Ironjustic
Sun, Nov-04-07, 16:15
Published: 16:26 EST, November 02, 2007 Toolbox Scientists
discover novel way to remove iron from ferritin A new study
led by Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute senior
scientist, Elizabeth Theil, Ph.D., is the first to suggest
that a small protein or heptapeptide (seven amino acids
wrapped into one unit) could be used to accelerate the removal
of iron from ferritin. The results of this study may help
scientists develop new medications that dramatically improve
the removal of excess iron in patients diagnosed with blood
diseases such as B-Thalassemia (Cooley's anemia) or Sickle
Cell Disease. The study appears in this month's issue of the
Journal of Biological Chemistry and was conducted by Dr. Theil
and her co-authors Xiaofeng
S. Liu, postdoctoral fellow at Children's Hospital Oakland
Research Institute, Marvin J. Miller, Ph.D. and Leslie D.
Patterson, a predoctoral student, both from the University
of Notre Dame. The scientists knew that the ferritin
protein cage had pores that could open and close. It was
also known that chelators (a method to detoxify blood)
removed iron faster when the pores were open. "We wanted to
prove a hypothesis that a small protein or peptide could
bind to ferritin and could be used to regulate ferritin
pores," said
Sa. Theil. "Our hypothesis was correct. We proved that when a
binding peptide of seven amino acids, a heptapeptide, is
coupled with Desferal the rate of removal of iron from
ferritin is eight times faster." Desferal is currently
used to detoxify the blood of patients with iron overload
and is a common therapeutic remedy.
Ferritin is a protein that concentrates iron in its inner core
or 'cage'. It plays a critical role in understanding iron
overload, which can lead to a variety of symptoms including
chronic fatigue, weakness, joint pain and arthritis. If left
untreated, iron overload can lead to serious problems,
including diabetes, liver and heart disease.
Source: Children's Hospital & Research Center at Oakland
Who loves ya. Tom
Jesus Was A Vegetarian! http://jesuswasavegetarian.7h.com
Man Is A Herbivore! http://tinyurl.com/a3cc3
DEAD PEOPLE WALKING http://tinyurl.com/zk9fk
discover novel way to remove iron from ferritin A new study
led by Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute senior
scientist, Elizabeth Theil, Ph.D., is the first to suggest
that a small protein or heptapeptide (seven amino acids
wrapped into one unit) could be used to accelerate the removal
of iron from ferritin. The results of this study may help
scientists develop new medications that dramatically improve
the removal of excess iron in patients diagnosed with blood
diseases such as B-Thalassemia (Cooley's anemia) or Sickle
Cell Disease. The study appears in this month's issue of the
Journal of Biological Chemistry and was conducted by Dr. Theil
and her co-authors Xiaofeng
S. Liu, postdoctoral fellow at Children's Hospital Oakland
Research Institute, Marvin J. Miller, Ph.D. and Leslie D.
Patterson, a predoctoral student, both from the University
of Notre Dame. The scientists knew that the ferritin
protein cage had pores that could open and close. It was
also known that chelators (a method to detoxify blood)
removed iron faster when the pores were open. "We wanted to
prove a hypothesis that a small protein or peptide could
bind to ferritin and could be used to regulate ferritin
pores," said
Sa. Theil. "Our hypothesis was correct. We proved that when a
binding peptide of seven amino acids, a heptapeptide, is
coupled with Desferal the rate of removal of iron from
ferritin is eight times faster." Desferal is currently
used to detoxify the blood of patients with iron overload
and is a common therapeutic remedy.
Ferritin is a protein that concentrates iron in its inner core
or 'cage'. It plays a critical role in understanding iron
overload, which can lead to a variety of symptoms including
chronic fatigue, weakness, joint pain and arthritis. If left
untreated, iron overload can lead to serious problems,
including diabetes, liver and heart disease.
Source: Children's Hospital & Research Center at Oakland
Who loves ya. Tom
Jesus Was A Vegetarian! http://jesuswasavegetarian.7h.com
Man Is A Herbivore! http://tinyurl.com/a3cc3
DEAD PEOPLE WALKING http://tinyurl.com/zk9fk