|
Topic Name: Preventing neurodegenerative diseases by studying proteins in the brain
Category: Biomedical
Research persons: Sheng Pan, Min Shi, Jinghua Jin, Roger L. Albin, Andy Lieberman, Marla Gearing, Biaoyang Lin, Catherine Pan, Xiaowei Yan, Daniel T. Kashima, and Jing Zhang
Location: 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814-3996, United States
Details
Researchers report the most complete list so far
of the proteins present in the cerebral cortex – the outermost layer of the
brain that plays a central role in memory, language, cognition, and
consciousness. The cerebral cortex is also the part of the brain that contains
the hallmarks of many neurodegenerative
diseases, so these results could help understand how such diseases develop
and maybe find ways to slow it down.
Most neurodegenerative diseases develop in
specific regions of the brain. For instance, loss of neurons due to
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) occur mostly in the
cerebral cortex and
hippocampus, and degeneration of neurons in Parkinson’s disease largely centers
on an area in the back of the brain called the brainstem – at least in the early
stage of the disease.
Jing Zhang and colleagues identified over 800
different proteins in a part of the cortex near the forehead called the frontal
cortex. This region of the brain is involved in many neurodegenerative diseases
in which intellectual function deteriorates over time, including AD,
Parkinson’s disease
with dementia (PDD), and dementia with Lewy body (DLB) disease, and
frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD).
The proteins identified in this study perform
various functions inside the cell, such as the transport of other proteins, the
activation of
neighboring proteins, and the catalysis of
biochemical reactions. Among these
proteins, the scientists found that at least half a dozen are known to be
associated with neurodegenerative diseases, but examining the role of the other
proteins may show that some of them also are involved in these diseases.
The scientists also found that 17 percent of the
identified proteins are also present in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) – a watery
fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord. Since proteins in
the CSF are more accessible clinically than those in the cortex, understanding
how proteins present in both the frontal cortex and CSF are involved in
neurodegenerative diseases could help improve their diagnosis and assess disease
progression.
Taken together, the proteins identified in this
study provide important information to ultimately understand how the frontal
cortex works and what goes wrong in many neurodegenerative diseases, the
researchers conclude. Zhang and his team are now trying to determine the most
comprehensive list of all the proteins that are working in other brain regions,
such as the middle brain, which is heavily involved in movement disorders such
as Parkinson’s disease.
About Research University:
The American Society for Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization with
over 11,900 members in the United States and internationally. Most members teach
and conduct research at colleges and universities. Others conduct research in
various government laboratories, nonprofit research institutions and industry.
The Society’s student members attend undergraduate or graduate institutions.
Founded in 1906, the Society is based in
Bethesda, Maryland, on the campus of the Federation of American Societies for
Experimental Biology. The Society's purpose is to advance the science of
biochemistry and molecular biology through publication of the Journal of
Biological Chemistry, the Journal of Lipid Research, and Molecular and Cellular
Proteomics, organization of scientific meetings, advocacy for funding of basic
research and education, support of science education at all levels, and
promoting the diversity of individuals entering the scientific work force.
MEDIA CONTACT: Jing Zhang, University of
Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington; tel: 206-341-5245; e-mail:
zhangj@u.washington.edu
Important Short Notes
Biochemical engineering:
Biochemical engineering is a branch of chemical engineering that mainly deals
with the design and construction of unit processes that involve biological
organisms or molecules. Biochemical engineering is often taught as a
supplementary option to chemical engineering due to the similarities in both the
background subject curriculum and problem-solving techniques used by both
professions. Its applications are used in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and
water treatment industries.
Molecular biology :
Molecular biology is the study of biology at a molecular level. The field
overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and
biochemistry. Molecular biology chiefly concerns itself with understanding the
interactions between the various systems of a cell, including the
interrelationship of DNA, RNA and protein biosynthesis and learning how these
interactions are regulated.
About Researchers:
"Proteomics Identification of Proteins in Human
Cortex Using Multidimensional Separations and MALDI Tandem Mass Spectrometer,”
by Sheng Pan, Min Shi, Jinghua Jin, Roger L. Albin, Andy Lieberman, Marla
Gearing, Biaoyang Lin, Catherine Pan, Xiaowei Yan, Daniel T. Kashima, and Jing
Zhang
Related Important Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkinson's_disease
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/parkinsonsdisease.html
http://www.dcmsonline.org/jax-medicine/2000journals/February2000/ftld.htm
http://www.jbc.org/cgi/content/abstract/260/9/5669
http://www.biochemistry.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biochemistry
http://www.phoenix5.org/glossary/PSA_doubling_time.html
http://www.springerlink.com/link.asp?id=101588
http://www.biochemj.org/bj/toc.htm
http://www.pcngcincinnati.org/psa/index.htm
| Related research: |
Bone graft alternative, Predict cells' response to drugs, 3D Ultrasound brain scanner : successfully image the brain, 450 new terms for describing gene products involved in microbe-host interactions., A signaling pathway crucially involved in Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis, Bath Pain Management Unit has developed an observational tool, Biomarker, or biological indicator, for early diagnosis of neurological disorders, Biomolecular World : connections among biology and physics, and molecules and computers, Brain scanning experiment shows how much we take others' earnings as a measure of our success, Cloning from Adult DNA, Detect cancer and neurological diseases by identifying certain molecules present in human blood or urine, Developed simple bladder cancer test, Different biomolecules (DNA, proteins, etc.) in a single sample, Duke scientists map imprinted genes in human genome, say a modern-day Rosetta stone, Emotions play a part in moral judgments, Fluorescence microscopy : medical, commercial applications, Human Virus may Prove useful in Attacking the Deadliest form of Brain Tumors, Jefferson researchers find anti-inflammation molecule helps fight MS-like disease, Jefferson Researchers Show Chemotherapy and Radiation joinly increase Lung Cancer Patients’ Lives, Life-saving diabetes invention, Maturity brings richer memories, MIT radar technology fights breast cancer using microwave heat treatments, Molecular devices’ remarkably precise scans of cellular activity could revolutionize medicine, Nanoscale Droplets for drug delivery and anticancer applications, Neural rhythms: biophysics and dynamics
|
|
