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

Misfolded neural proteins linked to autism disorders

2010-09-11
(Press-News.org) An international team of scientists, led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, has identified misfolding and other molecular anomalies in a key brain protein associated with autism spectrum disorders.

Palmer Taylor, associate vice chancellor for Health Sciences at UC San Diego and dean of the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and colleagues report in the September 10 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry that misfolding of a protein called neuroligin-3, due to gene mutations, results in trafficking deficiencies that may lead to abnormal communications between neurons.

Genetic misfolding of neuroligins is thought to prevent normal formation and function of neuronal synapses. The gene mutation has been documented in patients with autism.

"It makes sense that there's a connection," said Taylor. "The neuroligins are involved in maintaining neuronal synapses and their malfunction is likely to affect a neurodevelopmental disease."

Neuroligins are post-synaptic proteins that help glue together neurons at synapses by connecting with pre-synaptic protein partners called neurexins. They are part of a larger family of alpha-beta-hydrolase fold proteins that includes many molecules with diverse catalytic, adhesion and secretory functions.

Using live neurons in culture, the researchers found that different mutations caused different degrees of misfolding of the protein structure, which translated into trafficking deficiencies of varying severity regardless of alpha-beta-hydrolase protein type, yet resulted in distinctly different congenital disorders in the endocrine or nervous systems.

Both neuroligins and the autism mutations are relatively new to science. The former were characterized 15 years ago, the latter discovered just seven years ago. Taylor said identifying and describing the misfolded protein link advances understanding of the complex causes of certain autisms, including the influences of genes versus environment, and perhaps offers a new target for potential drug therapies.

"If the mutation is identified early, it might be possible to rescue affected neurons before abnormal synaptic connections are established" said co-author Davide Comoletti, a research scientist at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy. "But much work remains. We may be able to find a treatment to fix a cell in culture, but to rescue function in vivo may not be feasible with the same strategy."

INFORMATION: Co-authors with Taylor and Comoletti are Antonella De Jaco of the Department of Pharmacology at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at the Daniel Bovet Neurobiology Research Center, Sapienza University of Rome and the Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti; Michael Z. Lin of the Departments of Pharmacology and Chemistry and Biochemistry at UC San Diego; Noga Dubi, Meghan Miller and Shelley Camp of the Department of Pharmacology at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Mark Ellisman, Department of Neuroscience, UC San Diego; Margaret T. Butko, Departments of Pharmacology and Chemistry and Biochemistry at UC San Diego and Roger Y. Tsien, Departments of Pharmacology and Chemistry and Biochemistry at UC San Diego.


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Function found for Alzheimer's protein

2010-09-11
In people with Alzheimer's, the brain becomes riddled with clumps of protein, forming what are known as amyloid plaques. Now, a report appearing in the September 17th print issue of Cell appears to have found a function for the amyloid precursor protein (APP for short) that yields the prime ingredient in those plaques. It turns out that APP is an iron oxidase whose job it is to convert iron from an unsafe form to a safe one for transport or storage. When APP fails to function properly, as it does in Alzheimer's disease, iron levels inside neurons mount to toxic levels. "This ...

Mental health leaves most costly disability to Canadian employers

2010-09-11
For Immediate Release – September 10, 2010 – (Toronto) – Mental illness is associated with more lost work days than any other chronic condition, costing the Canadian economy $51 billion annually in lost productivity. In the first study of its kind, researchers from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) have calculated the actual cost of mental health leave and found that on average it's double the cost of a leave for a physical illness. The study, published in the Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, looked at data tracking the short-term disability ...

Tracking triclosan's field footprint

2010-09-11
A study by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists and cooperators provides new details about how fertilizing soils with biosolids also introduces triclosan—an antibacterial agent in soaps and other cleaning supplies—into the environment. Farmers add "Class B" biosolids, also known as treated wastewater solids, to their fields as a fertilizer. These biosolids meet federal regulations for human health and safety, but little information has been obtained about their triclosan levels. Triclosan has not been identified as a human health hazard, but the U.S. Food ...

Sandia researcher: Amateur astronomers open potential lab in outer space for planetary scientists

2010-09-11
ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Two amateur astronomers who independently observed and videotaped an asteroid striking the giant planet Jupiter on June 3 have opened the possibility, in effect, of a giant research lab in space for planetary scientists. According to a paper by professional astronomers, expected to be published today online by Astrophysical Journal Letters, the asteroid was eight to 13 meters in diameter and packed a punch equivalent to a 250- to 1,000-kiloton nuclear bomb — smaller than the violent airburst that decimated trees for 40 kilometers around Tunguska in central ...

Pro Energy Consultants Hires Tony Valentino as VP of Business Development

2010-09-11
Pro Energy Consultants showed its continued commitment to being America's top brand in the building performance industry by hiring Tony Valentino as vice president of business development. Valentino has more than 25 years of experience in all areas of the HVAC business and will focus on building the Pro Energy brand. To promote the Pro Energy label, Valentino will be tasked with developing regional and national strategic business alliances, as well as increasing awareness of the company as a first-choice partner in the home performance industry. His experience has taught ...

Marci Hansen Joins Palo Alto Software as VP of Marketing

2010-09-11
Marci Hansen has been named vice president of marketing at Palo Alto Software. She brings more than 15 years of marketing experience with her. In her new role, she will oversee online and traditional marketing and promotion, business development and strategic partnerships for the company's full line of small business products. In addition, her team will be actively involved in new product development and introduction. "Marci arrives with a depth and breadth of experience that is almost unrivaled," said Palo Alto Software CEO Sabrina Parsons. "Having overseen everything ...

Virtual Assistants provide great Business Solutions

2010-09-11
Small to Medium business owners are frequently trapped in the overwhelming amount of work and daily activities that are required simply for their business to maintain the status-quo. This prevents them from focusing on researching and implementing activities that will provide the business with the competitive edge to compete in the current economic climate and ultimately to expand and grow their business. Virtual Assistants (VA's) offer a simple solution to this problem by tailoring solutions to suit the individual needs of each business. Often, the idea of hiring another ...

Lifetime TV's "The Balancing Act" Features Christine Heathman & GlyMed Plus Professional Products

2010-09-11
Christine Heathman, LMT, ME, "Legend" in American Aesthetics, Industry Innovator, and CEO and Founder of GlyMed Plus , today announced the airing of her interview on Lifetime TV's "The Balancing Act" where she discusses the science of skin age management for Lifetime viewers who are tired of the barrage of advertiser claims, and want real solutions. According to host Christine Heathman, after 20 years of educating skin care professionals in the aesthetics field, she has noticed that more consumers are now interested in the science of effective skin care. Christine has ...

New Neon Sign for Ledo Restaurant in College Park, MD

2010-09-11
Kerley Signs is pleased to contribute to a famous Maryland landmark, the Ledo Restaurant. Tommy Marcos Sr. opened the restaurant on University Boulevard in Adelphi, MD back in 1955, and in the more than half-century since, the restaurant has continued to be a Marcos family business, first under Tommy Sr., then under his son Tommy Jr. and grandson Jimmy. The Ledo has become a favorite dining spot for Marylanders and many out-of state customers, thanks to its long history and distinctive square pizzas and other specialties. Kerley Signs, located in Landover, has been providing ...

Navigation Capital Partners Adds Marissa Swesey as Senior Analyst

2010-09-11
Navigation Capital Partners (NCP), an Atlanta-based middle market private equity firm, announced the addition of Marissa Swesey as a senior analyst. Marissa will focus on managing the firm's communications with investors and key external relationships. "We are extremely pleased to have Marissa join our team," said Larry Mock, managing partner of Navigation Capital Partners. "Her experience and support will be a valued resource as we continue to actively seek investment opportunities in rapidly-growing, attractive markets." Prior to joining NCP, Marissa was an analyst ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Reality check: making indoor smartphone-based augmented reality work

Overthinking what you said? It’s your ‘lizard brain’ talking to newer, advanced parts of your brain

Black men — including transit workers — are targets for aggression on public transportation, study shows

Troubling spike in severe pregnancy-related complications for all ages in Illinois

Alcohol use identified by UTHealth Houston researchers as most common predictor of escalated cannabis vaping among youths in Texas

Need a landing pad for helicopter parenting? Frame tasks as learning

New MUSC Hollings Cancer Center research shows how Golgi stress affects T-cells' tumor-fighting ability

#16to365: New resources for year-round activism to end gender-based violence and strengthen bodily autonomy for all

Earliest fish-trapping facility in Central America discovered in Maya lowlands

São Paulo to host School on Disordered Systems

New insights into sleep uncover key mechanisms related to cognitive function

USC announces strategic collaboration with Autobahn Labs to accelerate drug discovery

Detroit health professionals urge the community to act and address the dangers of antimicrobial resistance

3D-printing advance mitigates three defects simultaneously for failure-free metal parts 

Ancient hot water on Mars points to habitable past: Curtin study

In Patagonia, more snow could protect glaciers from melt — but only if we curb greenhouse gas emissions soon

Simplicity is key to understanding and achieving goals

Caste differentiation in ants

Nutrition that aligns with guidelines during pregnancy may be associated with better infant growth outcomes, NIH study finds

New technology points to unexpected uses for snoRNA

Racial and ethnic variation in survival in early-onset colorectal cancer

Disparities by race and urbanicity in online health care facility reviews

Exploring factors affecting workers' acquisition of exercise habits using machine learning approaches

Nano-patterned copper oxide sensor for ultra-low hydrogen detection

Maintaining bridge safer; Digital sensing-based monitoring system

A novel approach for the composition design of high-entropy fluorite oxides with low thermal conductivity

A groundbreaking new approach to treating chronic abdominal pain

ECOG-ACRIN appoints seven researchers to scientific committee leadership positions

New model of neuronal circuit provides insight on eye movement

Cooking up a breakthrough: Penn engineers refine lipid nanoparticles for better mRNA therapies

[Press-News.org] Misfolded neural proteins linked to autism disorders