The project proposal by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sercan Ergün, a faculty member at the Department of Medical Biology, Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) Faculty of Medicine, has been deemed worthy of support by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK).

The “Investigation of the Cytotoxic Potential of Crossiella sp. SN42 on Prostate Cancer Cell Lines” project will receive backing under the TÜBİTAK 1002-A Rapid Support Program. Along with Dr. Ergün, the research team includes Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hilal Ay from Yıldız Technical University Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Prof. Dr. Sezgin Güneş and Dr. Neslihan Taşkurt Hekim from the Department of Medical Biology, and Yelda Keleş as a scholarship recipient.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sercan Ergün noted the long-term potential of the supported project in contributing to new drug discovery. “The whole genome of Crossiella sp. SN42 (SN42), sequenced previously under the 2209-A project, includes 18 biogenetic gene clusters (BGC) that are promisingly novel for the literature. Preliminary in vitro studies and in silico analyses strongly suggest that new secondary metabolites (SM) synthesized from these BGCs may have anticancer, antibiotic, immunosuppressant, and antiparasitic effects. This project aims to evaluate the cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects of the crude extract of SN42 on human prostate cancer and healthy prostate cell lines. We also intend to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the crude extract's effects on cancer cells. Another goal is to identify target mechanisms for more detailed studies with the crude extract in future cancer research. In conclusion, should the cytotoxic effect of Crossiella sp. SN42 on prostate cancer cell lines be significantly determined, we believe it holds the potential to contribute to future drug discovery endeavors,” he said.