Re: Researchers Identify Drugs That Reverses Fragile X

[Guest guest]

RESEARCH

Researchers Identify Drugs That

Reverses Fragile X

_tinyurl.com/3xngjq _ (http://tinyurl.com/3xngjq)

A new method of screening fruit flies has helped researchers identify

several drugs and small molecules that reverse the features of fragile X (FX)

syndrome - a cause of some autism.

" Our discovery of glutamate toxicity in the Drosophila (fruit flies) model

of FX syndrome allowed us to develop this new screen for potential drug

targets, " said lead researcher Warren of Emory University, Atlanta.

Findings of the study have been published in the online edition of the

journal Nature Chemical Biology.

" We believe this is the first chemical genetic screen for FX syndrome, and

it highlights the general potential of Drosophila screens for drug

development, " Warren said.

Autism is caused by the functional loss of the FX mental retardation protein

(FMRP). There is no known drug therapy for the FX syndrome.

Scientists believe FMRP affects learning and memory through regulation of

protein synthesis at synapses in the brain.

One of the leading views, proposed by Warren and colleagues, suggests that

over-stimulation of neurons by neurotransmitter glutamate is partly

responsible for brain dysfunction resulting from the loss of FMRP.

In their current experiment, Emory scientists used a Drosophila model

lacking the FMR1 gene. These fruit flies have abnormalities in brain

architecture

and behaviour that parallel abnormalities in the human form of fragile X

syndrome.

When FMR1-deficient fly embryos were fed food rich in glutamate, they died

during development, which is consistent with the theory that the loss of FMR1

results in excess glutamate signalling.

The scientists placed the FMR1-deficient fly embryos in thousands of tiny

wells containing food with glutamate. In addition, each well contained one

compound from a library of 2,000 drugs and small molecules. Using this

screening

method, the scientists uncovered nine molecules that reversed the lethal

effects of glutamate.

" Most importantly, it identifies several small molecules that significantly

reverse multiple abnormal characteristics of FMR1 deficiency. These findings

open the door to development of effective new therapies for fragile X

syndrome, " said Warren.

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[Guest guest]

RESEARCH

Researchers Identify Drugs That

Reverses Fragile X

_tinyurl.com/3xngjq _ (http://tinyurl.com/3xngjq)

A new method of screening fruit flies has helped researchers identify

several drugs and small molecules that reverse the features of fragile X (FX)

syndrome - a cause of some autism.

" Our discovery of glutamate toxicity in the Drosophila (fruit flies) model

of FX syndrome allowed us to develop this new screen for potential drug

targets, " said lead researcher Warren of Emory University, Atlanta.

Findings of the study have been published in the online edition of the

journal Nature Chemical Biology.

" We believe this is the first chemical genetic screen for FX syndrome, and

it highlights the general potential of Drosophila screens for drug

development, " Warren said.

Autism is caused by the functional loss of the FX mental retardation protein

(FMRP). There is no known drug therapy for the FX syndrome.

Scientists believe FMRP affects learning and memory through regulation of

protein synthesis at synapses in the brain.

One of the leading views, proposed by Warren and colleagues, suggests that

over-stimulation of neurons by neurotransmitter glutamate is partly

responsible for brain dysfunction resulting from the loss of FMRP.

In their current experiment, Emory scientists used a Drosophila model

lacking the FMR1 gene. These fruit flies have abnormalities in brain

architecture

and behaviour that parallel abnormalities in the human form of fragile X

syndrome.

When FMR1-deficient fly embryos were fed food rich in glutamate, they died

during development, which is consistent with the theory that the loss of FMR1

results in excess glutamate signalling.

The scientists placed the FMR1-deficient fly embryos in thousands of tiny

wells containing food with glutamate. In addition, each well contained one

compound from a library of 2,000 drugs and small molecules. Using this

screening

method, the scientists uncovered nine molecules that reversed the lethal

effects of glutamate.

" Most importantly, it identifies several small molecules that significantly

reverse multiple abnormal characteristics of FMR1 deficiency. These findings

open the door to development of effective new therapies for fragile X

syndrome, " said Warren.

____________________________________

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Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf00030000000001)