Sept. 13, 2004
In Print Photo by Steve Gilbert From Focus: Action Uncovered in Mutant Protein's Link to Nerve Cell Death in ALS Mutant forms of the common protein SOD1 have been tied to a subset of cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease. But how the protein contributes to the disorder's lethal progress has remained unclear. Robert Brown, Piera Pasinelli, and colleagues report in the July 8 Neuron that mutant SOD1 appears to enlist another protein in doing its damage. The pair targets motor neurons, forming clumps around the cells' mitochondria and breaking down the organelle membranes, leading to cell death. Why the killer clumps form only in motor neurons is still unknown.   Publications Online BBS Bulletin Focus HMI World HSTconnector MD-PhD Newsletter MedEd News Mentations On The Brain   Related Links InteliHealth Harvard Health Publications		Headlines Exercise in Combination with Weight Loss May be Key to Diabetes Prevention in Overweight Women New Analysis Cites Economic Impact of ADHD Upcoming Fulfilling the Mission: Contemporary Disasters Follow No Rules Susan Briggs Sept. 23 12:00-1:00 p.m. Lab Works A multimedia site featuring Harvard Medical research.		Spotlight Reception Celebrates Incoming Minority Students First-year minority students in HMS and HSDM kicked off the new academic year at a welcome reception on Sept. 7. Above, first-year HMS student Jamey Snell addresses the reception with Al Poussaint, faculty associate dean for student affairs. Student Scene Photo by Steve Gilbert Students Orient Themselves Toward Medicine Richard Mitchell, associate master of Health Sciences and Technology, assists Matt Greenblatt of HST at White Coat Day during orientation week. Incoming students also learned about outreach opportunities in the First-year Urban Neighborhood Campaign, which took place the week before.

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