The Cornell Daily Sun (https://cornellsun.com/2004/11/15/researchers-find-enzyme-structure-to-combat-cancer/)
Researchers Find Enzyme Structure to Combat Cancer
What happens in a lab that incorporates chemistry, biology, physics, particle accelerators, proteins, computers and 3-D glasses? Using various methods and equipment, Cornell researchers have determined new protein structures that could be useful in understanding and developing drugs to combat cancer.
Yan Zhang grad and Prof. Steven Ealick, chemistry and chemical biology, have figured out the structure of AIRs kinase, an enzyme involved in purine nucleoside biosynthetic pathways. The two researchers were able to compare the structure of this particular protein to eight other kinase proteins with similar structures. They noticed that only some of the enzymes in this group of kinases have a lid over the active site, where substrates bind. Ealick said that he believes that the lid over the active site evolved because this allows the enzyme to work more efficiently.
Determining protein structure is a complex process. First, a good protein crystal must be obtained. Then the crystal is irradiated with an x-ray beam. This can be done in the lab or using the particle accelerator at the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source or the Northeastern Collaborative Access Team beamline at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago. Next the optical transform, an x-ray diffraction pattern, is taken multiple times from different angles. They are then converted into an image of a molecule using computer programs. The researchers can then look at the structures through 3-D glasses.
Zhang produced the protein structure of AIRs kinase in a little over two months. Ealick said that about 25 years ago, it would take five to six years to work out one protein structure, while now, it takes on average five weeks due to better methods and equipment.
"Working out 3-D structures of proteins is important for determining enzyme mechanisms, in terms of drug design — how to activate a particular protein, and protein evolution — finding patterns between structures," Ealick said.
For drug design, knowing protein structures could also be beneficial in finding out how anti-cancer or antiviral drugs work and how to design drugs that will work. Future research might allow scientists to genetically engineer proteins as synthetic tools or catalysts for chemists. "If you know the mechanism, or how it works, you can change it to make it do what you want," said Zhang. She explained that this could be useful in anti-cancer gene therapy where delivery of a special enzyme is followed by the treatment of a non-toxic pro-drug that is activated in a specific area.
Archived article by Vanessa Hoffman
Athletes Know Meaning of Integrity
By November 16, 2004
Ron Artest is tired. The Indiana Pacer, former defensive player of the year, and now, hip-hop producer/ rapper is worn out — because he's been working hard on an upcoming album. He wants "go platinum." So he asked for a month off. Now, the one thing that really stands out to me, amidst this whole debacle, is that Artest was quoted as saying he doesn't know the meaning of "integrity." As in, the actual definition of the word. To quote the St. John's dropout himself — "I don't even know what that means…I need you to get me a dictionary." Hey, I don't want to insult the guy. But he makes you appreciate Cornell athletes. Cornell athletes compete in sports, excel in school, and I guarantee you that they know the meaning of integrity. But what does integrity really mean? You can forget the dictionary. Your fellow Cornell student-athletes know what integrity is all about. "To me, integrity is the ability to stand up for what you believe in even if it's unpopular or against the norm," said junior cross country runner Bruce Hyde. "I think it's easy for successful athletes to lose sight of where they came from, and shift their moral and ethical values." Hyde just won the individual title at the NCAA Northeast regionals. Clearly, Hyde — an amateur, a student, and someone who treks up Libe Slope just like you — can handle his work without a month off. Junior diver Kristin Rayhack was last year's Ivy League champion on the 3-meter board — not to mention diver of the meet at the conference finals, and Cornell's diving MVP. But she also knows that a person's achievements in life are measured by more than just high scores and athletic honors. "To me, integrity means being honest and true to yourself and others without compromising your values," she said. "Because I'm a firm believer in karma, I think acting with integrity is key to living without regrets, deservedly achieving success, and creating genuine and lasting relationships." Deservedly achieving success. In many ways, that's the essence of the Ivy League athlete. Consider junior wrestler Dustin Manotti. He's the nation's second-ranked grappler at 149 pounds. He was an All-American last year, and he placed fourth at the 2004 NCAA championships. Next week, he will compete at the Marines All-Star Classic, one of nation's premier events. His strength is enviable to many — but so is his demeanor. "Integrity to me is being respectful, having self-control, and maintaining discipline throughout life," he said. "Especially when dealing with certain situations such as a sporting event." After all, sports are not just about raw athletic ability. Countless great athletes never live up their potential because they lack Manotti's resolve and self-control. The same discipline that gets a student through prelim week, can also get an athlete through to the NCAA finals. Cornell athletes have spent much of their lives dedicated to their sport. So when Manotti wins an event, we shouldn't just consider that one victory. We should think about the countless practices and endless lifting that brought him to that achievement. When Rayhack executes a flawless dive, we shouldn't think of her accomplishment as just one graceful moment. We should think about her years spent working at her chosen sport — a sport where victory comes by the smallest of margins. And when Hyde crosses the finish line after a cross country race, we should realize that he is not simply finishing a race of a few miles. He is finishing a much longer race, going back to the very first time he laced up a pair of running sneakers. And now look at Artest. He's a great athlete, no question. Yet his self-obsessed, undisciplined behavior — not to mention horrible rapping — prevents him from achieving even more. Artest is not alone among professional athletes in this department. Maybe these experienced pros need to learn a little of what amateur Cornellians seem to already understand. Archived article by Ted Nyman
Harvard Clinches Ivy League Championship
While Cornell football rattled off a fourth league win in New York on Saturday, it was at Philadelphia where two undefeateds — Penn and Harvard, slugged it out for the de facto Ivy League title. In the biggest game of the season, the Crimson asserted itself as the top team in the Ancient Eight, earning at least a share its first league championship since 2001, and soundly defeating the former Ivy front-runner Penn. No. 13 Harvard 31, No. 22 Penn 10 The Crimson's dominance as Division I-AA's only undefeated team comes in large part to a stingy defense and potent offense — two qualities which were encapsulated in last weekend's game. Harvard (9-0, 6-0 Ivy) held Penn (7-2, 5-1 Ivy) to 263 total yards on offense, while the Crimson gathered 447, in a day where quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for two touchdowns. After Penn hit an early field goal, Harvard's offense went into motion and scored with 2:20 left in the first quarter when Brian Edwards caught a 19-yard pass from Fitzpatrick for a touchdown. Just before the half ended, a 10-play, 57-yard drive culminated in Crimson running back Clifton Dawson, who rushed for 161 yards on 33 carries, scoring on a one-yard run. After a field goal and a 43-yard pass from Fitzpatrick found Corey Mazza in the end zone, Harvard virtually sealed the game late in the third quarter. With fourth-and-five from Penn's 18, the Crimson executed a fake field goal play, as holder Robert Balkema completed a pass to linebacker Bobby Everett, who ran in for the score – giving Harvard a 31-3 lead with a quarter to go. Harvard snapped Penn's 20-game winning streak against league opponents, as it won for the first time in 24 years at Franklin Field. Yale 21, Princeton 9 With the other Ivy teams battling for consolation spots, Yale (5-4, 3-3) bounced back from a disappointing loss to Brown a week ago to defeat Princeton (4-5, 2-4 Ivy). Boosted by running back Robert Carr's 160 rushing yards and two touchdowns, the Bulldogs pulled away in the fourth quarter after a Princeton special teams miscue. After Princeton punt returner Greg Fields misplayed a Yale punt, it was recovered by the Bulldogs deep into Tigers' territory. Carr scored on a five-yard run three plays later with 13:11 left in the game. The running back scored his first touchdown of the day towards the end of the first quarter. While Princeton had its opportunities, it was forced to settle for three field goals. Tigers quarterback Matt Verbit threw for 205 yards, becoming the 12th player in league history to surpass the 5,000-yard mark. Yale quarterback Alvin Cowan passed for 143 yards and a touchdown while Fields caught nine passes for 106 in the loss. Dartmouth 20, Brown 7 Dartmouth (1-8, 1-5 Ivy) earned its first win of the season, as Green running back Chad Gaudet ran for 137 yards and a touchdown to defeat Brown (5-4, 2-4 Ivy). After a field goal in the first quarter gave Dartmouth the lead, a fumble by Brown quarterback Joe DiGiacomo was recovered by the Green on the Bears' 12. The Green was able to capitalize three plays later, as a Gaudet seven yard run extended Dartmouth's lead to 10 at the half. Early in the fourth quarter, Dartmouth sealed the game through a 12-yard pass from Green quarterback Charlie Rittgers which found Andrew Hall. Brown was able to tack on a touchdown towards the end of the game, but its normally strong ground game was stifled. Bears running back Nick Hartigan, who averaged 127.4 yards per game, was held to 65 yards on 15 carries while wide receiver Jarrett Schreck caught 11 passes for 140 in the loss. The win snapped Dartmouth's eight game losing streak – the longest slide of its history dating back to 1881. New York Football 0, Crappy Teams 4 In what might be the worst two weeks ever for New York football fans, both the Giants (5-4) and Jets (6-3) imploded into mediocrity. Archived article by Brian TsaoSun Senior Editor