Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Research on Actin-Related Protein Published in PNAS.CLEVELAND -- Mark Chance, Ph.D., Director, Case Center for Proteomics, Center for Synchrotron synchrotron: see particle accelerator. synchrotron Cyclic particle accelerator in which the particle is confined to its orbit by a magnetic field. The strength of the magnetic field increases as the particle's momentum increases. Biosciences and Professor, Department of Physiology and Biosciences at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, along with a team of national researchers, set a "world record" examining the largest molecule to date with the smallest amount of material. The research was conducted to better understand the role of actin-related protein (ARP) in a growing or changing cell. As a cell moves and grows, ARP expands the cells skeleton, called the cytoskeleton cytoskeleton System of microscopic filaments or fibres, present in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells (see eukaryote), that organizes other cell components, maintains cell shape, and is responsible for cell locomotion and for movement of the organelles within it. that provides the backbone of the changing cell. The research team findings, [published in the Jan. 12, 2007 edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, usually referred to as PNAS, is the official journal of the United States National Academy of Sciences. (PNAS PNAS Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences PNAS Phosphate:Na + Symporter PNAS Pensacola Naval Air Station PNAS Philippine National Airsoft Society )], are based on the understanding that crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance nuclear magnetic resonance: see magnetic resonance. nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) Selective absorption of very high-frequency radio waves by certain atomic nuclei subjected to a strong stationary magnetic field. , the traditional methods of examining protein structure, are not as effective on very large protein molecules. The research team used ground breaking "footprinting" technology, developed in Dr. Chance's laboratory, to view activated ARP in its native state. The team demonstrated that ARP re-arranges its protein subunits upon activation to allow the cytoskeleton to be extended. "Technological advances in protein science are fundamental to the work of the proteomics center, and are critical to our mission of advancing human health," said Dr. Janna G. Kiselar, Assistant Director and Instructor, Case Center for Proteomics, and the lead author of the study. Dr. Chance and his team are continuing their proteomics work on the cytoskeleton, identifying the role of many proteins responsible for human disease. "ARP molecules control both normal cell growth and can stimulate out of control growth, as in metastasis metastasis /me·tas·ta·sis/ (me-tas´tah-sis) pl. metas´tases 1. transfer of disease from one organ or part of the body to another not directly connected with it, due either to transfer of pathogenic microorganisms or to cancer cells cells once believed to be peculiar to cancers, but now know to be epithelial cells differing in no respect from those found elsewhere in the body, and distinguished only by peculiarity of location and grouping. See also: Cancer ," said Dr. Chance. "This technology development provides a detailed picture of how large molecules like ARP function as nano-machines in the cell. We can now see how these dynamics could be used to develop targeted therapeutics." The Center for Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry mass spectrometry or mass spectroscopy Analytic technique by which chemical substances are identified by sorting gaseous ions by mass using electric and magnetic fields. at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine was established in 2005. The Case Proteomics Center [CPC (1) (Central Processing Complex) An IBM mainframe that has two or more central processors (CPs) that share memory. It is the collection of processors, memory and I/O subsystems manufactured with a single serial number, typically all contained in one cabinet. ] was created in part, to strengthen Cleveland's presence in modern proteomics and mass spectrometry research to make the region a leader in the field. For more information, visit www.casemed.case.edu/proteomics. About Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Founded in 1843, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine is the largest medical research institution in Ohio and 12th largest among the nation's medical schools for research funding from the National Institutes of Health. Eleven Nobel Laureates have been affiliated with the school. The School of Medicine is recognized throughout the international medical community for outstanding achievements in teaching and in 2002, became the third medical school in history to receive a pre-eminent review from the national body responsible for accrediting the nation's academic medical institutions. The School's innovative and pioneering Western Reserve2 curriculum interweaves four themes--research and scholarship, clinical mastery, leadership, and civic professionalism--to prepare students for the practice of evidence-based medicine evidence-based medicine Decision-making 'The use of scientific data to confirm that proposed diagnostic or therapeutic procedures are appropriate in light of their high probability of producing the best and most favorable outcome'. See Meta-analysis. in the rapidly changing health care environment of the 21st century. Annually, the School of Medicine trains more than 600 M.D. and M.D./Ph.D. students and ranks in the top 25 among U.S. research-oriented medical schools as designated by U.S. News and World Report Guide to Graduate Education. The School of Medicine's primary clinical affiliate is University Hospitals Case Medical Center and is additionally affiliated with MetroHealth Medical Center, the Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, with which it established the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine The Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine (CCLCM) was established in 2004 through a collaboration of the Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University. CCLCM is a 5-year program with the goal of training physician-scientists. of Case Western Reserve University in 2002. http://casemed.case.edu |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion