Tuesday, August 4, 2009 San Diego researchers have identified an
enzyme that suppresses several cancers, include leukemia. It was
a discovery both dramatic and accidental. SAN DIEGO San Diego
researchers have identified an enzyme that suppresses several
cancers, include leukemia. It was a discovery both dramatic and
accidental. Scientists at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and
Immunology were testing the PLC-beta 3 enzyme for it's role in
causing allergies. But they found that when lab mice were bred
to not have the enzyme, they developed cancerous tumors. It
turns out this enzyme suppresses the overproduction of blood
cells that can lead to cancers like lymphoma and leukemia.
Molecular biologist Toshiaki Kawakami lead the research team. He
said this discovery could theoretically lead to therapies that
give people more protection against cancers of the blood. In
fact, Kawakami said he was able to deliver the enzyme into the
bodies of lab mice, and that did inhibit cancer development.
Kawakami's discovery i