Scientists Track Down 'Mystery Gene' in the Body

Scientists tracked down one of the mystery genes important in the body's skeleton's main component.

The discovery is considered elusive in the process. Scientists unlocked an important mystery gene that is said to ensure the final form of the protein actin and understand how it can contribute to future research involving muscle conditions.

The study findings were published in Science and are available to read on the ScienceDaily website.

According to the study, tracking down proteins and genes is not easy, which could take years or 40 years to track down. However, geneticist Thijn Brummelkamp and his group at the Netherlands Cancer Institute can detect saying that he is a professional pin-in-a-haystack seeker. His achievements have been proven with many gene discoveries.

Important component

(Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)

The research noted that actin is an important component of the cell skeleton, and large quantities can be observed in cell types. Actin functions in a way to help provide cell shape and strength to human muscle and cell division. The significance of studying actin can help contribute to studies about muscle conditions.

However, the study noted that finding the function of actin in the final form is significant to know.

Also Read: The Gift of the Pelvis and Walking Upright: What You Should Know

Part of the group is postdoc Peter Haahr who did experiments and investigated the gene mutation in the process of random haploid cells. After careful study, Haahr managed to find out the important molecular scissors, which is a key amino acid coming from actin.

According to the study, the Haahr process includes

Causing random mutations in random cells.
Selecting cells with immature actin. Then, they add antibodies to cells where the amino acids are said to be cut off.
Ultimately, he looked at and investigated the gene mutations in the process.

The study with VU Amsterdam scientists observed that an unknown gene controlled the molecular scissors. As a result, they have named it ACTin MAturation Protease or ACTMAP.

Moreover, the study considered testing a lack of ACTMAP in living things. Researchers looked into the mice by switching off the gene. From there, they found out that the cell skeleton of the mice was disrupted unfinished, which the researchers expected in the first place.

However, what was surprising was how the mice managed to stay alive but observed muscle weaknesses, according to the study.

Contributions to future studies

Moreover, Brummelkamp explained that the research about the actin did not tell scientists to cure muscular conditions, but he added that the discovery would be helpful in the future.

According to ScienceDaily, the team of Brummelkamp found more molecular scissors that are key components in the skeleton function. The team unveiled three unknown molecular scissors showing to cut an amino acid from the tubulin, which is helpful to other functions inside the cell.

Moreover, Brummelkamp and his team contributed to tracking down genetic causes, including how the Ebola virus and chemotherapy enter the cell. They also studied cancer cells' resistance to therapy, protein in cancer cells, and immune systems. Part of his mission is to map 23,000 genes in the future.

Full article research can be read on the Science journal website.