Dendrogenin A (DDA) is a steroidal alkaloid arising from cholesterol and histamine cross-metabolization that the researchers recently discovered.
Tumor Suppressor Gene, Proteins Work Together to Stave Off Cancer
When it comes to genes associated with cancer, none have been studied more extensively than p53, a tumor suppressor gene.
When it comes to genes associated with cancer, none have been studied more extensively than p53, a tumor suppressor gene.
‘Dendrogenin A (DDA) appears as a rare example human metabolite promised to extensive basic research studies and clinical developments.’
In an invited, peer-reviewed article on "Novel anticancer drugs from nature", published in a recent issue of Current Medicinal Chemistry, Sandrine Silvente-Poirot, Florence Dalenc and Marc Poirot, researchers at the "Centre de Recherche en Cancerologie de Toulouse" and "the Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse", gave the rational that led them to conceive, design and discover DDA, and described its pharmacological properties. These researchers recently identified an enzyme involved in cholesterol metabolism as a target of the antitumor drug, Tamoxifen: the cholesterol-5,6-epoxide hydrolase. They postulated that a new metabolic pathway could exist from the metabolic transformation 5,6α-epoxycholesterol (5,6α-EC), a natural oxidation product of cholesterol. A conjugation product of 5,6α-EC with histamine was synthesized to give DDA. DDA showed a strong potency to induce cell differentiation activity at low dose suggesting its possible existence as an endogenous metabolite.
This was next established by these researchers and they found that DDA levels were strongly decreased in tumors suggesting a deregulation in DDA metabolism in cancers. Complementation of this DDA deficiency in tumors xenografted in mice induced a potent anticancer effect at low doses, suggesting a physiological function in maintaining cell integrity and differentiation. DDA is the first steroidal alkaloid found to date in mammals. Its discovery reveals the existence of a new metabolic pathway in mammals at the crossroads of cholesterol and histamine metabolism that leads to the production of a metabolic tumor suppressor.
Protein Interaction Defines an Aggressive Brain Tumor Subtype
Scientists identified why the proteins Myc and MycN, which were generally considered to be interchangeable, lead to two distinct subtypes of medulloblastoma.
Scientists identified why the proteins Myc and MycN, which were generally considered to be interchangeable, lead to two distinct subtypes of medulloblastoma.
Stanford Scientists� New Infrared Dye Improves Imaging of Vasculature, Tumors
Scientists at Stanford have now developed a new set of dyes that can perform better than indocyanine green while being rapidly washed away by the body.
Scientists at Stanford have now developed a new set of dyes that can perform better than indocyanine green while being rapidly washed away by the body.
Can a Brain Tumor Take a Person�s Sense of Humor Away?
Andrew was a fun-loving guy who loved to crack jokes, but suddenly he found that he could no longer remember his favorite jokes or funny remarks.
Andrew was a fun-loving guy who loved to crack jokes, but suddenly he found that he could no longer remember his favorite jokes or funny remarks.
