Newly identified protein could help fight cancer

A team of researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC) has made an exciting discovery in the field of oral bacteria. They have identified a new protein that plays a crucial role in the bacterium’s ability to thrive in different parts of the body. This breakthrough could potentially lead to the development of targeted drugs to combat the harmful effects of this bacterium.

“Although this bacterium is normally harmless in the mouth, it can spread through the bloodstream and cause serious health issues,” explains Dr. Kirsten Wolthers, Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Microbiology at UBC’s Okanagan Campus.

One of the most concerning aspects of this bacterium is its prevalence in colorectal tumors. Its presence can contribute to the growth of tumors, the spread of cancer to other parts of the body, and resistance to chemotherapy.

With the help of the CMCF beamline at the Canadian Light Source (CLS), located at the University of Saskatchewan, Dr. Wolthers and her team have discovered that this new protein enables the bacterium to obtain essential nutrients, such as iron, from our blood cells.

“The majority of iron in the body is bound to a molecule called heme, which is enclosed within a protein cage,” says Dr. Wolthers. “Our discovery reveals a novel mechanism by which this bacterium acquires essential nutrients from an abundant source, allowing it to thrive in oxygen-deprived parts of the body.”

This newly discovered protein could potentially serve as a promising target for the development of drugs specifically designed to combat this bacterium and its harmful effects.

Dr. Wolthers emphasizes the significance of synchrotron technology in protein research. Without access to the CLS, her team would not have been able to identify the specific region of the protein that binds to heme.

“Synchrotron technology has allowed us to visualize the unique and interesting section of the protein, providing us with a foundation for drug design,” explains Dr. Wolthers. “The experimental data provided by the Canadian Light Source has been invaluable in our research.”

The findings of this study have been published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.