Study of a Serum Factor that Activates the Inositol System

在包括人类在内的许多脊椎动物的血清中发现的一种新物质已被纯化，初步的生化证据表明该因子是一种特殊类型的白蛋白。该因子激活了一个非常普遍的细胞内信使系统，它参与了许多生命过程。研究表明，该血清因子能抑制癌细胞的增殖，并引起神经细胞突的收缩。该物质不存在于正常脑脊液中，但存在于神经外伤患者的脑脊液中。这个因子可能在神经系统损伤和修复中起作用。该项目的主要目标是利用酶促和化学裂解的方法，结合蛋白质纯化和结构分析的方法，确定血清因子活性位点的氨基酸序列和结构。血清和白蛋白广泛应用于医学和组织培养。获得更多关于这一因素的知识将对基础科学和医学产生重要影响。

The discovery of a new substance, found in the blood serum of many vertebrates, including humans, has been purified and preliminary biochemical evidence indicates that the factor is a special type of albumin. The factor activates a very general intracellular messenger system which is involved in many vital processes. Studies show that this serum factor inhibits the multiplication of cancer cells and also causes the retraction of nerve cell processes. The substance is not present in normal cerebrospinal fluid, but it is present in cerebrospinal fluid of patients following neurotrauma. This factor may play a role in injury and repair of the nervous system. The main goal of this project is to determine the amino acid sequence and structure of the active site of the serum factor using enzymatic and chemical fragmentation of the factor combined with methods of protein purification and structural analysis. Blood serum and albumin are widely used in medicine and in tissue culture. Gaining more knowledge about this factor will have important implications for both basic and medical sciences.