In the University of Leicester, a protein has been developed that could possibly be the cure for Alzheimer’s Disease. Dr. Jamison, of the Chemistry department, explained the process of making amino acids has taken several years to master. Amino acids are typically produced in our bodies or absorbed through our diets. So the chemists had to create unnatural amino acids. Mother Nature only utilizes twenty proteins of amino acids, so the chemists had to use a chemical synthesis to produce unnatural amino acids as the building blocks of the unnatural mini proteins. Amino acids are the building block of muscle tissue and proteins. Therefore, the chemist are able to make protein medication to be able to treat Alzheimer’s Disease.
I find this topic interesting because we have learned about amino acids and how they are composed of amine and carboxylic acids. Knowing that amino acids are part of our body and that we can arrange them into proteins is amazing because amino acids help cells, especially, by acting as a catalyst. Amino acids also help by healing wounds and repairing tissues.
Submitted by Ivanna Salgado
I think this article is very interesting and relevant to today’s research since Alzheimer and cancer are growing concerns in today’s world and that is what this research targets. The process of asymmetric synthesis of amino acids for peptide stapling could lead to much more research into designed proteins. For example, I think it is important to note that these newly designed proteins can be designed to make drugs with fewer side effects since so many drugs today are associated with a long list of side effects this would be a positive move to help people.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140924085141.htm
http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2014/OB/C4OB01832J#!divAbstract
Submitted By: Mercedes Warren
This is very interesting. After learning about Alzheimer's in my psychology class I became very interested and am even interning at an Alzheimer's research clinic this summer! It is great that we are finally closing in on cures for this awful disease.
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