Skip to main content

Interactome Analysis: tissue-specific protein interactions linked to hereditary diseases

 
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY, RUTH BARSHIR ET AGenes that cause hereditary diseases are often expressed across a wide range of cells in the human body, but the diseases they cause can be specific to a few tissues or organs. Many of these genes are expressed at higher levels in diseased tissues, and their proteins have a significantly greater tendency for tissue-specific protein interactions, according to a study published last week (June 12) in PLOS Computational Biology.
“Together the two factors we identified are relevant for as many as two thirds of the tissue-specific hereditary diseases [studied here],” Esti Yeger-Lotem from Israel’s Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and her colleagues wrote in their paper.
The researchers suggested that these tissue-specific interactions, known as an interactome, highlight disease mechanisms, and can provide an efficient filter to identify causal genes within diseased tissues.
To identify these interactomes, Yeger-Lotem‘s team combined gene and protein expression data for 16 different tissues, such as lung, brain, and breast, with data on protein-protein interactions within each. The researchers found all these tissues shared a core network of nearly 5,000 proteins and more than 26,000 protein-protein interactions.
When they analyzed genes linked to 303 hereditary diseases, the researchers  found that over 80 percent of the causal genes were expressed in 10 or more tissues, but these same genes only caused disease in a small subset. Such causal genes were transcribed at higher levels and interacted with more proteins in disease-affected tissues than unaffected ones.
While tissue-specific protein-protein interactions may not be entirely responsible for the disease, they may contribute to its clinical manifestations, according to the authors. 
“The distinct features we identified provide a starting point for elucidating the molecular basis of many hereditary diseases,” the authors wrote.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Modular housing concept boasts 64 possible combinations

Italian Designer Gabriel Aramu has conceptualized a modular housing system that seems to offer endless possibilities. Dubbed "Sliding Hub," these prefabricated cubes join together to create a temporary housing solution for multiple situations. In the event that emergency shelters are required, the modules can be packed and transported to any destination. On arrival, the modules are easily joined together, with the flexibility to house individuals, small groups or large numbers without limitation. Each module incorporates an insulation system suitable for all kinds of weather conditions. In addition, the temporary accommodation units provide a comfortable standard of living, important to natural disaster victims. Constructed with steel reinforcements, numerous modules can be assembled together to create various sizes and shapes, whilst sliding them open creates large internal spaces. According to Aramu, the system can be configured 64 different ways, wh
Post a Comment
Read more

Weird Inventions Made by the Chinese

China doesn’t always copy useful and popular world’s inventions. Local people also invent stuff themselves. Take a look.   A local farmer Li Yuming works on his unfinished miniature submarine Xiaguang V, which is 3-metre long, 1.2-metre in height, has a maximum diving depth of 20 metres, and can hold two adults and one child at the same time. A child rides a specially constructed ice-chair on the frozen Houhai Lake in Beijing. Farmer Wu Yulu, 48, rides in a cart pulled by his walking robot. Hobby inventor Wu, who started to build robots in 1986, has invented 47 robots with different functions like jump, paint, drink, pull cart, massage, and help cooking. Chinese farmer Yang Youde pushes his homemade cannon. Yang's cannon, which is made out of a wheelbarrow, pipes and firing rockets, is used to defend his fields against property developers who wants his land. Gao Hanjie installs the rotor blades on his homemade helicopter, which is 6-meter
Post a Comment
Read more

A Police STOP at 2 AM

An elderly man is stopped by the police around 2 a.m. and is asked where he is going at this time of night. The man replies, "I am on my way to a lecture about alcohol abuse and the effects it has on the human body, as well as smoking and staying out late." The officer then asks, "Really? Who is giving that lecture at this time of night?" The man replies, "That would be my wife."
Post a Comment
Read more