Oct. 10, 2008 Scientists have created a peptide that binds to
Bcl-2, a protein that protects cancer cells from programmed cell
death, and converts it into a cancer cell killer. The Bcl-2
protein has long been implicated in protecting cancer cells from
apoptosis (programmed cell death), the process that usually
keeps cancer cells in check. This peptide (called NuBCP-9) and
its enantiomer (mirror-image molecule) work on Bcl-2 like a
molecular switch, converting it into a pro-apoptotic protein,
and inducing cell death in cancer cells. “Our results provide
insight into Bcl-2 conversion and identify a new direction for
Bcl-2-based drug leads and cancer drug development,” said Xiao-
kun Zhang, Ph.D. of the Burnham Institute for Medical Research,
who co-authored the paper with Arnold Satterthwait, Ph.D. and
others. The NuBCP-9 peptide was created from Nur77, a potent
pro-apoptotic protein. Nur77 often moves from the nucleus to
mitochondria, in response to different death signals, where it
binds to Bcl-2, changing its