Monday, 28 October 2024

Using beard lichen to fight cancer: How the promising usnic acid works

5 scientists standing in front of the laboratory, one man with a blue shirt, one woman with short blonde hair wearing a labor cote, one woman with long brown hair and a grey blouse, one women wearing Labor cote , on man has short dark hair dressed in navy-blue shirt jeans, laboratory full of shelves filled up by test tubes and small plastic containers with different glowing colors inside

Helmut Bergler's team is researching new active ingredients to combat cancer. Photo: Uni Graz

Researchers at the University of Graz have deciphered the mechanism of action of usnic acid, which is found in beard lichen and is highly regarded in the fight against cancer. The natural substance disrupts the production of ribosomes and can thus inhibit the growth of tumour cells without harming healthy cells. The study was published in Nature Communications.

Beard lichen usually grows on conifers and is quite inconspicuous at first glance. However, it is an important source of hope in the treatment of cancer. The reason for this is the active ingredient it contains, usnic acid, which is being considered as a candidate for the treatment of tumours or even infectious diseases. However, exactly how the substance works has been a mystery until now.

Researchers at the University of Graz, in cooperation with the IMP Vienna, have investigated the process and deciphered the mechanism by which the active ingredient prevents cancer cells from dividing. ‘Usnic acid attacks at the very beginning of ribosome production,’ explains Helmut Bergler, professor at the Institute of Molecular Biosciences at the University of Graz: ‘Ribosomes are, so to speak, machines in our cells that can produce proteins. When a cell divides, many new proteins are needed and therefore a corresponding number of ribosomes.’

Production stops

Bergler compares the effect of usnic acid with a targeted disruption in a factory, which completely paralyses production. ‘Tumour cells require enormous amounts of energy and a constant supply of new ribosomes for their rapid division,’ says the molecular biologist. ‘Without these important cell-building materials, which can produce proteins, this does not work and the growth of the tumour is severely slowed down.’ Another advantage is that healthy body cells divide much less frequently than tumour cells and therefore require fewer new ribosomes. As a result, they remain largely unaffected by a temporary disruption in production.

To better understand the process, the researchers in Bergler's team used yeast cells. These microorganisms produce ribosomes in a very similar way to human cells and are easy to cultivate in the laboratory. ‘What we discover in yeast can therefore also work in humans,’ explains Bergler.

However, there is still a long way to go before the findings can be applied to patients. The research on the effect of usnic acid on tumour cells is not yet complete. However, the new findings represent a major advance. ‘Now we can specifically look for molecules with similar properties,’ explains Bergler. This lays an important foundation for further research that could lead to initial clinical tests.

The study

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-51754-3

 

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