July 8th, 2002 by

New device joins battle against disease

Spectrometer enables study of proteins in cells
Dennis Hryciuk, Journal Staff Writer, Edmonton Journal

Looking much like a set of computers with protuding tubes and flasks, a $500,000 spectrometer that promises to advance cell research was shown off at the University of Alberta on Monday.

The spectrometer identifies hundreds of proteins in a cell and could lead to develoment of new drugs for diseases such as cancer, heart and respiratory diseases, university officials said.

“The fastest way to get to the cause of a disease, or to figure out what new kinds of drugs have to be designed to combat the disease is through the proteins,” said Michael Ellison, executive director of the university’s Institute for Biomolecular Design.

“The research could also be used for cell research in fields such as forestry, or agriculture such as the development of grains that are more resistant to diseases,” Ellison said.

The spectrometer and its associated laboratory are the largest in Western Canada. They were displayed during the official launch of the Alberta Network for Proteomics Innovation.

Proteomics is the study of proteins. The network will link scientists and researchers of Alberta, Calgary and Lethbridge.

The network, operating unofficially for about two years, now has $16.2 million in funding from the Alberta and Federal governments: the Alberta Science and Research Authority contributed $10 million with the balance coming from the federal Western Economic Diversification Department.

The spectrometer is one of the first pieces of equipment funded by the network, according to U of A officials.

Standing in front of a computer screen, Ellison pointed to black spots and splotches that scientists have identified as proteins within an E. Coli cell.

“The cell — a variation of which is best known for its deadly effects in the water contamination incident at Walkerton, Ont. — is being studied because it’s one of the simler cells, with 4,000 different kinds of proteins in it,” Ellison said. Human cells, by contrast, contain about 50,000 proteins.

“Researchers hope to use the spectrometer to study how different drugs and chemicals affect the various proteins and thus target the effects of drugs more carefully for desired effects,” Ellison said.

“Imagine being able to see what the drugs do in terms of side-effects on the cell and then trying to optimize the positive effects.” Ellison said. The machine cold be used for that kind of research as early as six months from now.

“The spectrometer is also being used to develop a “virtual cell” upon which various drugs and chemicals can be tested, but its development is three to five years away,” Ellison said.