What Makes Bones Strong and Tough? Old Ideas All Wrong

=================== Summary/Comments =========

Scientists used to believe that the characteristic toughness and
stiffness of bone was due to the collegen and other proteins: New data
appears to show that specialized sugars are the key factors determining
these bone characteristics.

They found [from fNMR studies] that sugars, particularly proteoglycans
(PGs) and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), appear to play a role which is as
important as proteins in controlling bone mineralization - the process
by which newly-formed bone is hardened with minerals such as calcium
phosphate.

Dr David Reid, from the Duer Group, Department of Chemistry,at the
University of Cambridge, who played a significant part in the research,
said, "We believe our findings will alter some fundamental
preconceptions of bone biology. On a practical level they unveil novel
targets for drug discovery for bone and joint diseases, new biomarkers
for diagnosis, and new strategies for developing synthetic materials
that could be used in orthopaedics.

"They may also strengthen the rationale for the current popularity of
over-the-counter joint and bone pain remedies such as glucosamine and
chondroitin, which are based on GAG sugar molecules."

[ Once again, old ideas fail to stand up to advanced analytical tools.
However, this is the mark of real science.... attacking old subjects by
reexamination with new tools. Slowly, new tools may replace old "Expert
Opinions" in obesity as well, but the obesity field and CHD field is now
very experienced at absorbing new data in a way that doesn't violate
"Sacred Knowledge of the Experts". "A Calorie is a Calorie" and "Weak
Willed Patients are the Cause of Diet Failure and Obesity." ]

================= End Summary/Comments




Source: University of Cambridge
Date: October 17, 2007

Bone Structure 'Vastly Different' Than Previously Believed

Science Daily — Researchers have discovered that the structure of human
bones is vastly different than previously believed -- findings which
will have implications for how some debilitating bone disorders are treated.

Researchers have discovered that the structure of human bones is vastly
different than previously believed -- findings which will have
implications for how some debilitating bone disorders are treated.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge, the Animal Health Trust in
Newmarket, and the BAM Federal Institute of Materials Research and
Testing, Berlin, have discovered that the characteristic toughness and
stiffness of bone is predominantly due to the presence of specialized
sugars, not proteins, as had been previous believed. Their findings
could have sweeping impacts on treatments for osteoporosis and other
bone disorders.

Scientists have long held the view that collagen and other proteins were
the key molecules responsible for stabilizing normal bone structure.
That belief has been the basis for some existing medications for bone
disorders and bone replacement materials. At the same time, researchers
paid little attention to the roles of sugars (carbohydrates) in the
complex process of bone growth.

For this research, funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences
Research Council (BBSRC), the UK and Berlin teams studied mineralization
in horse bones using an analysis tool called nuclear magnetic resonance
(NMR). They found that sugars, particularly proteoglycans (PGs) and
glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), appear to play a role which is as important
as proteins in controlling bone mineralization - the process by which
newly-formed bone is hardened with minerals such as calcium phosphate.

Osteoporosis is a chronic and widespread disease in which mineral
formation is disturbed, leading to brittle bones, pain, and increased
fractures. Osteoarthritis, a hallmark of which is joint cartilage and
GAG depletion, is also accompanied by abnormal bone mineralization.

Both of these diseases can be debilitating, often crippling, to older
people -- a problem which will only intensify as our population ages.
Among the young, especially sportsmen and women, bone and joint injuries
prove the most intractable and are also the ones most likely to develop
into afflictions (such as osteoarthritis) later in life.

Dr David Reid, from the Duer Group, Department of Chemistry,at the
University of Cambridge, who played a significant part in the research,
said, "We believe our findings will alter some fundamental
preconceptions of bone biology. On a practical level they unveil novel
targets for drug discovery for bone and joint diseases, new biomarkers
for diagnosis, and new strategies for developing synthetic materials
that could be used in orthopaedics.

"They may also strengthen the rationale for the current popularity of
over-the-counter joint and bone pain remedies such as glucosamine and
chondroitin, which are based on GAG sugar molecules."

Note: This story has been adapted from material provided by University
of Cambridge.