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	Vol.7, No 35, October 28, 1999
	CSULB science professors awarded research grant By Sarah LaVoie Daily Forty-Niner Two Cal State Long Beach professors were among three Cal State University professors awarded a four-year grant for $1.03 million to conduct a research project on the role of metals in biological systems. Professor Zed Mason of the department of biological science and Roger Acey, professor of chemistry and biochemistry will work with Cal State Los Angeles Professor Feimeng Zhou for four years. Undergraduate science students at Cal State Long Beach will be assisting professors in conducting the research. The cutting-edge research project involves the use of a newly developed technique that will allow them to analyze tiny amounts of metal and look at their transfer from protein to protein. "As far as I am aware, we are the only group who has the technology to do this," Mason said. The professors are trying to understand the cells' ability to regulate concentrations of metals to maintain optimum levels, neither too high nor too low. If the concentration is too high cells encounter toxicological problems and if the levels are too low,  deficiency becomes a problem, said Mason. Both can be possibly lethal. "One of the problems is that although metals are essential and you die without them," Mason said. "If you have too much of them, you also die." "Understanding metal metabolism and how it's controlled is fundamentally important in biology," he said. The professors will need at least eight students to assist in conducting their research.   This research can be applied to everything from medicine to aquatic toxicology, pollution studies and ecology, Mason said. There are nonessential metals such as mercury, cadmium, and lead, which are pollutants when released into the environment. The researchers hope to discover the mechanisms by which these metals are toxic and how they interact to cause toxicity. This research may also assist in understanding copper metabolism problems that cause syndromes such as Wilson's Disease and Menke's Disease, and may assist in their treatment. The result of this research can potentially provide a basic understanding of cells and how they accumulate, store and excrete metals in the human body.		Volunteer service stressed at fair   Students bring life to 'Day of the Dead' on campus   Chemical alarms officials   CSULB science professors awarded research grant   Nursing department to take over O.C. clinic   CSULB mentors help create difference   L.B. teacher inspires students, wins award   Long Beach Airport to offer flights to Las Vegas Gray strikes out   Faculty unions help all employees   Deaf drivers should not lose privilege to drive Alumna creates old-style treats   Scary tales drift through campus   Video picks feature 'Halloween'   Movie pleases despite problems Volleyball team welcomes foes behind orange curtain   Runners hope to advance past conference finals   One coach's loss creates another's opportunity   Soccer team's last hurrah Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.