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CELLULAR BIOLOGY
 EU scientists discover new protein complex impacting cell development
Scientists in Spain and Germany are proving that cellular movements are the force behind cellular development, organ formation and cicatrisation processes. Their latest study, headed by Maria Leptin at University of Cologne (Germany), centres on a new protein complex that is a strong factor in how the abovementioned processes are arranged, effectively confirming the existence of a novel control mechanism of early development cellular movements: gastrulation. The findings of the study were published in the scientific journal Science in late January.
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The scientists used an innovative approach to direct the experimental work of
the study. “In silico”, a computer design developed by the researchers,
was used supporting the team’s efforts to avoid lab trials that fail to bring
in solid results.
The research team was able to use the protein design software and structural information to sift the genome of the vinegar fly (Drosophila) and anticipate the interaction of two proteins (T48 y RhoGEF2).
The study established that using protein design software to predict the protein-protein or protein-DNA interaction gives researchers the impetus they need to investigate other protein-protein interactions. But perhaps even more important is the fact that the protein design software impacts human health; this software can predict how variations in the human genome are affected by the impact on customised medicine.
The scientists claimed in their study that identifying a new regulation pathway
of the gastrulation process in the vinegar fly’s development would effectively
give researchers the chance to discover similar mechanisms in humans that could
potentially be involved in embryonic malformations related to cellular migratory
processes.
The gastrulation process involves the formation of germ layers of an embryo and the body plan of the mature organism. Extensive movements permit the cells to develop from a simple form at their nascent stage to that of a complex one. Gastrulation changes in various phyla - the major taxonomic group of animals and plants. Organogenesis, which is the process when individual organs develop within the newly established germ layers, follows gastrulation.
While Dr Leptin led the research, the design and prediction features of the study
were developed by Spanish scientists Luis Serrano and Gregorio Fernández.
Dr Serrano recently gave up his post in the Structural and Computational Biology
programme at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) to head the Systems
Biology programme at the Barcelona-based Centre for Genomic Regulation. Fernández
is from the Cellular and Molecular Biology Institute at the Elche-based University
Miguel Hernández.
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More information:
Science
Fundamental genomics
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