Sipping on green tea could be very helpful, as researchers have found that a compound in the popular drink can increase levels of a natural anti-cancer protein known for its ability to repair DNA damage or destroy cancer cells, a new study says.
The study of the direct interaction between the anti-cancer protein p53 and the green tea compound, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), published in the journal Nature Communications, points to a new target for the discovery of cancer drugs. “Both p53 and EGCG molecules are extremely interesting. Mutations in p53 are found in more than 50 percent of cancers in humans, while EGCG is the main antioxidant in green tea, a popular drink around the world,” the report said. corresponding author Chunyu Wang, professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic. Institute in Troy, New York.
“Now we are discovering that there is a previously unknown, direct interaction between the two, pointing to a new path for the development of anti-cancer drugs. Our work helps to explain how EGCG can stimulate the anti-cancer activity of p53 and open the door. develop drugs with EGCG-like compounds. “
The protein p53 has several known anti-cancer functions, including stopping cell growth to allow DNA repair, activating DNA repair, and initiating programmed cell death, called apoptosis, if DNA damage cannot be repaired. One end of the protein, known as the N-terminal domain, has a flexible shape and can therefore potentially perform multiple functions depending on how multiple molecules interact.
EGCG is a natural antioxidant, which means that it helps reverse the near-constant damage caused by oxygen metabolism. EGCG is abundant in green tea and is also packaged as an herbal supplement. The researchers discovered that the interaction between EGCG and p53 protects the protein from degradation.
Typically, after it is produced in the body, p53 is rapidly degraded when the N-terminal domain interacts with the protein MDM2. This regular cycle of production and breakdown keeps p53 levels at a low constant.
“When EGCG binds with p53, the protein is not degraded by MDM2, so the level of p53 will increase with the direct interaction with EGCG, meaning there is more p53 for the anti-cancer function. This is a very important interaction,” Wang said.