A new role for Vitamin C in control of hypoxis response in cancer cells
Status: Complete
Year: 2008
Funded: $74,690
Grant Type: Major Project Grant
Researcher
// Professor Margreet Vissers – University of Otago
Most of Professor Vissers research revolves around determining the biological functions of vitamin C (ascorbate), which is widely considered to be an important natural antioxidant. However, ascorbate is also an essential co-factor for a family of enzymes, the 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases, which control many biological processes, ranging from the stress response to hypoxia, to the regulation of epigenetic enzymes. These processes are important in cancer and we are investigating the contribution of ascorbate to cancer growth as a result of its co-factor activity for these enzymes.
More About Professor Margreet Vissers