Jellyfish Protein Making Presence Known in Neuroscience Field

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Monday, 16 November 2009 16:26

Madison, Wisconsin, November 2009 – Data presented last month at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience highlighted the ability of aequorin, a jellyfish-derived protein, to protect neurons in those who have suffered a stroke. The report stems from the work a group of research chemists began almost 50 years ago, when they found that the luminescent protein taken from the jellyfish Aequoria victorea was shown to be a safe calcium indicator throughout different biological systems. In 2008, this body of work brought Osamu Shimomura, Roger Tsien and Martin Chalfie the Nobel Prize for Chemistry. A few years earlier, Madison-based Quincy Bioscience, in partnership with a Yale-trained physician and expert in the field of calcium-mediated dementia and cellular death, found in their own research of this protein that aequorin was indeed neuroprotective, and showed promise as a natural therapeutic response for neurodegenerative diseases. The recent data emphasizes the ongoing story of a unique compound making its presence known in the field of neuroscience. “Stroke is used in the laboratory because the model replicates a biochemical process in a few minutes (when) neurodegeneration takes years to do, and gives us a good idea of a compound’s neuroprotective quality,” explained Mark Underwood, Quincy Bioscience president. Making these findings all the more important is the knowledge that significant breakthroughs in neuroscience-directed drug development has been lacking for several years. “The bar for Alzheimer’s drugs is not very high. The existing approved drugs for Alzheimer’s have provided (only) a small amount of improvement for the lives of patients and caregivers,” Underwood added. The calcium hypothesis of brain aging shows one of the reasons for neurodegeneration is the brain cell’s inability to regulate calcium ions. Calcium binding proteins (CaBPs) are intracellular proteins that help regular calcium. Their decline is gradual in the normal aging process but accelerated in memory loss disorders, and believed to contribute to elevated calcium ion levels – which in turn negatively affects brain function. As a result brain cells are damaged or killed leading to increased cognitive decline. Most people lose 30,000 to 50,000 brain cells daily, and lose significantly more after age 40, which can eventually lead to cognitive challenges such as an impaired ability to learn and retain information – as well as memory loss. The team led by Dr. Shimomura found aequorin to be a naturally-occurring CaBP, with a DNA structure very similar to CaBPs produced in the brain. Quincy Bioscience has filed patents for the purposes of utilizing aequorin in neuronal calcium regulation – in its attempt to halt or prevent these illnesses so prevalent in the human condition. Reinforced by the work of Nobel Prize winners, the hoped for result will be improved brain health, better memory, greater focus and concentration, allowing all of us to age with grace and dignity. For more information, visit www.quincybioscience.com. SOURCE: Quincy Bioscience < Prev   Next >