Ada Yonath of the Peptides: For a decade she did not give up, and then came the breakthrough
An Israeli researcher decided to prove biological significance to peptides and after a decade of research also found a way to inhibit the development of cancer cells.
Now her research is gaining resonance in the scientific world
Walla!
health
02/01/2022
Sunday, 02 January 2022, 07:22 Updated: 09:12
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Peptides are short chains of amino acids.
In the past, studies have shown that some have a specific role related to proteins, but so far have not been able to prove that peptides have a biological role of their own.
Prof. Etta Livneh of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev challenged this perception of peptides and for a decade she searched for their additional role, believing she must find out what their importance is.
After a long journey, she was able to find that the peptides inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells.
Her discovery was published in the prestigious journal PNAS.
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To the full article
The research group of Prof. Etta Livneh, from the Faculty of Health Sciences at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, decided to investigate the subject despite its long-term nature, with great difficulty in locating small peptides and the possibility that pottery would be found in its findings.
Today, however, the subject is gaining momentum and gaining much interest in light of the possibility that it will make it possible to locate a new source of biological drugs.
Finally there is evidence that peptides have a biological role of their own.
Cancer cells (Photo: ShutterStock)
This study group was the first to isolate and demonstrate the role of a short peptide as an inhibitor of a network of proteins with enzymatic activity responsible for adding phosphorus to proteins and thus altering their activity.
Adding phosphorus to molecules triggers many processes in cells, including transmitting signals and messages in cells.
These signaling pathways critique key processes in cells, such as: cell division, cell death and especially cancer.
In doing so, the researchers were able to point to the existence of a new control system in cells by natural peptides originating in an area that does not encode the major protein.
Through experiments performed on mice and human cells, they demonstrated the action of the peptide as an inhibitor of cancer cell survival, an inhibitor of tumor progression and even the spread of metastases.
This ability of the peptide to act as an inhibitor is due to its sequence.
His examination showed that he contained a sequence of amino acids, a kind of 'fingerprint' found in all protein kinase C enzymes.
Surprisingly, this ‘fingerprint’ was found on the short peptide, suggesting that it may serve as a specific inhibitor of phosphorus activity in the protein network.
Proteins transmit information within the cells that dictates the fate of the cell.
Hence, a substance that inhibits the activity of these proteins also blocks the chain of instructions transmitted in the cell by them.
In this way, if the protein signals the cancer cell to divide and proliferate, then inhibition of the protein will allow the cancer cells to slow down.
The peptide works in combination with chemotherapy
The researchers were able to show that the short peptide can inhibit the development of breast cancer in mice, as well as the development of healthy cancer metastases in mice.
In addition, it has been suggested that treatment of breast cancer cells by the peptide may result in their death.
The peptide appears to work in combination with chemotherapy to accelerate cell mortality, as it has been shown not to allow the DNA repair system to function properly.
"What we found is just the tip of the iceberg."
Prof. Etta Livne (Photo: Shai Shmueli, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev)
"Some of the biologic drugs currently used in cancer treatment are based on inhibiting the activity of protein kinase molecules," explained Prof. Livne. "A clear demonstration of the role of the peptide we found is just the tip of the iceberg. Discover the role of many more. "
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Prof. Etta Livneh is a member of the Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Genetics Shraga Segal in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
The study was conducted in collaboration with Prof. Esti Jaeger-Lotem from the Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Pharmacology and Prof. Moshe Alkabetz in the Faculty of Health Sciences, students and other researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and the Faculty of Natural Sciences: Divya Ram Jiaram, Sigal Frost, Hanama Liegst, Vig , Nickil Ponware Anto, Amita Moraldaren, Assaf Ben-Ari, Rose Sinai, Ilan Smoly, Ofra Novoflansky, Noah Iskov, Dr. Deborah Toiber and Chen Caesar. The study was supported by the Israel Science Foundation.
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