Missy’s Story: Connecting Krebs Cycle to AML Treatment (Student View)

Watch the interview videos: Missy's Story SHORT" and Missy's Story (a longer version of the interview) describing Missy's diagnosis and treatment.

Video source: Nova Southeastern University Florida published Mar. 2025). These videos are included here for the purpose of education only.

Molecules explored: The primary molecule studied in this case is Isocitrate dehydrogenase 2. A mutant version of the enzyme facilitates the abnormal conversion of alpha-ketoglutarate (α-KG) to 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) and can lead to AML. Here we also explore how a drug (enasidenib) binds to the mutant enzyme, prevents its activity, and helps treat AML. 

• Abstract
• Keywords: leukemia, cancer, isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 mutation, protein 3D structure, drug binding
• Discipline(s): Molecular Biology, enzyme structure and function, Introduction to protein modeling, cancer, cellular pathways, integrated treatment of leukemia, biochemistry/metabolism
• Resources:  
  • Review article about 2-hydroxyglutarate and Acute Myeloid Leukemia
  • Drug company website explaining its mechanism of action
  • Article describing the structure of mutant IDH2 bound to the drug (enasidenib). 
  • Learn about Missy's Story and AML (student version)
  • Learn about bone marrow donation and Gift of Life. 
  • Additional Resources
• Case Study (Student Version)
  • Q: How does a mutation in a Krebs Cycle enzyme (IDH2) cause AML?
  • Q: How does the drug enasidenib help treat AML caused by this specific mutation?
  • Assessment Q: Are there other drugs that act in a manner similar to enasidenib?