Cell Biology

Gene causing tumors by "double-whammy" mechanism also reveals the key to a cure

Published in Cancer Weekly, February 10th, 2004

Scientists at the Babraham Institute have discovered that a tiny change in a protein involved in cell survival is responsible for abnormal cell activity in the early stages of cancer.

The protein, known as Bcl-xL, normally protects cells from dying; and when the DNA in cells becomes damaged, Bcl-xL is modified so that it no longer keeps the cells alive. Hence, the cells with damaged DNA usually die, so preventing them from becoming cancer cells.

However, in the presence of a particular cancer gene, the usual modification of Bcl-xL following DNA damage doesn't occur, so cells with DNA damage are kept alive, resulting in cancer.

The...

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Source: Cancer Weekly (2004-02-10)

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