Suicide gene
Suicide gene
Suicide gene (pronunciation: soo-uh-sahyd jeen) is a term used in gene therapy and molecular biology to describe a gene that can cause a cell to kill itself through a process known as apoptosis or programmed cell death.
Etymology
The term "suicide gene" is derived from the English words "suicide," meaning the act of intentionally causing one's own death, and "gene," a unit of heredity transferred from parent to offspring. The term is used metaphorically to describe the function of these genes, which is to cause the cell in which they are expressed to self-destruct.
Function
Suicide genes are used in gene therapy to selectively kill cancer cells. The therapy involves introducing the suicide gene into the cancer cells. Once the gene is inside the cell, it produces an enzyme that converts a non-toxic prodrug into a toxic drug, effectively causing the cell to commit suicide. This method is known as gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT).
Related Terms
- Gene Therapy: A technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease.
- Apoptosis: A form of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms.
- Prodrug: A medication or compound that, after administration, is metabolized into a pharmacologically active drug.
- Enzyme: A substance produced by a living organism that acts as a catalyst to bring about a specific biochemical reaction.
- Cancer: A group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Suicide gene
- Wikipedia's article - Suicide gene
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