DALLAS: Biochemists at The University of Texas at Arlington are mapping the catalytic processes of sulfur-oxidizing enzymes to improve understanding of the chemical imbalances found in patients with autism, Alzheimer’s disease and Down syndrome.
“Little is known about how sulfur-oxidizing enzymes work, or how or why autistic, Alzheimer and Down syndrome patients demonstrate abnormal sulfur metabolism,” said Brad Pierce, UTA assistant professor of biochemistry and principal investigator on the project.
“Our work is to retro-engineer the sulfur oxidation process and – cysteine dioxygenase – in both mammals and bacteria, to provide the necessary framework to develop effective therapies and drugs for these different disease states.”