Korean scientists discover cancer-suppressing enzyme

A team of Korean researchers in a world first has found an enzyme to suppress the progress of cancer, heralding a breakthrough in treatment of the disease.

Ahn Seong-gwan and Bae Seung-hee, professors of microbiological technology at Konkuk University in Seoul, said Sunday that they discovered “Mulan,” an enzyme triggering protein breakdown that not only suppresses cancer growth but also kills cancer cells.

All tumors such as those of breast, uterine, lung, lymphatic and bone marrow cancer have abnormally activated enzymes called “Akt.” This malignant enzyme facilitates cancer growth, spreads cancer cells to other organs, and helps cancer cells develop a tolerance to anticancer drugs.

How the enzyme functions was identified in the late 1990s, but nobody had found a way to suppress its activity.

According to the professors, Mulan suppresses the growth of cancer cells by clinging to the 284th amino acid of Akt and inducing the latter’s breakdown, adding the breakdown of Akt happens in mitochondria, the most important organ determining cell survival and destruction.

Ahn said, “Akt is related to almost all tumors, so Mulan, which suppresses the enzyme, can be utilized to help develop a new cancer drug.”