They have also announced the potential for more targeted treatments following their identification of proteins that play a vital role in the life of a human cell.
The teams are from the Centre for Molecular Biology at the University of Heidelberg and from the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Leicester.
"Our study describes novel and important insights into a key process involved in cell division. This work suggests novel approaches to the targeted treatment of cancer, " Nature quoted Professor Elmar Schiebel, who led the study from the University of Heidelberg, as saying.
Professor Andrew Fry, who led the University of Leicester team, added: "This is an exciting new development that offers potential for finding news ways of inhibiting unregulated cell division which is a characteristic of cancer and we are already working with colleagues in Newcastle and London to develop this research."
The scientists investigated the processes involved in cell division, which led to their identification of a new potential breakthrough.
Fry explained: "When cells divide they must accurately separate their genetic material on a scaffolding structure called the mitotic spindle. As cells divide in two, the mitotic spindle scaffold has two poles, or ends, to which the genetic material, carried on chromosomes, must separate.
"The poles of the spindle are generated by a pair of structures called centrosomes, which are normally held in close proximity in cells, but which at the start of cell division move to opposite ends of the cell. Failure of centrosome separation blocks division of cells and can ultimately lead to cell death.
Source:MedIndia
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