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UNIVERSITY NEWS - JANUARY 2004
MEDIA CONTACT: Kevin Petrovsky
FAU Scientist Proposes New
Treatment
BOCA RATON, FL (January 30, 2004) - Dr. Herbert Weissbach, director of Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, has released findings from research suggesting potential therapeutic treatment for ischemic heart and brain cell diseases using a particular enzyme. The research is published in the current edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Working with scientists from the University of Iowa, Cornell University, Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, Germany, and the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Weissbach examined how an enzyme peptide, Methionine Sulfoxide Reductase type A (MSRA), appears to play a protective role against cell damage often caused by loss of oxygen in stroke, ALS, Alzheimer’s and other cardiac and neurodegenerative diseases. The scientists surmise that the MSRA serves as a general antioxidant in protecting the cells.
Applications of these findings could
eventually lead to treatments to minimize cardiac and brain
cell damage following stroke or other trauma, and could
lead to advances that slow the detrimental effects of
aging. Dr. Weissbach and other FAU researchers continue
their study of antioxidant benefits for both the treatment
of disease and health issues related to aging.
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