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 carbon”. 

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.”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.”And these two professors bond so well that their camaraderie extends to discussions on movie songs, Gazals, and of course cricket. "”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. 

Hide Comments | Add Comment