Physical activity boosting resources support classroom performance

The American Heart Association and the National Football League continue their commitment to kids’ whole-body health through physical activity

American Heart Association

DALLAS, Sept. 4, 2024 — This back to school season, the American Heart Association and the National Football League (NFL), in collaboration with its 32 NFL clubs, are offering students exciting ways to move more with NFL PLAY 60™. Physical activity is vital for youth health and well-being, especially as students return to school. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, active kids learn better, focus more, think more clearly, react to stress more calmly, and perform and behave better in the classroom[1].

The American Heart Association, devoted to a world of healthier lives for all and celebrating 100 years of lifesaving service, recommends that kids get a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each day. Developing healthy habits and reducing sedentary behaviors in kids is key to immediate and long-term health benefits. The benefits of physical activity are unmatched when it comes to lowering risks of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other diseases. But the perks of physical activity also extend to the classroom as active kids have better sleep, improved cognition, and an overall better quality of life. Helping students understand the full benefits of getting active can establish healthy habits at a young age for a better chance of healthier adulthood.

"At the American Heart Association, our future is about improving yours. Engaging children in 60 minutes of physical activity alongside the NFL with the longstanding NFL PLAY 60 programming is one way we are working to advance health and hope for everyone,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. “Our collaboration with the NFL as the 2024-25 season kicks off demonstrates our shared commitment to a world of longer healthier lives through physical activity, heart health and safety.”  

Rooted in American Heart Association science, NFL PLAY 60 helps children engage in physical activity and improve their physical and mental wellness. This year’s in-school activation will provide students opportunities to move throughout the 2024-2025 NFL season from Kickoff to the 2025 NFL Draft.

One-way students can get active with NFL PLAY 60 is through a series of NFL PLAY 60 Fitness Break broadcasts. The first of the two broadcasts will air on Thursday, September 19 at 1 p.m. ET/ 12 p.m. CT / 10 a.m. PT with the theme Move More for Whole Health. The broadcast will breakdown the levels of physical activity including warm-ups, moderate intensity, vigorous intensity and cool downs with the help of the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers. An additional Fitness Break broadcast will be held later in the school year on Thursday, February 6, just before Super Bowl LIX. Advanced registration for both broadcasts is required.

“As the 2024 NFL season kicks off, we’re thrilled to once again partner with the American Heart Association to encourage children to get moving through our NFL PLAY 60 initiative,” said NFL Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility Anna Isaacson. “Now heading into its 18th season, PLAY 60 has emerged as a national model to promote youth health and well-being. The NFL is committed to building on our efforts to ensure children across the country have access to the resources they need to live healthy lifestyles.”  

The second opportunity for students to get active is through the new Daily Movement Moment Challenge during the month of October, which will utilize the NFL PLAY 60 app, available free on iOS and Android devices. The daily Movement Moment feature on the app is a 15-minute opportunity for students to incorporate movement into their day by following an NFL PLAY 60 avatar who guides them through four different exercises. The featured exercises change daily. A paper tracker will be provided for teachers to use within their classrooms to indicate that they completed the daily Movement Moment as a group. Teachers will indicate the NFL club geographically closest to them on their tracker and 32 winners, one for each of the club teams, will be randomly selected to receive a $1,000 NFL PLAY 60 grant to be used towards the purchase of physical activity equipment.

The last PLAY 60 resource available to students to meet their daily movement goal is the NFL PLAY 60 Exercise Library, which features two-to-three minute on-demand exercise videos from each of the 32 NFL teams featuring players, NFL Legends, cheerleaders and mascots.

The NFL and the American Heart Association have been teaming up since 2006 to inspire kids through fun and engaging ways to get physically active for at least 60 minutes a day. Information on NFL PLAY 60 resources and available grant opportunities can be found online at heart.org/NFLPLAY60.

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About the American Heart Association 

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for a century. During 2024 - our Centennial year - we celebrate our rich 100-year history and accomplishments. As we forge ahead into our second century of bold discovery and impact our vision is to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X, or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1

About NFL PLAY 60

NFL PLAY 60 is the League’s national youth health and wellness platform. In its 18th season, the initiative empowers millions of youth to get physically active for at least 60 minutes a day and provides support for programs and resources so that kids everywhere can lead a healthy lifestyle. Alongside the NFL’s 32 NFL clubs and partners, the PLAY 60 movement will continue to serve and motivate the next generation of youth to get active and PLAY 60. For more information, visit NFL.com/PLAY60.

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[1] Department of Health and Human Services, Physical Activity Guidelines, page 14. Available for download here: https://health.gov/paguidelines/default.aspx

 

New research has potential to speed up forensic analysis in sexual assault cases

University of Toronto

A team of researchers has developed a radical new technique for analyzing evidence in sexual assault cases. The new approach could streamline the forensics pipeline and reduce delays in the processing of DNA evidence.  

The research is described in a paper published today in the journal Advanced Science.

There are almost half a million sexual assaults in Canada every year with many more going unreported. The new approach could mitigate one of the reasons victims are reluctant to report assaults: the perception that analysis of forensic evidence is too slow. 

“For this research, we read reports and surveys that asked victims why they weren’t reporting assaults,” says Mohamed Elsayed. “And the most common answer was that they didn't have confidence in the justice system — and that lack of confidence was partly because of how long the process takes.” 

The lead author is Elsayed, who worked on this project as part of his PhD in Biomedical Engineering and who is now a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Toronto (U of T). His U of T co-authors include Professor Aaron Wheeler from the Department of Chemistry, the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at U of T, and the Centre for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies, and Leticia Bodo, a member of Innis College and a master’s student in the Department of Chemistry. All three are also affiliated with the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research. 

Additional co-authors of the study include researchers from the Department of Forensic Science, University of Toronto Mississauga; Ontario’s Centre of Forensic Sciences (CFS); and the ANDE Corporation. Funding was provided by NSERC Alliance Society and ANDE.

“CFS and ANDE were critical contributors at every step of the project,” says Wheeler. “I’m also grateful to NSERC for having the foresight to establish the ‘Alliance Society’ program which has a mission to ‘address a societal challenge that will result in new natural sciences and engineering knowledge and societal impact.’”

Processing forensic evidence in sexual assault cases is a highly technical, multi-step process. Typically, DNA evidence is first collected from the victim, then sent to a well-equipped forensic laboratory for analysis by a skilled technician. Once there, the sample is first processed to isolate the assailant’s DNA from the victim’s; analysis of the assailant’s DNA can then be conducted and used to identify a suspect. 

The entire process can take days, weeks or longer. Most of that time is taken up with transporting the evidence to the lab; also, once at the lab, the speed with which the sample is analyzed depends on the number of other cases requiring analysis. 

The researchers focused on the first step — that of separating the DNA of two individuals from a single sample. Currently, this can only be done manually by trained and experienced experts in a lab; i.e. there is no automated solution. 

What Elsayed and his collaborators have developed is a process for separating two individual’s DNA employing a process called differential digestion technique using digital microfluidics. The new approach mitigates the current logistical and technical challenges.  

The researchers simplified the process by reducing the number of manual steps needed to isolate the assailant’s DNA from 13 to five. “Also, because micro-fluidic processes tend to be faster, we expect that one of the eventual benefits will be shortening the overall time needed,” says Elsayed. 

What’s more, the new approach could lead to a mobile solution that doesn’t require a lab. For example, testing could be done at a hospital where a victim would typically be taken in a sexual assault case — thereby eliminating the time necessary for the sample to reach the lab and circumventing the lab’s queue. 

The new technique is compatible with the technology known as Rapid DNA Analysis, already in use for the second step of identifying an individual from their DNA. According to the authors, the long term goal would be to integrate the two technologies to make the process even more streamlined. 

There are many challenges to overcome before the new technique is operational and deployed. But Elsayed is confident those challenges will be solved and has turned his efforts toward making it commercially viable and widely accessible. 

“Our plan is to develop an instrument that will do in five minutes what currently takes 45,” says Elsayed. “And to run many more samples than previously. Once we do that, the next step would be to introduce the technology to forensic labs and hospitals. It will take years but the potential is very exciting.”  

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Journal

Advanced Science

DOI

10.1002/advs.202405712 

Method of Research

Meta-analysis

Subject of Research

Human tissue samples

Article Title

Toward Analysis at the Point of Need: A Digital Microfluidic Approach to Processing Multi-Source Sexual Assault Samples

Article Publication Date

4-Sep-2024

COI Statement

M.S. and J.L.F. are employees of ANDE Corporation (manufacturer of the ANDE 6C Rapid DNA System used herein, and co-founder of the study).

 

The state of dating report: How Gen Z is transforming sexuality and relationships

Groundbreaking insights from a Feeld and Kinsey Institute study

Kinsey Institute

Feeld, the dating app for the curious, in collaboration with Dr. Justin Lehmiller of The Kinsey Institute, has released a groundbreaking report, "The State of Dating: How Gen Z is Redefining Sexuality and Relationships." Released on World Sexual Health Day under the theme #PositiveRelationships, this report takes a deep dive into how Gen Z—shaped by global instability, digital immersion, and evolving cultural scripts—are shaping their approach to dating and sexuality. 

After analyzing the latest data from Feeld’s diverse community and drawing insights from broader Kinsey Institute research, this new report reveals how Gen Z is carving out its own paths in sexuality, embracing fluid identities, and reimagining traditional relationship structures to reflect their complex realities. Dr. Lehmiller examines broader generational trends, attitudes and behaviors towards sexuality and relationships that vary for Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X, and Boomer adults.

The contrast is most visible between the youngest and the oldest of the studied generations – for instance, Gen Z’s romanticized views on monogamy vs. Boomers’ preference for a casual friends-with-benefits structure. 

Key Findings

Monogamy

• Despite the common perception that Gen Z is moving away from traditional relationship structures, monogamy actually emerges as the most preferred relationship style at 23% for Feeld’s Gen Z Members where only 15% prefer a non-monogamous relationship.

  • This stands in contrast to Millennials and Gen X, where ethical non-monogamy is favored by 24% and 27% respectively.
  • Meanwhile, monogamy is preferred by 16% of Millennials and only 9% of Gen X.
  • 27% of Boomers prefer friends with benefits, versus just 12% who prefer monogamy.

• 81% of Gen Zers fantasize about monogamy, with 44% fantasizing about it often—nearly twice as much as older generations.

Sexual and Gender Fluidity

• 59% of Gen Z Feeld Members report a sexual identity other than heterosexual, while 18% identify as gender diverse.

  • These figures are significantly higher than national averages reported by Gallup and Pew, where nearly 1 in 5 Gen Z adults identify as LGBTQ.

• Feeld Members demonstrate significant fluidity in sexual and gender identities, with 10% of Gen Zers reporting a change in gender identity since joining the app, and 18% reporting a change in sexual identity.

  • This trend aligns with Kinsey Institute findings, which indicate that younger generations are increasingly open to exploring and redefining their identities over time.

Kink Exploration

• 55% of Gen Zers on Feeld have discovered a new kink since joining the app, making them the most explorative generation in this regard.

  • In comparison, 49% of Millennials, 39% of Gen X, and 33% of Boomers reported similar discoveries.

• This trend mirrors broader research showing that Gen Z is leading the rise in kink and BDSM interests, with 56% of Gen Z reporting BDSM fantasies according to Dr. Justin Lehmiller’s research, compared to just 12% of Boomers.

Contextual Analysis

Gen Z’s approach to monogamy and fluid identities reflects a reimagining of traditional values through a contemporary lens. With the Feeld community serving as the more progressive and accepting of emerging cultural shifts, Gen Zers as a whole are leading the charge in demonstrating how sexual and gender identities are becoming part of people’s evolving journeys rather than fixed points.

"The data from Feeld Members offers a fascinating glimpse into how Gen Z is redefining relationships. Their openness to exploring more fluid ways of being, coupled with an unexpected affinity for monogamy, suggests a generation that is simultaneously challenging and embracing tradition,” said Dr. Justin Lehmiller, Kinsey Institute. “What is also striking is how, compared to the national average, the Feeld community seems to be a lot more open to exploring, defining, and redefining who they really are, which helps advance our work on understanding where sexuality and relationships are headed within a broader cultural context."

Implications for the Future

“Feeld is non-prescriptive by design, intentionally maintaining a space for exploration without judgment. We build the app with and for our Members - they are the ones who truly shape the future of dating, self-exploration, and relationships,” said Ana Kirova, CEO of Feeld. “For me, the essence of the insights here is that each person’s and every generation’s evolution is constant and often unpredictable. I hope that in seeing these discoveries, we all feel inspired to hold space for our shared human experience in all its fluidity.”

As Gen Z continues to redefine the landscape of sexuality and relationships, this report captures a pivotal moment in their journey of self-discovery. The findings highlight a generation that is navigating the fluidity of identity and relationship styles with a blend of tradition and modernity, and in doing so, they are reshaping societal norms.

Read the full report here to explore the findings in more detail.

 

About the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University

For over 75 years, the Kinsey Institute has been the premier research institute on human sexuality and relationships and a trusted source for evidence-based information on critical issues in sexuality, gender, reproduction, and well-being. The Kinsey Institute's research program integrates scholarly fields including neuroscience, psychology, public health, anthropology, history, and gender studies. Kinsey Institute outreach includes traveling art exhibitions, public scholarships, research lectures, and a human sexuality education program. Visit our website kinseyinstitute.org and follow us on LinkedIn.

About Feeld

Feeld is the dating app for the curious; those open to experiencing people and relationships in new ways. Founded in 2014 by Ana Kirova and Dimo Trifonov after questioning the status quo of their own relationship, they were inspired to challenge cultural scripts around gender, sexuality, and dating on a global scale. Feeld’s ever-evolving platform creates a safer space online and IRL for people to explore their curiosities outside of existing blueprints and find meaningful human connections of all kinds. Feeld has led with a progressive mindset since its inception, pioneering a remote-first work model with a globally distributed team. With over 20 sexuality and gender options in-app and growing, Feeld is a space for the experiences that make us feel alive and most intimately connected to ourselves and others. Learn more at www.feeld.co.

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Method of Research

Survey

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

The State of Dating: How Gen Z is Redefining Sexuality and Relationships

Article Publication Date

4-Sep-2024

 

Qunkasaura: New sauropod dinosaur from the Cretaceous discovered in the Iberian Peninsula

Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon

 

image: 

 General view of the Lo Hueco site during the excavation of Qunkasaura in 2007

view more 

Credit: GBE-UNED

A new study led by Portuguese paleontologist Pedro Mocho, from the Instituto Dom Luiz of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon (CIÊNCIAS), has just been published in the Communications Biology journal, which announces a new species of sauropod dinosaur that lived in Cuenca, Spain, 75 million years ago: Qunkasaura pintiquiniestra.

The more than 12,000 fossils collected from 2007 onwards during works to install the Madrid-Levante high-speed train (AVE) tracks revealed this deposit, giving rise to one of the most relevant collections of fossil vertebrates from the Upper Cretaceous of Europe. The collection has been studied continuously thanks to national projects and the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, which has made it possible to significantly increase the understanding of the ecosystems of southwestern Europe during the Late Cretaceous and also identify several new species for science.

“The study of this specimen allowed us to identify for the first time the presence of two distinct lineages of saltasauroids in the same fossil locality. One of these groups, called Lirainosaurinae, is relatively known in the Iberian region and is characterized by small and medium-sized species, which evolved in an island ecosystem. In other words, Europe was a huge archipelago made up of several islands during the Late Cretaceous. However, Qunkasaura belongs to another group of sauropods, represented in the Iberian Peninsula by medium-large species 73 million years ago. This suggests to us that this lineage arrived in the Iberian Peninsula much later than other groups of dinosaurs”, explains Pedro Mocho, paleontologist at CIÊNCIAS.

One of the most relevant features of the Lo Hueco fossil record is the abundance of large partial skeletons of sauropod dinosaurs, which are rare in the rest of Europe. Qunkasaura pintiquiniestra stands out for being one of the most complete sauropod skeletons found in Europe, including cervical, dorsal and caudal vertebrae, part of the pelvic girdle and elements of the limbs. Their unique morphology, especially in the tail vertebrae, offers new insights into the non-avian dinosaurs of the Iberian Peninsula, a historically poorly understood group.

The study, now published in the Communications Biology journal, identifies Qunkasaura as a representative of the opisthocoelicaudine saltasaurids, a group present in the northern hemisphere (Laurasia). On the other hand, most Late Cretaceous sauropods from southwestern Europe, including Lohuecotitan pandafilandi, previously described from Lo Hueco, belong to the group Lirainosaurinae, a group of sauropods apparently exclusive to the European continent. This study suggests that Lo Hueco is the only place where the coexistence of both groups is known and proposes a new group of titanosaurs called Lohuecosauria, which includes representatives of both lineages. Lohuecosaurs may have originated on the southern continents (Gondwana) before dispersing globally.

The name Qunkasaura pintiquiniestra is made up of several geographic and cultural references close to the Lo Hueco site. "Qunka" refers to the oldest etymology of the toponym from the Cuenca and Fuentes area, "Saura" alludes to the feminine of the Latin saurus (lizard), but also pays homage to the painter Antonio Saura, and "pintiquiniestra" refers to the giant "Queen Pintiquiniestra", character from a novel mentioned in ‘Don Quijote de la Mancha’ by Cervantes.

“Fortunately, the Lo Hueco deposit also preserves several skeletons of sauropod dinosaurs to be determined, which may correspond to new species and which will help us understand how these animals evolved”, concludes Pedro Mocho.

The study is part of the research conducted by the Evolutionary Biology Group at UNED on ecosystems with dinosaurs in central Iberian Peninsula. Part of the skeleton of Qunkasaura is already on display in the Paleontological Museum of Castilla-La Mancha in Cuenca (Spain).

Reference: 

Mocho, P.; Escaso, F.; Marcos-Fernández, F.; Páramo, A.; Sanz, J. L.; Vidal, D.; Ortega, F. 2024. A Spanish saltasauroid titanosaur reveals Europe as a melting pot of endemic and immigrant sauropods in the Late Cretaceous. Communications Biology. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06653-0

Restoration process of part of the remains of Qunkasaura.

Credit

GBE-UNED

Reconstruction of the life form of Qunkasaura pintiquiniestra.

Credit

José Antonio Peñas Artero

3D reconstruction of the Qunkasaura skeleton.

Credit

GBE-UNED

Relationships of Qunkasaura with some of the most important sauropods from the Late Cretaceous and reconstruction of the life form of Qunkasaura pintiquiniestra.

Credit

José Antonio Peñas Artero, GBE-UNED, FCUL

Bone remains of Qunkasaura pintiquiniestra, on display in the Paleontological Museum of Castilla-La Mancha.

Credit

GBE-UNED

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Journal

Communications Biology

DOI

10.1038/s42003-024-06653-0 

Article Title

A Spanish saltasauroid titanosaur reveals Europe as a melting pot of endemic and immigrant sauropods in the Late Cretaceous

Article Publication Date

4-Sep-2024

 

Why dinosaur collagen might have staying power

American Chemical Society

Dinosaurs continue to fascinate people, but that’s not their only enduring quality: Collagen in their skeletons remains intact for millions of years, despite containing chemical bonds that should only persist for about 500 years. Now, scientists report in ACS Central Science that the unique tenacity of this protein may result from a molecular structure that shields these vulnerable bonds from attack by water that’s present in the environment.

Collagen is the most abundant protein in animals. It’s found in skin and connective tissues, such as cartilage and bones. Fragments of collagen have been extracted from the bones of 68-million-year-old fossils of Tyrannosaurus rex and may have even been detected in the skeleton of a 195-million-year-old Lufengosaurus. Collagen consists of protein strands — chains of amino acids — that form triple helices. Much like a rope, the helices in turn weave together to form a strong fibrous material. When exposed to water, the peptide bonds that connect amino acids normally break down in a process known as hydrolysis. But when peptides are incorporated in collagen, that destructive process doesn’t take place. Various explanations have been proposed, but Ron Raines and colleagues felt those theories were missing a physical and chemical basis for the resistance of peptide bonds in collagen like that preserved in ancient dinosaur bones. The team set out to fill in the missing links.

Using experimental and computational methods, the researchers examined the behavior of small-molecule mimics of collagen peptides. In particular, they studied the interactions between the molecules’ acyl groups, which each contain a carbon atom double bonded to an oxygen atom. They found that each acyl group partially shares its electrons with a neighboring acyl group. These results suggest that such interactions protect every peptide bond in a collagen triple helix from hydrolysis, and therefore the structure is able to stay intact. The researchers say lessons from the stability conferred by these interactions could help guide the design of other exceptionally long-lived materials.

The authors acknowledge funding from the National Institutes of Health.

The paper’s abstract will be available on Sept. 4 at 8 a.m. Eastern time here: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acscentsci.4c00971

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The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS’ mission is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and all its people. The Society is a global leader in promoting excellence in science education and providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, eBooks and weekly news periodical Chemical & Engineering News. ACS journals are among the most cited, most trusted and most read within the scientific literature; however, ACS itself does not conduct chemical research. As a leader in scientific information solutions, its CAS division partners with global innovators to accelerate breakthroughs by curating, connecting and analyzing the world’s scientific knowledge. ACS’ main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

Registered journalists can subscribe to the ACS journalist news portal on EurekAlert! to access embargoed and public science press releases. For media inquiries, contact newsroom@acs.org.

Note: ACS does not conduct research, but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies.

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Journal

ACS Central Science

DOI

10.1021/acscentsci.4c00971 

Article Title

Pauli Exclusion by n→π* Interactions: Implications for Paleobiology

Article Publication Date

4-Sep-2024

MIT chemists explain why dinosaur collagen may have survived for millions of years

The researchers identified an atomic-level interaction that prevents peptide bonds from being broken down by water

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Collagen, a protein found in bones and connective tissue, has been found in dinosaur fossils as old as 195 million years. That far exceeds the normal half-life of the peptide bonds that hold proteins together, which is about 500 years.

A new study from MIT offers an explanation for how collagen can survive for so much longer than expected. The research team found that a special atomic-level interaction defends collagen from attack by water molecules. This barricade prevents water from breaking the peptide bonds through a process called hydrolysis.

“We provide evidence that that interaction prevents water from attacking the peptide bonds and cleaving them. That just flies in the face of what happens with a normal peptide bond, which has a half-life of only 500 years,” says Ron Raines, the Firmenich Professor of Chemistry at MIT.

Raines is the senior author of the new study, which will appear in ACS Central Science. MIT postdoc Jinyi Yang PhD ’24 is the lead author of the paper. MIT postdoc Volga Kojasoy and graduate student Gerard Porter are also authors of the study.

Water-resistant

Collagen is the most abundant protein in animals, and it is found in not only bones but also skin, muscles, and ligaments. It’s made from long strands of protein that intertwine to form a tough triple helix.

“Collagen is the scaffold that holds us together,” Raines says. “What makes the collagen protein so stable, and such a good choice for this scaffold, is that unlike most proteins, it’s fibrous.”

In the past decade, paleobiologists have found evidence of collagen preserved in dinosaur fossils, including an 80-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex fossil, and a sauropodomorph fossil that is nearly 200 million years old.

Over the past 25 years, Raines’ lab has been studying collagen and how its structure enables its function. In the new study, they revealed why the peptide bonds that hold collagen together are so resistant to being broken down by water.

Peptide bonds are formed between a carbon atom from one amino acid and a nitrogen atom of the adjacent amino acid. The carbon atom also forms a double bond with an oxygen atom, forming a molecular structure called a carbonyl group. This carbonyl oxygen has a pair of electrons that don’t form bonds with any other atoms. Those electrons, the researchers found, can be shared with the carbonyl group of a neighboring peptide bond. 

Because this pair of electrons is being inserted into those peptide bonds, water molecules can’t also get into the structure to disrupt the bond.

To demonstrate this, Raines and his colleagues created two interconverting mimics of collagen — the one that usually forms a triple helix, which is known as trans, and another in which the angles of the peptide bonds are rotated into a different form, known as cis. They found that the trans form of collagen did not allow water to attack and hydrolyze the bond. In the cis form, water got in and the bonds were broken.

“A peptide bond is either cis or trans, and we can change the cis to trans ratio. By doing that, we can mimic the natural state of collagen or create an unprotected peptide bond. And we saw that when it was unprotected, it was not long for the world,” Raines says.

“No weak link”

This sharing of electrons has also been seen in protein structures known as alpha helices, which are found in many proteins. These helices may also be protected from water, but the helices are always connected by protein sequences that are more exposed, which are still susceptible to hydrolysis. 

“Collagen is all triple helices, from one end to the other,” Raines says. “There’s no weak link, and that’s why I think it has survived.”

Previously, some scientists have suggested other explanations for why collagen might be preserved for millions of years, including the possibility that the bones were so dehydrated that no water could reach the peptide bonds. 

“I can’t discount the contributions from other factors, but 200 million years is a long time, and I think you need something at the molecular level, at the atomic level in order to explain it,” Raines says.

The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. 

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Written by Anne Trafton, MIT News

Paper: “Pauli Exclusion by n→π* Interactions: Implications for Paleobiology”

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Journal

ACS Central Science

DOI

10.1021/acscentsci.4c00971 

Article Title

Pauli Exclusion by n→π* Interactions: Implications for Paleobiology

Article Publication Date

4-Sep-2024

Psychedelics show promise for treating PTSD by suppressing learned fear responses

New research reveals how psychedelic drugs like psilocybin acutely reduce fear by altering activity in the amygdala, a key brain region involved in processing fear and anxiety

Genomic Press

MILWAUKEE, WI - Ongoing research is revealing how psychedelic drugs like psilocybin (the active ingredient in "magic mushrooms") and LSD may help treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by suppressing learned fear responses. In a new Bench to Bedside peer-reviewed article published in the journal Psychedelics (ISSN: 2997-2671, Genomic Press, New York), researchers from the Medical College of Wisconsin provide an in-depth look at the neural mechanisms underlying psychedelics' acute fear-reducing effects in rodent models of PTSD.

The amygdala, an almond-shaped structure deep within the brain, plays a central role in fear learning and expression. Excitatory neurons in the lateral amygdala are activated by fearful stimuli, leading to a cascade of activity that drives fear responses. The new research proposes that psychedelic drugs suppress this fear-related activity by enhancing inhibitory signaling from GABAergic interneurons onto the excitatory neurons.

"Our hypothesis is that psychedelics acutely suppress learned fear responses by activating serotonin 2A receptors on inhibitory neurons in the amygdala," said the lead author Thomas Kelly, an MD/PhD candidate. "This leads to increased release of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, which quiets the activity of excitatory neurons that normally drive fearful behaviors."

The finding that psychedelics' acute effects on fear require activation of serotonin 2A receptors aligns with the receptor's established role in the drugs' hallucinogenic effects. However, the authors emphasize the importance of considering the broader pharmacological profile and duration of action of different psychedelic compounds.

For example, the drug MDMA, which has shown promise for treating PTSD in late-stage clinical trials, does not directly activate serotonin 2A receptors. Instead, MDMA increases the release of serotonin, which then activates various serotonin receptor subtypes. The research suggests that psychedelics with faster onset and shorter duration of acute effects may be advantageous for PTSD treatment compared to longer-acting drugs like LSD.

"The insights from preclinical studies can help guide the design of clinical trials and treatment protocols that optimize the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for PTSD," said senior author Dr. Qing-song Liu. "By understanding the mechanisms and time-course of psychedelics' effects on fear circuitry, we can better harness these compounds in a clinical setting."

Several clinical trials are currently investigating psilocybin-assisted therapy for PTSD, with some protocols incorporating drug administration in combination with exposure therapy to promote fear extinction learning. As this research progresses, the amygdala is emerging as a key locus of interest for understanding how psychedelics may extinguish fearful memories and provide a novel treatment approach for PTSD and other fear-related disorders.

The full article, titled “Exploring the therapeutic potential of psychedelics: Fear extinction mechanisms and amygdala modulation,” was published online on 09 August 2024 and is freely available online at the website of Psychedelics (Genomic Press, New York): https://pp.genomicpress.com/aop/

Contact: Thomas J. Kelly Medical College of Wisconsin tjkelly@mcw.edu 1-920-427-6177

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Method of Research

Literature review

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

https://pp.genomicpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/PP0019-Kelly-2024.pdf