Decoding a Cancer Mutation, Artificial Plant Air Purifiers and Curing Altitude Sickness
October 10
This week we discover the role that mutations of the TET2 gene and RNA have in many cancers. We investigate an artificial plant that can clean the air and generate a little electricity. We ask why some paintings are more loved than others and find the answer through investigations into the responses that our brain has to certain paintings. Finally we examine a potential cure for Altitude Sickness.
Decoding a Key Mutation in many Cancers
A team from the University of Chicago and University of Texas have discovered the key role that RNA plays in how DNA is packaged and stored in our cells. Proteins in our bodies constantly wrap and unwrap DNA, mistakes in this process can lead to mutations and cancers.
In 2011 the team made several discoveries relating to how our genes are expressed. They found that in addition to modifications to DNA and proteins, modifications to RNA may also control what genes are expressed. Over the past decade the team have found more and more ways that RNA methylation is involved in which genes are turned on and off in the plant and animal kingdoms.
Using this information the team turned their attention to TET2 mutations which have long been known to be associated with human leukemia cases and other cancers. Previous research had focused on the role that TET2 had on DNA functions. The team found that TET2 actually affects RNA.
RNA plays a key part in how our cells print and fold copies of our genetic material. When this doesn’t happen correctly all sorts of problems follow. TET2 controls this process through control of how often a type of modification of RNA called m5c occurs. This process attracts a protein called MBD6 which controls the packaging of chromatin.
When we are young and growing TET2 loosens the reigns and allows chromatin to be more easily accessed and to allow stem cells to be turned into other types of cells. As adults, TET2 is supposed to tighten the reigns. If the TET2 action is lost, MBD6 gets free and causes havoc. TET2 mutations reopen this pathway and can eventually lead to cancer, particularly in the blood and brain.
The team found that when they removed human leukemia cells ability to create MBD6 that the leukemia cells all died. This gives drug researchers a target for new drugs that may be able to selectively kill the cancers cells.
TET2 mutations also occur in some adults over 70 and contribute to an increased risk of heart disease, stoke, diabetes and other inflammatory conditions. Removing these mutations would reduce the risk of associated illnesses for these patients.
Artificial Plant Air Purifiers
A team at Binghamton University in New York State have developed an artificial plant that can feed on carbon dioxide and give off oxygen plus generate a little electricity whilst cleaning the air in our houses and offices.
Using five biological solar cells and some photosynthetic bacteria the team created an artificial leaf. Using five of these leaves the team was able to capture carbon dioxide, generate oxygen and around 140 microwaves of electricity. Improvements could see the technology generate a minimum output of more than 1 milliwatt. Adding an energy storage system (battery or super-capacitor) will allow the power to be used for other purposes.
The team is researching using multiple bacteria species to ensure longer term viability and to reduce maintenance (i.e. adding water and nutrients). The work came out of the team’s research into ingestible bacteria powered bio batteries for medical devices.
Why are some Paintings so Loved?
Johannes Vermeer’s “Girl With The Pearl Earring” is on of the world’s most popular paintings. By measuring how the brain reacts when viewing the painting, researchers now know why.
Try looking at the painting for yourself before we explain. Where do you look first and what do you look at next etc..
When viewing the painting viewers are held captive by a neurological function called the “Sustained Attention Loop”. The team believes that this loop is unique to this painting.
To determine how people viewed the painting the researchers used an eye tracker and a cap to track the brainwaves of the viewer. They found that the viewers eyes were first automatically drawn to the girl’s eyes, then down to her mouth, then across to the pearl, then back to the eye and so it continued.
When measuring the brainwaves of viewers, the team discovered that the precuneus, the part of the brain governing consciousness and personal identity was the most stimulated. The loop keeps you looking and the longer that you look at someone the more beautiful or more attractive somebody becomes.
Additionally the team found that the emotional response experienced by the viewer was ten times stronger when viewing the original painting versus a poster of the painting.
Vermeer often drew the focus onto one spot in his work by blurring the surrounding details. The “Girl With The Pearl Earring” has three such focal points. Try looking at the painting in person during your next visit to the Mauritshius museum in The Hague.
Curing Altitude Sickness
If you have ever climbed to a significant altitude then you will be aware of the risk posed by altitude sickness. Some people are susceptible whereas others are not. A team from the Chinese Academy of Science in Kunming may have discovered why.
The researchers recruited 45 men to move from the their homes at 250 meters above sea level to live in a town 3700 meters above sea level for 108 days. Seven times over the course of the study the team collected fecal samples and analyzed the DNA contained therein to monitor how their gut microbiome changed.
After 2 days at altitude the men’s samples contained fewer microbes. A handful including several of the 20 known Blautia species went from being very rare to being abundant. The same subset of Blautia species including a species called B. wexlerae, were also especially common in residents of the plateau that had lived at more than 4000 meters for between 5 and 60 months.
The team then followed up this study by subjecting mice to low oxygen conditions equivalent to an altitude of 4000 meters for a month. They gave B. wexlerae to half of the mice every other day. Symptoms of altitude sickness include hypoxia, headaches, nausea, fatigue and sleep disturbances. Hypoxia can trigger fluid to build up in the lungs, brain and intestines. The Blautia treated mice showed less of the lung and intestinal damage than the control group.
It appears that this species of microbe has very broad effects in the gut and elsewhere in the body. This opens the door to further research as to whether altitude sickness can be treated via the gut. The team speculates that the short chain fatty acids produced in the intestines by Blautia may alter the metabolism and suppress inflammation.
These same benefits may explain how Blautia might protect against diabetes and obesity. In studies of Japanese people researchers found that the more Blautia a person had in their gut the less likely they were to suffer from either condition. In a different study a team from the US found that infants are more likely to babble and laugh when they have more B wexlerae in the guts. There is a lot happening between the gut and the brain that we are only just beginning to learn about.
Paying it Forward
If you have a start-up or know of a start-up that has a product ready for market please let me know. I would be happy to have a look and feature the startup in this newsletter. Also if any startups need introductions please get in touch and I will help where I can.
If you have any questions or comments please comment below.
I would also appreciate it if you could forward this newsletter to anyone that you think might be interested.
Till next week.