Genomeceutical

Genomeceuticals are naturally occurring compounds, which are able to affect gene expression. They are most known for their use in treating autism.

Genomic multi-level nutrient-sensing pathways

Traditionally, the pharmaceuticaland natural products industries have looked for products, which affect some biochemicalor cellularpathway in either a positive or negative manner. While both industries have enjoyed success with this approach, there is a vast area that as of yet has remained relatively untapped: the genome.

Genomeceuticals are employed in the burgeoning approach of nutrientsdirected toward the genome. Nutritional supplementscapable of altering the integrity, expression, or fidelity of genesare herein referred to collectively as genomeceuticals for their ability to acting on the genome in a manner related to pharmaceuticals acting on biochemical pathways.

Genomeceuticals are important with regard to the finding that glucosaminecan up-regulate the obese (ob) geneby acting on a 'nutrient-sensing' pathway. Nutrient-sensing pathways might be exploited at the genetic level. Genomeceuticals cannot only replace substances which may be missing (e.g., an enzymediminished by mutation), but actually alter the expression and functionality of gene products in, and resulting from, genomic nutrient-sensing pathways.

Application of genomeceuticals to the molecular and immunological aspects of autism

Autismis a developmental disease affecting as many as 1 in 300 children and is often characterized as a mental disorderoriginating in infancy that is associated with self-absorption, inability to interact socially, behavior, and language dysfunction (e.g. echolalia). Current theories indicate an important role of diet in the development of disease. It is thought that, as a result of maldigestion of caseinand gluten, opioid-type peptides, or exorphins, are produced. Additionally, because of the time-frame of development of the disease, there has been an association with childhood vaccination. Consequently, prevailing therapies attempt to address these causes in one, or a combination, of three ways: diet restriction (removing casein and gluten); supplementation with exogenous enzymes; and probiotic bacteria. Until recently, none of the therapies addressed the molecular mechanisms that may be at work in the development and progression of autism. A link between developmentally associated aberrant immuneand inflammatoryresponses, and autism is being explored.

External links

• United States Patent: 6,783,757
• Application of Genomeceuticals to the Molecular and Immunological Aspects of Autism

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genomeceutical Wikipedia article Genomeceutical.