Navigation Links
Scientists demonstrate means of reducing Alzheimer's-like plaques in fly brain
Date:7/15/2008

Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, sought to turn the tables. If NEP deficiency caused pathology, what would happen if NEP enzymes were expressed in above-normal amounts in brain cells affected by beta amyloid plaques?

Using transgenic fruit flies, the team found that by overexpressing human NEP in fly neurons, accumulation of Aβ42 inside the neurons was reduced. The scientists also observed that outright death of neurons due to Aβ42 plaques was suppressed.

At the same time, the experiment produced results that were not at all encouraging. Although NEP overexpression fought off plaques, chronic overexpression in the fly brain caused age-related degeneration of the axons that connect nerve cells, and also shortened the lifespan of the flies. The team believes that this effect was caused by the unintended impact of chronic NEP activity upon a critical gene-regulating protein, a transcription factor called CREB.

The team wants to test whether the life-shortening impact of NEP overexpression upon CREB occurs in transgenic mammals -- for instance, in mice, which are genetically closer to humans than flies.

"We have succeeded in demonstrating both protective and detrimental aspects of high NEP activity in the fly brain," Dr. Zhong said. "We also noted a reduction of NEP activity in fly brains that correlates with age. These are intriguing clues about mechanisms that contribute to the causation of Alzheimer's.

"We must now seek additional knowledge about the physiological mechanisms that underlie age-dependent downregulation of NEP in flies. This is a powerful genetic model system that we hope will lead us to discover novel therapeutics to combat Alzheimer's, a disease that devastates so many people every year."


'/>"/>

Contact: Jim Bono
bono@cshl.edu
516-367-8455
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Source:Eurekalert

1

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Scientists discover key patterns in the packaging of genes
2. Scripps research scientists reveal key structure from ebola virus
3. Scientists learn how food affects the brain
4. Scientists discover new reefs teeming with marine life in Brazil
5. Normal-looking sperm may have serious damage; scientists urge more care in selection
6. Biodiversity maps developed by UCSD scientists will help guide conservation measures in East Africa
7. Scientists integrate data in three dimensions to study climate effects on young fish
8. Scientists set out to measure how we perceive naturalness
9. Scientists reveal the key mechanisms for affinity between transient binding proteins
10. Tree-killing fungus officially named by scientists
11. Food scientists confirm commercial product effectively kills bacteria in vegetable washwater
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:1/9/2009)...itute scientists has taken a significant step towa...nthesized for the first time RNA enzymes that can ...ins or other cellular components, and the process ... on Thursday, January 8, 2008, in Science Express...ience . , In the modern world, DNA carries the g...
(Date:1/9/2009)...-Birdsongs are used extensively as models for anim...of how our own communicating abilities developed. ... at the University of Miami (UM) College of Arts a...Swamp Sparrow has the ability to emit songs that a...situations, implying that songbirds use sophistica...
(Date:1/9/2009)...ve women scientists who will receive the prestigio... and the other recipients, each representing a dif...ch 2009 at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris. Each ...er contributions to science. , The 2009 Award fo... unraveling the mysteries of the physics of materi...
(Date:1/8/2009)...brain,s hippocampus, but what controls this birth ... issue of Science , neuroscientists at the Johns ...red that the birth of new cells, which depends on ...involved in changing epigenetic marks in the cell,...see someone you met ten years ago, you still recog...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Scripps scientists develop first examples of RNA that replicates itself indefinitely 2Scripps scientists develop first examples of RNA that replicates itself indefinitely 3Scripps scientists develop first examples of RNA that replicates itself indefinitely 4Why the swamp sparrow is hitting the high notes 2Why the swamp sparrow is hitting the high notes 3Growth of new brain cells requires 'epigenetic' switch 2Tengion to Present at Merrill Lynch Global Pharmaceutical Biotechnology 26 Medical Device Conference 2853 1Collaboration Sparks Creation of New Grand Rapids Laboratory Focused on Womens Health 2851 1Collaboration Sparks Creation of New Grand Rapids Laboratory Focused on Womens Health 2851 2Collaboration Sparks Creation of New Grand Rapids Laboratory Focused on Womens Health 2851 3Collaboration Sparks Creation of New Grand Rapids Laboratory Focused on Womens Health 2851 4Increase in IT Skills Amongst the Elderly Will Boost Telecare Market 10482 1Increase in IT Skills Amongst the Elderly Will Boost Telecare Market 10482 2Granholm Looks To Make Big Bucks for Personal Injury Lawyers Says Michigan Chamber of Commerce 10478 1
... kangaroos in Argentina. , For David Wake, one of...rofessor of integrative biology at the University ...s the recent discovery in Korea of a type of salam...e world, but is totally unknown in Asia and rare o...nearly 50 species of salamanders - more than 10 pe...
... at Cornell University has received a grant to hel...aize (corn). , The project not only will allow re... function of single genes, one at a time, but also... gene. The seeds will be made widely available to ...ead to plants with tailor-made properties, such as...
...anced cell killing compared to conventionally prod... today announced the first published scientific re...l antibodies (mAbs) produced in chickens. The anti...t and deposited into egg white in concentrations o...duced in this manner demonstrated 10-100 fold grea...
...rtment of Geology and Geophysics at Yale and his c...ospheric carbon dioxide between 45 - 25 million ye...tional Science Foundation study reported in Scienc...of us makes a contribution to increasing greenhous...he Earth,s atmosphere," said Pagani. "To understan...
Other Biology News:Discovery of an American salamander where it shouldn't be: Korea 2Discovery of an American salamander where it shouldn't be: Korea 3Discovery of an American salamander where it shouldn't be: Korea 4Researcher gets NSF grant to create mutant maize lines 2Researcher gets NSF grant to create mutant maize lines 3First production of human monoclonal antibodies in chicken eggs published in Nature Biotechnology 2First production of human monoclonal antibodies in chicken eggs published in Nature Biotechnology 3Deep sea algae connect ancient climate, carbon dioxide and vegetation 2
(Date:1/8/2009)... BETHESDA, Md., Jan. 8 N...: NWBO; AIM: NWBS and NWBT) (the "Company" or "NWB...ities class action lawsuit, In re Northwest Bio...7-1254-RAJ. The Company has agreed to pay in sett...insurance proceeds. The settlement must be approv...
(Date:1/8/2009)... SAN DIEGO, Jan. 8 O...oday announced that the first of four Phase 3 tria...) (naltrexone sustained release,(SR)/bupropion SR...showing a,significant reduction in body weight, i... reductions in selected food craving measures. ,...
(Date:1/8/2009)... COLUMBIA, Md., Jan. 8 M...nounced today that it will be presenting at the up.... The conference is being held January 14-15, 200...in Dana Point, California. Peter L. Buzy, Chief F...ill be presenting on Wednesday January 14, 2009 at...
(Date:1/8/2009)... , CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- T...oday announced that the Nanotech Conference & ...rge R. Brown Convention Center, in Houston, Texas....nent Nanotechnology event is expected to attract a...technology executives, who will gather to promote ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Northwest Biotherapeutics Settles Class Action Complaint, and SEC Investigation Closed Without Action 2Northwest Biotherapeutics Settles Class Action Complaint, and SEC Investigation Closed Without Action 3Orexigen(R) Therapeutics Announces First of Four Phase 3 Trials of Contrave(R) Meets Co-Primary and Key Secondary Endpoints 2Orexigen(R) Therapeutics Announces First of Four Phase 3 Trials of Contrave(R) Meets Co-Primary and Key Secondary Endpoints 3Orexigen(R) Therapeutics Announces First of Four Phase 3 Trials of Contrave(R) Meets Co-Primary and Key Secondary Endpoints 4Orexigen(R) Therapeutics Announces First of Four Phase 3 Trials of Contrave(R) Meets Co-Primary and Key Secondary Endpoints 5Orexigen(R) Therapeutics Announces First of Four Phase 3 Trials of Contrave(R) Meets Co-Primary and Key Secondary Endpoints 6Orexigen(R) Therapeutics Announces First of Four Phase 3 Trials of Contrave(R) Meets Co-Primary and Key Secondary Endpoints 7NSTI Announces the 12th Annual Nanotech Conference & Expo 2009 May 3-7, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas 2NSTI Announces the 12th Annual Nanotech Conference & Expo 2009 May 3-7, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas 3NSTI Announces the 12th Annual Nanotech Conference & Expo 2009 May 3-7, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas 4
... Nicola Hughes, 1 Antony Harvey, 2 Witold Win...d, 2 Maurizio Splendore, 2 and Gary Paul 3 , ...Ontario,Canada; , 2Thermo Finnigan,San Jos...USA, , , , , , , Sy... here was acquired on a Thermo Finnigan TSQ Quantu...
... For transfection of eukaryotic cells with RNA a...ents , , , Kit Cont..., Quality Control , ...e Limitations , Product Warranty ...ty Information , Introduction ,...
... QIAGEN offers a custom siRNA oligonucleotide syn... available modifications., , , , ,...atented TOM-Amidite chemistry. , , ... , Ultrapure siRNA purified by ion-ex...Crude siRNA 8085% pure , , , , ...
... For 124 high-purity plasmid minipreps , ,... Spin columns, , , ...trifugation, , , Pu...ns, , , Throughput:..., Preparation time: , 24 mini...
Other Biology Technology:Quantitation of Cabergoline at Extremely Low Plasma Concentrations with , a Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer 2Quantitation of Cabergoline at Extremely Low Plasma Concentrations with , a Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer 3Quantitation of Cabergoline at Extremely Low Plasma Concentrations with , a Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer 4Quantitation of Cabergoline at Extremely Low Plasma Concentrations with , a Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer 5Quantitation of Cabergoline at Extremely Low Plasma Concentrations with , a Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer 6Quantitation of Cabergoline at Extremely Low Plasma Concentrations with , a Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer 7Quantitation of Cabergoline at Extremely Low Plasma Concentrations with , a Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer 8TransMessenger Transfection Reagent Handbook 2TransMessenger Transfection Reagent Handbook 3TransMessenger Transfection Reagent Handbook 4TransMessenger Transfection Reagent Handbook 5TransMessenger Transfection Reagent Handbook 6TransMessenger Transfection Reagent Handbook 7TransMessenger Transfection Reagent Handbook 8TransMessenger Transfection Reagent Handbook 9TransMessenger Transfection Reagent Handbook 10TransMessenger Transfection Reagent Handbook 11TransMessenger Transfection Reagent Handbook 12TransMessenger Transfection Reagent Handbook 13TransMessenger Transfection Reagent Handbook 14TransMessenger Transfection Reagent Handbook 15TransMessenger Transfection Reagent Handbook 16TransMessenger Transfection Reagent Handbook 17TransMessenger Transfection Reagent Handbook 18TransMessenger Transfection Reagent Handbook 19TransMessenger Transfection Reagent Handbook 20TransMessenger Transfection Reagent Handbook 21TransMessenger Transfection Reagent Handbook 22TransMessenger Transfection Reagent Handbook 23TransMessenger Transfection Reagent Handbook 24TransMessenger Transfection Reagent Handbook 25Custom siRNA Oligo Synthesis Service 2
...ave been developed for affinity capture of protein...p chemical surfaces allow differential capture of ...perties. Each chip has eight different spots, allo... are color-coded with a unique hydrophobic coating...
...em is used for conventional PCR and thermal gradie... personal thermal cycler, which features a 96-well...es, programmable time, temperature, and protocol o...erature control. The system also includes PCR tube...
...ave been developed for affinity capture of protein...p chemical surfaces allow differential capture of ...perties. Each chip has eight different spots, allo... are color-coded with a unique hydrophobic coating...
...tem with colony-picking capabilities, 110-120 V, u... proteins, oligonucleotides, carbohydrates, lipids...tes for microarray applications. This system can a...icrometers in diameter and for inoculating 96- or ...
Biology Products: