Green Tea Binds (IMAGE)
Caption
Shown here is a surface representation of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) with each of the six identical subunits represented by different colors. Also shown is the location of ECG, a major compound found in green tea. From this structure, it appears that ECG inhibits GDH by binding to the back of the active site and forcing it open. This effectively shuts the enzyme down. Our other studies have shown that these green tea compounds are effective at shutting down the enzyme in tissue and in whole animals. This not only treats a deadly congenital disorder but is also useful in treating at least two types of tumors.
Credit
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
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