Junk DNA
You may think that DNA is the stuff in our genome that tells our bodies what protein to make. But in fact, only 2 per cent of the human genome does this. Dr Alasdair MacKenzie of the University of Aberdeen told the British Science Festival on Wednesday that we are closing in on what some of the rest of our DNA does.
Much of the genome was once written off as “junk DNA.” But as our knowledge has grown, its uses are becoming more apparent. Dr MacKenzie for one rejects the term.
He told the Festival about areas of DNA that govern the body’s production of the protein Galanin. Galanin has a role in controlling the appetite and our taste for fats and alcohol.
Dr MacKenzie says: “We know that a particular part of the brain, the hypothalamus, is responsible for Galanin production in humans and many other species from dogs to monkeys.” The mechanism for producing it has been conserved in many species for over 300 million years.
He has been looking at the instructions in the DNA code which tell the body how much Galinin to produce. These ‘enhancers’ switch on the activation of other genes.
The Galanin switch exists in two versions, one stronger than the other.
People in Europe are more likely to have the version that encourages the consumption of fat and alcohol, and there may be a link to the East Asian population’s lower tolerance for lactose and alcohol.
Dr MacKenzie’s group has developed drugs that allow the activity level of these genes to be altered. This might be valuable because Galanin production is associated with addiction to alcohol and other drugs, but he warns that a usable treatment is still remote.
They are also looking at drugs which suppress a protein called Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, which is linked to obesity, drug addiction and early cognitive decline.
But Dr MacKenzie warns that we cannot just develop a drug to suppress these enhancers. “The switch could have other functions in the body, or the drug could alter its role rather than just turning it off."
Martin Ince
Much of the genome was once written off as “junk DNA.” But as our knowledge has grown, its uses are becoming more apparent. Dr MacKenzie for one rejects the term.
He told the Festival about areas of DNA that govern the body’s production of the protein Galanin. Galanin has a role in controlling the appetite and our taste for fats and alcohol.
Dr MacKenzie says: “We know that a particular part of the brain, the hypothalamus, is responsible for Galanin production in humans and many other species from dogs to monkeys.” The mechanism for producing it has been conserved in many species for over 300 million years.
He has been looking at the instructions in the DNA code which tell the body how much Galinin to produce. These ‘enhancers’ switch on the activation of other genes.
The Galanin switch exists in two versions, one stronger than the other.
People in Europe are more likely to have the version that encourages the consumption of fat and alcohol, and there may be a link to the East Asian population’s lower tolerance for lactose and alcohol.
Dr MacKenzie’s group has developed drugs that allow the activity level of these genes to be altered. This might be valuable because Galanin production is associated with addiction to alcohol and other drugs, but he warns that a usable treatment is still remote.
They are also looking at drugs which suppress a protein called Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, which is linked to obesity, drug addiction and early cognitive decline.
But Dr MacKenzie warns that we cannot just develop a drug to suppress these enhancers. “The switch could have other functions in the body, or the drug could alter its role rather than just turning it off."
Martin Ince
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