You are now an expert in Cell Cycle and DNA Replication and have been called upo
ID: 95351 • Letter: Y
Question
You are now an expert in Cell Cycle and DNA Replication and have been called upon to develop a new cancer drug. A hallmark of cancer is the uncontrollable division of cells and the growth of tumors. Propose a mechanism for anti-cancer drug that would block one of the processes necessary for cell division or DNA replication ultimately blocking the growth of tumors Explain why you are targeting that particular gene/protein/pathway. Include the normal function of the gene/protein/pathway in your answer. There is no correct answer here, just support your rational with what you have learned in class.Explanation / Answer
When we are making an anti cancer drug we should keep both the processes in mind because either one of them left untreated will increase the chances of cancer.
Cell cycle has 4 Phase - G1, S, G2 and M.
In G1 (gap phase), the cells grows and prepares for synthesizing DNA. In S phase, actual synthesis of DNA takes place. in G2 Phase, cell prepares to divide in two cells and In M phase mitosis(division) takes place.
The two checkpoints are important to look at when we want to prevent cancer. The G1/S and G2 checkpoint, Because failure of these checkpoints results into cancer. The cells keeps on dividing with damaged DNA. The anti cancer should act to stop this from happening. The 1st checkpoint after which the cell replication process takes place, the drug should not act on intact DNA but if there is damaged DNA and it is skipping the normal apoptosis(process by which the damaged DNA) is killed so that it can not pass the checkpoint. And on the second checkpoint the before the cell division M phase, the checkpoint is controlled by enzyme if the kinases acts with the cyclin dependent kinases they can open the checkpoint so that cell division can take place. The phosphorylation with the help of kinases and when the cyclin dependent kinases acts they signal cell to pass on the contents to next step of cycle. The drug should make sure that the checkpoint switch works properly because if it will remain open due to kinases and cyclin dependent kinases the cells will keep on dividing resulting in cancer.
If we target kinases and Cdks (cyclin dependent kinases) using the drug it will help in controlling the checkpoint which will ensure that intact not damaged and controlled division can take place.
In DNA replication, the copy of DNA is formed. The anti cancer drug can also stop the DNA replication process to make sure that the cancer will not develop. it can be stopped at various steps by stopping the primers to bind which is the primary sequence to which the nucleotides keeps on adding in 5'-3' direction if there will be no primer No DNA replication. The drug can also stop the function of DNA polymerase that continuously adds on nucleotides to the primer to extend the chain.
Other approaches on which the anti cancer drug can act is to kill the nucleus in damaged cells, stop the production of materials that will produce DNA like nucleotides etc., design drug to act on mitotic spindles.
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