Scientists discover proteins that could halt cancer growth, slow ageing
text_fields
New Delhi: In a major scientific breakthrough, researchers from the Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) in Sydney have identified a group of proteins that could significantly reshape treatment strategies for cancer and age-related diseases.
The Australian team discovered that these proteins play a critical role in regulating telomerase — an enzyme essential for protecting DNA during cell division. Telomerase is responsible for maintaining the ends of chromosomes, known as telomeres, which are crucial for genetic stability. By adding DNA to telomeres, the enzyme shields chromosomes from damage, supporting cell health and longevity.
While telomerase is vital for the normal functioning of stem cells and certain immune cells, it is also exploited by cancer cells to multiply uncontrollably. The CMRI study sheds new light on this dual role by identifying a set of proteins that govern the activity and location of telomerase in cells.
Published in the journal Nature Communications, the study revealed that three proteins — NONO, SFPQ, and PSPC1 — are instrumental in guiding telomerase to the ends of chromosomes. Disrupting these proteins in cancer cells interferes with telomere maintenance, potentially halting their growth.
“Our findings show that these proteins act like molecular traffic controllers, making sure telomerase reaches the right destination inside the cell,” said Alexander Sobinoff, the study’s lead author. “Without these proteins, telomerase can’t properly maintain telomeres, a finding which has significant implications for healthy aging and cancer progression.”
Hilda Pickett, senior author of the study and head of CMRI’s Telomere Length Regulation Unit, emphasised that understanding the control mechanisms of telomerase opens promising new pathways for developing therapies targeting cancer, ageing, and genetic disorders related to telomere dysfunction.
This discovery marks a significant step forward in the understanding of telomerase biology and offers fresh hope for innovative treatments that could extend healthy lifespan and combat some of the world’s deadliest diseases.
With IANS inputs
