Dymension 2D Gel Analysis Software used at Specialist Institute To Identify Proteins Induced by an Anti-Addictive Compound

February 21st 2008 Cambridge, UK: Cambridge, UK: Syngene, a world-leading manufacturer of image analysis solutions, today announced, Dymension, its powerful software for the analysis of 2D protein gels is being used at the Open Mind Institute (OMI) in Slovenia, a new centre for studying the effects of medicinal plants, to determine the effects the anti-addictive alkaloid, ibogaine have on the brain.

Researchers in the OMI in collaboration with scientists at the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia are using Dymension to accurately determine any post ibogaine treatment differences in silver stained rat brain proteins run on 2D gels.  The protein profiles are used to establish which proteins are up or down-regulated. This research could lead to a better understanding of the pharmacodynamics of anti-addiction therapies.

Dr Roman Paškulin, Director of the OMI explained: “We are relatively new to proteomic analysis so we chose to install Dymension software because we want to rapidly perform complicated analysis, and of the software packages we reviewed,  this was visually easier to navigate and simpler for everyone to use.”

Dr Paškulin added: “Using Dymension to analyse our 2D gel images in association with MALDI-TOF on the resulting protein spots, we have seen increases in four metabolic enzymes after ibogaine treatment and are now looking at the significance of these findings.”

Laura Sullivan, Syngene’s Divisional Manager said: “We are delighted to see our Dymension software being used to accelerate the pace of such interesting research. The software has enabled scientists at the OMI and the University of Ljubljana to analyse their 2D gel results so rapidly they have already published a paper and is a testament to how quick and simple it is to integrate and work with Dymension software in any proteomics project.”

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For Further Information Contact:
Jayne Arthur, Syngene, Beacon House, Nuffield Road, Cambridge, CB4 1TF, UK.
Tel: +44(0) 1223-727123 Fax +44 (0) 1223-727101
Email: jayne.arthur@syngene.com  Web site: www.2dymension.com 

Roman Paškulin, M.D., Director and founder, Open Mind Institute, Trnovska 8,
1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Tel: + 386 41 351 531
Email: roman.paskulin@siol.net  Web site: www.omi.si

Editor Contact:
Dr Sue Pearson, PO Box 170, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG5 3GD, UK.
Tel/Fax +44(0) 1462- 635327 Email: sue6.pearson@ntlworld.com

Note to Editors
About Syngene
Syngene is a world-leading supplier of integrated imaging solutions for analysis and documentation of gel-based information. Syngene’s systems are used by more than 10,000 research organisations and over 50,000 individual scientists world-wide and include many of the world’s top pharmaceutical companies and major research institutes.

Syngene, founded in 1997 is a division of the Synoptics Group based in Cambridge, UK. The Group’s other divisions, Syncroscopy and Synbiosis, specialise in digital imaging solutions for microscopy and microbial applications respectively. Synoptics currently employs 50 people in its UK and subsidiary operation in Frederick, USA.

About the Open Mind Institute
The Open Mind Institute (OMI) in Slovenia was established in 2005. It is an experimental research and development institute dedicated to studying the effects of medicinal plants by applying state-of the art proteomics and functional genomics techniques. The OMI is currently evaluating the medical plant iboga, from which the anti-addictive compound ibogaine is derived as an anti-addictive cure and it also aims to study the effects of the anesthetic, mandrake.