Researchers at George Mason University using dyes to paint a new picture of disease

Researchers at George Mason University using dyes to paint a new picture of disease -

Using bright colors dyes, researchers from George Mason University has discovered a innovative way to reveal where proteins are touching, possibly leading to new treatments for cancer, arthritis, heart disease and even lung disease.

George Mason researchers unraveled the mystery of deciphering the contact points where proteins are touching. "A protein interlocks with another protein such as adjacent pieces in a puzzle, and this sends a signal over the line to the next protein," says Lance Liotta, co-director of the Center based in Mason for Applied Proteomics and Medicine molecular.

the mystery is in the "hot spots" where interlock proteins. researchers know which proteins connect but could not determine where it happens. So far, thanks to the new approach published Mason.

Dyes standard used in machinery and textiles common copy are mixed with proteins. the painted dye proteins everywhere except where proteins are connected to each other. Then, proteins are disconnected, but the stain remains, excluding the white spot where the proteins were "kissing."

Find ways to break proteins lock could be used to find new drug targets, said Virginia " Ginny "Espina, a professor at the center. Pharmaceutical companies could use the Mason-developed process to create drugs that break the protein to protein or stop connection from occurring altogether, she said.

The team addressed a complex interaction of three proteins known as interleukin signaling, which leads to a painful inflammatory arthritis and other diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease. They created two-inhibitory peptide and antibody that has broken the connection protein in a test tube. "Both inhibitors have these proteins fall apart and they could not send a signal for inflammation," says Liotta.

Until the Mason-led progress, researchers struggle to understand where proteins come into contact. "It seems very easy, but in reality it is not," said Alessandra Luchini, a professor in proteomics facility that created the experimental method.

protein

computer modeling Researchers used and crystallized, but could not show in real time the handshake proteins, she said. "With this tool, we can now study the protein exactly as it is in nature," said Luchini.

And it turns out, the printer dyes not only paint a pretty picture, but they are the perfect size to color proteins and they stick. the Mason team is using blue dye, red, purple and orange.