Broccoli is a special vegetable. Besides being packed with vitamins, it has repeatedly shown a capacity to fight off cancer. Until recently, why broccoli had this effect remained unknown. A recent study in the American Cancer Society's Journal of Medicinal Chemistry reveals that isothiocyanates (ITCs), which are found in many vegetables, including broccoli, may help eliminate damaged p53A tumor suppressor gene that is mutated in over 50% of cancers of all types. The p53 protein is a transcription factor that controls entry into the cell division cycle. Many signals about the health of a cell are relayed to the p53 protein. This results in a decision by the cell as to whether or not cell division should occur. If the cell is damaged and can not be repaired, the p53 protein is involved in triggering a chain of events that causes the cell to kill itself in a process termed apoptosis. Cells defective for p53 do not have these controls and tend to divide even when conditions are not favorable. Like all tumor suppressors, the p53 gene is normally involved in slowing or monitoring cell division. proteins. The p53 proteinOne of the four basic types of biomolecule. Proteins are polymers made up of strings of amino acids. Proteins serve many functions in organisms including transport of molecules, structure, cell adhesion and as signaling molecules such as hormones. Many transcription factors, including p53 and Rb are proteins. is one of the most prominent tumor suppressors in the body. If it is damaged, the chances of abnormal cell development increase dramatically. Early research suggests that ITC may eliminate faulty p53 while leaving normal p53 untouched. See the related 'Latest News' to learn more about broccoli's cancer fighting activities.
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