul
Staff Reporter
A South Korean research team has found a gene that can kill cancer cells, paving the way for a more effective way to treat cancer.
A group of South Korean scientists led by Seoul National University professor Jung Yong-keun has successfully found that the gene, mitochondrial adenylate kinase 2 (AK2), mediates apoptosis, which is a form of programmed cell death in multicellular organisms. This signals the effective tracing of a pathway for tumor cells.
Apoptosis is a cell suicide pathway, which plays an important role in human development and the development of diseases.
Researchers say apoptosis removes damaged or unwanted cancer cells from the body, which helps to protect the living organism.
``The AK2-mediated apoptosis pathway was defective in some tumor cells, probably contributing to the tumor development by preventing apoptosis,’’ Jung told The Korea Times, Monday.
``When this pathway was reconstituted, tumor cells became again sensitized to apoptosis induced by use of chemical substances to treat disease,’’ the researcher added.
Jung and his colleagues are positive that the new finding could be useful in mass-producing drugs soon. The research result, which is designed to regulate the AK2-mediated apoptosis pathway, will help curb the development of tumors and stimulate their treatment, according to Jung.
The breakthrough was featured in the online edition of Nature Cell Biology, an international peer-reviewed journal.