‘Cancer Cells’ Killed Cancer Cells... UNIST Professor Yujahyeong's Team Develops Technology to Induce Metabolic Disorder Using Cancer Cells' Energy Source

Targeting Cancer Cells with Energy Molecules Produced by Cancer Cells

Only Cancer Cells with High ATP Concentration in Mitochondria

A molecular aggregate formed inside the mitochondria of cancer cells damaging the mitochondrial membrane.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] A cancer treatment technology that selectively kills cancer cells by infiltrating them, removing their energy source (ATP), and causing mitochondrial dysfunction has been developed, attracting global attention.

The research team led by Professor Yoo Ja-hyung of the Department of Chemistry at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) developed an anticancer inducer that binds to cancer cell ATP inside the mitochondria of cancer cells to create giant molecular aggregates.

Cancer cells treated with this substance stop growing as ATP is depleted during the formation of these giant molecular aggregates. Additionally, as the aggregates grow large, they physically damage the mitochondrial membrane, causing mitochondrial dysfunction, which further inhibits cancer cell growth.

The research team stated, "This study demonstrated that inducing the formation of 'giant self-assemblies' that simultaneously remove ATP, the cell's energy source, and cause mitochondrial dysfunction can be an effective anticancer strategy," adding, "It is expected to become a new platform for developing mitochondria-targeted drug therapies in the future."

Since ATP, the cell's energy source, is produced in mitochondria, a shortage of ATP or damage to mitochondria that produce ATP leads to metabolic disorders and cell death.

Mechanism of Action of Self-Assembling Anticancer Inducing Agents.

Although normal cells also produce ATP, rapidly proliferating cancer cells have higher ATP concentrations. The research team focused on this point and developed an anticancer inducer that can bind to high concentrations of ATP to form molecular aggregates. In normal cells, where ATP concentration is low, such molecular aggregates are not formed.

These molecular aggregates grow to sizes of several hundred nanometers, physically damaging mitochondrial membranes of similar size. Another distinctive feature is that ATP is incorporated into these aggregates during their synthesis, thereby removing intracellular ATP.

Experiments using cancer cells confirmed that cancer cell growth slows compared to normal cells.

This research, conducted in collaboration with Professor Kwak Sang-gyu’s team from the Department of Energy Chemical Engineering at UNIST, was selected as the cover paper of the international journal Chemical Science and published on June 2.

Professor Yu Jahyung, Department of Chemistry.

Professor Gwak Sang-gyu.

(From left) Researcher Sangpil Kim, Researcher Gaeun Park (first author), Professor Jahyung Yoo, Researcher Seongeon Jin.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.