95 Untreated cancer cell Cancer cell treated with E260 general and metastatic cells in particular. Since metastatic spreading of malignant cells throughout the patient’s body is the main cause of death from cancer, our findings portray E260 as a new, potential and promising anti-cancer drug. The above described findings were published in the high profile journal Nature communication: Elkis, Y., Cohen, M., Yaffe, E., Feldman, T., Satmary, S., Nyska, A., Shpungin, S., and Nir, U. (2017) A Fer/ FerT targeting compound selectively evokes metabolic stress and necrotic death in malignant cells. Nature Comm. DOI:10.1038/s41467-017-00832-w Deformation and destruction of the mitochondria (energy power station) of metastatic cancer cells (indicated by blue arrows the right panels which represent two magnification) by the newly developed anti-cancer agent-E260. Publications 2020 and 2021 • Odeya Marciano, Linoy Mehazri, Sally Shpungin, Alexander Varvak, Eldad Zacksenhaus and Uri Nir. “Fer and FerT Govern Mitochondrial Susceptibility to Metformin and Hypoxic Stress in Colon and Lung Carcinoma Cells”. Cells, 2021, 10(1), 97. • Linoy Mehazri, Sally Shpungin, Shai Bel and Uri Nir. “Loss of Fer Jeopardizes Metabolic Plasticity and Mitochondrial Homeostasis in Lung and Breast Carcinoma Cells”. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(7), 3387. • Roni Rahimi, Israel Malek, Tali LerrerGoldshtein, Yoav Elkis, Irit Shoval, Avi Jacob, Sally Shpungin, Uri Nir. “ TMF1 is upregulated by insulin and is required for a sustained glucose homeostasis”. The FASEB, 2021. Prof. Nir Uri The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences Member of BINA Nano-Medicine Center Research Areas • Molecular biology of cancer Abstract Targeting selectively the energy generation system of cancer cells The aspiration to achieve efficacious cancer targeted therapy involves intense global R&D efforts. Blockage of fundamental processes like the unique and reprogramed energy generation system of malignant cells should offer new tools for efficient interference with cancer progression. While deciphering the energy generation system of cancer cells we identified an enzyme termed- FerT, which normally resides only in the energy power-station (termed mitochondria) of sperm cells, and is harnessed by cancer cells to empower their reprogrammed mitochondria. We found that FerT potentiates the generation of energy by mitochondria in cancer cells in general and in metastatic cells (cells which leave the primary tumor and are spreading throughout the patient’s body) in particular, thereby enabling them to survive under stress conditions like nutrient and oxygen deprivation. This supports the survival of metastatic cancer cells under harsh conditions which they encounter during their dissemination throughout the patient’s body. To translate these findings into a novel anti-cancer therapy we have combined, synthetic-chemistry, robotic, and high throughput screening approaches, for the development of a synthetic low molecular weight compound which binds and inhibits the activity of the FerT enzyme. Our lead compound called E260 targets and inhibits FerT in the power station- mitochondria of malignant cells, thereby selectively imposing energy crisis and consequent death of cancer cells in Prof. Noked Malachi Department of Chemistry Member of BINA Nano-Energy Center Research Areas Surface directed chemical reaction in vacuum (atomic/molecular layer deposition ALD/MLD) for: 1. Stabilization of batteries electrodes in implanted medical devices 2. Designing arrays of nano-materials with controlled morphology and structure for electrochemical devices. 3. Modified metallic anode surfaces for next generation rechargeable batteries. Abstract Functional thin film for electrochemical devices In our laboratory we utilize state of the art synthesis techniques for interfacial modification of electrochemically active surfaces by functional thin films. Students in our lab experience synthesis through surface directed chemical reaction in vacuum (atomic/molecular layer deposition ALD/MLD) and in carefully chosen electrolyte solutions (surface directed electrodeposition). The characterization of the synthesized thin films and the fundamental studies of their efficacy as surface modification materials, are conducted using state of the art microscopic and spectroscopic surface analysis facilities available in Bar-Ilan University and currently being constructed in our lab.
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