Navigation Links
UT scientist uncovers trigger to fatal neurodegenerative disease
Date:6/22/2011

Jeremy Smith, Governor's Chair for Molecular Biophysics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has helped reveal a key trigger of GerstmannStrusslerScheinker (GSS) syndrome, a rare but deadly neurodegenerative disease. The finding could have far-reaching implications for the treatment of other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's, and Parkinson's.

Smith conducted his research with two collaborators in Italy: Isabella Daidone, a former postdoctoral researcher of his who is now at the University of L'Aquila, and Alfredo Di Nola of the University of Rome "La Sapienza."

Most GSS patients begin developing symptoms in their late fifties. Symptoms include loss of memory, difficulty speaking, and unsteadiness and lead to progressive dementia, and then death within a few months or years. There is presently no cure or treatment. The disease results from a single, tiny mutation in a protein, resulting in it having a wrong shapethrough "misfolding"then aggregating to form amyloid plaques in the brain.

"Ever since the 'mad cow' scare in Britain in the 1990s, which led to several hundred human deaths and 4.4 million cattle being destroyed, I've been interested in finding out more about these fascinating diseases of wrongly-shaped proteins," said Smith, who was born in England.

The team compared high-performance computer simulations of the structures of the normal and the GSSmutant proteins. They found the GSS protein looks dramatically different from the normal form and revealed how its shape is primed for plaque formation.

"This research shows how computer simulation can be used to pinpoint changes in molecular structure that lead directly to disease," said Smith. "We think that a similar line of investigation should prove beneficial in understanding the origins of other amyloid diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and rheumatoid arthritis. Once the origin is understood at molecular detail,
'/>"/>

Contact: Whitney Holmes
wholmes7@utk.edu
865-974-5460
University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Jefferson scientists deliver toxic genes to effectively kill pancreatic cancer cells
2. Scientist plans to test for blood pressure genes affected by age
3. Scientists identify novel inhibitor of human microRNA
4. Argonne scientists peer into heart of compound that may detect chemical, biological weapons
5. MU scientists go green with gold, distribute environmentally friendly nanoparticles
6. Scientists identify gene that may contribute to improved rice yield
7. Scientists discover why a mothers high-fat diet contributes to obesity in her children
8. MU scientists see how HIV matures into an infection
9. Earth scientists keep an eye on Texas
10. Thinking it through: Scientists call for policy to guide biofuels industry toward sustainability
11. Scientists identify a molecule that coordinates the movement of cells
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/22/2013)... Trial (NLST) investigators also conclude that the 20 ... computed tomography (LDCT) versus chest X-ray (CXR) screening ... achievable at experienced screening centers in the United ... share with their patients about the benefits and ... publication in the New England Journal of ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... novel technique that can detect molecular variants in chemical ... of the most important, though time-consuming, processes in analytical ... Nature , post-doctoral researcher David Patterson, Professor of ... Center for Free-Electron Laser Science (CFEL) in Hamburg, Germany ... to identify molecular variants apart, and to determine how ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... Md. (May 22, 2013)The omega 3 fatty acids in ... cardiovascular diseaseso much so that the American Heart Association ... a week, particularly fatty varieties rich in omega 3s. ... a mystery. In a new study, scientists led by ... on this phenomenon by providing evidence that fish oil ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):NLST: CT detects twice as many lung cancers as X-ray at initial screening exam 2NLST: CT detects twice as many lung cancers as X-ray at initial screening exam 3Detecting mirror molecules 2Detecting mirror molecules 3Fish oil may help the heart beat mental stress 2
... SomaLogic, Inc., announced today that it will receive ... Melinda Gates Foundation,s Grand Challenges in Global Health program, ... creating new tools that can radically improve health in ... Diseases Research Group at SomaLogic, will pursue an innovative ...
... The University of Nottingham has shown that babies who are ... healthier food preferences and are less likely to become overweight ... The research just published by BMJ Open set ... preferences and Body Mass Index in early childhood in a ...
... HOUSTON -- (Feb. 9, 2012) Aging takes its ... researchers led by Baylor College of Medicine and ... least, it even diminishes the come-hither effect of the chemicals ... we have direct evidence that the pheromones produced at these ...
Cached Biology News:SomaLogic Inc. receives Grand Challenges tuberculosis biomarkers grant 2Baby knows best! Study shows baby-led weaning promotes healthy food preferences 2Baby knows best! Study shows baby-led weaning promotes healthy food preferences 3Fruit flies drawn to the sweet smell of youth 2
(Date:5/23/2013)... 23, 2013 PuraMed BioScience ® , ... of over-the-counter (OTC) medicinal and healthcare products, announced ... the company based on low market capitalization valuation. ... All Natural Product to Treat Migraine Headaches ... Prescription Competitor , Currently Available Nationwide at ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... HILLS, Calif. , May 23, 2013  Saddleback ... recently became the first hospital on the ... robotic technology. This new surgical option provides women with ... Marc Winter , M.D., ... gynecologist and surgeon and medical director of minimally invasive ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... 2013 Northwest Biotherapeutics (NASDAQ: NWBO ... personalized immune therapies for solid tumor cancers, announced ... year,s American Society Of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in ... role in immune therapy.  (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110329/SF73084LOGO ... the pre-eminent conference focused on clinical treatment of cancer, ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... 23, 2013 Pusan National University Yangsan ... biotherapeutics and contract research company focused on research ... announced today a publication reporting the induction of ... oncolytic and immunotherapeutic vaccinia JX-594 (pexastimogene devacirepvec; Jennerex ... in the May 15 th , 2013 issue ...
Breaking Biology Technology:PuraMed BioScience (PMBS) Issued Alert Based on Market Cap of $721,756 2PuraMed BioScience (PMBS) Issued Alert Based on Market Cap of $721,756 3Saddleback Memorial Surgeon First on the West Coast to Perform Single-Site Robotic Hysterectomy 2Saddleback Memorial Surgeon First on the West Coast to Perform Single-Site Robotic Hysterectomy 3NW Bio Exhibit at the Upcoming ASCO Meeting to Highlight its Leadership Role in Immune Therapy for Cancer 2NW Bio Exhibit at the Upcoming ASCO Meeting to Highlight its Leadership Role in Immune Therapy for Cancer 3Pusan National University Announces Science Translational Medicine Publication Highlighting Landmark Demonstration of Functional Anti-Cancer Antibody Induction in Patients Following JX-594 Treatment 2Pusan National University Announces Science Translational Medicine Publication Highlighting Landmark Demonstration of Functional Anti-Cancer Antibody Induction in Patients Following JX-594 Treatment 3
... Ascenta Therapeutics announced today that promising results from ongoing ... the data presented on AT-101, an oral, pan-Bcl-2 inhibitor, at ... May 29-June 2, in Orlando, Florida. , , ... , , , "We are delighted with ...
... indicate target-dependent activity in breast cancer patients with high ... 1 Micromet, Inc. (Nasdaq: MITI ), ... treatment of cancer, inflammation and autoimmune diseases, presented data ... adecatumumab (MT201) in combination with the chemotherapeutic docetaxel in ...
... LLC, a box manufacturer, launches an online store offering cryogenic freezer ... ... Avon, OH (PRWEB) May 31, 2009 -- A box ... boxes online directly to labs at guaranteed low prices. Cryovial ...
Cached Biology Technology:Ascenta Therapeutics Announces Presentation of Promising Results From Clinical Trials of AT-101 in Prostate, Brain, and Lung Cancers at 2009 ASCO Annual Meeting 2Ascenta Therapeutics Announces Presentation of Promising Results From Clinical Trials of AT-101 in Prostate, Brain, and Lung Cancers at 2009 ASCO Annual Meeting 3Ascenta Therapeutics Announces Presentation of Promising Results From Clinical Trials of AT-101 in Prostate, Brain, and Lung Cancers at 2009 ASCO Annual Meeting 4Ascenta Therapeutics Announces Presentation of Promising Results From Clinical Trials of AT-101 in Prostate, Brain, and Lung Cancers at 2009 ASCO Annual Meeting 5Micromet Presents Update at ASCO 2009 on a Phase 1b Combination Study of Adecatumumab and Docetaxel 2Micromet Presents Update at ASCO 2009 on a Phase 1b Combination Study of Adecatumumab and Docetaxel 3Micromet Presents Update at ASCO 2009 on a Phase 1b Combination Study of Adecatumumab and Docetaxel 4Micromet Presents Update at ASCO 2009 on a Phase 1b Combination Study of Adecatumumab and Docetaxel 5Box maker, Wildcat Wholesale, Makes Cryogenic Freezer Storage Boxes Affordable By Selling Directly To Labs 2
...
... Solid phase reagent for ... Easy & unique water ... with detergents and chaotropes; ... recover non-envelop viruses while ...
Synaptic Vesicle I Sampler Kit 10g each...
Mouse monoclonal [3A7.A11] to Thymidylate Synthase ( Abpromise for all tested applications). entrezGeneID: 7298 SwissProtID: P04818...
Biology Products: