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An antioxidant found in green tea may increase levels of p53, a natural anti-cancer protein, known as the âguardian of the genomeâ for its ability to repair DNA damage or destroy cancerous cells. Published today in Nature Communications, a study of the direct interaction between p53 and the green tea compound, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), points to a new target for cancer drug discovery.
âBoth p53 and EGCG molecules are extremely interesting. Mutations in p53 are found in over 50% of human cancer, while EGCG is the major anti-oxidant in green tea, a popular beverage worldwide,â said Chunyu Wang, corresponding author and a professor of biological sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. âNow we find that there is a previously unknown, direct interaction between the two, which points to a new path for developing anti-cancer drugs. Our work helps to explain how EGCG is able to boost p53âs anti-cancer activity, opening the door to dev