New protein discovery offers hope in cancer and aging treatments

Australian scientists have uncovered proteins that may pave the way for new treatments against cancer and age-related diseases.

Researchers at Sydney’s Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) found that these proteins regulate telomerase, an enzyme that protects DNA during cell division.

Telomerase plays a dual role: it supports healthy aging but can also fuel cancer growth by maintaining chromosome ends called telomeres. Cancer cells often hijack this enzyme to multiply uncontrollably.

The team identified three proteins—NONO, SFPQ, and PSPC1—that guide telomerase to chromosome ends. Blocking these proteins in cancer cells disrupts telomere maintenance, potentially stopping tumor growth.

“These proteins act like molecular traffic controllers, ensuring telomerase reaches its target inside the cell,” said lead author Alexander Sobinoff.

Senior author Hilda Pickett said the discovery could lead to new therapies targeting cancer, aging, and genetic disorders linked to telomere problems.

The study was published in Nature Communications.