Breathing air that is too rich in oxygen can disrupt protein production in cells. A research conducted by scientists from the University of California was published in the journal Science Developments.
Most previous studies have examined the molecular effects of oxygen deprivation, particularly its impact on gene activity. In the new study, scientists exposed mice to air containing 8% (deficient), 21% (normal), or 60% (excess) oxygen.
The animals’ food contained substances labeled nitrogen. Nitrogen is necessary for the construction of proteins. Therefore, by looking at the number of nitrogen-tagged proteins, scientists were able to determine how quickly the proteins were formed and destroyed in the lungs, heart, and brain.
The researchers found that oxygen levels had a greater effect on proteins in the mice’s lungs than on heart or brain function. The protein MYBBP1A, which accumulates when there is excess oxygen, caught their attention. It directly regulates the activity of many genes. The molecule also plays a role in the production of ribosomes, the cellular “machines” that build proteins. This means that accumulation of MYBBP1A due to excess oxygen can disrupt protein production in the cell. MYBBP1A may be a target of drugs aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of breathing air that is too rich in oxygen.
“More than a million people in the United States breathe supplemental oxygen every day for medical reasons, and research shows that in some cases it can make their condition worse. “Our study will help us understand what is happening and how the body responds,” said Isha Jain, lead author of the study.
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Source: Gazeta
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