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Oxidative Stress. By: Andrew Lorusso. Overview. Alvaro Estevez an associate professor at the University of Central Florida led a multi-university team that may have uncovered the truth regarding oxidative stress.
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Oxidative Stress • By: Andrew Lorusso
Overview • Alvaro Estevez an associate professor at the University of Central Florida led a multi-university team that may have uncovered the truth regarding oxidative stress. • This discovery may lead to the development of many new therapies for a wide range of illnesses. • Some conditions and diseases that may be impacted by this discovery: • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) • Stroke victims • Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI)
What is Oxidative Stress? • “Oxidation” is a chemists term for the removal of electrons from an atom or molecule. • When the body breaks down food we used oxygen from the air we breath to produce energy. • From this natural process there are byproducts produced which in some cases can be dangerous. • Some of these byproducts are known as free radicals. • In an effort to become electronically stable the free radicals will rip electrons from any molecule within reach. • This produces a chain reaction which eventually fizzles out, but in the process leaves a wake of destruction. • The burden placed on the organism by these free radicals is known as Oxidative stress.
Past knowledge • It was known that oxidative stress damaged cells leading to neuron death which lead to inflammation and aging. • Scientists believed that the cells effected by oxidative stress began to crumble and fall apart. • Oxidative stress had also been thought to have some connection to cancer.
Hsp90 • Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is a “chaperone” protein that helps other proteins to fold properly, stabilize them against heat stress, and also aid in protein degradation. • Found to aid proteins required for tumor growth. • Which has led to research for new cancer drugs. • When the body is exposed to elevated temperatures Heat shock proteins numbers are doubled in an effort to protect cells from the heat. • Hsp90 is one of the most common of the Hsp particles and is number 90 due to its weight of roughly 90 kiloDaltons.
The Discovery • Oxidative Stress has a more direct impact on only certain parts of the cell. • Oxidative stress damages a specific “chaperone” cell protein called Hsp90. • When a a form of oxidative stress called tyrosine nitration modifies the Hsp90 protein, turning it into an “executioner” shutting it down. • This modified protein is found in a wide range of disease studies.
Key to this experiment • Researchers were able to use new methods to genetically engineer nitrotyrosine into Hsp90 • This new method made it possible for researchers to pin down the exact areas of damage. • Current researchers hope this knowledge will aid future scientists in the identification of drugs that could interrupt this process.
What is a Stroke? • A stroke or “brain attack” occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery or if a blood vessel breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain. • When either take place, brain cells begin to die, leading to brain damage. • With this brain damage, comes the loss of the ability to control certain brain functions. • These functions depend upon the area of the brain that the brain damage occurred. • How does it relate? • This process of cell death is thought to be caused by the modified Hsp90 proteins.
What is ALS? • Ambyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. • Motor neurons which run from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to muscles throughout the body begin to die. • As the motor neurons die the connection from the brain to the muscles is lost. • Ultimately leading to the patient becoming paralyzed and in most cases, eventually to death. • How does it relate? • As the cells begin to die a high concentration of the altered Hsp90 proteins were found in the patients affected by ALS.
What are Spinal Cord Injuries? • Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) are injuries to the spinal cord that are caused by trauma rather than disease. • The spinal cord carries signals to and from the brain to the muscles throughout the body. • Upon injuring the spinal cord the signals are interrupted below the site of the injury. • Depending on the severity of the injury, the patient may become paralyzed. (no signal can go beyond the injury) • How does it relate? • The modified Hsp90 protein was found to be in high concentration in the area of a spinal cord injury.
Future • Based on the knowledge acquired from this study, scientists hope to use medicine to stop the “chain reaction” that occurs stemming from the effected Hsp90 protein. • For example: researchers could produce a drug that a stroke patient could take at the beginning signs of their symptoms. Preventing healthy cells from dying and limiting the effects of the stroke. • Since oxidation is also linked to inflammation, researchers believe this study could lead to discoveries to other problems including heart disease, cancer, aging, chronic pain, and other neurodegenerative conditions.
Sources • University of Central Florida. "Discovery of 'executioner' protein opens door to new options for stroke ALS, spinal cord injury." ScienceDaily, 4 Mar. 2013. Web. 1 Nov. 2013. • "New York State Spinal Cord Injury Center of Research Excellence." New York State Spinal Cord Injury Center of Research Excellence. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2013.<http://nyscicore.org/pi/estevez.html> • "What Is ALS?" - The ALS Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2013.<http://www.alsa.org/about-als/what-is-als.html> • "Spinal Injury." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Oct. 2013. Web. 02 Nov. 2013.<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinal_injury> • "Hsp90." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Aug. 2013. Web. 02 Nov. 2013.<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hsp90> • "What Is Oxidative Stress?" What Is Oxidative Stress? N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2013.<http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Oxidative-Stress.aspx> • "Bioscience Technology." Bioscience Technology. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2013.<http://www.biosciencetechnology.com/news/2013/03/protein-discovery-opens-door-new-drugs#.UngaWKWlDwI> • "What Is Stroke?" What Is Stroke? N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2013. <http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=STROKE>.