RNA to stop cell growth

2007/03/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Genetika
• Medikuntza

They do not know the function of most human DNA, as it does not encode proteins. Therefore it was called DNA garbage. In recent times, however, they have seen that junk DNA generates about five hundred thousand types of rnas, although they do not know their function. Progress has also been made in the study of these RNA and they are realizing that they are more important than expected.

At Oxford University they have worked with one of these types of rns and have seen that it can activate or inhibit a gene that regulates cell dubbing. The gene that regulates this RNA encodes the enzyme DHFR (reductive dihydrofolate). This same enzyme is the cause of the tumor in certain types of cancer, as it produces rapid cell duplication.

In fact, one of the drugs used against cancer aims to inhibit this enzyme. Researchers believe that if instead of acting against the enzyme, they manage to inhibit or extinguish the DHFR gene through RNA, they could move towards the development of new cancer treatments.