Surprise new protein group can slow aging, prevent cancer

Australian scientists have discovered a group of proteins that control telomerase, opening up the possibility of effectively treating cancer and slowing down the aging process.

Scientists at the Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) in Australia have identified a group of proteins that can control the activity of telomerase – an enzyme that protects DNA during cell division. The discovery opens up potential breakthroughs in cancer treatment and slowing the aging process.

Telomerase is responsible for maintaining the length of telomeres - the "protective caps" at the ends of chromosomes, helping to ensure genetic stability each time a cell duplicates. In healthy cells such as stem cells or immune cells, this enzyme is an indispensable companion. But in cancer cells, telomerase is "exploited" to continuously prolong the existence of cells, causing tumors to grow uncontrollably.

According to a study published in the journal Nature Communications, scientists at CMRI discovered three proteins—NONO, SFPQ, and PSPC1—that act as “molecular traffic controllers,” guiding telomerase to the right location on the chromosome. “These proteins act as molecular traffic controllers, ensuring that telomerase reaches the right location within the cell,” Alexander Sobinoff, lead author of the study, said in a statement.

When these proteins are removed from cancer cells, telomerase can no longer maintain telomeres, thereby stopping the cancer cell division process.

Hilda Pickett, head of the telomere length regulation research unit at CMRI and lead author of the study, stressed that understanding how telomerase is controlled could open up new treatment directions not only for cancer, but also for diseases caused by telomere disorders, including many rare genetic diseases and premature aging./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/bat-ngo-nhom-protein-moi-co-the-lam-cham-lao-hoa-ngan-chan-ung-thu-post1047768.vnp