Fungi has become notorious blame for the “mummy curse” now a promising treatment

In the twenties of the twentieth century, a number of workers in the excavation team met that discovered the tomb of King Totkhhamon for unbearable death. After five decades, 10 out of 12 worlds died after entering tomb From the fifteenth century Polish King Casemir IV. Either way, the researchers suggested that fungal germs can play a role In exactly mysterious deaths to set Fungi Aspergillus Flavus Inside the Polish burial.

A. Falafus You are now returning to a return, but not as a vigilant fight from the old graves, but instead as an amazing effective cancer compound. By modifying a newly identified molecule found in fungi, the researchers created an effective compound against leukemia cells such as FDA drugs.

The molecules in the midst of these anti -cancer properties, known as the peptides that were manufactured after the ribosome and promoted, or RippsIt is a variety of natural molecules assembled by ribosome (which makes proteins) and later modified by enzymes. They perform many different biological activities, some of which are already known to combat cancer Ownership.

To date, the researchers only identified a handful of Ripps in fungi – which are much lower than thousands previously discovered in bacteria. Part of the problem is that scientists have not fully understood how to create fungi.

“The synthesis of these compounds is complicated,” said Qiuyue Nie, a post -PhD fellow in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biomatic molecules at the University of Pennsylvania. statement. “But this also gives them this wonderful vital activity.”

The genetic analysis suggested that it is specific A. Falafus Protein can be a source of fungal equestrian. Certainly, when Ni and her colleagues extinguished the genes responsible for the aforementioned protein, the chemical Ripps signs also disappeared. Using this approach, the team discovered four different A. Falafus Ripps with previously undocumented structure of interlocking rings. After the researchers cleared this Ripps, which they called Asperigimycins, two of the four unique particles were performed well against human leukemia cells without further adjustments.

When mixed with fat (fatty molecule), Ripz is separate The variable is implemented as well as cyttarbin and Daunorubicin, both of them are a drug and drug management approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To investigate the properties of strengthening this fat, researchers have returned to stop the genes. In this way, they identified a gene associated with the process that allows enough asperigimycins in cancer cells.

“This gene is behaving like a gate,” said Ni, the first study author published on Monday. Nature chemical biology. “Not only Asperigimycins helps enter the cells, but also enables other” periodic peptides “to do the same.” Periodic peptides are other chemicals with well -known medical properties. Ni added: “Knowing that fats can affect how this gene will transfer chemicals to cells, which gives us another tool for the development of the drug.”

The researchers also discovered that asperigimycins may disrupt the cell division process – which is good news for cancer treatment, because cancer consists of uncontrolled cell division. Moreover, vehicles had no effect on breast, liver or lung cancer cells, as well as a number of bacteria and fungi. Although this may seem negative, the effect of Asperigimycins, which is likely to be the target, will be an important characteristic of future drugs. Moving forward, researchers aim to test asperigimycins in animal experiments.

The recent study is looking for a promising treatment for a new cancer, but it also paves the way for future research in fungal medications.

“Nature has given us this amazing pharmacy,” said Sherry Gao, author of the study, and also a associate professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biomatic molecules at the University of Pennsylvania. “It is up to us to reveal its secrets.”