:Genetics

The scientists in the IFOM-IEO campus had disclosed the function of a protein that was indispensable to pass in an accurate copy of genome of the mother to the stacks of the son. This study, published in the stack, he opens above of the new avenues of the research reducing toxicity of chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer.

The protein can be compared with lasso of a cattle tender: constraint chromosomes and mooring cable them it a structure transitory mounted during the stack division. A time that had been moored ordenadamente above, chromosomes waits the extremity of replication to be distributed ingualmente enters the two stacks of the son. But if lasso not to stop them, chromosomes above finishes aleatria to be exhausted, with disastrous effect genetic potential: if the stacks to survive this, receive inheritance genetic wrong, with consequences dire. The structure and the function of this lasso chromosomal had been discovered in Milan, in the campus of IFOM-IEO (these hosts the laboratories of the institute of FIRC of molecular foundation IFOM of oncology and the European institute of oncology IEO) and these findings had been published only in the prestigious scientific periodical, stack. “we have studied a called molecule Ndc80 we explain Andrea Musacchio, main author of the study, and head of a group of research in the department of oncology experimental (IEO). This protein is a necessary player key for the correct distribution of inheritance genetic. Ndc80 could potential be used as a target for toxic the new drugs that would have few side-effects of that the current drugs, such as paclitaxel (called originally taxol), that they act mainly as inhibiting of replication of the stack.” The operative word is here ‘ mainly ‘. Although many used drugs in chemotherapy traditional act in the targets molecular that are in involved in the duplication of the stacks (during a known phase as ‘ mitosis ‘), these targets also have other cellular functions. Ndc80, in the other hand, only executes its work during the mitosis. Thus, obstructing Ndc80, the only stacks that would be affected would be dividing. All the other stacks would not be affected. Musacchio and its colleagues (together with the co-author PeterWulf and its team of research) are testing already a substance number that had been able to be able to obstruct the action of Ndc80. Findings published was a truily international effort that involves groups of research of England and U.S.A.; much of the work was made possible gratefulness to the financial sustentation of the Italian association for the research of cancer (AIRC).

TREATMENT Of the MITOSIS And the CHEMOTHERAPY FOR the CANCER

“we have studied the mechanisms that regulate the accurate duplication of genome per many years we explain Musacchio now. Our hope must discover new drugs, more less toxic for chemotherapy. The stacks of cancer grow in a much more fast tax of that the normal stacks and the traditional drugs of chemotherapy, as paclitaxel, obstructs this process of the stack division. Efficacy of these drugs depends on the differences in the taxes of growth of the normal one and the stacks on cancer. This means that paclitaxel is toxic for all the stacks that if they submit to the mitosis; however, since that the majority of stacks mitotic in patients of cancer is really stacks of cancer, it follows that this drug will make the majority of its damages in stacks of cancer. The problem is that paclitaxel acts in the proteins that are essential not only so that the stacks if they divide, but also for other phases of the cycle of the stack. This means that the drug has toxicity associated significant, something that we would prevent to rather. We hypothesized that Ndc80 was only active during the stack division, that is because we think that he could be an interesting target to study. E our results had proved them for the right. We discover that Ndc80 acts as a type of lasso molecular that tethers chromosomes to the axle mitotic, a molecular structure this only gives form during the mitosis. Chromosomes of the Ndc80 braces firmly in the axle until the dividing stacks separates; after this period of training, is not of not more use to the stack. Thus, if we to intervene with the Ndc80, us we can significantly reduce ‘ the window so-called of toxicity ‘.” All the drug that to inhibit the function of Ndc80 would be consequently much specific tumor-more of that currently available treatments. “PeterWulf and I continue Musacchio have celebrated already some interesting molecules. Ours inside work of vitro needs now to be validated in living creature, first in models of the laboratory, and then in clinical experimentations standard.”

STRATEGY IN CHANGE: OF TARGETS THERAPEUTIC TO DRUGS THERAPEUTIC

Musacchio and the colleagues had made a forward important stage in understanding the functionings molecular of the normal one and the stacks of cancer. This work is the point to start for the development of new drugs. But, as this scientist indicates, the needed skill to obtain this last stage is lacking sorely in Italian environments academic of the research. “the development of the new drug explains Musacchio depends on the mutual interaction of chemistries and the biologists. The Italian research academic still not capitalized in this, and the academy limits it the identification of targets therapeutic. When this will be a necessary stage and important, the development of new drugs is left in the great hands of the pharmaceutical company.”

This situation is unacceptable. The Italian research academic (that, for the free definition, and lucr-no is lead) can and must also focus in selecting for the molecules that can interact with the new-identified targets to inhibit them. To add to the insult the wound, such composites are neglected frequent by pharmaceutical company, when they do not fall inside of its strategies of the production. Musacchio and the strategy of Of Wulf in its hunting for the molecules that can inhibit Ndc80, exemplifies what it needs to be made. But, unhappyly, its approach is not adopted generally in Italy, and the opening between the basic and translational or applied research always grows wider. Musacchio uses a vivid metaphor to describe the situation: “we discover mountains to scale, but we do not have the needed equipment to guarantee the success of our expeditions”. We do not have underestimate the value of the collections of composites hidden moved away in laboratories from chemistry academic; these could be public available facts. Mussacchio concli: “a contribution of this type would be invaluable for the international research and a culminating accomplishment for our nation”.

AN INTERNATIONAL CONTRIBUTION

Findings collaborative is the result of an effort enters the campus of IFOM-IEO and the university of North.carolina (U.S.A.), the university of state of Colorado (U.S.A.), Mr. William Dunn School of pathology (Joined Kingdom), of the center of the confidence of Wellcome for the biology of the stack in the university of Edimburgo (Joined Kingdom) and in the university of London (Joined Kingdom). The research was financed not only by AIRC, but also by the international association for the research of cancer, the foundation of Telethon and ministry of Italian health.

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