Proteins consists of one or more chains of amino acids and essential for cell processes. Proteases, an important type of protein, cut other proteins to perform cell functions. It cuts the chain and breaks the protein apart to decompose or switch signal sequences that transport proteins in a cell. Antibiotics cannot fight them and this might lead to tuberculosis. Scientists are exploring new ways to disarm the proteases. They block the active centers of the ClpP, so-called protease, to deactivate this protease. This process works temporarily only for a couple of hours. So, they must attack all active centers of the protein. Professor Michael Groll has found two new methods to deactivate these proteases. The first mechanism changes the arrangement of amino acids, which is responsible for the cohesion of the subunits of the bacterial protease ClpP. The protease gets broken into two parts and cannot function anymore. The second operation converts the "splitting" amino acid into another kind of amino acid. This approach can be applied to other proteases as well. These findings disrupts the metabolism of the bacterium, giving more time for the immune system to react while the formation of new resistance is decreased. These findings are promising for development in new forms of medication.
Themes of nature science:
1. Science is collaborative: Many researchers have worked on this project together.
2. Science is based on evidence: The scientists have collected evidence to support their new mechanisms.
3. Science is Credible: The researchers have provided credible and understandable reasons for their findings.
For more information, visit
http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2014/02/13/two_new_weapons_in_the_battle_against_bacteria.html
-Ashikah Mohamed
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