![Understanding Enzyme Function]()
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences has awarded Syun-Ru Yeh, Ph.D., a four-year $1.6 million grant to study the molecular properties of human tryptophan dioxygenase (hTDO), a liver enzyme. hTDO plays an essential role in suppressing the immune system’s anti-tumor response and promoting tumor growth. The enzyme has also been implicated in a variety of neurological problems including Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease and depression. Limited knowledge of the enzyme’s characteristics has hindered development of hTDO-selective inhibitors. This grant will support work by Dr. Yeh’s research into the structure and function of this enzyme and how it is regulated. Dr. Yeh hopes to develop hTDO inhibitors to use as therapies for cancer and neurological diseases. Dr. Yeh is professor of physiology & biophysics.
Posted on: Wednesday, August 31, 2016