Moss protein plays role in Alzheimer...(ued Kopans interest: He saw the potentia...)

Date:2/8/2008

ued Kopans interest: He saw the potential of looking at the role of presenilin independent of Notch. Khandelwal and Chandu took the phenotype, switched out a mammalian form of presenilin into the phenotype, and rescued it. Similarly, inserting the moss gene in mammalian cells resulted in reversing some of the losses experienced by animal cells lacking presenilin function, testifying that the human and moss proteins had an evolutionary conserved function.

In the moss, they were very nearly interchangeable, Quatrano said. This suggested that presenilin has a role outside the Notch pathway and may provide clues in mammalian systems as to its primary role, independent of its substrate in mammalian cells.

We were amazed to realize that genes from moss and humans were not only structurally conserved but also shared similar functions, Khandelwal said.

Moonlighting protein in mammals

We spent a lot of time trying to find an activity of PS to circumvent cleavage of APP, which has been very difficult, Kopan said. Importantly, the human protein acted in plant cells even if its enzymatic activity was removed by mutation. We stumbled upon an observation that presenilin proteins in mammals can perform other functions besides the enzymatic ones, that is, outside its role as gamma secretase. Were now looking closely to define this moonlighting functions and determine their contribution to disease.

In moss, the mutant phenotypes suggest presenilin might play a role in signal gathering, cytoskeleton organization and/or cell wall composition and organization. Quatrano and Khandelwal are checking that out. Kopan, Chandu and others are searching for presenilins moonlighting activities in mammalian cells.

As a developmental biologist, my job is to translate the genetic code as if it were a manufacturers manual, and that is accomplished by gaining detailed understanding of genes and protein function, Kopan said. Un
'/>"/>

Contact: Tony Fitzpatrick tony_fitzpatrick@wustl.edu 314-935-5272 Washington University in St. Louis Source:Eurekalert

10 GOOD

Page: 1 2 3 4
Related biology news :

1. Protein chatter linked to cancer activation
2. Scientists link fragile X tremor/ataxia syndrome to binding protein in RNA
3. Researchers identify proteins involved in new neurodegenerative syndrome
4. Low levels of key protein may indicate pancreatic cancer risk
5. Structure of 450 million year old protein reveals evolutions steps
6. Scientists retrace evolution with first atomic structure of an ancient protein
7. Specific brain protein required for nerve cell connections to form and function
8. NIH awards researcher $1.5 million new innovator grant for fruit-fly studies of prion proteins
9. Interacting protein theory awaits test from new neutron analysis tools
10. Depression, aging, and proteins made by a virus may all play role in heart disease
11. Census of protein architectures offers new view of history of life