A sea anemone (Heteractis magnifica)
NEVILLE WOOTTON
Using a laboratory-synthesized analog for a peptide found in the tentacles of a sea anemone, Heteractis magnifica, researchers helped mouse neuroblastoma cells nearing death live longer. The neuroprotective function of the sea anemone–inspired molecule depends on its ability to turn down inflammation, which the study implies could be helpful against Alzheimer’s disease. The findings were published last month in the Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry.
A.N. Kvetkina et al., “A new IQ-peptide of the Kunitz type from the Heteractis magnifica sea anemone exhibits neuroprotective activity in a model of Alzheimer’s disease,” Russ J Bioorg Chem+, doi:10.1134/S106816201804012X, 2018.
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