Krebs

In the fight against cancer, scientists are developing new drugs to hit tumor cells at so far unused weak points. Such a “sore spot” is the protein complex SF3B. Max Planck researchers have now succeeded for the first time in deciphering in atomic detail how an anti-tumor agent binds to SF3B and how it modulates its function. The new findings provide an important basis for further improving potential cancer drugs that target SF3B. more

A team of researchers from Göttingen and Hamburg have now succeeded in determining the 3D structure of the human proteasome – the cell's garbage disposal – in unprecedented detail and have deciphered the mechanism by which inhibitors block the proteasome. Their results will pave the way to develop more effective proteasome inhibitors for therapy of cancers such as multiple myeloma. more

Every day, billions of cells in our body kill themselves. This is vital to us. Responsible for this self-induced cell death are the power houses of living cells, the mitochondria. When their surfaces become permeable the cell dies. Göttingen scientists have shown for the first time that the so-called Bax proteins form annular structures on the mitochondria. These rings could act as pores and so make the mitochondrial surface permeable. more