Breakthrough in Jena: New enzyme discovered for effective cancer drugs!

Breakthrough in Jena: New enzyme discovered for effective cancer drugs!

An exciting advance in cancer research comes from Jena. An important enzyme responsible for the biotechnological production of iridoids was discovered at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology. These plant substances play a central role in the development of anticancer drugs, especially the well-known vinblastine, which is widely used in oncology. But what are iridoids anyway? They belong to a class of terpenes that protect plants from predators, bacteria and fungi. At the same time, they have an anti-inflammatory effect and are found in foods such as olives and blueberries, MDR reports.

After 15 years of intensive research under the leadership of Sarah O’Connor, the time had finally come: the research team had clarified a crucial step in the biosynthesis of iridoids. The requirements for this were unclear for a long time; Experts assumed that the cyclization of iridoids occurred spontaneously, but new research provides evidence that this process may indeed be catalyzed by an enzyme. Erica Chloée Tymen, one of the researchers, was able to show that a specific gene actually triggers this cyclization reaction, which represents a real breakthrough. This is also where Robin Buell's data came into play, which helped in the selection of the enzyme candidates and led to the discovery of the crucial enzyme, VBIO mentioned.

Biological significance of iridoids

Their diverse biological activities show how important iridoids can be for health. These compounds not only provide protection against microbes and viruses, but also show therapeutic potential in various diseases, including cancer, neurological and cardiovascular diseases. Interesting studies have already shown that iridoid glycosides such as oleuropein and aucubin show anti-proliferation and apoptotic effects in tumor cells. They have the ability to inhibit cell migration and invasion, which is crucial for combating metastasis. They can also suppress the formation of new blood vessels, which are important for tumor growth, as PMC explains.

The discovery of the enzyme could not only advance research, but also revolutionize the biotechnological production of therapeutic iridoids. Scientists have already made initial progress in producing nepetalactol and the related cancer drugs vinblastine and vincristine in yeast and other plant species. This paves a way to make the production of these important medicines sustainable and cost-effective.

Looking into the future of cancer research

The importance of this research cannot be underestimated. As cancer becomes a growing global challenge, bioengineered iridoids could offer a new hope for the treatment of this disease. Despite the promising results, there are still many open questions: How exactly does the evolution of the cyclization function take place? The exact effect on the tumor microenvironment and the immune response also remains to be researched further.

Readers can be curious to see what steps science will take in the future. Research at the Max Planck Institute shows us once again that we are only at the beginning of cancer research - perhaps on the way to new treatment options that could give medicine decisive impetus.