Colton Adair
BIOL 1610
Many of us know someone, or
recognize a public figure, who has been affected by a neurological disease of
some sort, Lou Gherig for example. This study, although not directly talking
about ALS comments that its focus maybe be an additional reason that
neurological cells do not continue to grow and fight as they body typically
tries to do. Dr. D. Allan Drummond of the University of Chicago has found that
clumps of cells (protein and RNA) found in dying cells of neurological disease
were thought of to just be signs of a dying cell. But through his research he
has found that these cells are actually the cells response to stress, of
whatever kind it may be! However they are not functioning as they should.
Specifically
the protein poly(A)-binding protein (Pab1) forms those clumps of cells that he
has actually found to be a which is actually a hydrogel that is the cell’s
response to stress! This was further proved by a test with yeast. When they
tested the yeast and interfered with Pab1, the cell was not able to deal with
the stress. As mentioned earlier, in the cells of someone inflicted with a neurological
disease, these clumps of cells were thought of to just be waste and dead cells.
Its their thought, and research will tell, that the function of this hydrogel
and these cells was halted somewhere in the process and they stayed as lumps as
opposed to performing their function and then returning to their original
state. Their further goal is to understand better the reversal of this process
in understanding more fully how the body (cells) fight and cope with stress of
all types. I loved this study and thought it was very relevant to many of
todays problems.
I picked
this study for a couple of reasons. One I have always been interested in
medical research, after doing some of our case studies and finding out a little
more about what really happens in specific diseases down on a molecular level,
its created a sense of intrigue in me to better understand the real problems of
diseases. And more specifically the diseases present in the people around me,
cancer, diabetes, ALS. Which leads me to a big reason that this one study
caught my eye. My grandpa died of ALS years back, and I’ve always wanted to
find out everything I can about it, although I’ve done papers and research on
it, there is still so much more that I have to learn. And this study has shown
me just that! Medical research opens up so many avenues for so many people, and
I love it!
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ReplyDeleteDo the Hydrogels form regularly in individuals with out neurological disorders and then de-clump on their own? Is that the reason the scientists are trying to find a way to reverse the clumping? The reason I ask is because you mentioned that observations show that individuals inflicted with neurological disorders tend to have groups of these in their cells, but I didn't know the permanence of it in other individuals experiencing stress. This made me wonder if its similar to a histamines with allergies. All of us have a type of histamine response to things affecting our immune system, and it creates an inflammation due to expansion of capillaries to allow for more white blood cells to respond to the issue. However, in the case of allergies, people take antihistamines to relieve the swelling to reduce the affects of their allergies. Maybe it is similar to people with Parkinson's disease or other neurological disorders and they need an 'anti-hydrogel' that allows it during stress but provides a way to return to normal afterward.-JLF
ReplyDeleteThanks for your questions! I studied a little bit more and I think I can provide some answers for your questions. Or at least some direction. Yes, Hydrogels or cell clumping/aggregating does happen and declump regularly in response to stress. Whatever stress that may be. The proteins gather together for a couple of reasons from what I have studied; one, to provide protection from the stress. Also to help regulate or direct the cell in continuing to grow and function for the health of the cell. Yes, so from what they have said, it appears that in most neurological disorders these clumps sees to appear, indicating that the cells were trying to respond to help, but for some reason didn't function properly and were unable to declump back into their original folded proteins. It seems, from what you have described of histamines, that they contain similar properties! Thanks for that connection. I believe that that is certainly part of the problem is some neurological diseases, but there is also a problem that the clumps don't seem to be performing their regular functions of protection and regulating. But yes, an anti-hydrogel would seem appropriate after they can find a way to help these clumps continue to perform their proper functions when needed for neurological diseases. This is the other article I read about this research which gave a little bit more specific information. https://sciencelife.uchospitals.edu/2015/09/10/protein-aggregation-after-heat-shock-is-an-organized-reversible-cellular-response/ CNA
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