Soft Corals Appear as Highly Powerful Anti-Cancer Compound
Researchers at University of Utah Health report that easy-to-find soft corals -- flexible corals that resemble underwater plants -- make the elusive compound.The compound at the center of this research is known as eleutherobin, and after it was isolated from a rare coral species
Figure 1: anti-cancer compound coral.
Figure 1 shows that soft corals have thousands of drug-like compounds that could work as anti-inflammatory agents, antibiotics, and more. But getting enough of these compounds has been a major barrier to developing them into drugs for clinical use. Schmidt says that these other compounds should also now be accessible using this new approach.[1]
The scientists applied these DNA tools to other coral species, looking for genetic instructions for manufacturing known compounds similar to eleutherobin.
This enabled them to identify DNA regions in soft coral collected by lead that were similar to the genetic instructions other species use to produce similar types of compounds, and an instruction manual for the manufacture of eleutherobene. ties together.
The scientists then grew the bacteria in the lab and programmed it to follow these instructions, which actually led to the microorganism taking steps to produce the precursor for eleutherobin. According to scientists, it has been proved that soft corals, from which the genetic instructions were derived, are the producers of anti-cancer compounds.
Recreating it in the laboratory using the organism’s DNA code now raises the possibility of producing the compound in the quantities needed for further research and drug development.“This is the first time we’ve been able to do this with any drug lead on Earth,” Schmidt said. [2]
Eleutherobin is a chemical used by corals to stave off would-be predators, and as such is made to be eaten, unlike venomous chemicals from snakes for example, which are injected into prey.
This means that compounds based off the chemical should also be easily digestible, and could even take the form of pills that can be consumed orally with a glass of water, according to the scientists.
“These compounds are harder to find but they’re easier to make in the lab and easier to take as medicine,” says Schmidt.
The scientists are now working on the best ways to scale up production of the compound, with the hope of eventually delivering a highly potent, easily-administered treatment for cancer.
“My hope is to one day hand these to a doctor,” says Scesa. “I think of it as going from the bottom of the ocean to bench to bedside.” [3]
References:
- Source:https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/05/220523115509.htm
- https://funancial.news/soft-corals-emerge-as-source-of-highly-potent-anti-cancer-compound/
- https://newatlas.com/medical/soft-corals-source-anti-cancer-compound/
Cite this article:
Sri Vasagi K (2022), Soft Corals Appear as Highly Powerful Anti-Cancer Compound, Anatechmaz, pp. 331