Molecule 968 binds glutaminase and starves cancer cells

Saturday, September 18, 2010 - 21:14 in Biology & Nature

A molecule -- simply called 968 -- can starve cancer cells and the tumors they produce, says new research. The key to this research is the amino acid glutamine. Researchers have long believed that starving cancer cells of glutamine, which cancer cells require in larger quantities than normal cells, would help fight some cancers. Now, they have discovered a molecule that does the job: Dubbed 968 by investigators, this proof of concept molecule binds to the enzyme glutaminase to inhibit cancer growth by blocking the cancer cells' utilization of glutamine.

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