Artificial anti-cancer molecules developed by researchers
Paula Marie Navarra | | Aug 04, 2014 03:04 PM EDT |
Researchers developed artificial anti-cancer molecules called "Triplexes" that have structures similar to peptides that fight cancer and infection.
Triplexes are molecules that have the similar 3D helix form that can be found on natural peptides.
Peter Scott, from the University of Warwick, joked that the chemistry involved is like throwing lego blocks in a bag, giving them a shake and finding out that you made a model of the Death Star.
Like Us on Facebook
He explained that the design in creating Triplexes took some thought and computing, but once the method was worked out it can be used in making complicated molecular objects
Scott stressed that when organic chemicals are involved like an amino alcohol and a picoline, mixed with iron chloride solvent like water add methanol strong bonds are designed to naturally fold together in minutes forming a helix.
He said that the assembly instructions are already encoded in the chemicals and there is no need for a complicated separation.
He said that they are left with Triplexes that were formed in a crystalized manner, when the solvent was removed.
Scott said that nature uses this kind of self-assembly to make complex asymmetric molecules like proteins, but doing it artificially proves to be a major challenge.
The peptides that were created by the researchers had been successfully tested in colon cancer cells but still require further research.
Researchers said that their creations were made of simple building blocks that have very low toxicity level to bacteria.
Scott believes that their discovery is a very unusual and promising find.
©2015 Chinatopix All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission
EDITOR'S PICKS
-
Did the Trump administration just announce plans for a trade war with ‘hostile’ China and Russia?
-
US Senate passes Taiwan travel bill slammed by China
-
As Yan Sihong’s family grieves, here are other Chinese students who went missing abroad. Some have never been found
-
Beijing blasts Western critics who ‘smear China’ with the term sharp power
-
China Envoy Seeks to Defuse Tensions With U.S. as a Trade War Brews
-
Singapore's Deputy PM Provides Bitcoin Vote of Confidence Amid China's Blanket Bans
-
China warns investors over risks in overseas virtual currency trading
-
Chinese government most trustworthy: survey
-
Kashima Antlers On Course For Back-To-Back Titles
MOST POPULAR
LATEST NEWS
Zhou Yongkang: China's Former Security Chief Sentenced to Life in Prison
China's former Chief of the Ministry of Public Security, Zhou Yongkang, has been given a life sentence after he was found guilty of abusing his office, bribery and deliberately ... Full Article
TRENDING STORY
-
China Pork Prices Expected to Stabilize As The Supplies Recover
-
Elephone P9000 Smartphone is now on Sale on Amazon India
-
There's a Big Chance Cliffhangers Won't Still Be Resolved When Grey's Anatomy Season 13 Returns
-
Supreme Court Ruled on Samsung vs Apple Dispute for Patent Infringement
-
Microsoft Surface Pro 5 Rumors and Release Date: What is the Latest?