Results of joint research between Department of Biotechnology Professor Jin Joon-oh and Pukyong National University
Added protein piece that enhances cancer cell cognitive functions and DNA piece with immunity-boosting effects
Paper on research achievements published in latest issue of globally acclaimed academic journal in the pharmacology sector
[October 31, 2019]
A domestic research team has developed a nucleic acid compound that can enhance the anti-cancer effect of immunocytes in the human body.
This was a joint-research with YU Department of Biotechnology Professor Jin Joon-oh (first author, photo on left) and Pukyong National University Department of Chemistry Professor Kwak Min-seok (corresponding author). Pukyong National University PhD student Kim Hae-joo, Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI) Doctor Heo Yang-hoon and German Aachen University of Technology Professor Andreas Herrmann also participated in this study.
The nucleic acid compound that the research team developed is a compound of biological molecules such as protein pieces that act as sensors to recognize cancer cells and nucleic acid materials that stimulate immunoctyes. Nucleic acid is a polymer made up in the units of nucleotides and there are two types – DNA and RNA. They are in charge of helping with storage, delivery and revelation of genetic information. Among them, DNA is known to be a genetic substance that stores genetic information and passes it on to the next generation, and due to the rank-specific unification features, it has been recognized for its potential to be used as components of nano-structures or drug delivery systems.
The research team produced a compound (INA, immunotherapeutic nucleic acid) by adding DNA pieces with immunity-boosting effects and protein pieces that can enhance cancer cell cognitive abilities on lipid DNA that is self-assembled as a sphere.
The research team confirmed that growth and spreading of tumors were suppressed through experiments on rats having tumors by injecting the newly developed nucleic acid compound. Upon administering to rats with melanoma, it was found that immunocytes that selectively react to particular protein pieces proliferated, while cytokine that represents immuno-activity were secreted. It was found through this research that melanoma and epidermoid carcinoma cell growth in rats were suppressed from growing.
Recently, research on immuno-oncology that activates immunocytes in the human body to attach cancer cells in preparation from foreign penetration of pathogens, etc. has been very active. In particular, treating immuno-therapy that attacks only cancer cells and not normal cells has become a key issue, and it is expected that this research achievement will help solve this issue.
Meanwhile, this study was carried out as part of the Ministry of Science and ICT and National Research Foundation’s Future Material Discovery Project and New Researcher Support Project. The study containing the research achievements was carried by the latest issue (October 19) of the globally acclaimed academic journal in the pharmacology sector <Journal of Controlled Release>.
