A class of DNA-binding peptides from wheat bud causes growth inhibition, G2 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction in HeLa cells
Mancinelli, L., DeAngelis, PM., Annulli, L., Padovini, V., Elgjo, K., Gianfranceshi, GL. Molecular Cancer 2009, 8:55, 2009.
Peptides (small chains of amino acids) from a number of sources are known to regulate, stop, slow down and kill a number of different types of cancer cells. When these peptides are taken away in normal cells, the DNA from those cells will be copied more frequently—a characteristic of cancer. In this study, the scientists describe the extraction of these types of regulatory peptides from wheat buds.
Laboratory Studies: HeLa cells, a type of cultured cancer cells were treated with the peptides extracted from the wheat buds. These peptides slowed the growth of the HeLa cells and caused a type of cell death known as apoptosis.
Conclusion: The researchers concluded that these wheat bud peptides could slow down the growth and replication of the cancer cells by interfering with DNA replication. They also concluded that these peptides could also kill the cancer cells.