Gene Discovery and Functional Analysis of Copper Homeostasis Genes in Drosophila

铜是骨骼、血管和中枢神经系统形成和维持所需的一种至关重要的营养物质，但铜过量时也有潜在的毒性。维持体内铜的安全水平需要动态平衡机制，而这些机制的破坏与阿尔茨海默氏症、心脏病和骨质疏松症等疾病有关。我们正在研究一种关键的铜泵--Menkes蛋白的调节，它有助于控制体内的铜水平，我们正在利用果蝇的遗传优势来发现新的基因，这些基因可以调节Menkes的活动，从而调节铜的水平。这些研究可能会为一系列铜相关疾病带来新的治疗方法。

Copper is a vital nutrient required for the formation and maintenance of bones, blood vessels and the central nervous system, but copper is also potentially toxic when in excess. Homeostatic mechanisms are needed to maintain safe levels of copper in the body and disruptions to these mechanisms are associated with disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, heart disease and osteoporosis. We are investigating the regulation of a key copper pump, the Menkes protein, which helps control copper levels in the body and we are using the genetic advantages of the fruit fly Drosophila to discover new genes that regulate Menkes activity and therefore copper levels. These studies could lead to novel therapies for a range of copper-related disorders.