When targeting cancer genes, home in on the one percent

Drugs that stop the overproduction of proteins by cancer cells may shut them down, but it also shuts down production of essential proteins in healthy cells. Researchers have found a protein with an active site that opens and initiates translation only when the protein binds to a small subset of mRNAs — those critical to regulating the growth and proliferation of cell. Drugs to block this protein may allow a more targeted drug approach, say the investigators.