Scientists at the University of Glasgow have discovered a mechanism which prevents a naturally occurring cell protein from performing its role as an anti-cancer protein. The protein, pRb*, is an important brake to normal cells because it interrupts cell division. This mechanism is likely to be of great significance in cancer cells.

Professor Nick La Thangue of the University's Institute of Biomedical & Life Sciences who led the research said: 'This is a significant finding because it helps us understand the natural safeguards which prevent cancer and how they are disabled in tumour cells'. Professor La Thangue, is Chief Scientific Officer of Prolifix, a drug discovery company focused on understanding aberrant cell cycle control and how this leads to cancer. "We have developed a unique platform technology which enables us to target pathologically important enzymes and protein-protein interactions and we will now apply this to the acetylation of pRb" added professor La Thangue.

The research, which is published today in Nature Cell Biology, Volume 3, pages 667 to 674.. was undertaken at the University of Glasgow, by Nicholas La Thangue who is Cathcart Professor of Biochemistry at the University, Ho Man Chan, Marija Krstic-Demonacos, Linda Smith and Constantinos Demonacos.

Prolifix, based in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, is a privately owned pharmaceutical company. It is a world leader in cell cycle drug discovery and aims to discover and develop novel, small-molecule drugs to address diseases associated with aberrant cell growth and proliferation. It is focused on cancer and infectious disorders and has a portfolio of programmes to address significant unmet medical needs such as breast, colon and prostate cancer. Prolifix has first option to commercialise research undertaken by Prof La Thangue's team at Glasgow.

* pRb = retinoblastoma tumour suppressor protein

Further information for journalists is available at http://www.newsdesk.gla.ac.uk/pressreleases

Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

Mike Brown: Press Officer,

University of Glasgow 0141 330 3225 or

Prof La Thangue 01 235 44 37 20

Nicki Brimicombe - NB Public Relations - 01883 73 23 53

Or visit the Nature web site http://www.nature.com/ncb

Prolifix was formed in 1994 by Professor Nicholas la Thangue and Dr Christopher Hentschel to exploit scientific discoveries made at the Medical Research Council Laboratories in Mill Hill, London, UK.

In October 1999 it raised ?4 million to support an enlarged drug discovery and development programme. Key investors include: Atlas Venture (Netherlands); 3i (UK); GIMV (Belgium); and HealthCap (Sweden).

Prolifix has key commercial research and development collaborations with Chugai Pharmaceuticals Co Ltd (Japan), Eli Lilly & Co (US) and Novuspharma SpA (Italy).

First published: 18 June 2001