Can Dysfunctional Clotting Contribute to Neurological Disorders?
Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating neurological disorder with no known cure. Characterized by gradual cognitive decline, its effects are felt throughout Canada. Over half a million Canadians are living with dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease is a major contributor to this number.
New Anticoagulants Enhance “Clot-busting” Ability of the “Clot-former” Factor Xa
If you, loved ones or friends suffer from diseases that may involve abnormal blood clotting, such as heart attack, stroke, atherosclerosis, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism or even cancer, commercials on “blood thinners” (anticoagulants) may catch your attention more than other drugs while watching your favourite TV show.
Thrombomodulin: Old Protein with New Functions and Hope
As its name suggests, thrombomodulin (TM) modulates thrombin activity. The traditional role of TM is to vastly accelerate production of activated protein C from its zymogen by thrombin.
From Computers to Clinics: Advances in Designing Polyphosphate Inhibitors as Novel Anti-thrombotics
Thrombosis, the formation of a potentially deadly blood clot, remains one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Once formed, clots can slow or obstruct normal blood flow, leading to damage to surrounding tissue.
Proteases can be a turn-on, or a turn-off. Or… A Protease-mediated Switch Controls the Transition from Proinflammatory (M1) to Repair (M2) Macrophages
Chronic inflammatory & autoimmune diseases affect many Canadians, and yet the mechanisms behind such conditions are not fully understood and there is no cure available.
Paradigm Shifts in Cell Wall Biogenesis Understanding
Antibiotic resistance has become a major issue in recent years, and is believed to be directly linked to the livestock industry which accounts for ~80% of antibiotic use in North America. Frighteningly, this is expected to rise by nearly 70% globally by 2030.
Gene-trap Mutagenesis Identifies a Crucial Role for a Cryptic Member of the ABC Superfamily
The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) super-family of proteins is one of the largest families of proteins to have representatives in all living organisms from prokaryotes to humans.
McNagny Lab Uncovers a New Protective Role for an Old Protein During Lung Repair
Members of the McNagny lab at the Centre for Blood Research focus their efforts on understanding CD34, a cell surface protein typically used as a marker for progenitors of blood cells. In their paper, Bernard Lo of the McNagny lab, and collaborators, investigated the role of CD34 in lung disease using mouse models of acute lung injury.
Feeding the Spore: A Molecular Structure of the SpoIIIAG Channel from Bacillus subtilis
Natalie Zeytuni and colleagues in the Strynadka Lab at the CBR have determined the structure of SpoIIIAG, a key protein contributed by the mother cell of the sporulation channel from the Gram-positive bacterium, Bacillus subtilis.
Rational Design of Universal Heparin Reversal Agent (UHRA) Makes it a Highly Specific Antidote to Heparins
The only FDA approved heparin antidote is protamine, but it has many limitations. In a recent paper, Dr. Kalathottukaren and team discuss how the rational design of UHRA makes it a better antidote to heparins compared to protamine.