New gene variants present opportunities in nutrigenomics

piggy submitted, created time 3 weeks 1 day (www.eurekalert.org)

A new study uncovers eleven gene variants associated with three blood lipids measured to determine cardiovascular disease risk: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglycerides. The discovery opens up new opportunities for nutrigenomics researchers looking for links between diet and genetics that will optimize health and lower chronic disease risk.

"Practically all genes related to lipid levels in the bloodstream respond to changes in the diet," says Jose M

Submit comment | Blog It | Email It | Keywords: human genetics nutrigenomics nutrition genetics genes risk factors food diet lipids nutrigenomics cardiovascular disease gene variants

A Lipidic-Sponge Phase Screen for Membrane Protein Crystallization

jerry submitted, created time 5 months 3 weeks (www.structure.org)

A major current deficit in structural biology is the lack of high-resolution structures of eukaryotic membrane proteins, many of which are key drug targets for the treatment of disease. Numerous eukaryotic membrane proteins require specific lipids for their stability and activity, and efforts to crystallize and solve the structures of membrane proteins that do not address the issue of lipids frequently end in failure rather than success. To help address this problem, they have developed a sparse matrix crystallization screen consisting of 48 lipidic-sponge phase conditions

1 comment | Blog It | Email It | Keywords: lipids proteomics drug discovery drug targets protein crystallization membrane proteins

Changes in serum lipids, independent of weight, are associated with changes in symptoms during long-term clozapine treatment

rprocyshyn submitted, created time 1 year 3 months (www.cma.ca)

This article suggests that serum lipids may play a role in clozapine's therapeutic acitivity. As such, it has implications in the treatment of dyslipidemias in clozapine treated patients.

Submit comment | Blog It | Email It | Keywords: clozapine triglycerides cholesterol lipids

Protein's role in lipid absorption may be important to future weight-loss strategies

bianjie submitted, created time 1 year 6 months (mednews.wustl.edu)

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that a protein absorbs lipids in the upper part of the intestine, and they believe its key role in this process may provide a novel approach for obesity treatment in the future.

Submit comment | Blog It | Email It | Keywords: protein lipids obesity treatment

Effect of soy protein from differently processed products on cardiovascular disease risk factors and vascular endothelial function in hypercholesterolemic subjects

diggman submitted, created time 1 year 8 months (www.ajcn.org)

The magnitude of the effect of soy protein on lipoprotein concentrations is variable. This discordance is likely attributable to the various forms of soy protein used and to unrecognized shifts in dietary fatty acid, cholesterol, and fiber. The objective was to evaluate the effect of soybean processing as well as soy consumption relative to animal protein, independent of alterations in major dietary variables, on cardiovascular disease risk factors and vascular endothelial function

Submit comment | Blog It | Email It | Keywords: Soy protein lipids lipoproteins apolipoproteins cholesterol endothelial function