The Anavex chromatin factor to be demonstrated.
The rather recent contention that the Anavex sigma-1 receptor agonists can not only favorably modulate protein folding, thereby treating or preventing a number of central nervous system diseases, but also modulate proper chromatin functioning in genetic expression is immense. Genetic expression is the working of genes, the DNA segments, to ultimately cause biochemical outcomes. It's a complicated process, open to all sorts of problems. Genetic expression must be perfect, or very untoward things happen. Genetic diseases. Chromatin has to precisely operate in the process.
Presently, I can find no actual studies demonstrating that any of the Anavex sigma-1 receptors accomplishing this. I don't, however, question the matter. It will be very interesting to see such information emerge. I'm familiar with how the Anavex molecules can be used, tested for anti-aging outcomes, in various test species (such as the roundworm Ceanorhabditis elegans). But for chromatin studies, any number of organisms, from unicellular protozoans on up to various invertebrates might be test subjects.
Anyone know which organisms might be used to both test and demonstrate this phenomenon? Better, are there any existing chromatin studies involving the Anavex molecules?
If oral administration of blarcamesine, or Anavex 3-71 (at its far more minute dosage concentrations) might comprehensively direct precise gene expression, the applications will be far greater than anything currently envisioned.
Dosing might begin prenatally, before birth, to prevent genetic diseases that result from anomalous gene expression. Rett syndrome might be one of those. There could be hundreds more. All sorts of epigenetic applications.
There very likely would be gigantic applications in animal husbandry, promoting full and favorable gene expression in farm animals.
I'd also like to learn if blarcamesine or Anavex 3-71 (the later, in particular) might, in its low concentrations, facilitate precise genetic transfer in meiosis, the production of functioning, haploid eggs and sperm cells. Could Anavex 3-71 facilitate accurate transfer of genes from the parent on into his or her gametes (sperms and eggs) so as to reduce or prevent genetic errors?
Anavex, please, get some molecular biology grad students to investigate all of this, to get some preliminary indications of applications. If any are positive, the eventual Anavex story will be even larger, significantly changing medicine and human (and animal?) health in the future.
It seems that we are with the Anavex chromatin factor about where we were with the exact mechanism of action (MOA) of blarcamesine five or six years ago — back then very hazy. No longer. May the Anavex chromatin MOA soon come to clarity.
For we biologists, all so exciting. Profound new stuff. None of it in the textbooks yet. Someday....
