Navigation Links
Wisconsin scientists find a way to make human collagen in the lab

Of all of the materials that make up our bodies, nothing is more ubiquitous than collagen.

It is the most important structural protein in the body, reinforcing connective tissue, bones and teeth, and forming long, fibrous cables to strengthen tendons. Collagen forms sheets of tissue that support the skin and every internal organ. There is nothing in the body, in fact, that does not depend in some way on collagen.

In medicine, collagen from animals, principally cows, is used to rebuild tissue destroyed by burns and wounds. Commonly, it is employed in plastic surgery to augment the lips and cheeks of starlets and others seeking perpetual youth. Catgut, the biodegradable sutures made from cow or horse intestines and used in surgery to minimize scarring, is also a form of collagen.

But for such a commonplace and useful protein, collagen has defied the efforts of biomedical researchers who have tried mightily to synthesize it for use in applications ranging from new wound-healing technologies to alleviating arthritis. The reason: Scientists were unable to synthesize the human protein because they had no way to link the easily made short snippets of collagen into the long, fibrous molecules necessary to mimic the real thing.

But now a team of scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, writing this week (Feb. 13, 2006) in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), reports the discovery of a method for making human collagen in the lab.

The work is important because it opens a door to producing a material that can have broad use in medicine and replace the animal products that are now used but that can also harbor pathogens or spark undesirable immune responses. What's more, the new work may also lay the foundation for applications in nanotechnology -- such as microscopic sensors that could be implanted in humans to confront the effects of disease -- because it gives scientists a way to precisely manipulate t
'"/>

Source:University of Wisconsin-Madison


Page: 1 2 3

Related biology news :

1. Wisconsin scientists grow critical nerve cells
2. Wisconsin researchers identify sleep gene
3. Wisconsin scientists discover a master key to microbes pathogenic lifestyles
4. Wisconsin scientists grow two new stem cell lines in animal cell-free culture
5. UCSB scientists probe sea floor venting to gain understanding of early life on Earth
6. UAB scientists discover the origin of a mysterious physical force
7. Fox Chase Cancer Center scientists identify immune-system mutation
8. Weizmann Institute scientists develop a new approach for directing treatment to metastasized prostate cancer in the bones.
9. U-M scientists find genes that control growth of common skin cancer
10. UCLA scientists transform HIV into cancer-seeking missile
11. RNA project to create language for scientists worldwide
Post Your Comments:
(Date:7/8/2008)...e in Spanish . , Barcelona, Spain: Research...men undergo assisted reproduction technology (ART)...jority achieve a pregnancy within the first two at...e consistent, but lower, pregnancy rate of about 2...imon Hong told the 24th annual meeting of the Euro...
(Date:7/8/2008)... Spanish . , Barcelona, Spain: Children bor...in the womb have higher birth weight than those bo...s reported to the 24th annual conference of the Eu...y today (Tuesday 8 July). The mothers had longer p...ased risk of congenital malformations, said Dr. An...
(Date:7/7/2008)... over millions of years to maximise efficiency of ... perfect streamlined designs for barely a century....erts? Biologists and engineers from across the US...ers, fins and tails of whales and dolphins, these ...structure that contradict long-held engineering th...
(Date:7/7/2008)...ural landowners in Oregon,s Willamette Basin to pr...their newly conserved trees and plants will absorb... new study has found. , The study, to be publis... Academy of Sciences, analyzed hypothetical payme...ake their acreage out of production for conservati...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Failure of the 1st attempt at assisted reproduction justifies at least 1 additional cycle 2Failure of the 1st attempt at assisted reproduction justifies at least 1 additional cycle 3Children born from frozen embryos weigh more and do better than those born after fresh transfer 2Whales and dolphins influence new wind turbine design 2Incentives for carbon sequestration may not protect species 2Silex Introduces SX SDWAG 802 11a b g SDIO Radio Card for OEM Portable Device Applications 3789 1Silex Introduces SX SDWAG 802 11a b g SDIO Radio Card for OEM Portable Device Applications 3789 2Glowing films developed by UC San Diego chemists reveal traces of explosives 6275 1Glowing films developed by UC San Diego chemists reveal traces of explosives 6275 2Census of Marine Life lists 122 500 known species over halfway to complete inventory by Oct 2010 3787 1Census of Marine Life lists 122 500 known species over halfway to complete inventory by Oct 2010 3787 2Census of Marine Life lists 122 500 known species over halfway to complete inventory by Oct 2010 3787 3Census of Marine Life lists 122 500 known species over halfway to complete inventory by Oct 2010 3787 4Census of Marine Life lists 122 500 known species over halfway to complete inventory by Oct 2010 3787 5The Second International Conference on Signs of Autism in Infants 3A Changing Outcomes through Early Identification and Intervention October 11 and 1 22860 1The Second International Conference on Signs of Autism in Infants 3A Changing Outcomes through Early Identification and Intervention October 11 and 1 22860 2The Second International Conference on Signs of Autism in Infants 3A Changing Outcomes through Early Identification and Intervention October 11 and 1 22860 3
...f deaths from SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) ...ne gene and half of those deaths result from a com...isk of developing an abnormal heart rhythm during ...ed at the University of Chicago reports in the Feb...igation. , Children with two copies of the common...
...estern University have determined the molecular st...s 5 fusion (F) protein. The parainfluenza virus 5 ...hat causes everything from pneumonia, croup and br...e for many hospitalizations and deaths each year. ...l Nature. , Details of the protein,s structure in ...
...rmined the detailed structure of an essential piec...or to the vast majority of human cancers. Understa... a better understanding of how it acts to immortal...ly effective cancer drugs. , Until now, the lack o... has hindered progress in developing agents to inh...
...cer Research Consortium scientists from The Walter...ve discovered the rare stem cell that drives the f... an important foundation for understanding how nor...the breast stem cell is also likely to provide clu...cells evade current therapies. , Under normal cir...
Other Biology News:Gene variation increases SIDS risk in African Americans 2Gene variation increases SIDS risk in African Americans 3Scientists identify molecular structure of key viral protein 2Scientists identify molecular structure of key viral protein 3Scientists identify molecular structure of key viral protein 4Report lists top 20 most-vulnerable African carnivores 2Report lists top 20 most-vulnerable African carnivores 3Report lists top 20 most-vulnerable African carnivores 4Faults in newly discovered breast stem cells may lead to tumours 2
(Date:7/8/2008)... New Rochelle, NY, July 8, 2008Biotech and pharma...logies designed to streamline the complicated drug...nd Biotechnology News ( GEN ). Most successful ap...screening methods, miniaturization techniques, and...icle in the July issue ( http://www.genengnews.com...
(Date:7/8/2008)... ADDISON, Texas, July 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ ...t has scheduled a conference call to provide an,up...008 at 10:00 a.m.,Eastern time., To participate i...for,international callers dial (850) 429-1388 (acc...nitiation of the teleconference. If you are unable...
(Date:7/8/2008)... SAN MARINO, Calif., July 8 /- Epe...at Rexin-G has been granted Orphan Drug,Designatio...or the,treatment of osteosarcoma. Based on several...current lack of effective therapies for metastatic...inal merit of Rexin-G, the,granting of Orphan Drug...
(Date:7/8/2008)... Event to focus on nanomedical applications in di... therapeutics, CLEVELAND, July 8 /...ch Institute, and Case Western Reserve University ...host a national summit to,explore the use of nanop...,to improve medical treatment and patient care., ...
Breaking Biology Technology:ULURU Inc. Announces Update on Recent Development 2Epeius Biotechnologies' Tumor-Targeted Rexin-G Receives FDA Orphan Drug Designation for the Treatment of Osteosarcoma 2NanoMedicine Summit Returns to Cleveland, September 25-26 2NanoMedicine Summit Returns to Cleveland, September 25-26 3NanoMedicine Summit Returns to Cleveland, September 25-26 4
...cation of up to 3 kb genomic DNA targets Cat. No. ... , , , Description , , , ...entrated PCR reaction , mix (Taq DNA Polyme..., detergent, dNTPs) plus water PCR grade (for...ons. Taq DNA Polymerase was originally isolated fr...
... carry-over prevention Cat. No. 1 585 541 , ... , Description , , , The PCR ...orm , a polymerase chain reaction with the ...iate primers. The kit contains: , , ...se , PCR Nucleotide MixPLUS , ...
...f 520 kb targets from eukaryotic genomes Cat. No. ...t. No. 1 681 842 2 x 250 units , Cat. No. 1... , Description , , , Unique e...tem also includes , PCR buffers for optimal..., , PCR buffer 1 (10x conc.), w...
...f long targets (up to 35 kb) from eukaryotic genom... , , , , Description , , ... DNA Polymerase and another , thermostable ...ludes , an optimized reaction buffer, MgC...emplate DNA plus beta-globin primers). , ,...
Other Biology Technology:PCR Master 2PCR Master 3PCR Core KitPLUS 2Expand Long Template PCR System 2Expand 20 kbPLUS PCR System 2
...a modern flow cytometer, a scientist can resolve s...th fluorescent probes. However, the emission spect...e broader than the light collection windows genera...scence signal of a dye may be received in more tha...
This free-standing laminar flow hood provides a vertical flow of HEPA-filtered air to create a clean processing area. It includes a fluorescent light and motorized sliding shield. Options include wor
...,Product Information , ,The Orbit LS low speed ...ith economical analog control. , ,Styled after t... a streamlined, compact design with easy-access co...setting speed and time. The knobs used for selecti...
This modular laminar flow hood forces air through a 99.99% efficient HEPA filter to create a clean processing area. Configurations are available with vertical or horizontal flow; options include a wo
Biology Products: