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GENE SUICIDE [1 record]

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Record 1 2005-02-18

English

Subject field(s)
  • Human Diseases - Various
DEF

A gene which is not toxic itself but which is used to kill cells. A group of these genes, which are inserted into a cell, would program the cell to react, when treated with a drug, to generate its own toxin and thereby killing itself.

CONT

In another approach, researchers inject cancer cells with genes that can be used to destroy the cells. In this technique, "suicide genes" are introduced into cancer cells. Later, a pro-drug (an inactive form of a toxic drug) is given to the patient. The pro-drug is activated in cancer cells containing these "suicide genes," which leads to the destruction of those cancer cells.

OBS

suicide gene: This expression is often used in its plural form "suicide genes".

Key term(s)
  • suicide genes

French

Domaine(s)
  • Maladies humaines diverses
CONT

Les gènes cytotoxiques, aussi appelés «gènes suicides», codent pour des enzymes qui convertissent un agent chimiothérapeutique non toxique (la «prodrogue») en une molécule toxique.

CONT

L'utilisation de gènes suicides vise à détruire les cellules tumorales par l'expression au sein de ces cellules d'une protéine toxique. La stratégie utilisée consiste à faire exprimer par les cellules tumorales une enzyme qui métabolise localement une prodrogue en une molécule très toxique pour la cellule.

OBS

Ces expressions sont souvent utilisées au pluriel.

Key term(s)
  • gènes suicides
  • gènes cytotoxiques

Spanish

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