In the vitreous, collagen fibrils and hyaluronan molecules form independent networks that interact to maintain the transparency of the vitreous gel. The discovery of the full length cDNA sequence of human vitrin makes it possible to produce the protein and its separate domains by known biotechnological means. It was found that vitrin is released from the collagen fibrils at high salt concentrations. The protein and expressed domains of the invention may be used to facilitate healing of weakened or injured connective tissue.
NEUROSCIENCE: Jiangang Liu, Jun Li, Lu Feng, Ling Li, Jie Tian and Kang Lee, for their study 'Seeing Jesus in Toast,' and trying to understand what happens in the brains of people who see human faces in a piece of toast.