The UK charity Arthritis Research has awarded scientists at Aberdeen University GBP780,000 to study the natural cycle of bone formation and destruction with the aim of finding new approaches to treating or preventing diseases of the skeleton.
The researchers will spend five years studying members of the small GTPases enzyme family. Professor Mike Rogers who is leading the research said, “A few years ago we discovered that most commonly-used anti-osteoporosis drugs work by interfering with small GTPase proteins, so we know that these proteins must be important but we don’t really know much about what they do specifically in bone cells.”
“Small GTPases are very important for controlling the shape, movement and function of cells, so these proteins may also play a key role when bone-forming cells behave abnormally, for example in osteoarthritis.”
The researchers will spend five years studying members of the small GTPases enzyme family. Professor Mike Rogers who is leading the research said, “A few years ago we discovered that most commonly-used anti-osteoporosis drugs work by interfering with small GTPase proteins, so we know that these proteins must be important but we don’t really know much about what they do specifically in bone cells.”
“Small GTPases are very important for controlling the shape, movement and function of cells, so these proteins may also play a key role when bone-forming cells behave abnormally, for example in osteoarthritis.”
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