Peptides, which cells do not produce because they are too toxic or have no function, may find application in oncology, reports New Scientist.
Greg Hampikian from Boise State University in Boise analyzed the genomes of all organisms whose sequences are publicly available. He was able to find out which peptides composed of five amino acids are not produced in nature. As it turned out, out of 3,2 million possible combinations, 198 are never synthesized. These are so-called nullomers – the sequences that code for them have been eliminated in the course of evolution.
As it turned out, two of these peptides, named 9R and 9S1, are particularly effective against cancer cells. Moreover, over time, cancer cells become more and more sensitive to them, while healthy cells become more and more resistant to them. Within 48 hours, the levels of peptides needed to kill half of the breast and prostate cancer cells had dropped threefold, while the healthy blood and skin cells regained immunity.
Further research has shown that the fatal peptides disrupt energy production in the mitochondria – the energy centers of cells. It is possible that they also work in a different way. Scientists want to increase the healing capabilities of nullomers by modifying their structure. However, they assume that if they prove effective, they will be used along with other medications. (PAP)
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