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Protein nutrition for cells and organisms: Can we use it to treat diseases?

Date:
March 21, 2018
Source:
SLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening)
Summary:
A review article highlights opportunities and challenges in using amino acid transporters as drug targets. The article provides an overview of methods used to identify new inhibitors for amino acid transporters and outlines cell and organ function where these can be used to modulate, prevent or to treat diseases.
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在2018年4月出版的SLAS Discovery, a review article by Prof. Stefan Broer, Ph.D. of the Australian National University highlights opportunities and challenges in using amino acid transporters as drug targets. "Amino Acid Transporters as Disease Modifiers and Drug Targets" provides an overview of methods used to identify new inhibitors for amino acid transporters and outlines cell and organ function where these can be used to modulate, prevent or to treat diseases.

The review highlights the demand for better inhibitors of amino acid transport processes and outlines promising new strategies and targets to develop amino acid transporters as drug targets. Cancer cells, for instance, need essential amino acids to proliferate and metastasize. Amino acid transporters are essential for capturing of nutrients from blood vessels, which can be blocked by specific inhibitors.

This is an area of active research and a promising strategy to treat cancer. In the brain, amino acids serve as excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters, which are quickly removed to terminate nerve impulses. Amino acid transporters can be targeted to enhance inhibition or excitation, a strategy used to treat chronic pain and possibly schizophrenia and general brain damage.

Amino acids are generated from the breakdown of protein nutrition and are required as nutrients for cell growth, neurotransmission in the brain and cellular metabolism. Blocking some of these functions can treat diseases such as cancer, diabetes and chronic pain.


Story Source:

Materialsprovided bySLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening).注:内容may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Stefan Bröer.Amino Acid Transporters as Disease Modifiers and Drug Targets.SLAS DISCOVERY: Advancing Life Sciences R&D, 2018; 23 (4): 303 DOI:10.1177/2472555218755629

Cite This Page:

SLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening). "Protein nutrition for cells and organisms: Can we use it to treat diseases?." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 March 2018. /releases/2018/03/180321090737.htm>.
SLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening). (2018, March 21). Protein nutrition for cells and organisms: Can we use it to treat diseases?.ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 15, 2023 from www.koonmotors.com/releases/2018/03/180321090737.htm
SLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening). "Protein nutrition for cells and organisms: Can we use it to treat diseases?." ScienceDaily. www.koonmotors.com/releases/2018/03/180321090737.htm (accessed December 15, 2023).

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