January 02, 2020
The main thing is this uses the natural abundance of nitrogen isotopes
We feel the technique can be a diagnostic tool as well as possibly developing
targeted therapies.One bond in the field of Chemistry, albeit between two
professors, has stirred excitement in the scientific world as the duo has
discovered a new technique in diagnosis of cancer cells, an important
breakthrough which holds the potential for development of targeted therapies to
combat the disease. In this, stable isotopes are arguably the best tracers. But
matter in all forms is about how atoms and molecules are glued by a variety of
bonds. R.
It is especially true for cancerous cells. For, these professors, who
disclose this is a small but vital step in cancer research, are Prof R V
Krishnamurthy and Prof Prof Karim Essani, a Kerala-born chemist and a biologist
from Karachi, both faculty at the Western Michigan University, USA.He said in an
email interview: "Nitrogen is particularly attractive since most transformation
of amino acids involve nitrogen rather than carbonâ€.
An essential amino acid on
the other hand has to be supplemented by diet. In their novel approach, the
professors looked at the nitrogen isotope ratios of individual amino acids.
Stable and radioactive isotopes of carbon are used extensively medical research
but generally using material artificially enriched in the heavier isotope.V.
And, isotopes are atoms wholesale
metric nut of the same element that differ in the nuclear mass which
influences physical and chemical reaction rates. Once we met we were nostalgic
about our background and realized how similar we were in our upbringing and
cultural back ground. He is widely recognized for his work on the use of viruses
in cancer therapy.
The outcome of their research was published in Scientific
Reports, a Nature Group publication, recently. Beyond the realm of scientific
research, this unique bond as well as the discovery of a new method to
distinguish between healthy cells and cancerous cells has kindled admiration
because it turns the geopolitical situation in the sub-continent on its head. He
read a press release about me in the campus newspaper and felt I was the right
person to pursue his idea of using isotopes in cancer research. Based on this
study, it is too early to compare with other methods. Krishnamurthy, Prof. We
talked about movie songs, Gazals and at one time sat together and watched
briefly the Champion’s trophy between India and Pakistan on Prof Krishnamurthy’s
computer!
I was watching cricket after decades,†says Prof Karim Essani. The
research by this group revealed that Glutamic acid metabolism is different in
cancerous cells than in healthy cells.Prof Krishnamurthy, who is an isotope
chemist specializing in earth science, says: "I have studied isotope ratios in
amino acids extracted from meteorites in the past and extending it to medical
research, particularly cancer, had been on the back of my mind for a while for a
long time, but I could not proceed until I found the right collaborator in Prof
Karim who is a professor in our biology department and an expert in virology.
Karim Essani and Dr.Prof Krishnamurthy and Prof Karim Essani concur: "carbon,
hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen are part of all life forms and biochemical
reactions involving them are of paramount interest.
The scientists analyzed the
nitrogen isotope ratios in individual amino acids in healthy and cancerous cool
rectal cancer cells and showed that by using nitrogen isotopes one can get
information on the metabolism of amino acids in cancerous cells. Since we are
not a commercial lab, I can’t talk about a cost analysis. They focused on
Glutamic acid which is a non-essential amino acid meaning it can be made in the
body. For a change, it’s not a nail-biting India vs Pakistan cricket outing, but
a team effort by an Indian chemist and a Pakistani biologist, which has stirred
much excitementChemistry is all about studying matter. Prof. For one thing our
focus was on how certain amino acids are used by cancerous cells when compared
to healthy cells.â€So the bond could only get stronger in future!. The amino
acids are the essential building blocks of proteins and an understanding of how
the amino acids are used by cells is of great importance.â€And these two
professors bond so well that their camaraderie extends to discussions on movie
songs, Gazals, and of course cricket. "â€Although Prof Krishnamurthy and I have
been working in the same campus for over 25 years we met only when he came up
with this project idea.
The main thing is this uses the natural abundance of
nitrogen isotopes.These professors used the natural abundance of stable nitrogen
isotopes to investigate amino acid metabolism in human colorectal cancer
cells.The outcome of their research was published in Scientific Reports, a
Nature Group publication, recently. The full ramifications of this technique is
too early to emphasize. We are exploring the possibility of applying this with
other cancer types.
We were also fortunate to involve Dr Yogesh Suryawanshi who
is a doctoral student with additional MBBS degreeâ€.Prof Krishnamurthy explained:
"The research involved creation of healthy and cancerous cells and extracting
individual amino acids from these for isotope analysis. Most often, these atoms
and molecules stay fastened on their own, but sometimes connect under high
pressure or temperature. Yogesh Suryawanshi
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