This project is solving the SciStarter Citizen Science challenge.
Background
In order to reach some of the far distant discovered planet, legal and clinical regulation of the lifespan of the astronaut human cells is a must. Under the current human lifespan it is virtually impossible to conduct real and practical space exploration because of the natural aging of the crew members. At the same time, prolonged manned mission to other planets require both technical and clinical structures in order to preserve, maintain, avoid and correct mental and physical diseases of each member.
Since, first, Telomeres DNA-protein and Telomerase enzyme play one the main roles in the regulation of the lifespan of human cells, and second, the Arrhenius equation describe the mechanist for inhibiting malignant chemical reaction (wrong metabolic processes and tissue injury), knowing the activation energy of such a lethal processes, it will be possible to extend, in several times, the lifespan of the crew members of a specific exploring mission. Thus, during the space travel –of decades or centuries- members should study, with no restriction, every area of science or the knowledge, increasing the Human Wisdom.
Challenge Description
Develop both telomerase activators and inhibitors, and equipment for hypothermic protection from ischemic injury to subzero temperatures in order:
a).- to maintain the length of telomeres for replicative immortality of human cells. b).- to inhibit the specificity of high telomerase expression in malignant cells of essentially all types (such as cancer stem cells). c).- to conduct cryonics procedures to avoid and restore all types of human tissue of the crew members. d).- to obtain legal authorization and an accepted legal framework in order to start in human being the above described procedures.
Functional Specifications
Desirable features of both activators and inhibitors of Telomerase, and characteristics of cryonics equipments:
• Maintain chromosomal integrity, prevent its end-to-end fusion, degradation and inappropriate recombination • Telomerase activators must only express telomerase in normal and health human cells and avoid telomerase expression and expand long-term any malignant or cancer cells • Telomerase inhibitors must either block the catalytic activity of the enzyme or the access of Telomerase to the health human cells’ telomeres. • Evaluate the current variety of classes of telomerase inhibitors • Preclinical and clinical data of both activators and inhibitors of Telomerase • For cryonics subjects cooled with convection it is needed fast fluid motion and high thermal conductivity in Newton`s Law Cooling devices in order to increase “h”, a variable which is dependent upon the rate of fluid motion as well as the thermal conductivity and heat capacity of the cooling medium. • For each body enzymatic or chemical reaction it is needed to determinate with high precision both the Activation Energy (E) and the Frequency Factor (A) that relates frequency of molecular collisions and the probability of that collision are favorably oriented for such an enzymatic reaction.
Ideas to consider for the necessity of maintaining Telomeres for replicative immortality:
• Know how of the current technologies both in Telomerase investigations and cryogenic techniques for human being applications.
• Current international legal framework and possibility of proposition –by private companies- of a legal well structured procedure in order to conduct experiments in human being.
• Mechanism and current investigation to reduce the cryoprotectant toxicity.
• Cooling process to a temperature below -120 ºC for repairing tissues, curing of diseases and rejuvenating of cryonic subjects.
Other considerations: • Relation between Apoptosis and high number of mitochondria in human cells. • Diminishing intracellular mitochondria concentration and Ketogenic Diet. • Glucogenic processes and low sugar in brain and tissues • Special legislation and legal framework for frontier medicine and science.
References
[1] “Scientific Justification of Cryonic Practice”. Benjamin P. Best; Rejuvenation Research; Vol. 11, Number 2, 2008
[2] “Natural Causes: Untangling the Mysteries of Aging”, by Hudson Lockett. Texas Reporting. June 25th, 2010
[3] “Imetelstat (GRN163L)-Telomerase-Base Cancer Therapy”, Alexander Röth et al, Essen, University of Duisberg Essen, Germany. U.M. Martens, Small Molecules in Oncology, Recent Result in Cancer Research. 2010.
[4] “Telomerase Therapeutics for Degenerative Diseases”, Calvin B. Harley. Geron Corporation. Current Molecular Medicine. 2005, 5, 29-38. Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA.
[5] “Pharmacological intervention strategies for affecting telomerase activity: Future prospects to treat cancer and degenerative disease”, I. Tarkanyi; J. Aradi. University of Debrecen. ScienceDirect. Biochemie 90 (2008), 156-172. Debrecen 4004, Hungary.
Project Information
License: GNU General Public LicenseSource Code/Project URL: http://articuloschilenos.blogspot.com/