Posted on 03/09/2006 2:46:13 AM PST by texas booster
Brain Briefings
Proteins carry out many crucial functions in the body and brain. Researchers, however, are finding out that some have a sinister side. Recent studies indicate that negative influences can turn the protein, alpha-synuclein, into a major contributor of the movement-impairing disorder, Parkinson's disease. The insights may lead to new ways to treat the brain disease as well as other related ailments.
A protein inside the brain, dubbed alpha-synuclein, lives a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde existence. Normally, alpha-synuclein (AS) aids brain function, possibly by helping cells communicate with one another. Recent studies, however, show that certain forces negatively influence the protein, allowing Mr. Hyde a turn on stage. This "evil" AS appears to contribute to the development of the brain disorder, Parkinson's disease, which harms the movement of more than one million Americans. The new insights into the protein's sinister side are leading to:
A clearer understanding of the precise role AS plays in normal brain function and disease.
Innovative ways to protect the brain from harmful AS and potentially treat Parkinson's disease as well as related brain disorders.
Patients with Parkinson's disease experience a variety of movement problems that get worse over time. Symptoms include trembling, stiffness of the limbs and poor balance, among others. For years, researchers have known that the impairments result from a loss of cells in the brain that produce the chemical dopamine and relay movement signals. A mystery, however, remained: What launches the cell destruction?
Starting in the late 1990s evidence began to implicate AS. Researchers examined the genes passed down through the generations of several families with high incidences of Parkinson's disease. A gene that regulates the production of AS turned out to be faulty. Furthermore, scientists analyzed dense deposits commonly found in the brain cells of patients with a family history of the disease as well as patients with little or no signs of a family link. They found that AS is the main component of the deposits (see images). These discoveries led many to speculate that certain influences, such as a defective gene or environmental trigger, can propel AS to turn toxic. As Mr. Hyde, the protein may abnormally clump up, form the clogging deposits and eventually choke the dopamine cells to death.
More recently, by breeding mice and fruit flies that contained human versions of the AS gene, researchers confirmed that AS has a dastardly side. Insects genetically altered to include the same faulty AS genes found in the Parkinson's-plagued families developed brain deposits and movement problems as they aged. Furthermore, some of their dopamine cells died. In mice, the faulty AS genes also triggered some signs of Parkinson-type problems.
In addition, scientists discovered that flies and mice bred with a normal version of the human gene developed some signs of Parkinson's. They now are trying to better understand how the AS produced by this normal human gene may turn toxic. Possibly the human gene produces an excess amount of AS in the insects and animals, which creates the detrimental effects. This idea is bolstered by recent research that showed high AS-producing mice have significantly more brain deposits than low producers.
Scientists also are investigating how specific environmental factors may help push AS down a negative path. One recent study found that when rats received steady amounts of the common pesticide, rotenone, into their blood they developed evidence of AS-packed deposits in their brain tissue and other common signs of Parkinson's disease, such as movement problems and a degeneration of dopamine cells.
Researchers suspect that exposure to certain factors in normal living, such as the pesticide, may set off internal chemical reactions that produce a glut of unstable free radicals in the brain. These notoriously destructive molecules possibly latch onto AS and create intense havoc. Supporting this idea, a recent study found the AS in Parkinson's brain deposits has free radical damage...
I have the media center computer for a while now. I use it to record/watch my tv shows. Like Tivo, you can set it up to record an entire season of shows, etc., but with no monthly charges.
Everyone should visit the current FR Folding thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1586297/posts
I meant to say previous folding thread.
Terrific! Welcome to the team!
[Bump]
Come join the FR team. It's easy, fun, and rewarding.
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bump for reading on my home computer, where I can sign up....
My other halfs computer will FINALLY be finishing a WU! Woo Hoo! Should be done in about an hour. 404 points. . . He shuts the system off at night and it is our slowest computer. I think it has taken 2 weeks or so...
You're welcome! Every little bit helps the search for cures.
I finally reached 100% on my first WU early this AM. When I checked this morning, it looks like it's repeating my "Tinker". Is this normal, or maybe my WU has more than one section? Looks like work to date awarded 239 points.
I'm certainly not a power user by any means. I just surf, build some webpages, do home finance etc. It sounds like the home edition would probably be fine. Thanks all.
follow this link over to Folding@Home:
http://folding.stanford.edu/download.html
Download the Windows XP GUI (or whichever you need). Run it, pick a user name, the team is 36120 and just default the rest. Works smoothly in the background.
Oh, make sure that you spell your name right!
The Stanford servers send out the work units based upon their need. Right now we are see LOTS of 2106/2107 units.
The 2107 protein project has tens of thousands of components that we all work on. The first 6 months of F@H produced a whopping 30 microseconds of folding for researchers to work with.
Even a small protein is a tremendous amount of work.
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We moved up 3 spots today
http://folding.extremeoverclocking.com/team_summary.php?s=&t=36120
How can you tell how many points a current WU will be? I don't see this info anywhere....
Here's a LINK
Bump in the night, bump
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