CGK733 fraud

CGK733 was a synthetic chemical substance which was reported in 2006 to have remarkable properties in reversing cell senescence (aging).^[1] However, the entire work behind the discovery of this compound has since been found to be falsified and the authors of the original reports have retracted all their claims.^[2][3]

CGK733 was claimed to be an inhibitor of ATM/ATR kinases,^[4][5] which are involved in DNA damage repair. CGK was claimed to extend the lifetime of cultured cells by approximately 20 divisions, or roughly 25%, specifically in mammalian cells.

The original report garnered scientific attention,^[6] but was retracted in 2008.^[7] The retraction states that the screen to identify CGK733 as an anti-senescence agent was not carried out; experiments exploring the cellular effects of CGK733 were misrepresented; the identification of ATM as the target of CGK733 was fabricated; a compound which was essential for ATM target validation had not been synthesized; and the chemical structure of CGK733 was misrepresented.^[7]

The principal investigator, Tae Kook Kim, and several associates were consequently suspended from their positions at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology.^[2]

References

1. ^ Won J, Kim M, Kim N, et al. (July 2006). "Small molecule-based reversible reprogramming of cellular lifespan". Nat. Chem. Biol. 2 (7): 369–74. doi:10.1038/nchembio800. PMID 16767085. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Dennis Normile and Jennifer Couzin (2008). "South Korean Researcher Suspended Over Charges of Scientific Misconduct". Science. http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2008/305/1. Retrieved 2008-03-17. 
3. ^ Kenneth J. Moore (2008). "Data Duping". Chemical & Engineering News. http://pubs.acs.org/isubscribe/journals/cen/86/i12/html/8612notw3.html. Retrieved 2008-04-01. 
4. ^ Bhattacharya S, Ray RM, Johnson LR (December 2008). "Role of polyamines in p53-dependent apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells". Cell. Signal. 21 (4): 509–22. doi:10.1016/j.cellsig.2008.12.003. PMID 19136059. 
5. ^ Crescenzi E, Palumbo G, de Boer J, Brady HJ (March 2008). "Ataxia telangiectasia mutated and p21CIP1 modulate cell survival of drug-induced senescent tumor cells: implications for chemotherapy". Clin. Cancer Res. 14 (6): 1877–87. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-07-4298. PMID 18347191. 
6. ^ Sarah Everts (2006). "Aging Cells Get New Lease On Life - Small molecule is found to extend lifetime of mammalian cells". Chemical & Engineering News. http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/84/i25/8425notw4.html. Retrieved 2007-03-09. 
7. ^ ^{a b} Won J, Kim M, Kim N, et al. (July 2008). "Retraction: small molecule-based reversible reprogramming of cellular lifespan". Nat. Chem. Biol. 4 (7): 431. doi:10.1038/nchembio0708-431. PMID 18560433.