Researchers from the University of Toronto (U of T) are harnessing the power of proteins to stop cancer cells in their tracks. The team is especially interested in proteases, enzymes that chew up old or misfolded proteins and act as cellular quality control. Using the CMCF beamline at the Canadian Light Source, the researchers identified compounds that hyperactivate proteases, thereby causing cell disfunction and ultimately, cell death. By targeting the cell’s self-destruct button, the work points the way to the design of a new approach to cancer therapy.
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