Korean Scientists Discover Clue to Fighting Cancer
Published: September 21, 2005
A team of Korean geneticists have discovered a critical factor in curbing the formation of cancerous cells in the body, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Cancer Center said Tuesday. The scientists led by the center’s Jang Yeon-kyu found that genes known as small ubiquitin-like modifiers or SUMO play a critical role in the process.
The research results were published in the September edition of the journal Molecular Cell. The genes’ abbreviation taken from traditional Japanese wrestling is apt given the genes’ characteristic to stick to various proteins involved in cell activities and change their functions.
Cancer is mainly caused by the mutation of genes by carcinogens, but it has recently been discovered that it can also occur due to a change in chromosomes, the larger structures made up by several genes, without mutation in the genes themselves.
The research team discovered that SUMO genes adhere to chromosomes to stabilize them and prevent the formation of cancer when a disorder in the chromosomes occurs. If the SUMO genes fail to wrestle the disorder in the chromosomes into submission, it continues to develop and causes cancer.
Dr. Jang said the discovery could help in the development of medicines that kill cancerous cells by activating SUMO genes.
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