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    • 2013 Publication

Astrocytes Expressing ALS-Linked Mutated SOD1 Release Factors Selectively Toxic to Motor Neurons

Editor’s Note: The following submission is Devon J. (’16)’s work on ALS for science research.  
Abstract/Purpose
            ALS or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is the result of astrocytes losing the ability to nurture motor neurons (MN’s) and thus resulting in the degeneration of motor neurons and the atrophy of the body’s muscles. Once ALS is diagnosed there is no chance of recovery and death is usually caused by not being able to breathe due to the degeneration of throat muscles. ALS research is now focused on finding a biomarker (an indication of the onset of a said illness that can be measured accurately and reproducibly) (Strimbu & Tavel, 2011). Superoxide Dismutase-1 (SOD1) is an enzyme encoded into our 21st chromosome that when mutated has been linked to the onset of ALS. This article written by the lab I’ll be working at over the summer looks to see how much of a role a mutant SOD1 enzyme plays in the degeneration of astrocytes. Besides where SOD1 is located what does it normally do in our bodies? Well, SOD1 (picture below) is a free radical that destroys superoxide radicals in our bodies.  Superoxide radicals are beneficial to our bodies as they combat illnesses, the thing is, they’re extremely toxic and we can’t have them sitting in our bodies not doing anything or they’ll make us sick, so we have free radicals that break down our superoxide radicals into something less toxic that our body can handle (Milani, Gagliardi, Cova, & Cereda, 2011).
Picture
SOD1 enzymes in their normal coiled state, mutant SOD1 enzymes often are depicted as uncoiled.
Method
            The lab cultured motor neurons and astrocytes from embryonic spinal cords (PMN’s) and embryonic stem cells (ESMN’s) from 12.5 mouse spinal cords.  They then bred mice to contain three different variations of SOD1 (SOD1G93A, SOD1G85R, SOD1G37R).  Cells were prepped by simulating the mutant SOD1 process by plating or infusing astrocytes with the three variations of SOD1. They looked at these astrocytes under a high powered microscope over a period of 14 days and looked at the morphology of the astrocytes meaning its cell body diameter and the axon length, the arm like things that connect the astrocytes to the MN (below) ("Morphology (biology)," 2014). They then wanted to see if these mutant astrocytes released neurotoxic factors. PMN’s were cultured with SOD1G93A and left to culture for 7 days. After that time they counted the amount of PMN’s left.
Picture
Results
            The results showed in graph A below show how the SOD1 enzymes directly correlate to the toxicity of astrocytes.  Astrocytes treated solely with nitroglycerin had a significant amount of astrocytes remaining than the wild type astrocytes (natural astrocytes) and the ones plated with SOD1G37R. Graphs B and C show the same thing in the form of cumulative frequency basically meaning a running total of the cell body diameter and axon length.  
Picture
            The graph below shows the amount of PMN’s left after being frozen. The graph for the remaining SOD1G93A is significantly lower than the other two controls showing that the SOD1 enzyme had a major role in the degeneration and atrophy of the PMN’s.
Picture
Conclusion
            The role of SOD1 in the development of ALS is now becoming widely accepted. The research done by this lab gives statistical proof that SOD1 mutant enzymes affect astrocytes and motor neurons and that mutant SOD1 creates a toxic environ

                 Nagai, M., Re, D. B., Nagata, T., Chalazonitis, A., Jessell, T. M., Wichterle, H., & Przedborski, S. (2007, April 15). Astrocytes expressing ALS-linked mutated SOD1 release factors selectively toxic to motor neurons. Retrieved March 12, 2014, from http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/v10/n5/abs/nn1876.html

               Superoxide dismutase. (2014, February 25). Retrieved March 13, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superoxidedismutase
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  • Home
  • Who We Are
  • HOW TO SUBMIT
  • Past Publications
    • 2019 Publication >
      • Scientific Research
      • Mathematical Exploration
      • Scientific Exploration
      • Computer Science
    • 2018 Publication >
      • Artistic Creations
      • Historical and Current Explanations
      • Mathematic and Scientific Exploration
      • Scientific Research
    • 2017 Publication >
      • Artistic Creations
      • Historical and Current Explanations
      • Mathematic and Scientific Exploration
      • Reactions and Responses
      • Scientific Research
    • 2016 Publication >
      • Historical and Current Explanations
      • Mathematic and Scientific Explorations
      • Scientific Research
      • Reactions and Responses
      • Artistic Creations
    • 2015 Publication >
      • Historical and Current Explanations >
        • Bell Curves
        • Birds Vs. Turbines
        • Energy in the Obama Era
        • The Future of Neuroscience
        • Gender Gap in Math
        • GMOs--Yes or No?
        • The History of Minecraft: How a Swedish Indie Game Came to Dominate the World
        • The Effect of Prozac on the Brain
        • Philae Lander's Discovery of Organic Molecules
        • Advantages and Disadvantages of Wind Turbines
        • Your Own Worst Enemy: An Overview of Lupus
        • The Methylhex Ban
        • The Effect of Lyme Disease on the Immune system
        • Infectious Mononucleosis
        • Replacing CFCs
        • The Switch
      • Mathematic and Scientific Explorations >
        • The 43rd Figure
        • The Clock
        • The Collatz Conjecture
        • Constructing a Soccer Ball
        • Determining how Ballparks Affect Batter's Ability to Create Hits
        • The Rotating Conundrum
        • Pythagorean Puzzle
        • Mathematic and Scientific Explorations
        • Kinetics Lab
        • Math in the Restaurant Business
        • Math as a Vessel for Social Change
        • Sustainability of Bottled Vs. Tap Water
        • Thoughts on the Lottery
        • Understanding Player Efficiency Rating
      • Scientific Research >
        • Communicating With Computers
        • The Mystery of Asthma
        • The Nanoscopic War Against Cancer
        • Phytochemistry
        • Solving the energy crisis with Intermediate Band Solar Cells
        • A Pain That Never Ends
        • Rapamycin Resistance
        • Ampacity of a Single Core Horizontal Cable
        • Morphological Properties of Texting Acronym Formation
        • cGAS and STING Expression
      • Reactions and Responses >
        • Can Humans Survive the Climate Crisis?
        • My Experience as a Teacher's Assistant
        • Ted Talk Responses
        • Teens For Food Justice
      • Artistic Creations >
        • Chandelier
        • Deltoidal Hexacontrahedon
        • Dodecahedron Card Trick
        • Eye of the Triangle
        • Free Radric Delantic Davis
        • The Grid
        • What Does A Randomly Composed Song Sound Like?
        • Science Wing Mural
    • 2014 Publication >
      • Cover Photo
      • Artistic Creations >
        • Art Using the Fibonacci Sequence
        • Computer Generated Architecture and Designs
        • Mathematical Landscape
        • Math Art
        • Math in Music
      • Historical and Current Explanations >
        • Algae Bio-Fuel
        • An Energy Alternative
        • Clean Energy In Transportation
        • Calorie Restriction
        • Creating Energy in the Modern World
        • Dietary Intervention Impact on Gut Microbial Gene Richness
        • Earthly Applications for NASA Technology
        • Explaining Relative Motion
        • Exploring Artificial Inteligence
        • Gamma Function
        • How Leaves Work
        • Hydrogen Fuel Cells
        • Music and Brain Development
        • Programming Calculators
        • The Science of Microsatellites
        • Sci-Fi Taser
        • Sloane's Gap
        • Sustainable Energy: Why Some Ideas Shine Brighter than Others
        • Understanding The Galvanic Cell
        • The Virus: Our Unforeseen Philosopher's Stone
        • What Are Fuel Cells and How Do They Work?
      • Mathematic and Scientific Explorations >
        • Astrocytes Expressing ALS-Linked Mutated SOD1 Release Factors Selectively Toxic to Motor Neurons
        • Big Bang
        • Dictyostelium Discoideum
        • The Future of Solar Cell Technology
        • And Many More...
      • Reactions and Responses >
        • Alternative Energy Sources, New but Unused
        • An Insight Into the Curious World of Ethnobotany
        • Challenging What We Think We Know
        • The Current State of American Education
        • Discovering New Numbers
        • Interview With an Architect
        • Life of Pi Response
        • Mathematical Art Video Commentary
        • Missing from Science Class
        • The Museum of Math
        • The Inside Scoop on a Real Mathematician
    • 2013 Publication