Molecular Mechanism of Microgravity-Induced Skeletal Muscle Atrophy - Physiological Relevance of Cbl-b Ubiquitin Ligase (MyoLab)
03.22.12
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Experiment/Payload Overview
Information provided courtesy of the Japan Aerospace and Exploration Agency (JAXA).
Brief Summary
Molecular Mechanism of Microgravity-Induced Skeletal Muscle Atrophy - Physiological Relevance of Cbl-b Ubiquitin Ligase (MyoLab) studies a rat muscle gene modified cell line to determine the effects of microgravity.
Principal Investigator
Takashi Nikawa, Ph.D., M.D., The University of Tokushima, , ,
Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)
Information Pending
Payload Developer
Information Pending
Sponsoring Space Agency
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Sponsoring Organization:
Information Pending
ISS Expedition Duration:
March 2010 - September 2010
Expeditions Assigned
23/24
Previous ISS Missions
MyoLab is scheduled for its first operations on ISS Increment 23/24.
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Experiment/Payload Description
Research Summary
- A gene modified cell line from rat muscle cell (L-6) which can be grown as an attached culture in the MeasExp culture chamber, will be launched at ambient temperature using a ?MeasExp CO2 bag,? which maintains an adequate concentration of CO2.
- After medium exchange (5 +/- 1 day) using ?MeasExp Solution Exchanger? by a crewmember, the cells are cultivated using the Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) at 37 degrees Celsius for 12 days.
- After 10 days (+/-2 days) of incubation, another medium exchange, including IGF-1 for half of the chambers, incubation should be carried out for one day.
- After a total of 11 days (+/-2 days) of incubation, all chambers are washed by a PBS (Phosphate Buffered Saline) solution, exchanged by RNAlaterTM for preserving RNA, and frozen to recover (in MELFI and STS freezer).
- After recovery, cells are analyzed for microgravity effects using RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction - the most sensitive technique for mRNA detection and quantitation currently available) assay, DNA microaray and western blotting techniques.
Description
The number of bedridden elderly people in Japan is remarkably increasing, which can be considered as a serious social problem. However, there is no effective countermeasure for muscle atrophy (decrease in muscle mass), which is a main cause for bedridden conditions. The few countermeasures for unloading mediated muscle atrophy include: rehabilitation, diet and drugs. The MyoLab payload will focus on the inhibition of Cbl-b-mediated ubiquitination (enzyme found in humans) to improve IGF-1 (insulin-like growth hormone) resistance of skeletal muscle cells. Ubiquitin ligase Cbl-b is inhibited by focusing on the competitively inhibitory function of oligopeptides (molecules containing a small number of peptides).
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Applications
Space Applications
Information Pending
Earth Applications
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Operations
Operational Requirements
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Operational Protocols
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Results/More Information
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Related Web Sites
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Publications
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Ground Based Results Publications
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ISS Patent Publications
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Related Publications
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Images
