EAST LANSING, Mich. Most organisms would die in the volcanic sulfur pools of Yellowstone and Mount Etna. Robust simple algae call it home, and their secrets to survival could advance human medicine and bioremediation.
Mike Garavito, Michigan State University professor of biochemistry and molecular biology was part of a research team that revealed how primitive red algae use horizontal gene transfer, in essence stealing useful genes from other organisms to evolve and thrive in harsh environments.
Their study, published in the current issue of Science, shows that the algae's ability to adapt to a hot and extremely acidic environment lies in part in their membrane proteins.
"The algae's membrane proteins are biologically quite interesting because they're receptors and transporters, the same classes of proteins that play key roles in energy metabolism and human immune response," said Garavito. "This has applications in human medicine because virtually all of the important pathways that contribute to disease treatment involve membrane proteins."
What makes the algae's membrane proteins attractive as a model for humans is their robustness. Other traditional candidates, such as yeast, insect cell cultures and slime mold, are fragile. The algae give researchers extra time to manipulate and examine their membrane proteins.
Garavito was part of a team of researchers led by Andreas Weber, former MSU researcher now at Heinrich-Heine-Universitat Dusseldorf (Germany). While at MSU, Weber led a team in first sequencing the algae, one of the first major genome sequencing projects at MSU.
"Weber knew that this would be a good organism from which to harvest a wide variety of genes that could be potential models for those involved in human health and disease," said Dave Dewitt, associate dean of research at MSU's College of Natural Science. "From a biotechnology standpoint, this organism is the Wal-Mart of genomes;
'/>"/>
| Contact: Layne Cameron layne.cameron@cabs.msu.edu 517-353-8819 Michigan State University Source:Eurekalert |
Related biology news :
1. Effects of environmental toxicants reach down through generations
2. A toxic menu
3. Dip chip technology tests toxicity on the go
4. Using graphene, scientists develop a less toxic way to rust-proof steel
5. Boosting blood system protein complex protects against radiation toxicity
6. Lab-on-a-chip detects trace levels of toxic vapors in homes near Utah Air Force Base
7. Ions, not particles, make silver toxic to bacteria
8. Specific toxic byproduct of heat-processed food may lead to increased body weight and diabetes
9. Super-strong, high-tech material found to be toxic to aquatic animals
10. University of Tennessee Team receives NSF support to study toxic water in China
11. Measuring mercury levels: Nano-velcro detects water-borne toxic metals
 |
| Copyright © 2003-2012 Bio-Medicine. All rights reserved. ABOUT | CONTACT US | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS |  |