Brain breakthrough will help fight against disease
Boost for biochemical brain studies
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Thursday, 13, Nov 2008 05:00
Scientists seeking to understand why many diseases target cell types so specifically have claimed a major breakthrough.
Tomorrow's issue of the Cell journal features research from scientists at Rockefeller University in which they explain how diseases identify which cells to attack.
It had previously been difficult for scientists to understand which of hundreds of specialised cell types in the brain are identified.
The key is their translational profile, made up of the kinds and amounts of proteins they produce.
By isolating the genetic messages that govern protein production in different cell types, the Rockefeller team believe they can identify its susceptibility to disease as a result.
"We've created a novel, generally applicable tool that can be used by a broad spectrum of the scientific community," co-author Nathaniel Heintz commented.
"I think it will rapidly spread into many of areas of biology."
The method – known as translating ribosome affinity purification (Trap) – is expected to fundamentally change biochemical studies of the brain.
Prof Heintz added: "We are very excited by the opportunities this offers to us and our colleagues for investigation of these issues."