Tiny Marine Crustacean Assists In Developing Wood Based Biofuel

The gribble, Limnoria quadripunctata, is one of the only animals that can digest wood.
Image: Simon Cragg/University of Portsmouth

Scientists from the University of York, University of Portsmouth and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory have discovered an enzyme produced by gribbles, tiny marine wood borers, that can help turn wood based biomass into biofuel. Unlike termites that have microbes inside their guts to help process wood they digest, gribbles have a sterile gut which means that these tiny animals process the wood themselves through an enzyme.

Scientists have now isolated this enzyme and once its structure is studied and can be commercially reproduced, it can help create sustainable liquid biofuels.

Biofuels are sustainable, efficient, and renewable fuels that are processed from biological material called biomass. Biomass are organic material from living or recently living organisms. Biofuels are derived from biological carbon fixation which is the reduction of carbon dioxide or inorganic carbon to organic compounds by living organisms.

Biofuels can come from different sources such as agricultural crops, animal products, plant material or from living organisms like algae.

Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer Through Metabolomic Analysis

A diagnostic test based on metabolites, bio-molecules produced during biological processes, has been developed that can be used as to detect pancreatic cancer in its early stages.

The pancreas is the organ responsible for producing and releasing enzymes needed in the absorption of food. It is also the organ where insulin and glucagon (hormones that help regulate the body's blood sugar) are made.

The pancreas is a long gland located behind the abdomen. Detecting and diagnosing pancreatic cancer is difficult because of the organ's location. Early stages of the cancer does not cause any symptoms and the middle stage symptoms are usually varied and non-specific. Only in its later stages that pancreatic cancer is diagnosed.

Metabolomics is the science of determining the metabolome of a biological sample. Metabolomes are the collection of small organic molecules in a cell. Metabolomes represent the collection of all metabolites in a biological cell, tissue, organ or organism and are the result of cellular processes. Researchers have developed a way to use metabolimic analysis to detect early stages of pancreatic cancer.

On a related note, a 15 year old student from Maryland recently won the $75,000 top science prize for discovering a simple pancreatic test that is 90% effective (see embedded video).

Anti-Aging Enzyme Telomerase Successfully Mapped

Human chromosomes (grey) capped by telomeres (white)
Credit: Wikipedia

A collaboration of more than 1000 researchers have resulted in the successful mapping of the telomerase enzyme. An enzyme responsible for prolonging cellular life by protecting the chromosome.

In 2009, three doctors received the Nobel Prize for Medicine (Physiology) for the discovery of the telomerase enzyme. Telomerase is an enzyme that is believed to have a rejuvenating effect on normal cells.

Telomerase works on the telomeres which are found at the tips of cellular chromosomes. Telomeres protect the chromosome strand. These telomeres shorten after each division of the cell until it is consumed. Although normal cell division affects the telomeres, other factors such as stress, unbalanced diet, and lifestyle also can affect them.

As the telomeres shorten, the cell starts to deteriorate and may result in loss of the ability of the cell to divide, disease, and tissue/organ deterioration. A short telomere is said to be an effective biomarker (in combination with other biomarkers) for health and disease risk.

Telomerase, the enzyme, protects the telomeres and maintains it, increasing telomere length. It helps elongate telomeres after each cell replication.