Jacques van Oene
March 8th 05, 10:15 PM
J.D. Harrington
Headquarters, Washington March 8, 2005
(Phone: 202/358-5241)
Victoria Steiner
Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
(Phone: 650/604-0176)
RELEASE: 05-069
NASA SCIENTISTS CREATE A 'GENE MAP' FOR HEALTHIER KIDNEYS
NASA scientists and academic colleagues are studying tiny hairs inside
microorganisms to find clues about kidney disease.
"To accomplish the Vision for Space Exploration, NASA has to ensure
astronauts' health by studying biological processes to develop treatments
for potential physical problems," said NASA's Ames Research Center Director
of Science Dr. Guenter Riegler. "By collaborating with academia, NASA will
be able to derive the best research possible to benefit people in space and
on Earth," he added.
Researchers at Ames, in collaboration with the University of California, San
Francisco (UCSF), created the first complete map of the gene activity of
flagella (microscopic hairs) on single-cell microorganisms.
"Hairs on the cell surface in algae are virtually identical to human cilia,
short hairs inside a human body that drive fluids across the surface of a
cell," said Dr. Viktor Stolc, director of the Ames Genome Research Facility.
"Understanding the genetic make-up of the cilia-like structures, through
studying the complete genetic code in microorganisms, helps scientists gain
a better understanding of polycystic kidney disease (PKD)," Stolc said.
According to the PKD Foundation, "Polycystic kidney disease is the most
common genetic, life-threatening disease affecting more than 600,000
Americans, regardless of sex, age, race or ethnic origin."
"Gene PKGD1 encodes a protein that is responsible for polycystic kidney
disease among human subjects and is also a component of primary cilia in the
kidney," Stolc said.
"In fact, several of the genes identified in the study are known to be
involved in control of cell behavior and other tissues, raising the
possibility these same genes could be the missing link between cilia and
polycystic kidney symptoms," said Dr. Wallace Marshall, assistant professor
of biochemistry and biophysics at UCSF.
Scientists believe understanding cilia functions may lead to the development
of countermeasures to prevent PKD, which is one cause of kidney stone
formation. Mapping genome activity is creating important new knowledge that
is being used for health care. The research results are applicable to
astronauts on long-term space missions and to improving quality of life on
Earth.
The study results are in this week's online version of the journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
For more information on the Internet about this research, visit:
http://phenomorph.arc.nasa.gov
For more information on the Internet about NASA's space research, visit:
http://spaceresearch.nasa.gov/
-end-
--
--------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info
Headquarters, Washington March 8, 2005
(Phone: 202/358-5241)
Victoria Steiner
Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
(Phone: 650/604-0176)
RELEASE: 05-069
NASA SCIENTISTS CREATE A 'GENE MAP' FOR HEALTHIER KIDNEYS
NASA scientists and academic colleagues are studying tiny hairs inside
microorganisms to find clues about kidney disease.
"To accomplish the Vision for Space Exploration, NASA has to ensure
astronauts' health by studying biological processes to develop treatments
for potential physical problems," said NASA's Ames Research Center Director
of Science Dr. Guenter Riegler. "By collaborating with academia, NASA will
be able to derive the best research possible to benefit people in space and
on Earth," he added.
Researchers at Ames, in collaboration with the University of California, San
Francisco (UCSF), created the first complete map of the gene activity of
flagella (microscopic hairs) on single-cell microorganisms.
"Hairs on the cell surface in algae are virtually identical to human cilia,
short hairs inside a human body that drive fluids across the surface of a
cell," said Dr. Viktor Stolc, director of the Ames Genome Research Facility.
"Understanding the genetic make-up of the cilia-like structures, through
studying the complete genetic code in microorganisms, helps scientists gain
a better understanding of polycystic kidney disease (PKD)," Stolc said.
According to the PKD Foundation, "Polycystic kidney disease is the most
common genetic, life-threatening disease affecting more than 600,000
Americans, regardless of sex, age, race or ethnic origin."
"Gene PKGD1 encodes a protein that is responsible for polycystic kidney
disease among human subjects and is also a component of primary cilia in the
kidney," Stolc said.
"In fact, several of the genes identified in the study are known to be
involved in control of cell behavior and other tissues, raising the
possibility these same genes could be the missing link between cilia and
polycystic kidney symptoms," said Dr. Wallace Marshall, assistant professor
of biochemistry and biophysics at UCSF.
Scientists believe understanding cilia functions may lead to the development
of countermeasures to prevent PKD, which is one cause of kidney stone
formation. Mapping genome activity is creating important new knowledge that
is being used for health care. The research results are applicable to
astronauts on long-term space missions and to improving quality of life on
Earth.
The study results are in this week's online version of the journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
For more information on the Internet about this research, visit:
http://phenomorph.arc.nasa.gov
For more information on the Internet about NASA's space research, visit:
http://spaceresearch.nasa.gov/
-end-
--
--------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info