Synchrotron key in identifying protein could help fight cancer

Researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC) have identified a new protein that helps an oral bacterium thrive in other locations around the body. The discovery could eventually lead to the development of new drugs that specifically target the protein.

“This bacterium is common in the mouths of humans and generally doesn’t cause disease in that location. However, it can travel through the bloodstream to other areas of the body, which leads to some pretty big health concerns,” says Dr. Kirsten Wolthers, Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Microbiology at UBC’s Okanagan Campus.

Most notably, this bacteria is prevalent in the tumours of colorec- tal cancer patients. The presence of the bacteria can contribute to tumour growth, spread of cancer to other sites in the body, and resistance to chemotherapy.

With the help of the CMCF beamline at the Canadian Light Source (CLS), located at the University of Saskatchewan, Wolthers and her colleagues determined that the new protein they identified enables the bacteria to take essential nutrients, such as iron, from our blood cells.

“Most of the iron in the body is tied up in a molecule called “heme” which is surrounded by a protein cage,” says Wolthers. “What we’ve discovered now is a new way for this bacterium to acquire essential nutrients from a very abundant source allowing it to grow very well in parts of the body that are free of oxygen.” This newly identified protein may prove to be a good target for drugs designed to attack this specific bacterium.

Wolthers says that a lot of protein research relies on synchrotron technology. Without access to the CLS, her team would have been unable to identify the distinct section of the protein that binds to the heme.

“The synchrotron technology helped us see the bit of the protein that was unique and interesting and allowed us to find a scaffold that could help with drug design,” says Wolthers. “We just needed the experimental data that was provided by the Canadian Light Source.”

3 Basics Of Budgeting With Your First Credit Card

WSA encourages producers to contact our Client Service Centre at 1.866.727.5420 or via e-mail at client.service@ wsask.ca for more info on available water supplies in their area and/or to obtain a temporary water rights license.

The Ministry of Agriculture also has a team of extension specialists located in 10 regional offices across Saskatchewan to support producers with agronomic advice and program information. Producers can contact the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377 to connect with a specialist.

Whether you’re a newcomer getting your life established or a student getting your first credit card, learning how to use and leverage credit as a financial management tool will go a long way to set you up for success.

“By managing a credit card well you’ll be able to keep finances in check, and you’ll also reap the benefits of increasing your credit score,” says Amit Brahme, senior director of newcomer and cultural client segment at Royal Bank of Canada.

“And, with many credit cards today, you can take advantage of rewards points or cash back that the card offers.”

Here are three top tips for managing your expenses with your credit card:

Track your spending. Your monthly credit card statements list every purchase you’ve made using your card, which can be helpful for tracking where and how you spend your money. You can use these insights to see where you need to cut down on spending and how much money you need to put towards certain purchases each month, such as groceries or gas.

Pay your balance in full each month. As long as you pay off your balance in full each month, you won’t need to pay any interest, so your credit card can be a way to stay within your budget. Use your card wisely. Consider whether an item is a “need” or a “want” before making large purchases. Monitor how much of your credit limit you’re using. The amount of your available credit that you use is called your credit utilization ratio. The rule of thumb is to keep your ratio below 30 per cent. The lower your ratio, the better you’re managing your credit, and the better it looks on your credit history.