Maeder, Thomas. Sweet medicines. Scientific American. Jul
Since the deciphering of the human genome, much of research on it has been transferred to the study of the proteome, the proteins made from the genetic "blueprints" stored in our cells. After all, proteins carry out most of the work in the body and understanding how they behave should help researchers figure out how to treat most illnesses. However, cells not only consist of genes and proteins, but also of carbohydrates (sugars) and lipids (fats). Carbohydrates, which were once regarded as energy-yielding molecules, are now known to combine with the cell surfaces and influence cell-to-cell communication, the immune system, the ability of various agents to make us sick, and the progression of cancer. Even at the simplest level, a better understanding and control of sugars improves existing therapies. Enhanced control of sugars improves the effectiveness of proteins made by recombinant DNA. To work effectively, certain proteins must have particular sugars attached to the
Researchers today are exploring several sugar-related strategies for fighting cancer. For example, malignant cells often display incomplete or abnormal sugars on their surface. Researchers are therefore attempting to incorporate such sugars into vaccines that would induce the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells with those sugars. The team at M.I.T. recently showed that heparan sulfates, sugars found on normal and malignant cells, can enhance or limit cancer growth depending on how those sugars are split by cellular enzymes. This discovery has led to new suggestions and ideas for treating cancer. Sugar-based drugs also play a role in fighting noninfectious disorders, especially those marked by excess inflammation. After wounding or infection, endothelial cells that line blood vessels begin to display large numbers of carbohydrate-binding proteins called selectins. Selectins bind loosely to specific carbohydrates on the surface of white blood cells of th
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Approximate Word count = 657
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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