Jellyfish Protein for Brain Health

CHICAGOData presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience highlighted the ability of a jellyfish protein, aequorin, a naturally occurring calcium binding proteins (CaB), to protect neurons after a stroke. In prior conferences, data from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee demonstrated aequorins ability to protect cells prior to an ischemic event. Quincy Bioscience is a partner in the R&D of the jellyfish protein as a novel therapeutic for neurodegenerative diseases. 

Stroke is used in the laboratory because the model replicates a biochemical process in a few minutes what neurodegeneration takes years to do and gives us a good idea of a compounds neuroprotective ability, explained Mark Underwood, Quincy Bioscience president.

According to the calcium hypothesis of brain aging, one of the reasons for neurodegeneration is the brain cells inability to regulate calcium ions. CaBPs are intracellular proteins that help regulate calcium. Their decline is gradual in normal aging and is believed to contribute to elevated calcium ion levels which in turn affect brain function. Conversely, in neurodegeneration, CaBP production declines rapidly and contributes to cell death.