Scientists identify Integrin protein as boosting the growth of damaged muscle tissues
Q. Scientists have identified a key protein to boost the growth of damaged muscle tissues. What category of proteins does it belong to?- Published on 21 Jul 16a. Integrin
b. Pelegrin
c. Anagrin
d. Decigrin
ANSWER: Integrin
Scientists have identified a key protein that can boost the growth of damaged muscle tissues, leading to treatments for muscle degeneration caused by old age and disorders like muscular dystrophy
- Researchers from Johns Hopkins University found the protein called integrin.
- It is present on the stem cell surface and is used by stem cells to interact with or sense their surroundings.
- Stem cells sense their surroundings known as niche affecting how they live and last for regeneration
- Presence of the protein beta one integrin was show to promote the transformation of undifferentiated stem cells into muscle after the tissue had degraded and improve regenerated muscle fibre growth as much as 50 percent
- The presence of beta one integrin in adult stem cells is apparent
- Beta-one intern is one of 28 types of intern maintaining a link between the stem cell and the environment and interacts biochemically with a growth factor called fibroblast growth factor to promote stem cell growth and restoration after muscle tissue injury.
- This shows that beta one-integrin restores aged stem cell’s ability to respond to FGF to grow and improve muscle regeneration.
- Through tracking an array of proteins within stem cells, researchers have tested the impact of removing beta one-integrin from the stem cell.
- The experiment showed that without beta one-integrin, stem cells do not sustain growth after muscle tissue injury.