PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

New molecules from IOCB Prague decrease appetite and protect the brain against Alzheimer’s-type diseases

New molecules from IOCB Prague decrease appetite and protect the brain against Alzheimer’s-type diseases
2024-08-21
(Press-News.org) Scientists on the team of Dr Lenka Maletínská have developed a promising new compound derived from one of the peptides naturally occurring in the brain. Its application may contribute to the addressing of two major health challenges of the modern days: obesity and Alzheimer's disease. The neuropeptide CART is primarily associated with the regulation of food intake. Its modified version, created at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, shows better stability and is more effective. It suppresses appetite and protects the brain by reducing the pathogenicity of the tau protein, which is associated with the dreaded Alzheimer's disease. The results of the research have been published in the European Journal of Pharmacology.

The new compound has successfully passed tests in both cell culture and animal models. Mice that were obese and prone to diabetes lost weight after its administration, and it turned out that they also exhibited reduced pathology of the dangerous tau protein, one of the main symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, in their brains. The modified molecule is effective in the body thanks to a process called lipidization. This means that the scientists have bound various fatty acids to the natural peptide CART and found that the modified peptide is able to cross the blood–brain barrier. This is a crucial precondition for the drug to work properly in the brain.

‘We have found that when a lipidized analogue of the CART peptide is applied subcutaneously, it then passes into the brain, where it acts by suppressing appetite and, if administered for a long time, also has a neuroprotective effect. It could therefore work in the treatment or prevention of neurodegenerative diseases,’ explains the first author of the study Vilém Charvát.

The CART (cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript) peptide itself was discovered in 1998 by the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. It has emerged that the peptide is abundant in the hypothalamus and that it has a relatively complex structure containing three disulfide bridges. However, what receptor in the body it binds to remains to be determined. Efforts to find out have so far not met with success. This is also the main goal in the sights of the principal author of the current study conducted at IOCB Prague, Dr Andrea Pačesová, who states: ‘We have a potentially successful anti-obesity drug in hands that also appears to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. To develop this potential to its fullest, we need to know why the substance works the way it does. If, however, we want to describe the mechanism of its action, we must first decipher how the peptide gets to the brain. We know that it works. What is left to do is to identify the right receptors.’

Research into peptides potentially useful in the development of anti-obesity drugs at IOCB Prague is led by Dr Lenka Maletínská. A few years ago, she achieved the conclusion of a licensing agreement for a promising substance with the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. She herself has long assumed that anorexigenic (appetite-lowering) peptides might also be used for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. 'We already know, contrary to what was originally assumed, that new neurons are formed even in adulthood. This regenerative process is supported by several anorexigenic peptides, which can thus help repair damaged brain tissue,’ says Dr Maletínská, adding that: ‘If Alzheimer's disease can be diagnosed early on, in a phase called mild cognitive impairment, the chances of it being cured appear to be quite high.’


See the explanatory video: https://youtu.be/VSc97MWLfR4


Original article: Charvát, V.; Strnadová, A.; Myšková, A.; Sýkora, D.; Blechová, M.; Železná, B.; Kuneš, J.; Maletínská, L.; Pačesová, A. Lipidized analogues of the anorexigenic CART (cocaine – and amphetamine-regulated transcript) neuropeptide show anorexigenic and neuroprotective potential in mouse model of monosodium-glutamate induced obesity. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 2024, 980. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176864


IOCB Prague / The Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences (www.uochb.cz) is a leading internationally recognized scientific institution whose primary mission is the pursuit of basic research in chemical biology and medicinal chemistry, organic and materials chemistry, chemistry of natural substances, biochemistry and molecular biology, physical chemistry, theoretical chemistry, and analytical chemistry. An integral part of the IOCB Prague’s mission is the implementation of the results of basic research in practice. Emphasis on interdisciplinary research gives rise to a wide range of applications in medicine, pharmacy, and other fields.

END

[Attachments] See images for this press release:
New molecules from IOCB Prague decrease appetite and protect the brain against Alzheimer’s-type diseases New molecules from IOCB Prague decrease appetite and protect the brain against Alzheimer’s-type diseases 2

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

More academic freedom leads to more innovation

2024-08-21
The innovative strength of a society depends on the level of academic freedom. An international team involving the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has now proven this relationship for the first time. The researchers analyzed patent applications and patent citations in a sample from around 160 countries over the 1900–2015 period in relation to indicators used in the Academic Freedom Index. In view of the global decline in academic freedom over the past 10 years, the researchers predict a loss ...

Facts alone fall short in correcting science misinformation

2024-08-21
SPOKANE, Wash. – Just the facts may not be enough to overcome misinformation, a recent study indicates. In an experiment, 152 college students who had been exposed to misinformation read one of two articles intended to give them the correct, scientifically backed information. Those who read an expository article that had “just the facts” retained more misconceptions than those who read an article with a refutation—meaning it specifically called out the false claims before presenting the facts. The ...

Chalk-based coating creates a cooling fabric

Chalk-based coating creates a cooling fabric
2024-08-21
DENVER, Aug. 21, 2024 — In the scorching heat of summer, anyone who spends time outside — athletes, landscapers, kids at the park or beachgoers — could benefit from a cooling fabric. While there are some textiles that reflect the sun’s rays or transfer heat away from the body, current options require boutique fibers or complex manufacturing processes. But now, researchers report a durable chalk-based coating that cools the air underneath treated fabric by up to 8 degrees Fahrenheit. Evan D. Patamia, ...

Pilot study uses recycled glass to grow plants for salsa ingredients

Pilot study uses recycled glass to grow plants for salsa ingredients
2024-08-21
DENVER, Aug. 21, 2024 — Tortilla chips and fresh salsa are tasty in themselves, but they could be even more appealing if you grow the ingredients in a sustainable way. Researchers report that cilantro, bell pepper and jalapeño can be cultivated in recycled glass from discarded, pulverized bottles like those from beer or soda. The pilot study found that partially substituting soil in a planter with recycled glass fragments speeds up plant development and reduces unwanted fungal growth. The researchers will present their results at the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS Fall 2024 is ...

MIT engineers’ new theory could improve the design and operation of wind farms

2024-08-21
The blades of propellers and wind turbines are designed based on aerodynamics principles that were first described mathematically more than a century ago. But engineers have long realized that these formulas don’t work in every situation. To compensate, they have added ad hoc “correction factors” based on empirical observations. Now, for the first time, engineers at MIT have developed a comprehensive, physics-based model that accurately represents the airflow around rotors even under extreme conditions, such as when the blades are operating at high forces and speeds, or are angled in certain directions. The model could improve the way rotors themselves ...

Proposed risk factor tool finds heart failure rates are higher among American Indian adults

2024-08-21
Research Highlights: An analysis based on a proposed heart failure risk prediction tool reveals that the incidence of heart failure may be 2- to 3-fold higher among American Indian adults compared to people in other population groups. The risk prediction equation focused on diabetes control and kidney damage indicates that smoking, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, previous heart attack and diabetes-related kidney damage are associated with increased risk of developing heart failure among American Indian adults. The findings suggest a need to develop population-level preventive strategies in American Indian communities, researchers said. Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 ...

Breakthrough in cost-effective production of cultivated meat

Breakthrough in cost-effective production of cultivated meat
2024-08-21
A groundbreaking study demonstrates the first cost-effective method for producing cultivated meat. The study shows that continuous manufacturing addresses the key challenges of scalability and cost, potentially making cultivated meat accessible to everyday consumers and contributing to a more sustainable and ethical food system. In an extraordinary stride for cellular agriculture, Professor Yaakov Nahmias, founder of Believer Meats, and a multidisciplinary team at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the cultivated meat industry unveiled a pioneering continuous manufacturing process ...

Marriage strongly associated with optimal health and well-being in men as they age

2024-08-21
A new study that followed over 7,000 Canadians, middle-aged and older, for approximately three years found that married men or men who became married during the study period were twice as likely to age optimally compared to their never-married male peers.  Among women, those who had never married were twice as likely to age optimally compared to married respondents who became widowed or divorced during the study period. Married women did not differ significantly from never-married women with respect to optimal aging. “Little is known about the relationship between marital trajectories in old age and successful aging. Our goal was to see whether different marital trajectories ...

Research shows reducing future global flooding hinges on cutting greenhouse gas emissions

2024-08-21
Pioneering research forecasts worldwide flooding is likely to be significantly worse in future decades if countries fail to meet official pledges to cut carbon emissions. The study, published today and led by experts from the University of Bristol and global water risk intelligence firm Fathom, reveals projections of different types of flooding in various climate change scenarios with unprecedented precision. Through deploying the most comprehensive mapping framework, findings indicate overall global flooding could increase by around half between 2020 and the turn ...

Do gender, ethnicity, and education affect people’s ability to get jobs that fit their interests?

2024-08-21
In a study published in Applied Psychology, researchers investigated the degree to which people can obtain jobs that fit their interests (called vocational interest fit), with the goal of identifying any differences in fit across race/ethnicity, gender, and education. The study included a diverse sample of more than 250,000 American employees. Overall, employees showed moderate positive vocational interest fit with their jobs. There were small gender differences in vocational interest fit favoring men, especially white and Hispanic men, with minimal differences across other race/ethnicity groups. Considerable differences were observed regarding education, ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Study outlines key role of national and EU policy to control emissions from German hydrogen economy

Beloved Disney classics convey an idealized image of fatherhood

Sensitive ceramics for soft robotics

Trends in hospitalizations and liver transplants associated with alcohol-induced liver disease

Spinal cord stimulation vs medical management for chronic back and leg pain

Engineered receptors help the immune system home in on cancer

How conflicting memories of sex and starvation compete to drive behavior

Scientists discover ‘entirely unanticipated’ role of protein netrin1 in spinal cord development

Novel SOURCE study examining development of early COPD in ages 30 to 55

NRL completes development of robotics capable of servicing satellites, enabling resilience for the U.S. space infrastructure

Clinical trial shows positive results for potential treatment to combat a challenging rare disease

New research shows relationship between heart shape and risk of cardiovascular disease

Increase in crisis coverage, but not the number of crisis news events

New study provides first evidence of African children with severe malaria experiencing partial resistance to world’s most powerful malaria drug

Texting abbreviations makes senders seem insincere, study finds

Living microbes discovered in Earth’s driest desert

Artemisinin partial resistance in Ugandan children with complicated malaria

When is a hole not a hole? Researchers investigate the mystery of 'latent pores'

ETRI, demonstration of 8-photon qubit chip for quantum computation

Remote telemedicine tool found highly accurate in diagnosing melanoma

New roles in infectious process for molecule that inhibits flu

Transforming anion exchange membranes in water electrolysis for green hydrogen production

AI method can spot potential disease faster, better than humans

A development by Graz University of Technology makes concreting more reliable, safer and more economical

Pinpointing hydrogen isotopes in titanium hydride nanofilms

Political abuse on X is a global, widespread, and cross-partisan phenomenon, suggests new study

Reintroduction of resistant frogs facilitates landscape-scale recovery in the presence of a lethal fungal disease

Scientists compile library for evaluating exoplanet water

Updated first aid guidelines enhance care for opioid overdose, bleeding, other emergencies

Revolutionizing biology education: Scientists film ‘giant’ mimivirus in action

[Press-News.org] New molecules from IOCB Prague decrease appetite and protect the brain against Alzheimer’s-type diseases