Latest news with #Drosophilamelanogaster
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Surprise Discovery About Sugar in The Brain Could Help Fight Alzheimer's
Stores of glucose in the brain could play a much more significant role in the pathological degeneration of neurons than scientists realized, opening the way to new treatments for conditions like Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's is a tauopathy; a condition characterized by harmful build-ups of tau proteins inside neurons. It's not clear, however, if these build-ups are a cause or a consequence of the disease. A new study now adds important detail by revealing significant interactions between tau and glucose in its stored form of glycogen. Led by a team from the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in the US, the research sheds new light on the functions of glycogen in the brain. Before now, it's only been regarded as an energy backup for the liver and the muscles. "This new study challenges that view, and it does so with striking implications," says molecular biologist Pankaj Kapahi, from the Buck Institute. "Stored glycogen doesn't just sit there in the brain, it is involved in pathology." Related: Building on links previously found between glycogen and neurodegeneration, the researchers spotted evidence of excessive glycogen levels both in tauopathy models created in fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) and in the brain cells of people with Alzheimer's. Further analysis revealed a key mechanism at play: tau proteins interrupt the normal breakdown and use of glycogen in the brain, adding to the dangerous build-up of both tau and glycogen, as well as lowering protective neuron defense barriers. Crucial to this interaction is the activity of glycogen phosphorylase or GlyP, the main enzyme tasked with turning glycogen into a fuel the body can use. When the researchers boosted GlyP production in fruit flies, glycogen stores were utilized once more, helping to fight back against cell damage. "By increasing GlyP activity, the brain cells could better detoxify harmful reactive oxygen species, thereby reducing damage and even extending the lifespan of tauopathy model flies," says Buck Institute biologist Sudipta Bar. The team wondered if a restricted diet – already associated with better brain health – would help. When fruit flies affected by tauopathy were put on a low-protein diet, they lived longer and showed reduced brain damage, suggesting that the metabolic shift prompted by dieting can help boost GlyP. It's a notable set of findings, not least because it suggests a way that glycogen and tau aggregation could be tackled in the brain. The researchers also developed a drug based around the 8-Br-cAMP molecule to mimic the effects of dietary restriction, which had similar effects on flies in experiments. The work might even tie into research involving GLP-1 receptor agonists such as Ozempic, designed to manage diabetes and reduce weight, but also now showing promise for protecting against dementia. That might be because these drugs interact with one of glycogen's pathways, the researchers suggest. "By discovering how neurons manage sugar, we may have unearthed a novel therapeutic strategy: one that targets the cell's inner chemistry to fight age-related decline," says Kapahi. "As we continue to age as a society, findings like these offer hope that better understanding – and perhaps rebalancing – our brain's hidden sugar code could unlock powerful tools for combating dementia." The research has been published in Nature Metabolism. Air Pollution 'Strongly Associated' With DNA Mutations Tied to Lung Cancer FDA Issues Warning Over Dangerous 'Gas Station Heroin' Substance Mysterious Leprosy Pathogen Has Lurked in The Americas For 4,000 Years
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Surprise Discovery About Sugar in The Brain Could Help Fight Alzheimer's
Stores of glucose in the brain could play a much more significant role in the pathological degeneration of neurons than scientists realized, opening the way to new treatments for conditions like Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's is a tauopathy; a condition characterized by harmful build-ups of tau proteins inside neurons. It's not clear, however, if these build-ups are a cause or a consequence of the disease. A new study now adds important detail by revealing significant interactions between tau and glucose in its stored form of glycogen. Led by a team from the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in the US, the research sheds new light on the functions of glycogen in the brain. Before now, it's only been regarded as an energy backup for the liver and the muscles. "This new study challenges that view, and it does so with striking implications," says molecular biologist Pankaj Kapahi, from the Buck Institute. "Stored glycogen doesn't just sit there in the brain, it is involved in pathology." Related: Building on links previously found between glycogen and neurodegeneration, the researchers spotted evidence of excessive glycogen levels both in tauopathy models created in fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) and in the brain cells of people with Alzheimer's. Further analysis revealed a key mechanism at play: tau proteins interrupt the normal breakdown and use of glycogen in the brain, adding to the dangerous build-up of both tau and glycogen, as well as lowering protective neuron defense barriers. Crucial to this interaction is the activity of glycogen phosphorylase or GlyP, the main enzyme tasked with turning glycogen into a fuel the body can use. When the researchers boosted GlyP production in fruit flies, glycogen stores were utilized once more, helping to fight back against cell damage. "By increasing GlyP activity, the brain cells could better detoxify harmful reactive oxygen species, thereby reducing damage and even extending the lifespan of tauopathy model flies," says Buck Institute biologist Sudipta Bar. The team wondered if a restricted diet – already associated with better brain health – would help. When fruit flies affected by tauopathy were put on a low-protein diet, they lived longer and showed reduced brain damage, suggesting that the metabolic shift prompted by dieting can help boost GlyP. It's a notable set of findings, not least because it suggests a way that glycogen and tau aggregation could be tackled in the brain. The researchers also developed a drug based around the 8-Br-cAMP molecule to mimic the effects of dietary restriction, which had similar effects on flies in experiments. The work might even tie into research involving GLP-1 receptor agonists such as Ozempic, designed to manage diabetes and reduce weight, but also now showing promise for protecting against dementia. That might be because these drugs interact with one of glycogen's pathways, the researchers suggest. "By discovering how neurons manage sugar, we may have unearthed a novel therapeutic strategy: one that targets the cell's inner chemistry to fight age-related decline," says Kapahi. "As we continue to age as a society, findings like these offer hope that better understanding – and perhaps rebalancing – our brain's hidden sugar code could unlock powerful tools for combating dementia." The research has been published in Nature Metabolism. Air Pollution 'Strongly Associated' With DNA Mutations Tied to Lung Cancer FDA Issues Warning Over Dangerous 'Gas Station Heroin' Substance Mysterious Leprosy Pathogen Has Lurked in The Americas For 4,000 Years
Scoop
02-07-2025
- Science
- Scoop
Secrets Of Metamorphosis: New Study Reveals Gene Expression Model During Fly Development
Moscow, June 25, 2025 Researchers from Skoltech, Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences have studied gene expression dynamics during metamorphosis in two species of flies. The study aims to identify patterns of changes in gene activity during insect development that undergo complete metamorphosis — from egg to larva, pupa, and adult. The results were published in the Genome Biology and Evolution journal. Every day we are surrounded by thousands of flies, mosquitoes, beetles, butterflies, and many other insects that go through several stages of development — for example, a caterpillar transforming into a beautiful butterfly. Each stage activates different sets of genes, allowing these insects to adapt to various environments. In their new study, scientists investigated how gene activity levels change at different developmental stages of two fly species — Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila virilis. 'In our previous work, we showed that metamorphosis is similar to embryogenesis—that is, organism development from fertilised egg cell to fully formed embryo. Both processes involve organ and tissue formation since there is significant restructuring from larvae to adults during metamorphosis. During embryogenesis, the hourglass hypothesis suggests that different species exhibit striking similarities at a mid-developmental stage, forming a 'narrow neck' where gene activation patterns converge. We tested whether this hypothesis applies to metamorphosis,' commented Alexandra Ozerova, the lead author of the paper and PhD student at Skoltech's Life Sciences program. Results of the new study revealed a completely different scenario — the dynamic of gene activity resembles a spindle rather than an hourglass. Instead of a narrow point with similarities between species, diversity increases over time. 'We conducted RNA sequencing experiments for both drosophila species, collecting samples at different life cycle stages: embryos, larvae, various pupal stages, and adults. For analysis, we used bioinformatics methods. We found that genes which emerged relatively recently in insect evolution begin actively expressing themselves during the mid-pupal period, their expression level sharply rises. It can be assumed that they help the organism carry out necessary physiological transformations leading to adulthood,' added a study co-author, Professor Mikhail Gelfand, the vice president for biomedical research at Skoltech. Insects undergoing full transformation cycles are more evolutionarily successful — they include the most numerous groups by number of species (e.g. beetles, mosquitoes, flies, bees, ants, butterflies). Many of them turn out to be pests. A better understanding of biological processes at different stages of development opens up new prospects for developing effective control measures against them. Knowing specifics about gene expression could lead to designing drugs targeting vulnerable stages of insect development. ***** Skoltech is a private international university in Russia, cultivating a new generation of leaders in technology, science, and business. As a factory of technologies, it conducts research in breakthrough fields and promotes technological innovation to solve critical problems that face Russia and the world. Skoltech focuses on six priority areas: life sciences, health, and agro; telecommunications, photonics, and quantum technologies; artificial intelligence; advanced materials and engineering; energy efficiency and the energy transition; and advanced studies. Established in 2011 in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Skoltech was listed among the world's top 100 young universities by the Nature Index in its both editions (2019, 2021). On the Institute ranks as Russian university No. 2 overall and No. 1 for genetics and materials science. In the recent SCImago Institutions Rankings, Skoltech placed first nationwide for computer science.
Al Etihad
01-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Abu Dhabi startup uses fruit flies to revolutionise cancer treatment
2 May 2025 01:21 MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)One Hub71 startup is turning fruit flies into cancer-fighting allies, combining AI and genetic science to personalise cancer treatment in ways never seen before. London-born Vivan Therapeutics is tapping into Abu Dhabi's fast-growing innovation ecosystem to scale its precision oncology model globally. The core of the company's approach is its proprietary TuMatch software, which leverages a unique dataset along with AI and machine learning to help identify the best possible treatments for each cancer platform creates 'avatars' of cancer patients using fruit flies. These tiny organisms, known scientifically as Drosophila melanogaster, are engineered with the same genetic mutations found in a patient's tumour. Once replicated, Vivan breeds hundreds of thousands of these genetically altered flies per patient to test thousands of drug combinations in rapid, high-throughput in vivo of the key advantages of the fruit fly as a model organism is its short life cycle and rapid proliferation, according to Nahuel Villegas, Chief Scientific Officer at Vivan Therapeutics.'In a relatively short period, we can create half a million fruit fly avatars for each patient … this allows us to test a massive number of drugs,' said Villegas in a recent interview with Aletihad. 'Most of these fruit flies will die, except for the ones that receive the right drug or drug combination. That's how we identify the optimal treatment.'The results have already shown promise in clinical settings. In a trial at New York's Mount Sinai Medical Centre, patients with difficult-to-treat cancers responded significantly better to therapies identified by TuMatch than to traditional treatments. 'In some cases, the treatment recommended by the fruit fly model was the only one the patient responded to,' Villegas said. Vivan's competitive edge lies not only in its innovative biological modelling but also in its massive proprietary dataset. The company has created more than 50 million fruit fly avatars and tested thousands of therapies, yielding nearly 600 novel treatment options for specific tumour types, according to explained that this dataset feeds its AI and machine learning models, which are now robust enough to offer instant treatment recommendations for new patients – sometimes without needing to create new fly models at all. 'In healthcare, most available data is biased or based on failed treatments,' Villegas said. 'Our data is fresh, precise, and generated in-house. That's what makes our AI truly effective.' Hub71: A Gateway to Global ScalingVivan Therapeutics' decision to join Abu Dhabi's Hub71 was driven by its ambitions to scale globally and tap into new markets. 'The GCC has always been on our radar because some of our early investors are from the region,' said Villegas. 'But Abu Dhabi stood out, especially because of Hub71.'Since joining the government-backed tech ecosystem, the startup has received support far beyond capital and office space. 'Hub71 helped us understand the local landscape, from regulations to healthcare partnerships, and connected us with key stakeholders like the Department of Health,' said registered in Abu Dhabi, Vivan is gearing up to scale its platform worldwide. 'Abu Dhabi represents for us a place that connects the East and the West,' said Villegas. 'And the work Hub71 is doing is putting Abu Dhabi on the map as a biotech center. From here, we are ready to reach the world.'
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dying Cells Play a Vital, Unexpected Role in Healing, Study Shows
A new study reveals some surprising discoveries about healing processes that are potentially triggered by the process of necrosis, or premature cell death. Necrosis can be triggered by illness or injury – causing significant damage after heart attacks and strokes, for example. It's a messy death for cells and tissue, unlike the planned cell death called apoptosis that's a healthy part of the biological cycle. When studying necrosis in fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster, well known for their regenerative capabilities), a team of researchers at Arizona State University (ASU) noticed something unexpected: in their dying moments, cells surrounding those hit by necrosis send out signals encouraging cell growth in healthier parts of the tissue. This is done by triggering the production of enzymes known as caspases. In apoptosis, caspases act as executioners, but when summoned by necrosis across relatively long distances, another type of caspase appears to promote healing in certain cells instead. "This finding is significant because it not only adds to the body of evidence that caspases are involved in signaling events that promote repair, but also shows for the first time that this phenomenon occurs following necrosis," says geneticist and developmental biologist Rob Harris of ASU. The new research builds on a 2021 study in which some of the same researchers noticed necrosis-affected cells sending out signals – not just to the cells surrounding the tissue damage, but to other unaffected cells farther away. These latest findings help to add more clarity about what exactly is happening. And while we haven't seen this happen in humans yet, and our bodies are much more complex than those of fruit flies, if we can gain a better understanding of this process, then we may be able to investigate harnessing it to facilitate our own healing. The researchers are hopeful that the newly discovered Necrosis-induced Caspase Positive (NiCP) cells can teach us more about tissue regeneration and wound repair. Only some of the caspase-enabled cells reacting to necrosis survived though. Knowing the reasons for this will be an important next step. "Altogether, our latest findings suggest a model in which necrotic injuries induce caspase activity in cells at a distance from an injury," says research technician Chloe Van Hazel of ASU. It's still early days for this research, but it's an intriguing discovery in the field of tissue repair and regeneration, and the molecular processes behind it, and how those processes (like caspase function) can adapt based on context. As a species, we're pretty good at fixing ourselves up, but we could do better, especially as we get older. It's possible that this is something our bodies have become worse at as we have evolved over time, but relearning these skills could have profound health impacts. "Our findings reinforce the idea that there is much more to be understood about the role of caspases in tissue repair," says Harris. "For now, they reveal an important genetic response to cell death that could potentially be leveraged to augment the regeneration of necrotic wounds." The research has been published in eLIfe. Does Added Protein Really Enhance The Nutrition of Your Food? A Week of Swimming in Cold Water Can Change You on a Cellular Level How You Hear May Have More to Do With Your Sex Than Your Age
