Alzheimer's diagnosis
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Interview of Folding of Proteins-Alzheimers
Dr. Felzien, Rockhurst University
Why did you choose this field?
I started out wanting to be a social worker but after I took a biology class I thought genetics was interesting. Also, I liked the molecular aspects like proteins and knowing how cells work.
Why should a doctor or researcher studying Alzheimer's know about evolution?
By researching animal models you can study the disease and studying the difference between human and animal genetics. By studying which animal model would be the best compared to humans would be a good source for evolutionary analysis.
Why should they know about protein mis-folding?
Knowing how proteins mis-fold we can understand diseases and know how the accumulation of abnormal cleavage and glutamine develops in Alzheimer's. Also, knowing why plaques and tangles occur can help understand why and if they are actually mis-folding.
How important is the search for a cure or finding out why/how Alzheimer's happens?
This is a huge search for a cure. One has to find the answers to where are the mutations/dispositions? People are living longer so now there is a higher percentage of elderly people getting Alzheimer's. The percentages alone show that 0.1% get Alzheimer's at age 60 while at age 80 it's 10%. Also, at age 90 it is over 30%, which shows that aging may be a reason why Alzheimer's is on the rise.
What do you think about using grid computing in this search?
If it's looking at different database of proteins it can look at little differences in the folding of proteins and differences from person to person.
Are there any new means of prevention of Alzheimer's?
There are many drugs now that delay the onset of deterioration. Also, there is treatments that block the plaques, but there are certain drugs that can't cross the membrane. Oxidation reactions is looking to be treated with forms of antioxidants.
Any other interesting stories dealing with folding of proteins or Alzheimer's?
High cholesterol drugs that lower cholesterol are being looked at as a possible side effect of slowing Alzheimer's. Prions (proteins in the body) can get mis-folded and the one that is mis-folded may have the mutation that will effect the brain.
Why did you choose this field?
I started out wanting to be a social worker but after I took a biology class I thought genetics was interesting. Also, I liked the molecular aspects like proteins and knowing how cells work.
Why should a doctor or researcher studying Alzheimer's know about evolution?
By researching animal models you can study the disease and studying the difference between human and animal genetics. By studying which animal model would be the best compared to humans would be a good source for evolutionary analysis.
Why should they know about protein mis-folding?
Knowing how proteins mis-fold we can understand diseases and know how the accumulation of abnormal cleavage and glutamine develops in Alzheimer's. Also, knowing why plaques and tangles occur can help understand why and if they are actually mis-folding.
How important is the search for a cure or finding out why/how Alzheimer's happens?
This is a huge search for a cure. One has to find the answers to where are the mutations/dispositions? People are living longer so now there is a higher percentage of elderly people getting Alzheimer's. The percentages alone show that 0.1% get Alzheimer's at age 60 while at age 80 it's 10%. Also, at age 90 it is over 30%, which shows that aging may be a reason why Alzheimer's is on the rise.
What do you think about using grid computing in this search?
If it's looking at different database of proteins it can look at little differences in the folding of proteins and differences from person to person.
Are there any new means of prevention of Alzheimer's?
There are many drugs now that delay the onset of deterioration. Also, there is treatments that block the plaques, but there are certain drugs that can't cross the membrane. Oxidation reactions is looking to be treated with forms of antioxidants.
Any other interesting stories dealing with folding of proteins or Alzheimer's?
High cholesterol drugs that lower cholesterol are being looked at as a possible side effect of slowing Alzheimer's. Prions (proteins in the body) can get mis-folded and the one that is mis-folded may have the mutation that will effect the brain.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Overview
Our project is one of the older protein simulation projects. It started on October 1st, 2000 and we are now helping to continue the project. The Folding@Home team began by simulating proteins such as an alpha helix, then HIV and a beta-beta-alpha fold, and the villin headpiece. The predicted folding times for these proteins were quite close to the actual folding times for the molecules. It basically looks at what proteins are doing and how they work. Also, it looks to see what can go wrong, and how to avoid what can go wrong. Proteins will try and fold and when it is 'stuck' it is trying to figure out how it fold right. It takes a few times of trying to fold and unfolding before it gets it right.
Our projects is specifically working on p3042_supervillin-03
This website is called Proteins in Motion....
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.nersc.gov/news/annual_reports/annrep05/assets/img/research_news/11-proteins_clip_image006.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.nersc.gov/news/annual_reports/annrep05/research-news/11-proteins.html&h=442&w=500&sz=46&hl=en&start=12&um=1&tbnid=TqzaGRhUlIEZYM:&tbnh=115&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dproteins%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4ADBS_enUS242US242%26sa%3DN
Our projects is specifically working on p3042_supervillin-03
This website is called Proteins in Motion....
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.nersc.gov/news/annual_reports/annrep05/assets/img/research_news/11-proteins_clip_image006.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.nersc.gov/news/annual_reports/annrep05/research-news/11-proteins.html&h=442&w=500&sz=46&hl=en&start=12&um=1&tbnid=TqzaGRhUlIEZYM:&tbnh=115&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dproteins%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4ADBS_enUS242US242%26sa%3DN
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)