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The DNA mismatch repair operates in a defined time window

The DNA mismatch repair operates in a defined time window

In eukaryotes, the vast group of organisms that includes humans, appears to be essential to the survival ability of certain proteins to repair genetic errors that occur when DNA is replicated shortly before cell division, and do it quickly and accurate. In a ...
The replication of bacteria magnetotattici: split sleeves

The replication of bacteria magnetotattici: split sleeves

The bacteria magnetotattici are a particular class of micro-organisms described for the first time by Richard Blakemore in the 70, equipped with the special feature to orient themselves along the lines of the earth's magnetic field. These response properties may help to magnetism marine bacteria that live ...
Unveiling the mystery of the mole that feels no pain

Unveiling the mystery of the mole that feels no pain

Naked mole-rats, native of East Africa, in addition to unique scientific name (Heterocephalus Glaber), is not lacking in extravagant biological characteristics: living underground in conditions of semi-darkness, is hairless, has a life expectancy of more than twenty 'year, more unique than rare among rodents, and ...
Bacteria possess an acquired immune system

Bacteria possess an acquired immune system

This is probably one of the most important discoveries of the last ten years, in molecular biology. A new study from Rice University has determined a mathematical model to describe a system of acquired immunity in bacteria, able to fight infection by bacteriophages. Bacteriophages are ...
The fungus and decomposition of plastics containing bisphenol

The fungus and decomposition of plastics containing bisphenol

As well as cooking helps people digest food better, even spray all polycarbonate plastics - sources of serious environmental damage because they contain bisphenol A (BPA) - could be the key to a more eco-friendly disposal of our waste, as claimed from ...

A gene to limit the accumulation of Cadmium (toxic) in rice

Nessun commento September 22, 2010 No comments

The 'intake of cadmium (Cd) via contaminated rice, because of serious and sensational effects, such as Itai-Itai syndrome, he remains a great risk to human health: it is thought that the average concentration of cadmium is increasing, and this seems mainly related to soil contamination related to industrial production.

The disease has been detected for the first time in 1946 in a region of Japan, and its name is due to the intense pain that causes rheumatoid and myalgic ("Itai itai" is in fact a cry of pain equivalent to "ouch ouch") . In addition to serious kidney damage, the disease also leads to alterations in the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus, some Ca 2 + ions are replaced by bone Cd 2 +, which possess the same electrical charge and roughly the same size, take the bones, with time, a porous appearance and may fracture. ( Source )

In addition to strict controls on industrial discharges of heavy metals in soil, a possible strategy to address toxic cadmium intake via food may be the creation (or selection) of rice varieties that are not able to take this element .

In this view you insert a new study by researchers at Okayama University of Japan, which has led to the identification of a gene of rice (OsHMA3) responsible for a low accumulation of cadmium, the gene was isolated through a series of experiments cross between rice varieties with low and high accumulation of Cd.

Localization of the transporter with Cd and GFP antibodies. For more details click on the image

The gene in question encodes a transporter belonging to the family 1B P-type ATPase, but shows little similarity with other members. The heterologous expression in yeast showed that the carrier of the variety low accumulation of Cd is functional, whereas that resulting from the variety high accumulation of Cd has lost its function, probably due to the mutation of a single amino acid.

The transporter is expressed mainly in the tonoplast of root cells, with similar levels of expression in both varieties of rice. Overexpression of a functional gene (from the rice variety "low-Cd") generates a selective decrease of the accumulation of Cd, but not of other micronutrients in the caryopsis.

All these results indicate that the gene variant OsHMA3 from the "low-Cd Accumulating" limits the translocation of cadmium from roots to upper tissues, selectively sequestrandolo inside the vacuoles of roots.

Source: Pnas.org
Categories: Agronomy

Prozac works by controlling the levels of microRNAs

Nessun commento September 20, 2010 No comments

The time of response to antidepressants such as Prozac, is around 3 weeks.

Why? The adjustment mechanism operated by neurons in response to antidepressants has long remained enigmatic, but new research published in Science of September 17, 2010 sheds new light on the mechanisms of action of this class of drugs in use for over 30 years around the world (even in a sometimes quite heavy).

Fluoxetine hydrochloride, trade name Prozac

The research team Odile Kellermann and Jean-Marie Launay, has revealed (for the first time) a sequence of reactions caused by Prozac at the neuronal level, which adds to the level, often impaired in depressed individuals, serotonin, a " messenger "essential chemical for the brain.

Serotonin (abbreviated as 5-HT, 5-hydroxy-tryptamine) is a neurotransmitter essential for communication between neurons, and is involved specifically in the food and sexual behavior in sleep-wake cycle, pain, anxiety and General setting a mood.

Depressive states are associated with a deficiency of serotonin right: since the 60 strategies for the synthesis of antidepressant drugs have aimed to 'increase the amount of serotonin released into the synaptic space, or space between two neurons, through which it has the mediation chemical (by the neurotransmitter, and then 5-HT) of the electrical pulse coming dall'assone.

Despite knowing for several years that antidepressants like Prozac can increase the concentration of serotonin in the synapse by blocking the serotonin transporter (SERT), which mediates the reuptake of the neurotransmitter into the presynaptic terminal, up to now was still unexplained delay of 3 weeks in the beginning of their effectiveness.

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Categories: Neuroscience

Obsessive compulsive disorder: a study in 2007 revealed a possible hereditary factor

2 commenti May 17, 2010 2 comments

Define uniquely the OCD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (Obsessive-compulsive disorder), is not an easy task, as this mental disorder presents with symptoms varied and articulated.

In general, is associated with obsessive thoughts and repetitive actions, rituals or formulas to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions. It is a disorder that affects 2-3% of the population of which are newly discovered biological basis and hereditary.

Brain activity in patients with OCD and their close relatives

One of the studies on this topic, in 2007, comes from 'University of Cambridge, published in the journal Brain. As is well known that the most related individuals may suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, has not yet been discovered a genetic pattern linked, the idea of researchers from Cambridge to the possibility that these genes may influence the amount of gray matter in certain brain areas.

Using a test of response to auditory and visual stimuli, in which subjects had to respond with a press of a button to the right or left, the research team has tried to monitor the ability to control compulsive behaviors in a group of two people with OCD, a group of their close relatives and a group of healthy people. The three groups also underwent MRI to obtain images of various brain areas.

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Categories: Neuroscience

The fungus and decomposition of plastics containing bisphenol

2 commenti May 13, 2010 2 comments

As well as cooking helps people digest food better, even spray all polycarbonate plastics - sources of serious environmental damage because they contain bisphenol A (BPA) - could be the key to a more eco-friendly disposal of our waste, as claimed by researchers in an article published in ACS 'Biomacromolecules.
Mukesh Doble and Trishul artham, authors of the publication, they note that are produced each year about 2.7 million tons of plastic containing BPA.

The fungi may be a path of ecological disposal of polycarbonate plastics containing Bisphenol A

The polycarbonate plastic is extremely durable, and is used in different fields: from the grips of screwdrivers to eyeglasses, CDs and DVDs to the windows in civil and industrial.

A number of studies have shown that bisphenol A content in these plastics may have a range of adverse effects on human health: the U.S. Food and Drug Administration maintains that low levels of exposure to BPA (like today) appear safe for human (at least as shown by standardized toxicological testing), specifying, however, as recent studies with more sensitive approaches have raised concerns about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior and prostate gland in fetuses and young children.

Anyway, it is very recent news that several states have banned the sale of baby bottles made ​​from plastics containing bisphenol: in addition to Canada and Denmark, France now declared them dangerous to the health of newborns.
Therefore the search for a safe way to the environment for the disposal of the plastic, to avoid the release of bisphenol, is therefore a field in full activity.

Bisphenol A (BPA), organic compound with two phenolic groups

Scientists Indian authors of this paper are pre-treated polycarbonate with ultraviolet light and heat and they then exposed to three different types of fungi, including the legendary white-rot fungus , often used for environmental remediation by the strongest pollutants.

The result was that the fungi grow better on plastic pre-treated in this way, since they use the bisphenol this (and other compounds) as a source of energy, by decomposing the plastic.

After 12 months of similar exposure, there has been no decomposition of the plastic itself is not treated, compared to the substantial decomposition of the pre-treated, which has thus resulted in release of BPA.

Source: EurekAlert! | Full article
Categories: Biotech , Medicine and Health

Endometrial stem cells to repair the damage of Parkinson's disease

1 commento May 7, 2010 a comment

According to a new study by researchers at Yale School of Medicine, stem cells derived from 'endometrium (the lining of the inner cavity of the uterus) and transplanted into the brains of laboratory rats with Parkinson's disease appear to restore the functionality of nerve cells damaged by disease.

Neurons developed from stem cells of the endometrial tissue

The research results were published in the Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, and although this is preliminary data, "however, makes likely the hypothesis that endometrial tissue can be extracted from women with Parkinson's disease and thus can be used to regrow brain areas damaged by the disease "as claimed by the team leader, Hugo S. Taylor, a professor at the Yale School of Medicine.

Because of their ability to give rise to new cell types, stem cells may be the key in the treatment of different types of diseases (such as in the specific case Parkinson's), in which the body's own cells are damaged or are completely dead.

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Categories: Medicine and Health , Neuroscience

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