This document discusses recent scientific research into blocking DNA repair enzymes as a potential cancer therapy. It summarizes findings from a February 11, 2012 article in Science News Line. Researchers solved the structure of a DNA repair enzyme called PNKP, which could be targeted to develop new cancer therapies. Blocking PNKP's repair work in cancer cells may be a way to selectively damage DNA in tumors and kill cancer cells. The goal is to find drugs that would sensitize tumors to DNA-damaging cancer therapies by inhibiting specific repair enzymes like PNKP. Targeting DNA repair pathways provides an opportunity for improved cancer treatment and reduced side effects compared to chemotherapy.

1. Felipe Osorio Ospina
Medicine Student
2012

5. Science news line
(Feb. 11,2012)

6. Blocking DNA repair enzyme could
eventually lead to cancer therapy.
Science news line (Feb. 11,2012)
They solved the
structure of a DNA
repair enzyme
called PNKP.
It could one day be
used to develop
new therapies that
target certain types
Taken of of cancers
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archivo:DNA_Repair.jpg

7. Blocking DNA repair enzyme could
eventually lead to cancer therapy.
Science news line (Feb. 11,2012)
Damaging DNA in
cancer cells is a
useful way to kill
them blocking
PNKP from doing its
repair work in cancer
cells as a possible
new cancer therapy.
Taken of
http://publicacionescirculodaikon.wordpress.com/page/2/

8. Blocking DNA repair enzyme could
eventually lead to cancer therapy.
Science news line (Feb. 11,2012)
The holy grail of
cancer therapy is to
find drugs that we
could give to people
that would sensitize
their tumours to
these therapies, one
of the ideas is that
Taken of http://docente.ucol.mx/al018752/public_html/imagen.htm we could specifically
inhibit this PNKP
enzyme.

9. A different way to attack
cancer´s cells is a great
opportunity to obtain a
succesful treatment and
reduce secundary effects, like
obtains with chemotherapy. I
think if it can be used for
differents cancer´s types it will
be the way to solve this
patology.

11. Targeting enzymes
responsible for catalysing
the formation of bonds to
repair of DNA, DNA
ligases, allows the ever-
growing health concern of
multi-drug resistant
bacteria
Taken of
http://ecodiario.eleconomista.es/ciencia/noticias/36
08278/12/11/Descubre-por-que-las-celulas-de-
tuberculosis-son-resistentes-a-los-antibioticos.html

12.  Humans only have the DNA
ligases that utilise ATP.
 NAD+-dependent ligase is
indispensable in several
bacterial, including
Mycobacterium tuberculosis and
Escherichia coli, making them
Taken of http://www.health-healths.com/usually-
attractive drug targets. mycobacterium-tuberculosis/usually-mycobacterium-
tuberculosis.php

13. Finally developing new small
molecule compounds that
are able to distinguish
between ATP- and NAD+-
dependent ligases, is
important for engineering
molecules with increased
levels of specificity.
Taken of http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo/rights-
managed/HU010984/pharmacist-creating-
streptomycin?popup=1

14. The identification of drug
targets is very important to
improve de efficiency of
tuberculosis therapy and other
disseases. Also it brinds the
oporttunity to attack differents
moleculars targets and avoid
the antibiotic resistance.

16. The investigation in
infected cells give a
new opporttunity for
treatment and more
eficciency of them
in mutated cells. Taken of
http://blogdecienciassocialesyhumanas.blogspot.com
/2010/06/algo-sobre-la-investigacion-social-y.html

17.  The comprehension
of the structure in
some virus, give us
the tools to attack
the drugs
Taken of http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo/rights-
managed/SF21876/dr-kochs-treatment-for-consumption?popup=1
resistance.

18. The replication and the
damage reparation are
essencial procces to
the conservation of
DNA, so damage in the
structure could be
reparated or modified Taken of
to attack the virus and http://www.vivirsalud.com/2010/06/23/7-
habitos-de-personas-felices
microorganisms
providing to people
quality life.

19. Bibliography
• Martínez Sánchez LM, Vargas Grisales N, Toro
Montoya AE, Pamplona Sierra AP, Quevedo Orrego E.
Biología molecular. 6. ed. Medellín: UPB. Fac. de
Medicina; 2011.
 Newton J. A new generation of tuberculosis drugs.
Royal Society of Chemestry; 2012.
 Blocking DNA repair enzyme could eventually lead
to cancer therapy. Science news line; 2012

20. THANKS!