Misfolded Neural Proteins Linked to Autism Disorders

[HuckleB]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100910142751.htm

"An international team of scientists, led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, has identified misfolding and other molecular anomalies in a key brain protein associated with autism spectrum disorders.

Palmer Taylor, associate vice chancellor for Health Sciences at UC San Diego and dean of the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and colleagues report in the Sept. 10 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry that misfolding of a protein called neuroligin-3, due to gene mutations, results in trafficking deficiencies that may lead to abnormal communications between neurons.

Genetic misfolding of neuroligins is thought to prevent normal formation and function of neuronal synapses. The gene mutation has been documented in patients with autism. "It makes sense that there's a connection," said Taylor. "The neuroligins are involved in maintaining neuronal synapses and their malfunction is likely to affect a neurodevelopmental disease."

Neuroligins are post-synaptic proteins that help glue together neurons at synapses by connecting with pre-synaptic protein partners called neurexins. They are part of a larger family of alpha-beta-hydrolase fold proteins that includes many molecules with diverse catalytic, adhesion and secretory functions.

..."


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Fair stuff, it appears.

[elleng]

1. TEMPLE GRANDIN on C-Span2 NOW!

[HuckleB]

2. Thanks!

Unfortunately, or usually fortunately, we don't have cable.

Cheers!

[Inchworm]

5. Learning who she is - I think I found a link

It seems it was a replay. Still interesting though.

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/id/214625

:hi:

[elleng]

7. Good that you found a link. I may watch again at 2:40 a.m!

VERY interesting.

[HuckleB]

12. AWESOME!

THANKS!

:toast:

[bemildred]

3. An interesting subject about which we are only beginning to learn.

I would wager that over time we will find a lot more medical conditions related to protein folding anomalies in ways that are both subtle and not subtle at all.
TFP.

[safeinOhio]

4. So much for those

that are against government spending on basic research.

[dkf]

6. So you fix the protein and presto? Or does it cause permanent malfunctions

That cannot be fixed?

[elleng]

8. ???

Oh, I've got it (kind of!)

Nevermind.

[HuckleB]

11. We're a ways away from that.

This study needs to be replicated, and then the next steps go from there.

Unfortunately, science is not a fast-track for most issues.

[dkf]

13. I'm curious though if this is one of those connections that must be formed

From the outset or if it can regenerate. That is probably for the experts to explain. It's a huge breakthrough though. Yay for science.

[HuckleB]

14. I'll keep my fingers crossed that this leads to some form of treatment down the road.

But I also have to remember that most studies don't lead too far. Of course, that's not horrible. If one line of thought and evidence hits a dead end, then we know to look elsewhere.

:toast:

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

9. Misfolded neural proteins are not the only thing...

...that have been linked to autism.

Somebody was gracious enough to post at youtube this lecture on the link between vaccines and autism given by retired neurosurgeon, Dr. Russell Blaylock:

1 of 14: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUCCdCecLTo

2 of 14: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFMcdeUs7gA&feature=related

3 of 14: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5dZ4FExis8&feature=related

4 of 14: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOgEYJUWbf4&feature=related

5 of 14: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tCplaeAJPg&feature=related

6 of 14: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oInQFA8s7vU&feature=related

7 of 14: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNfQcOMvq2E&feature=related

8 of 14: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-wFqkvK7ww&feature=related

9 of 14: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV7CP9g_bMY&feature=related

10 of 14: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EriIMdlC_K0&feature=related

11 of 14: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0JSdPz-aPg&feature=related

12 of 14: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zaidk1pOICU&feature=related

13 of 14: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvW7cDesaGg&feature=related

14 of 14: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGiksIAg1dU&feature=related

----------------------------------------------------

Note: There are a number of Big Pharma sponsored smear hit pieces attacking Dr. Blaylock on the internet, just as there are for Dr. Mercola, and Dr. Kohls and any other respected doctor who would dare to tell the truth about the dangers of vaccines. I strongly doubt that those who give this lecture/presentation a fair listen with an open mind will take the smear efforts against Dr. Blaylock seriously.

[dkf]

10. I thought the vaccine study was confirmed as suspect and pulled from the journals.

[xchrom]

15. Blaylock = bad medical advice and endangers people

Who might fall for quackery.

[Warpy]

18. Blaylock is a fundy quack who also rails against abortion and gays

and fluoride toothpaste so be really, really careful what you post in here. The bible drove him crazy in his dotage.

He's dead wrong about vaccines. The research has been done. The data have been analyzed. You and your favorite quack are wrong.

[Odin2005]

19. LOL, Baylock, Mercola, and Kohls, a woo trifecta!

:rofl: Those fuckers that think I am "poisoned" can kiss my Aspie ass.

[Celebration]

16. Aren't misfolded proteins linked to lots of stuff?

Alzheimer's, diabetes, etc.?

http://www.nature.com/horizon/proteinfolding/background/disease.html

[glitch]

17. Finding out the causes of misfolding will be fascinating. nt

[Odin2005]

20. See that? "GENE MUTATIONS", not vaccines. GOT IT?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

21. Too bad we focus on the obvious.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TDD-4SRCJSR-1&_user=10&_coverDate=09/30/2008&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=4773ad0c8b3be8a95d522a8fc874adc3&searchtype=a

Role of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the management of Egyptian children with autism

[HysteryDiagnosis]

22. Indeed.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19307110

The CHARGE study is a large, population-based case-control study on children aged 2-5 born in California. Our subset consisted of 153 children with autism and 97 developmentally normal controls. Results showed that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) was significantly decreased in phosphatidylethanolamine. Dimethyl acetals were significantly decreased in phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine as well. These results are consistent with the only other study to measure dimethyl acetals in children with autism, and suggest that the function of peroxisomes and the enzymes of the peroxisome involved with fatty acid metabolism may be affected in autism.