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...
Small, dense deposits, termed Lewy bodies or Lewy neurites, stud the brains of patients with Parkinson's disease. The three sections of brain tissue shown above depict how the protein, alpha-synuclein (stained brown), packs these deposits. This finding, and others, leads many scientists to believe that alpha-synuclein plays a key role in Parkinson's disease. Researchers are now searching for ways to stop their negative actions and hopefully aid patients in the future.
About 250 FRepers are actively folding their fingers to the bone trying to help cure various diseases. Parkinsons Disease has afflicted nearly one million people in the US alone, including Muhammed Ali and Michael J Fox.
This is a small part of the research that is going on using the information gathered from the Folding @ Home distributed computing network.
Please join our team (that's 36120) and help us make a difference for the future!
Jump on board people and let's live longer, healthier, better lives.
http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/viewJoinNow.
BTTT
The World Community Grid is also a very good organization. Is there a FReeper team?
WCG seems to be much more of a corporate project, and less grass roots than F@H.
I stayed with Folding@Home after the Genone@Home project. We started this team almost two years ago, but it didn't take off until other FReepers startd publicizing it.
Thanks for joining the team!
My folding has ground to a halt. I can't seem to finish this WU since it gets up to 60-70% and then goes back to 0%. I suspect it is an issue with my ancient PC.
I'm looking to buy a new PC and I wonder if anyone could familiarize me with the differences between the Windows XP home, professional and media center versions.
Cool. I just completed my 13th work unit last night. I love this!!
I got the Media Center version with my last PC. Just nore bells and whistles with multimedia files. It automatically organizes songs, etc.
That's all I know. I've had home and professional in the past, and I've never lacked for features. What do you use your comp for?
overtxt is right - what do you use your computer for?
XP Home is good enough for most folks. XP Media Center is available and standard for all but the cheapest systems.
If you mostly surf the net, get a fast CPU, a good video card and lots of RAM (512 mb - 1gb). A SATA drive is recomended if you can get it with your package.
I suspect that you have issues with the old system, probably with Windows. If restarting the system doesn't help clean up the problem, then delete the entire F@H directory and install a fresh copy.
Ping us with updates, please!
Bump
Sales pitch for any shared distributed computing network task: My PC isn't complaining about the extra workload, and I don't even notice.
New thread bump.
We'll be fine. This is a part of the paper Dr Pande presented in December regarding the F@H results on a misfolded protein. That makes it a legitamate science article, so I grabbed Extended News for the science aspect.
If all we did was to crow about being #169 (which we will be after the noon update) then that goes into chat.
We have several new folders and I wanted them to see what their folding helps accomplish.
I'm glad you posted here.
I just signed on.
Thanks
Over the hump, bump
(hmmm - that doesn't sound quite right)
rephrasing - Thurs AM bump
;^D
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!
