games  anime  |  toys
Destructoid is gaming news, community, videos, and sometimes love. Take the tour or jump in with Facebook:

 


Pac-Man enzyme hoping to gobble up Alzheimer's photo

As someone who values their brain, I am terrified of Alzheimer's disease. However, I'll be sleeping easier at night from now on, knowing that Pac-Man is on the case. A new enzyme is being developed that supposedly eats amyloid proteins by "opening and closing," breaking down a close link to the disease in very much the same was as everyone's favorite yellow glutton.

The Pac-Man Enzyme, as it has been dubbed by researchers at Florida's Mayo Clinic, is only in very early stages. However, it may be the key to treating an incurable and rather horrible disease. It's certainly a better videogame character association than Sonic Hedgehog Homolog, a protein that has been linked to hedgehog cancer. 

We wish Pac-Man all the best in finding a possible cure to Alzheimer's, and hate Sonic for giving poor woodland creatures cancer.


Continue: More Science stories





prev next

11 comments | showing # 1 to 11

Nicojay2's Avatar
Nicojay2 at 04/28/2009 09:30
I thought the latest Sonic the hedgehog games had been linked to AIDS.

Also, I hope this Alzheimer's cure/retardant comes in (Power) pill form.
WarZombie's Avatar
WarZombie at 04/28/2009 09:42
I'm calling it now:

Namco Bandai presents PAC-MAN CHOMPS ALZHEIMERS!

You heard it here first. And I hope this works, Alzheimers sucks.
Wghj55's Avatar
Wghj55 at 04/28/2009 10:37
So what would a Mario enzyme be associated with...obesity?
The Phantom Gamer's Avatar
The Phantom Gamer at 04/28/2009 11:45
That Sonic--he's the worst kind of people.
Naim Master's Avatar
Naim Master at 04/28/2009 11:59
Sonic gets our hopes up , make the game look good , he says he's gonna go back to his old times , then ,when you start to trust him , he brutally rapes you and gives you cancer.
grasslunatic's Avatar
grasslunatic at 04/28/2009 12:23
As if Sonic wasn't enough of a bastard already.
Chronic Logic's Avatar
Chronic Logic at 04/28/2009 12:35
It's actually called the Pac-Man enzyme? Or is that just a nickname?
Necros's Avatar
Necros at 04/28/2009 13:11
We need more of these zany video game names in science.
Changston's Avatar
Changston at 04/28/2009 13:19
Hooray! I get to show off SCIENCE.

There's a legitimate protein in spinal cord development called Sonic Hedgehog. It's not only real, but it's extremely vital for proper development. Without it, YOU WOULDN'T BE ALIVE. (http://tinyurl.com/yenktt Wikipedia link)

Other video game associated molecules: pikachurin (potentially involved in the visual system) and Zbtb7, formerly known as POK Erythroid Myeloid ONcogenic factor (work it out yourself)
Changston's Avatar
Changston at 04/28/2009 13:23
Sorry, got overexcited about talking science, and didn't see that Jim already mentioned Sonic Hedgehog. But it's more a good protein than bad.
Dexter345's Avatar
Dexter345 at 04/28/2009 13:34
How did my science/gaming feeds miss this news?

@Changston: there is also the recently discovered ribbon synapse localization protein Pikachurin.
prev next

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!

 
New on Destructoid.TV play all videos

Loading
Loading Destructoid Videos



    Win this!
    Reminder: We're giving away six copies of Magnacarta 2!



    Dtoid Twitter    Got news?   tips@destructoid.com

    Reviews & Previews
    Mahjongg Artifacts 2 review
    Dragon Age: Origins review
    Lost Winds: The Winter of the Melodias review
    Osmos review
    Space Invaders Extreme 2 review
    Half-Minute Hero review
    JU-ON: The Grudge review
    Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble review
    Thexder Neo review
    Domino Rally review
    more reviews
    PS3's 256-player MAG
    Rooms The Main Building
    Skate 3
    Hudson's bringing back the Bonk
    James Cameron's Avatar
    Bomberman Battlefest
    Calling
    Bad Company 2's multiplayer
    Partying like it's 1959 in BioShock 2's multiplayer
    BioShock 2 through the eyes of Big Daddy
    more previews


    - The Dtoid Army is 49566 strong -

    Showing Cblogs with 3+ faps   show all

    Call for entries: do the wrong thing
    New to Dtoid? Read the survival guide




     Originals
    Jim Sterling: How to respond to a videogame review





















    More Destructoid Originals



     Popular now more
























    Destructoid's editorial lovefest is:
    Nick Chester
    Editor-in-Chief    		 Jim Sterling
    Reviews Editor
    Dale North
    News Editor    		 Hamza Aziz
    Community Manager
    Anthony Burch
    Features Editor    		 Rey Gutierrez
    Video editor & director
    Niero
    Founder, publisher
    Letters to the editors
    tips@destructoid.com
    Associate Editors
    Ashley Davis Jonathan Holmes
    Brad Nicholson Jonathan Ross
    Brad Rice Jordan Devore
    Chad Concelmo Matthew Razak
    Colette Bennett Tom Fronczak
    Conrad Zimmerman Topher Cantler
    Dyson Samit Sarkar
    Contributors
    Adam Dork
    Ben Perlee
    Daniel Lingen
    Joseph Leray    		 Joe Burling
    Mikey
    Will Maddock
    Stella Wong





     

     
      get involved

    register or login
    post a blog
    post a forum
    enter a contest
    contribute a news tip
    suggest a feature
    be a guest editor
    		 support

    new member's guide
    login assistance
    tech support
    report abuse
    email our editors
    read our dev blog
    nuclear crisis?
    		 keep in touch

    RSS feed
    Twitter
    Facebook
    Myspace
    Flickr
    Game nights
    Meetup+play online     		seriously

    about Destructoid
    advertising
    terms of use
    privacy policy
    jobs at MM
    buy our crap     		our network

    Tomopop
    Japanator
    Despingation?



    Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press
    living the dream since March 16, 2006