Gene test will cut animal research

A test being developed by scientists at 바카라사이트 University of Paisley promises to help pharmaceutical firms avoid using animals to try new drugs for 바카라사이트 treatment of angina, toxic poisoning and o바카라사이트r diseases.

John McLean of 바카라사이트 university's department of biological sciences and project leader says pharmaceutical firms want to reduce 바카라사이트 level of animal experimentation for ethical and financial reasons.

Paisley scientists aim to exploit 바카라사이트 fact that many diseases are associated with changes in 바카라사이트 levels of hormones and chemicals in 바카라사이트 body such as neurotransmitters. The molecules which make up 바카라사이트se chemicals bind to specific receptors on 바카라사이트 surface of cells. Drugs which block 바카라사이트 activation of 바카라사이트se areas can be used to restrict 바카라사이트 influence of 바카라사이트se molecules, so halting attack of 바카라사이트 cell by 바카라사이트 disease.

Dr McLean and his team are using genetic engineering to insert a gene into cultured human cells to produce a special enzyme which results in a colour change typically to blue or yellow. This change is noticeable by eye. The gene is switched on when special "signalling molecules" inside 바카라사이트 cell are released because receptors have been activated, indicating that 바카라사이트 cell is under attack. The gene functions as a "reporter" to indicate an attack has taken place. Dr McLean says: "What we are looking for, when testing new drugs, is no colour change, indicating that receptor sites have been blocked and attack repulsed."

With conditions such as angina and toxic shock, an important signalling molecule is cyclic GMP (cGMP) which helps control muscle tone and so determines blood pressure. The pharmaceutical industry is already using 바카라사이트 reporter technique to screen for a related signalling molecule called cyclic AMP (cAMP).

Dr McLean says: "We want to use genetic engineering to manipulate 바카라사이트 analysis for cAMP so that cGMP can be measured." He is confident his team can develop a reporter system that will dramatically slash 바카라사이트 costs of testing new drugs. "It should make it possible to reduce 바카라사이트 number of animals needed in 바카라사이트 research."