The gene DREAM, which is crucial to the processing of pain seems to also influence learning and memory to have. These researchers found
in Vienna and Seville out by studies in mice. The new findings could help explain the development of Alzheimer's disease, and provide new approaches for its treatment.
With the identification of the DREAM gene a team from the University of Toronto in 2002 was a great success. The corresponding protein produced by calcium reguliert wird, erfüllt eine Schlüsselfunktion bei der Wahrnehmung der unterschiedlichsten Arten von Schmerz. Mäuse, denen das Gen fehlt, lassen deutlich eine stark reduzierte Schmerzempfindlichkeit erkennen, während sie ansonsten völlig normal erscheinen.
Die Forschungsarbeiten wurden im Labor von Josef Penninger durchgeführt, der heute das Institut für Molekulare Biotechnologie der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften (IMBA) in Wien leitet. Die Publikation, in der die Schmerzausschaltung bei Mäusen beschrieben wurde, erregte entsprechend großes Aufsehen (Cell 108 vom 11.1.2002). DREAM wurde in der Folge als "Master-Gen" der Schmerzwahrnehmung bezeichnet.
Ein Team um Ángel Manuel Carrión neurobiologists from the University Pablo de Olivade (Seville) took the DREAM-less mouse now a closer look. In collaboration with Josef Penninger, the animals were subjected to numerous neurological tests in which their memory and willingness to learn were analyzed. The result: without DREAM protein mice learn faster and retain information longer. And, more fascinating: the brain 18 months "old" mice proved to be as powerful as that of relatively young animals.
DREAM turns out to be an important candidate in the development of dementia. A connection with the development of Alzheimer's disease is not unlikely. Already Mid-2008 have been published studies that suggest a derailment of calcium regulation as the underlying cause of Alzheimer's disease near. The known accumulation of amyloid protein would therefore also be interpreted as a consequence of abnormal calcium metabolism in brain cells.
Even the DREAM gene is dependent in activity of calcium.
seems here thus close a circuit in which DREAM occupies a key position and influence on calcium balance both pain perception and memory and brain aging. In this context, experiences suggest even with pain patients whose memory is greatly reduced.
"The results of this study are surprising and fascinating," said Josef Penninger the discovery. "The fact that one and the same gene regulates pain, learning, memory and age, is of particular interest, as millions of people living with chronic pain."
Work "Lack of DREAM protein enhances learning and memory and slows brain aging" (. Fontan-Lozano et al) is read in the current issue of the journal Current Biology (Curr Biol 2009 Jan. 13, pp 54th - 60).
IMBA IMBA - Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, combines basic and applied research the field of biomedicine. Interdisciplinary research groups work on functional genetics, particularly in connection with the development of disease. The aim is to translate this knowledge into novel approaches to prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
IMP-IMBA Research Center
The Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), established in 1988 was founded by Boehringer Ingelheim, and the operation in 2003, Institute for Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA) was a close research collaboration agreed. Under the name "IMP-IMBA Research Center", the two Institutions on a common infrastructure for scientific and administrative fields. The two institutions employ over 400 people from 30 nations are members of the Campus Vienna Biocenter. Prof. Josef Penninger
Link: http://www.imba.oeaw.ac.at/research/josef-penninger/
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