Scientists tame chaotic protein fueling 75% of cancers

The battle against cancer received a significant boost as UC Riverside researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in taming the infamous MYC protein, known to exacerbate 75% of human cancer cases. At the heart of their discovery lies a peptide compound that effectively binds to and suppresses the activity of MYC, offering a glimmer of hope for more effective cancer treatments. Unlike the structured proteins usually targeted in drug development, MYC poses a unique challenge due to its disorderly nature. The researchers’ innovative approach involves manipulating the rigidity and shape of a peptide to enhance its interaction with MYC, yielding promising results. With the lead peptide showing encouraging binding performance, the researchers are now focused on improving its delivery into cells and are enthusiastic about the potential impact of their findings on cancer drug development.