Suicide gene
A gene whose expression in a cell is lethal for that cell.
Suicide genes form the basis of a strategy for making cancer cells more vulnerable, more sensitive to chemotherapy. The approach has been to attach parts of genes expressed in cancer cells to other genes for enzymes not found in mammals that can convert a harmless substance into one that is toxic to the tumor.
Most suicide genes mediate this sensitivity by coding for viral or bacterial enzymes that convert an inactive drug into toxic antimetabolites that inhibit the synthesis of nucleic acid. Suicide genes must be introduced into cells in ways that ensure their uptake and expression by as many cancer cells as possible, while limiting their expression by normal cells. Suicide gene therapy for cancer requires the vector to have the capacity to discriminate between target and nontarget cells, between the cancer cells and normal cells.
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Diminishing the risk of suicide. It may not be possible to eliminate entirely the risk of suicide but it is possible to reduce this risk. For example, the suicide rate among US Air Force personnel fell precipitously after the service launched a community-based suicide prevention program. Suicide should not be viewed solely as a medical […]
- Suicide, physician-assisted
Physician-assisted suicide.
- Sulcus
A groove, furrow, or trench. The plural is sulci. In anatomy, there are many sulci; an example is the superior pulmonary sulcus.
- Sulfa drug
One of the sulfonamides, the sulfa-related antibiotics which are used to treat bacterial and some fungal infections. The first sulfa drug was prontosil. It was discovered by the German physician and chemist Gerhard Domagk in 1935. Sulfa drugs kill bacteria and fungi by interfering with their metabolism. They were the “wonder drugs” before penicillin and […]
- Sulfite sensitivity
Adverse reactions of an allergic nature to sulfites. Sulfites occur in fermentation and also occur naturally in a number of foods and beverages including wine. Sulfites are used for their preservative properties. Sulfite sensitivity occurs most often in asthmatic adults — predominantly women. It is uncommon in preschool children. Adverse reactions to sulfites in nonasthmatics […]