Scientists create new antibodies to fight breast cancer

New York: The laboratory of Professor Nicholas Tonks has identified an antibody that can suppress an enzyme that may aid the spread of some breast tumors. With more research, the antibody may be able to provide a viable therapeutic treatment for similar breast cancers. The new antibody targets PTPRD, an enzyme that is highly active in some breast tumors. PTPRD is a member of the protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) family of molecules, which aid in the regulation of many cellular functions. Also read- NDA government has made it its priority to bridge this gap: PM Narendra Modi They accomplish this by collaborating with enzymes called kinases to regulate the behavior of other proteins within cells. Kinases are enzymes that add small chemical regulators called phosphates to proteins. PTP removes them. Disruptions in the addition or removal of phosphates may contribute to inflammation, diabetes, and cancer. Some disruptions can be corrected with kinase-inhibiting drugs. Also read- 45% students and 21% teachers remain absent: Shiksha Setu “People have been targeting eunuchs for 25, 30 years,” Tonks explains. “This is a billion-dollar industry. But many challenges still remain. In cancer, patients will respond to these types of kinase inhibitors and then, after a period of time, resistance develops.” Drugs that regulate PTP activity can have a major impact on human health. However, developing such drugs has been difficult. Tonks has studied PTPs since their discovery as a postdoctoral researcher. He calls enzymes “an untapped resource for drug development.” Also Read- Assam: Health Scheme for Employees and Pensioners under MMLSAJ Many enzymes can be shut down with small molecules that are designed to capture and block the part of the enzyme that does its job. But that won’t work for a PTP like PTPRD. Therefore, alternative strategies are necessary. To inhibit PTPRD activity, graduate student Zhe Qian designed a new type of PTP inhibitor. They targeted the enzyme with a synthetic antibody – a molecule that recognizes and binds to its target in a particular way. Also read- MPLADS fund worth Rs 21.59 crore remains unused in Assam PTPRD molecules reside in the outer membranes of cells, with fragments protruding in and out. Qian designed his antibody to simultaneously capture two PTPRD molecules from outside a cell. Qian and his colleagues in the Tonks lab showed that when the antibody binds to its target, it pulls the pair of PTPRD proteins together into an inactive configuration. This not only prevents PTPRD from working but also leads to destruction of the protein. The team has shown that once this happens, breast cancer cells grown in the laboratory become less aggressive. (ANI)