Scientists Discover New Way to Understand How a Leukemia Drug Works

Topic: Medicine

Researchers at CeMM and Oxford University found that a protein called NUDT5 plays a key role in how cells respond to the leukemia drug 6-thioguanine. They used a new method to remove NUDT5 from cells, which protected them from the toxic effects of the drug.

For over 70 years, doctors have been using the drug 6-thioguanine (6-TG) to treat leukemia. But despite its widespread use, scientists still didn't fully understand how it worked. A team of researchers at the CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine in Austria and the University of Oxford wanted to figure out why some cells are killed by the drug while others can withstand it.

They focused on a protein called NUDT5, which is involved in cellular metabolism. The researchers used a new method called targeted protein degradation to remove NUDT5 from cells. This allowed them to see how the cells responded without NUDT5 present.

The results were surprising: removing NUDT5 protected the cells from the toxic effects of 6-TG. But blocking NUDT5's enzymatic activity had little effect on how the cells responded to the drug. The researchers also found that another protein, NUDT15, has an opposing effect on how cells respond to 6-TG.

The study suggests that NUDT5 plays a crucial role in how cells respond to thiopurine drugs like 6-TG. This could have important implications for patient therapy and the development of new treatments.

Why It Matters

This discovery could lead to better treatment options for leukemia patients in India, where cancer is a major health concern. Understanding how NUDT5 works could also help scientists develop new drugs that target specific proteins involved in cellular metabolism.

Key Facts

• The drug 6-thioguanine (6-TG) has been used to treat leukemia for over 70 years.
• Researchers at CeMM and Oxford University found that a protein called NUDT5 plays a key role in how cells respond to 6-TG.
• Removing NUDT5 from cells protected them from the toxic effects of 6-TG.
• The study suggests that NUDT5 is involved in cellular metabolism, but its exact function is still not fully understood.
• The discovery could have important implications for patient therapy and the development of new treatments.

Key Terms

Targeted protein degradation

A method used to remove specific proteins from cells without affecting other cellular processes.

NUDT5

A protein involved in cellular metabolism that plays a key role in how cells respond to thiopurine drugs like 6-TG.

Implications

This discovery could lead to better treatment options for leukemia patients in India, where cancer is a major health concern. Understanding how NUDT5 works could also help scientists develop new drugs that target specific proteins involved in cellular metabolism.