Defense ProteinsDefense Proteins

Abby Bridge and Christie LeistAbby Bridge and Christie Leist

AP Bio Period 1AP Bio Period 1

What do they do?What do they do?

Helps your immune system fight off Helps your immune system fight off disease to keep you healthydisease to keep you healthy

Helpful in destroying and neutralizing Helpful in destroying and neutralizing harmful bodies that may enter your bodyharmful bodies that may enter your body

Protect against the effects of certain Protect against the effects of certain injuriesinjuries

What do they do? (Cont.)What do they do? (Cont.)

The immune system helps your body The immune system helps your body defend itself against foreign bodies such defend itself against foreign bodies such as:as:

ContaminantsContaminants BacteriaBacteria Disease-causing microbesDisease-causing microbes

How do they work?How do they work?

They are made of white blood cells and They are made of white blood cells and attach themselves to viruses and attach themselves to viruses and bacteria, making these harmful bodies bacteria, making these harmful bodies inactiveinactive

As long as the DNA is mutation free, the As long as the DNA is mutation free, the protein will form and function properlyprotein will form and function properly

Significance of ShapeSignificance of Shape

Determined by amino acid sequenceDetermined by amino acid sequence 2 molecules interact at an active site2 molecules interact at an active site Vital that shapes (lock and key Vital that shapes (lock and key

enzyme and molecule) match b/c enzyme and molecule) match b/c proteins combat foreign bodies by being proteins combat foreign bodies by being told to do so from the lock and key told to do so from the lock and key turningturning

Defense Protein Defense Protein ProductionProduction

Secreted by cells that enter/develop in Secreted by cells that enter/develop in the body and are infected by foreign the body and are infected by foreign bodiesbodies

Nearby cells “kick into gear”-produce Nearby cells “kick into gear”-produce defense proteins to counter act the virus defense proteins to counter act the virus and stop the reproductionand stop the reproduction

Made in the immune system to protect Made in the immune system to protect our bodies!our bodies!

If Production is If Production is Interrupted…Interrupted…

Microbes enter bloodstream and infect Microbes enter bloodstream and infect other areas of the bodyother areas of the body

Increased susceptibility to infections and Increased susceptibility to infections and virusesviruses

Lack of defense proteins results in lack of Lack of defense proteins results in lack of aid regarding fighting germsaid regarding fighting germs

Nothing stopping foreign bodies from Nothing stopping foreign bodies from multiplyingmultiplying

FibrinogenFibrinogen

Amino Acid Sequence:Amino Acid Sequence:mqngagasrt stiflngnre rplnvfcdme tdgggwlvfq rrmdgqtdfw rdwedyahgf gnisgefwlg nealhsltqa mqngagasrt stiflngnre rplnvfcdme tdgggwlvfq rrmdgqtdfw rdwedyahgf gnisgefwlg nealhsltqa

gdysirvdlr agdeavfaqy dsfhvdsaae yyrlhlegyh gtagdsmsyh sgsvfsardr dpnsllisca vsyrgawwyr gdysirvdlr agdeavfaqy dsfhvdsaae yyrlhlegyh gtagdsmsyh sgsvfsardr dpnsllisca vsyrgawwyr

nchyanlngl ygstvdhqgv swyhwkgfef svpftemklr prnfrspagg gnchyanlngl ygstvdhqgv swyhwkgfef svpftemklr prnfrspagg g

Top 5 MatchesTop 5 Matches

Fibrinogen is a conserved geneFibrinogen is a conserved gene Tenascin-x; Mus Musculus-91%Tenascin-x; Mus Musculus-91% Tenascin-x; Cricetulus Griseus- 91%Tenascin-x; Cricetulus Griseus- 91% Predicted: Tenascin-x like; Gorilla Gorilla Predicted: Tenascin-x like; Gorilla Gorilla

Gorilla- 98%Gorilla- 98% Predicted: Tenascin-x; Paplo Anubic- 98%Predicted: Tenascin-x; Paplo Anubic- 98% Predicted: Tenascin-x; Nomascus Leucogenys- Predicted: Tenascin-x; Nomascus Leucogenys-

98%98%

Top 5 Matches (cont.)Top 5 Matches (cont.)

Evolution of this gene in Evolution of this gene in history of life on Earthhistory of life on Earth

Not a vestigial traitNot a vestigial trait Protein (similar proteins) present in many Protein (similar proteins) present in many

different organismsdifferent organisms Gene is necessary to life; stops Gene is necessary to life; stops

excessive bleedingexcessive bleeding

Role in Living SystemsRole in Living Systems

Produced by the liver Produced by the liver and present in blood and present in blood plasmaplasma

Important for blood clot Important for blood clot formation (coagulation)formation (coagulation)

Helps stop bleedingHelps stop bleeding Converted to fibrin which Converted to fibrin which

helps clot blood and seal helps clot blood and seal woundswounds

Doesn’t permit entrance Doesn’t permit entrance to any foreign bodyto any foreign body

Possible Outcomes if Possible Outcomes if Mutated/Absent?Mutated/Absent?

Mutations can lead to many similar Mutations can lead to many similar conditionsconditions

I.E. Congenital abfibrinogenemia; causes I.E. Congenital abfibrinogenemia; causes excessive bleeding due to lack of excessive bleeding due to lack of fibrinogen in bloodfibrinogen in blood

Disorders associated with Disorders associated with FibrinogenFibrinogen

Hypofibrinogenemia (type 1) results from Hypofibrinogenemia (type 1) results from mutations and effects fibrinogen mutations and effects fibrinogen concentrationconcentration

Dysfibrinogenemia (type 2) usually follows Dysfibrinogenemia (type 2) usually follows the a diagnosis of a prolonged thrombin the a diagnosis of a prolonged thrombin time, low fibrinogen level, or liver diseasetime, low fibrinogen level, or liver disease

No clear symptoms to be detected by No clear symptoms to be detected by patientpatient

Proposed DrugProposed Drug

Heparin injectionsHeparin injections To decrease blood’s ability to clotTo decrease blood’s ability to clot Used in low dosesUsed in low doses Preventative/unable to dissolve an Preventative/unable to dissolve an

existing clotexisting clot Targets lack of blood flowTargets lack of blood flow Prevents heart issues that occur when Prevents heart issues that occur when

fibrinogen can’t be circulatedfibrinogen can’t be circulated

If fibrinogen was conserved If fibrinogen was conserved across organisms…across organisms…

Extract healthy fibrinogen protein from Extract healthy fibrinogen protein from organismsorganisms

Inject into humansInject into humans Create an oral supplementCreate an oral supplement Observe environmental conditions that Observe environmental conditions that

put living things at risk for low fibrinogen put living things at risk for low fibrinogen levelslevels

SourcesSources

http://www.course-notes.org/Biology/Outlines/Chapter_43_The_Immune_System http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/199723-medication http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-information/DR601931 http://www.uptodate.com/contents/disorders-of-fibrinogen http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/960677-overview http://www.chemeddl.org/resources/TSTS/Gellman/Gellmanpg5-8/Protein

%20Receptors.html http://www.course-notes.org/Biology/Outlines/Chapter_43_The_Immune_System https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/sitnflash_wp/2010/02/issue65/ http://www.livestrong.com/article/520931-eight-types-of-protein-and-their-

function/ http://www.buzzle.com/articles/role-of-proteins-in-living-organisms.html http://www.biology-questions-and-answers.com/the-immune-system.html http://science.howstuffworks.com/dictionary/biology-terms/protein-info.htm http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003650.htm http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/FGA