‘mTOR’, a protein in our physique, turns into excessively activated in most cancers cells, selling cell progress and metastasis. Korean researchers have found for the primary time on the earth that ’13-HODE’—a substance produced when fatty acids, that are plentiful in vegetable oils, are metabolized within the physique—binds on to mTOR and acts as a ‘pure brake’ that suppresses most cancers cell progress. This analysis presents the opportunity of creating next-generation anticancer remedy methods. Our college introduced on the 2nd {that a} joint analysis group led by Professor Seyun Kim from the Department of Biological Sciences and Professor Young-Joo Byun from the College of Pharmacy at Korea University (President Dong-One Kim) has found that the lipid metabolite ’13-HODE’ (a lipid metabolite produced when fatty acids are metabolized) suppresses the exercise of mTOR, a key regulatory think about most cancers cell progress. In addition, this analysis concerned joint participation from Professor Mi Young Kim from the Department of Biological Sciences at KAIST, Professor Byung-Chul Oh from the College of Medicine at Gachon University (President Gil-ya Lee), and Professor Patrick L. Wintrode and Professor Daniel Deredge from the School of Pharmacy on the University of Maryland, USA. mTOR is a vital enzyme (a protein that helps organic reactions) that regulates cell progress and vitality utilization. However, in most cancers cells, mTOR exercise is thought to extend abnormally, selling cell proliferation and metastasis. For this cause, anticancer analysis geared toward controlling mTOR is being actively performed worldwide. The analysis group centered on substances able to binding to the mTOR protein, significantly pure metabolites produced by the physique itself. Through intensive metabolite screening (a know-how that analyzes massive portions of metabolites in vivo), they found {that a} lipid metabolite referred to as ’13-HODE’, which is fashioned as fats modifications within the physique, attaches on to the lively website of the mTOR protein and stops its operation in most cancers cells.
The 13-HODE (13-Hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid) molecule is produced in our physique through the means of metabolizing linoleic acid (an important unsaturated fatty acid), which is plentiful in vegetable oils. In this course of, ‘ALOX15 (an enzyme that induces a fatty acid oxidation response)’ oxidizes linoleic acid to provide 13-HODE. The core of this analysis goes past the easy degree of exhibiting that 13-HODE has anticancer efficacy; it clarifies the molecular mechanism (the organic precept of operation) by which 13-HODE bodily binds on to the mTOR protein to basically block its perform. The analysis group verified this by molecular docking simulations (computer-based evaluation of molecular interactions) and mass spectrometry (a know-how that analyzes the mass and construction of molecules). The analysis group additionally confirmed that 13-HODE concentrations are extraordinarily low in breast and colorectal most cancers cells. This was discovered to be attributable to a lower within the expression (the method by which genetic data is definitely made into protein) of the ALOX15 enzyme required for 13-HODE technology. The analysis group proved that growing the manufacturing of ALOX15 and 13-HODE reduces mTOR exercise and suppresses most cancers cell progress. Professor Seyun Kim stated, “This research is significant in that it revealed that lipid metabolites generated within the human body can directly inhibit mTOR, a core protein for cancer growth. It can be utilized not only for new anticancer treatment strategies leveraging lipid metabolism but also for developing treatments that regulate mTOR overactivation observed during inflammation and aging processes.”
Professor Young-Joo Byun from the College of Pharmacy at Korea University, who co-led the joint analysis, stated, “This research is a study that clarified the interaction between proteins and fatty acid metabolites at the molecular level through the convergence of biological sciences and pharmacy. It will serve as an important foundation for the development of innovative new drugs in the future.” Professor Jie Chen from the University of Illinois, USA, a world-renowned authority within the subject of mTOR analysis, evaluated it in a journal preview as “an outstanding discovery that presents a new breakthrough in cancer cell control.” This analysis, with Dr. Seung Ju Park and Ph.D. scholar Sera Kim from the Department of Biological Sciences at KAIST collaborating as co-first authors, and Professor Young-Joo Byun from the College of Pharmacy at Korea University and Professor Seyun Kim from the Department of Biological Sciences at KAIST collaborating as co-corresponding authors, was revealed on May twenty first within the worldwide educational journal within the subject of chemical biology, Cell Chemical Biology. Furthermore, in recognition of its significance, it was chosen as the duvet article for the May subject of the journal. ※ Paper Title: Mechanism by which a linoleic acid metabolite suppresses most cancers cell progress by inhibiting mTOR, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chembiol.2026.04.004 ※ Author Information: Seung Ju Park, Sera Kim, Hongmok Kwon, Jiyeon Choi, Ji Kwang Kim, Inhong Jung, Seol-Wa Lim, Young Ran Kim, A-Yeong Yang, Boah Lee, Haein Lee, Seung Eun Park, Seulgi Lee, Myeongsu Shin, Bernie Byunghoon Park, YunHye Kim, Jinwook Lee, Byung-Chul Oh, Daniel Deredge, Patrick L. Wintrode, … Seyun Kim
Meanwhile, this analysis was performed with help from the Samsung Science and Technology Foundation, the Mid-Career Research Program, the Basic Research Laboratory of the National Research Foundation of Korea, the Leading Research Center, the KAIST Quantum+X Interdisciplinary Convergence Technology Development Project, the KAIST Grand Challenge Project, and the Ministry of Education’s Core Research Institute Program.