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Cellular Metabolism Case Study

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Recommended: Studying cellular metabolism

AGIOS – THE OTHER SIDE OF THE POSSIBLE
Company Overview:
Agios is a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Cambridge, MA, United States of America. It is a coming together of dedicated professionals who are passionately committed to application of their scientific capabilities and leadership in the field of cellular metabolism to confront the problems posed by the cancer. The company’s motto is to help in transforming the lives of cancer patients and patients with rare genetic metabolic disorders which are a subset of orphan genetic metabolic diseases. The company believes it is a pioneer in using cellular metabolism. Cellular metabolism has been a unexploited area in cancer research before a stream of companies led by Agios started foraying …show more content…

It is the new and exciting field of research that could provide a novel approach to treating cancer. Cancer cells tend to become addicted to particular fuel sources and alter their metabolism. The altered metabolism of the cancer cell could provide a novel intervention point for developing novel targeted cancer drug. This alteration of metabolism in cancer cells is called as metabolic rewiring. The metabolic rewiring is the result of genetic and genomic alterations in oncogenes( genes that transform normal cells into tumor cells) and tumor suppressor genes (genes that are antioncogenetic) which are responsible for cell signaling. Recent research shows a possibility that these altered metabolic pathways fundamentally drive tumor growth rather than being just a result of cancer. The development of cancer metabolism inhibitors and the possibility combining them with other cancer therapies in vogue could have a profound impact on cancer …show more content…

IDH is a cytosolic enzyme which occurs in three isoforms. The enzyme catalyses the oxidative decarboxylation of Isocitrate producing alpha-ketoglutaric acid and carbon dioxide. This step of citric acid cycle is an irreversible step and hence it is carefully regulated to avoid unnecessary depletion of isocitrate. Specific mutations of IDH1 and IDH2 have been found in many cancer cells such as gliomal cancers, astrocytomas and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). These mutations produce (D)-2- hydroxyglutarate from alpha-ketoglutarate. (D)- 2- Hydroxyglutarate which accumulates in cytosol. This leads to inhibitions of several enzymes dependant on alpha-ketoglutaric acid. The whole process results in hypermethylation of DNA and histones. The hypermethylation can activate oncogenes and suppress tumor suppressor genes. The company reckons that inhibition of these mutated IDH may lead to clinical benefit for those patients with cancers which are carrying mutated IDH. The efforts of research and development of company is directed towards developing lead drug candidates called as IDH

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In the late 1940s, scientific research began taking off as innovative technologies and diseases were being created and discovered. One important field of study during the time was cancer. Like many types of new research, there were a few problems getting the ball on the roll. One problem scientists faced was obtaining cancerous cells that would stay long enough to study. One scientist struggled with this until a particularly unique strand of cells came along.

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Nicholas Navin Laboratory. Where I helped his graduate student, Marco Leung in the research project “Investigating Cell Line Heterogeneity and Clonal Interaction in Breast and Colon Cancer Cell Line.” Understanding tumor heterogeneity and clonal interactions is of great importance in cancer research, because it can help in the development better diagnostic procedures and treatments for cancer patients. Dr. Navin increased my interest in cancer genetics, because thanks to him I learned more of the genetic processes involved in tumor development, tumor heterogeneity and metastasis. Additionally, under Dr. Navin’s mentoring I learn about cell culture, understanding heatmap and copy number profile.

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The purpose of this experiment was to analyze the effects of the variables: temperature, pH, and enzyme concentration, on the enzymatic reaction rate of catalase and the level at which its products are released, measuring the rate of absorption using the indicator solution guaiacol and a spectrophotometer to develop a hypothesis of the ideal conditions for these reactions. My hypothesis is that the extremes in concentration, temperature and pH will negatively affect the Au rate. This experiment used 11 solutions contained in cuvettes. Each cuvette, once mixed, is placed in spectrophotometer and then a reading taken every 20 seconds. Cuvettes 1, 8, and 10 are used as blanks to zero out the spectrophotometer.

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The stomata are the most critical piece to this process, as this is where CO2 enters and can be stored, and where water and O2 exit. Cellular respiration also known as oxidative metabolism is important to convert biochemical energy from nutrients in the cells of living organisms to useful energy known as adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Without cellular respiration living organisms would not be able to sustain life. This process is done by cells exchanging gases within its surroundings to create adenosine triphosphate commonly known as ADT, which is used by the cells as a source of energy. This process is done through numerous reactions; an example is metabolic pathway.

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The daily killer of over twenty thousand people and over 7.3 million people a year has heavily affected families all over the world for centuries. Because this disease has over 100 types and has proven lethal for so many men, women, and children everywhere, cancer has earned the the title of being the number one cause of death in the United States and one of the top causes of death in the world as a whole. Many scientists and doctors have tried to solve the medical puzzle that is cancer, but no definite cure has been discovered. However, tons of progress has been made and treatments have changed drastically since before 1950 compared to today. (Paddock 2007)

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Metabolism is responsible for converting nutrients in food that we eat in to energy. We need

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A drug designed to treat metastatic melanoma has produced dramatic results in patients with melanoma (Silberman, par.12). J. Leonard Lichtenfeld a medical officer at the American cancer society (Stein, par.8) said “this is a very exciting and important study in a disease that for decades has resisted any meaningful treatment when it has spread through the body” (par.10). Sixty eight thousand Americans are diagnosed with melanoma every year; 8700 are dead from the disease. It is one of deadliest forms of cancer, despite years of research

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problem, if you cut the tumor it will grow again. Cancer is the result of a body that is nutrient deficient and is overloaded with toxins and a suppressed or overloaded immune system. If you look back at the last hundred years you will notice that the numbers of death caused by cancer has tripled. The difference between now and our ancestors is the food and exercise. They always ate fresh food and exercised because they were always working and moving around.

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It supposes important progress in the fight against diseases such as diabetes, some cancers and others hereditary diseases. Although they have many advantages, they also pose ethical problems, often motivated by the interests and bad practices of multinational

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I am particularly interested in the use of these techniques to study the epigenetic regulation of gene expression in cancer and the role of non-coding RNAs in cancer progression. I have gained laboratory experience during my undergraduate studies, including experience with physicochemical microbiological analysis, microbial cultures, and water analysis. Though I do not have extensive laboratory experience, I hope that with this program I can expand my experience in this field and enter the cell culture world. I am eager to continue to develop my skills and knowledge in the field of molecular research and believe that a lab experience at MDAnderson will provide me with the opportunity to do so. I am also excited about the opportunity to work with the diverse and highly skilled team of researchers at MDAnderson and to contribute to the collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment that is central to the mission of the

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According to many health experts, cancer cells don’t use oxygen to survive. They survive on fermented sugar. This is why this natural and effective remedy contains maple syrup. This ingredient allows the sodium bicarbonate to enter the cancer cells and destroy them with a high dose of alkalinity.

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2.7 Relevance for my personal career development Towards the end of my PhD I dedicated my future research to cancer metastasis, because metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. With my future research I want to contribute to a better understanding of this deadly disease. My goal is to improve current mouse models to elucidate novel mechanisms and therapeutic targets of metastasis. The laboratory of Dr. Abate-Shen, which is specialized in developing GEMMs of metastatic prostate and bladder cancer, is an outstanding place for my postdoctoral training and will enable me to learn novel state-of-the-art techniques in the field of metastasis research. My expertise in different mouse models (GEMMs, xenograft) will allow me to spend more time in learning approaches, in which I am not yet an expert (FACS-sorting, computational analysis).

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Cellular Respiration One of the main essentials of life that all organisms need in order to function in our world is, energy. We receive that energy from the food that we eat. Cellular respiration is the most efficient way for a cell to receive the energy stored in food. In cellular respiration, a catabolic pathway, which breaks down the molecules into smaller units, in order to produce adenosine triphosphate, also known as, ATP. ATP, is used by cells in the act of regular cellular operations, it is a “high energy” molecule.

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The results also suggest that green tea ingredients hamper the growth of cancer cells. It is rich in catechin polyphenols and specially (EGCG), a strong antioxidant. The antioxidants in green tea, eliminate free radicals that can damage DNA and this results in cancer growth. However, aside from being an anti-cancer nutrient, this tea can be beneficial in weight loss. It reduces the cholesterol levels, offers energy and calms the nerves.

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