THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2009
NEWS
7
FUNGI (CONTINUED FROM 6)
a lab setting. By removing the tight compact, the researchers can control the genes in the DNA to study how the products of secondary metabolism are made.
Tetsuya Horio, associate research professor, returned to the University from Japan to be a part of Oakley's research team. He said the team could analyze proteins because it found a sequence in the genome migration.
Oakley said past researchers thought there was nothing more to discover about secondary fungi, but the way the genes were sequenced made it clear to the team that there was much more to learn.
A recent discovery involved medical compounds found in terrequinone, a component found in the studied fungi that has strong antitumor activity.
The potential cancer-fighting components in the fungi have very high potential of becoming a useful agent, especially in chemotherapy. Oakley said.
"It is clear that fungi do make anticancer compounds. By using our genetic approach we have an advantage to studying different paths." Oakley said.
Chancellor Robert Hemenway said he had high expectations for the University's cancer research.
"I am excited about the medicinal and chemical research that happens at the University." Hemenway said, "I think our effort is going to be one of the strongest in the country for cancer-fighting."
The project was initiated by Oakley at Ohio State University, his former employer, but is now run at a lab in Hayworth Hall. Oakley's research is part of a $4 million, 5-year project funded by the National Institute of Health. Nancy Keller of the University of Wisconsin and Clay Wang of the University of Southern California also collaborated on the project.
As of now, the University just pays regular professor fees, said Oakley.
"The research is a good deal for the University," Oakley said. "If our research continues to become promising, then they receive extra money plus very positive recognition."
- Edited by Justin Hilley
According to Berl Oakley, professor of molecular biology, fungi, such as aspergillus nidulans, shown here, may be manipulated to produce potentially beneficial compounds called fungal secondary metabolites. Some fungal secondary metabolites used for medicinal purposes include penicillin, lovastatin, and terrequione.
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