Flies offer insight into human metabol... ( Galactosemia is a metabolic disease re...)

Flies offer insight into human metabolic disease

Date:5/31/2010

Galactosemia is a metabolic disease resulting from an inherited defect that prevents the proper metabolism of galactose, a sugar commonly found in dairy products, like milk. Exposure of affected people to galactose, can damage most of their organ systems and can be fatal. The ability to study the disease is limited by a lack of animal models. New information suggests that similarities between humans and flies may provide scientists with useful clues.

The inability to breakdown simple sugars in common foods, such as milk, can lead to the accumulation of sugars in the blood, which become toxic and damaging to a variety of organ systems. People with galactosemia, either classic galactosemia or epimerase deficiency galactosemia, have genetic mutations that decrease their levels of the key enzymes (GALT and GALE) responsible for the metabolism of a common form of dietary sugar. Without proper levels of these proteins, these people are unable to process the sugar, galactose, which makes up about half of the calories in milk. Both disorders can have severe effects. Patients suffer from liver and brain damage, cataracts, and kidney failure. The disease can be fatal. There is currently no cure and prognosis and treatment remain ill-defined, partly due to the lack of a good animal model that scientists can use to study the disease and to develop potential treatments.

Discovery of treatments for galactosemia is complicated by the unique sensitivities among different organisms to defects in sugar metabolism. For example, galactose accumulation in mice does not have the same physiological consequences as it does in humans, limiting the applicability of mouse models and slowing advances in this area of research. The fly (Drosophila melanogaster) is a popular laboratory model organism that has been used for many decades and in numerous studies, including those of human metabolic disease.

Scientists at Emory University developed flies tha
'/>"/>

Contact: Kristy Kain
kristy.kain@vanderbilt.edu
615-343-1298
The Company of Biologists
Source:Eurekalert

1

GOOD

Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. The buzz on fruit flies: New role in the search for addiction treatments
2. Latest epidemic? High cholesterol, obesity in fruit flies
3. AthletiCo Physical Therapy Enhances Work Rehabilitation Program by Offering Ergonomics and Job Analysis
4. U of A discovery offers promising research for spinal-cord injury treatments
5. Khannna Institute to offer Crystalens in Quarter Diopter Steps
6. Home Gym Equipment Supplier, Fitness 4 Home Online, Features Unique Fitness Offerings
7. Scientists offer solutions to arsenic groundwater poisoning in southern Asia
8. Robotic-assisted vasectomy reversal offers greater chance of fatherhood
9. As Popularity of Dental Implants Rise, a Chicago Cosmetic Dentistry Practice's On-site Lab Offers Patients a Unique Incentive
10. Chef Charles Phillips of Nashville's 1808 Grille, Teams up with National Foundation for Cancer Research, Offering Gourmet Healthy Living Options
11. Breast Cancer Study Offers New Hope

Post Your Comments:

(Date:6/19/2013)... According to a June 17, 2013 Allure ... is not uncommon for a person to suffer from a ... is likely to forget to reapply sunscreen properly and end ... and itchy. When this occurs, it is essential to act ... people do not realize that milk contains proteins, fats, and ...

(Date:6/19/2013)... major international study led by researchers at The University ... ibrutinib continues to show remarkable promise for the treatment ... The most recent interim findings of the 18-center Phase ... England Journal of Medicine . Previous interim findings were ... of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition. , ...

(Date:6/19/2013)... results of three important studies have been published in ... of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons . ... Wilkins , a part of Wolters Kluwer Health ... using artificial neural networks (ANNs) may improve the ability ... Another study in the June Neurosurgery supports ...

(Date:6/19/2013)... Iowa study reveals significant disparities between minority and ... abuse treatment programs. Moreover, these disparities vary widely ... suggest that for most states there,s something amiss," ... and biostatistics. "There are strong racial and ethnic ... substance abuse treatment programs successfully, and those disparities ...

(Date:6/19/2013)... (PROVIDENCE, R.I.) Casual, no-strings sexual encounters are ... students more likely than others to "hook up"? ... Hospital,s Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, published ... , suggests there are certain factors and behaviors ... women. , "Given the potential for negative ...

Breaking Medicine News(10 mins):Health News:Skin Care – How to treat Sunburn 2 Health News:Ibrutinib continues strong showing against mantle cell lymphoma 2 Health News:Neurosurgery publishes findings of 3 important studies in June issue 2 Health News:Neurosurgery publishes findings of 3 important studies in June issue 3 Health News:States vary widely on success rates for minorities in drug treatment programs 2 Health News:States vary widely on success rates for minorities in drug treatment programs 3 Health News:Why are some college students more likely to 'hook up'? 2

[0] Skin Care – How to treat Sunburn [0] Ibrutinib continues strong showing against mantle cell lymphoma [0] Neurosurgery publishes findings of 3 important studies in June issue [0] States vary widely on success rates for minorities in drug treatment programs [0] Why are some college students more likely to 'hook up'?

... Unique database of agricultural pesticide application records informs research , ... Cancer Center ( NCCC ) ... home may experience an increased risk of the most common form of ... Rudolph Rull, Ph.D., used a database unique to California to reveal an ...

... Intellectual property attorney Jason Lief has joined Gersten Savage ... co-chair of the firm,s intellectual property practice with partner James ... litigation and counseling, with a particular concentration on the pharmaceutical ... has successfully represented clients in several dozen major patent litigations, ...

... , , , ... that a new market research report is available ... http://www.reportlinker.com/p0116164/Whos-Doing-What-in-Molecular-Diagnostics---Kalorama-/-Emmes-Survey-of-US-Laboratories.html , , ... the diagnostic business today. Working in conjunction with ...

... , , C.S. Mott Children,s Hospital ... to have their children vaccinated against H1N1 flu, despite higher disease risk; ... ANN ARBOR, Mich., Sept. 24 With schools back in session, H1N1 ... children. A new vaccine against H1N1 flu -- strongly recommended for kids ...

... , IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 24 Free Wheelchair Mission ... 2008 by Ministry Watch, an online database which profiles the ... aimed at bringing improved levels of disclosure and accountability to Christian ... Shining Light Ministries at http://www.ministrywatch.com/pdf/SL_Nov08.pdf , ...

... that suspect plaques build up during waking hours, , THURSDAY, ... want to try a little harder to get a good ... of slumber might keep Alzheimer,s disease at bay. , The ... may not apply to humans. Still, the possible link between ...

Northern California Cancer Center Finds Increased Risk of Most Common Form of Childhood Leukemia Associated With Residential Proximity to Agricultural Pesticides Gersten Savage Expands IP Practice With Partner Jason Lief Reportlinker Adds Who's Doing What in Molecular Diagnostics? - Kalorama / Emmes Survey of US Laboratories Report H1N1 Flu: Are Parents Underestimating Risk to Kids?Free Wheelchair Mission Listed by Ministry Watch as 'Top 30' Shining Light Exemplary Ministry for 2008 Sleep Deprivation Might Lead to Alzheimer's

(Date:6/19/2013)... June 19, 2013 The Physician-Patient Alliance for Health ... The need to urgently address this issue has ... Event Alert #50 , "Medical device alarm safety in hospitals." ... January 2008 and June 2012, there were 98 alarm related ... death (82%) , 13 resulted in permanent loss of ...

(Date:6/19/2013)... SANTA CLARA, Calif. , June 19, 2013 ... and control solutions for life sciences process applications, ... 3L glass bioreactors for upstream cell culture and ... in a new product family of Finesse bioreactors ... R&D and cGMP applications. They are fully compatible ...

(Date:6/19/2013)... 19, 2013 Voices Against Brain Cancer ... for brain cancer, today announced that it has awarded ... the clinical investigation of Toca 511 & Toca FC ... brain cancer (Grade 3 or Grade 4). Tocagen is ... advanced cancer, with an initial focus on brain cancer. ...

Breaking Medicine Technology:Three Lessons Learned to Reduce Alarm Fatigue and Improve Alarm Management and Patient Safety in Hospitals 2 Three Lessons Learned to Reduce Alarm Fatigue and Improve Alarm Management and Patient Safety in Hospitals 3 Finesse Solutions Launches Next Generation SmartGlass 3L Bioreactors for Cell Culture and Fermentation 2 Voices Against Brain Cancer Awards Grant to Tocagen to Support Investigation of Toca 511 & Toca FC in Patients with Recurrent Brain Cancer 2 Voices Against Brain Cancer Awards Grant to Tocagen to Support Investigation of Toca 511 & Toca FC in Patients with Recurrent Brain Cancer 3

[0] Three Lessons Learned to Reduce Alarm Fatigue and Improve Alarm Management and Patient Safety in Hospitals [0] Finesse Solutions Launches Next Generation SmartGlass 3L Bioreactors for Cell Culture and Fermentation [0] Voices Against Brain Cancer Awards Grant to Tocagen to Support Investigation of Toca 511 & Toca FC in Patients with Recurrent Brain Cancer

... cleaning, extending life, efficiency and healthiness of home and ... neurotic about washing their hands and using sanitizers to ... computer and put their hands all over germ-infested keys. ... these persistent little bugs, which are known to spread ...

... ROCKVILLE, Md., May 26 Theranostics Health, Inc. (TH) is ... study funded by the Susan G. Komen Foundation. TH,s ... Promise Grant, part of over $25 million of investment by ... prevention and treatment options for breast cancer.The Susan G. Komen ...

Cached Medicine Technology:GreenBytes Wards Off Germs and Costly Computer Repairs 2 GreenBytes Wards Off Germs and Costly Computer Repairs 3 Theranostics Health Announces Involvement with Major Academic Medical Center in Study Funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure(R) 2 Theranostics Health Announces Involvement with Major Academic Medical Center in Study Funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure(R) 3

GreenBytes Wards Off Germs and Costly Computer Repairs Theranostics Health Announces Involvement with Major Academic Medical Center in Study Funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure(R)

Innotrac Aio! immunoanalyzers are specially designed to exploit the benefits of Innotrac Diagnostics' exclusive dry chemistry and non-enhancement time-resolved fluorometry....

... Synchron LXi 725 clinical system combines ... accurate immunoassay testing capabilities, innovative data ... a single platform. After tests are ... for optimal quality assurance. If reflex ...

... Access immunoassay system is ... benchtop analyzer that performs ... with panels that include ... infectious disease, blood virus, ...

...

Medicine Products:

Innotrac Aio! Satellite Synchron LXi 725 Access Immunoassay System Yankauer suction tube - chrome plated