Study of a Serum Factor that Activates the Inositol System

这个项目继续研究一种新的，但尚未完全确定的一类具有生长因子样特性的脂质介质，它在血液凝固过程中产生。这些磷脂介质显示的功能类似于那些更精细和复杂的生长因子蛋白。磷脂介质的简单结构使其易于在工业规模上进行化学合成，成本比蛋白质生长因子低数百倍。这些自然产生的分子是对损伤的反应，不仅在血液中，而且在神经系统中；实验表明，它们可能在启动再生和伤口愈合中发挥生理作用。目前的项目设定了两个目标：1)确定血液凝固过程中产生的磷脂介质的结构；2)建立激活细胞中导致生长因子样脂质介质产生的主要生化途径。预计更多地了解这些因素可以最终导致设计和合成新的药物，以防止继发性神经元死亡和随之而来的瘫痪。* * *

9321940 Tigyi This project continues to research a novel and yet not fully identified class of lipid mediators with growth factor-like properties generated during blood clotting. These phospholipid mediators display functions similar to those of the more delicate and complicated growth factor proteins. The simple structure of the phospholipid mediators permits their easy chemical synthesis on an industrial scale, at a cost hundreds of times less than that of protein growth factors. These naturally occurring molecules are generated in response to injury, not only in the blood, but also in the nervous system; and experiments indicate that they are likely to play a physiological role in the initiation of regeneration and wound healing. The current project sets two goals: 1) determine the structure of the phospholipid mediators generated during blood clotting, and 2) establish the main biochemical pathways leading to the production of growth factor-like lipid mediators in activated cells. It is anticipated that learning more about these factors can ultimately lead to the design and synthesis of new drugs to prevent secondary neuronal death and the ensuing paralysis. ***