Northern Leopard Frog is Looking Like a Prince to Bath’s Brain Cancer Researchers
The key to developing the world’s first drug treatment for brain tumors may be hiding inside of the Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens). Scientists from the University of Bath UK and the Alfacell Corporation (NASDAQ: ACEL) have produced a synthetic version of a molecule which is found naturally in the egg cells of the frog. The molecule, known as Amphinase, recognizes the sugary coating on tumor cells and binds to its surface, ultimately inactivating the cell’s RNA and killing the tumor. According to Professor Ravi Acharya, from the Department of Biology and Biochemistry at the University of Bath,
“It is rather like Mother Nature’s very own magic bullet for recognizing and destroying cancer cells. It is highly specific at hunting and destroying tumor cells, is easily synthesised in the laboratory and offers great hope as a therapeutic treatment of the future.”
Most likely, the Amphinase treatment would be administered as an injection at the tumor site. According to the research to date, it would have no effect on other cells because it can only bind to the sugary coating of the tumor cells.
Results of the research can be found in the Journal of Molecular Biology.
Source: University of Bath
Related Links: News-Medical.Net
Tags: Ribonuclease oocytes Dr Umesh Singh Dr Daniel Holloway
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