Three enzymes—indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenases (IDO1 and IDO2) and tryptophan dioxygenase (TDO)—play a critical role in breaking down L-tryptophan, an essential amino acid. In cancerous tumors, these enzymes are often overexpressed, which helps the tumors evade the immune system by reducing tryptophan levels and creating molecules that weaken immune defenses. This makes them significant targets for developing new cancer immunotherapies. However, targeting these enzymes is challenging due to their complex roles in both the immune system and metabolism.
Research led by Dr. Syun-Ru Yeh has advanced the understanding of these enzymes at the molecular level. Dr. Yeh has received a five-year grant totaling $3.3 million from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences to investigate how the structures of these enzymes relate to their functions, their regulation by cellular metabolites, and their impact on health and disease. The research could potentially lead to drugs for treating cancer and other diseases related to dysregulated tryptophan metabolism.
Dr. Yeh is a professor of biochemistry at Einstein.
