Protein Behavior May Lead To Better Treatment Of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Protein Behavior May Lead To Better Treatment Of Neurodegenerative Diseases: "Using a technique called fluorescence resonance energy transfer or FRET, the team measured distances between two specific points on the protein. Special fluorescent chemical groups - a donor and an acceptor - are attached to those points. If the donor and acceptor are within 8-10 nanometers apart, FRET occurs. The lifetime of the donor drops significantly when FRET occurs.
In this series of experiments, the group used FRET and ALEX (alternating laser excitation) to probe donors and acceptors on folded and unfolded protein sub-populations. They were able to separate the fluorescence lifetime of the unfolded proteins from the folded proteins.
The structure in the energy landscape is what encourages it to fold or not to fold,” he said. “You want to see what protein is doing in an unfolded state and why it folds. Then you can understand why the folding sometimes goes wrong.”
Laurence said protein folding gone awry can provide some keys to as to why certain people are prone to Alzheimer’s or other neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, understanding how and why protein folds can help scientists design proteins to perform specific tasks.
The research appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences online edition for the week of Nov. 14-18. It will appear in print in the Nov. 29 edition."
In this series of experiments, the group used FRET and ALEX (alternating laser excitation) to probe donors and acceptors on folded and unfolded protein sub-populations. They were able to separate the fluorescence lifetime of the unfolded proteins from the folded proteins.
The structure in the energy landscape is what encourages it to fold or not to fold,” he said. “You want to see what protein is doing in an unfolded state and why it folds. Then you can understand why the folding sometimes goes wrong.”
Laurence said protein folding gone awry can provide some keys to as to why certain people are prone to Alzheimer’s or other neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, understanding how and why protein folds can help scientists design proteins to perform specific tasks.
The research appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences online edition for the week of Nov. 14-18. It will appear in print in the Nov. 29 edition."
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