[Murg] Morse Code Used by Human Cells?

Thu Jan 13 05:45:20 EST 2005

Link: http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/01/13/0024239
Posted by: samzenpus, on 2005-01-13 02:50:00

   from the can-you-feel-them-talking dept.
   [1]Roland Piquepaille writes "Researchers from several universities
   and drug companies in the U.K. have discovered that our cells are
   [2]using Morse-like signals to switch genes on and off. The
   Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) write
   that this discovery may have major implications for the pharmaceutical
   industry. Better and more efficient drugs would only deliver the
   signals to our cells that will activate a desired behavior. Sounds
   like science fiction? Read more for other [3]details, references and
   pictures."

   [4]Click Here 

References

   1. http://www.primidi.com/
   2. http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/media/pressreleases/05_01_10_cell_morse_code.html
   3. http://www.primidi.com/2005/01/12.html
   4. http://ads.osdn.com/?ad_id=5671&alloc_id=12342&site_id=1&request_id=1758426&op=click&page=%2farticle%2epl

----- End forwarded message -----

 Media Releases
10 January 2005
A Morse code for human cells

Morse code is a simple, effective and clear method of communication and now
scientists believe that cells in our body may also be using patterns of
signals to switch genes on and off. The discovery may have major implications
for the pharmaceutical industry as the signalling molecules that are targeted
by drugs may have more than one purpose. The number of .dots and dashes.
being used by each signal could have different purposes, all of which could
be modified by a drug.

The researchers, funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research
Council (BBSRC) and working at the Universities of Liverpool and Manchester
and the Royal Liverpool Children.s Hospital, in collaboration with scientists
at AstraZeneca and Pfizer, have studied transcription factors, the signalling
molecules inside cells that activate or deactivate genes. They found that the
strength of the signal is less important than the dynamic frequency pattern
that is used.

Professor Michael White of the Centre for Cell Imaging at Liverpool and
leader of the research group said, .The timing of the repeating signal is
essential for its interpretation. It seems that cells may read the
oscillations in level of transcription factors in a similar way to Morse
code..

The researchers focused on the response of a transcription factor involved in
controlling the crucial processes of cell division and cell death. They found
that the dynamics of the signalling molecule resemble the changes in calcium
levels that encode other messages in cells. The results suggest how common
signalling molecules could convey different messages through different
frequencies.

Professor Douglas Kell, who sits on BBSRC Council and is a member of the
research team, said, .This raises new challenges for drug designers. It
appears that simply aiming to knock down signalling molecules with drugs, as
many people are trying to do, may have weak or even undesirable effects as a
range of signals could be cancelled out. It is going to be important in the
future to decode the Morse-like messages from the molecules to make sure that
only the desired effects are blocked..

Professor Julia Goodfellow, BBSRC Chief Executive, said, .This research is an
example of a multi-disciplinary approach producing vitally important results.
By combining expertise in cell biology, chemistry, mathematical modelling and
bio-imaging the research team have discovered this coded signal that is going
to inform the development of better, more effective drugs..

ENDS
Contacts

Matt Goode , BBSRC Media Office

Tel: 01793 413299, E-mail: matt.goode at bbsrc.ac.uk

Professor Michael White, University of Liverpool

E-mail: m.white at liv.ac.uk

Professor Douglas Kell, University of Manchester

E-mail: dbk at man.ac.uk

Notes to Editors

This research features in the January 2005 issue of Business, the quarterly
magazine of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

The researchers used cultured cells, which had been modified to carry
fluorescent proteins or a gene for bioluminescence which enabled them to
visualise events in the cell.

The signalling molecule focused on was NF-kappa B which is a transcription
factor involved in cell death and cell division.

The collaborative research was conducted by scientists at the Universities of
Manchester, Liverpool , The Royal Liverpool Children.s Hospital and the
pharmaceutical companies AstraZeneca and Pfizer.

About BBSRC

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is the UK
funding agency for research in the life sciences. Sponsored by Government,
BBSRC annually invests around £300 million in a wide range of research that
makes a significant contribution to the quality of life for UK citizens and
supports a number of important industrial stakeholders including the
agriculture, food, chemical, healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.
http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk

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