 |
|
Hot Paper in the Biochemical Journal
September 20, 2002DNA DAMAGE INSIGHT
An exciting new paper from the Biochemical Journal regarding the phosphorylation state of LKB1 in response to ionising radiation can be viewed online as an Immediate Publication at www.BiochemJ.org (DOI: 10.1042/BJ20021284).
Researchers at the University of Dundee, the University of Calgary and Tel Aviv University collaborated on the work, which demonstrates a role for ataxia telangiectasia mutated kinase (ATM) in mediating the phosphorylation of the tumour suppressor serine threonine protein kinase LKB1, that is mutated in the inherited Peutz Jeghers cancer syndrome.
ATM is a master sensor of DNA damage, ensuring that when DNA damage occurs, cell division is immediately halted until the damage is repaired. Mutations in ATM that inactivate this kinase lead to cancer predisposition as these cells are thought to undergo cell division before any DNA damage can be repaired. ATM is activated in cells by double stranded DNA breaks induced by ionising radiation, and halts cell division by phosphorylating proteins that regulate the cell cycle. It is likely that many of the cellular ATM substrates have not yet been discovered.
LKB1 regulates cell growth by an unknown mechanism. It was previously demonstrated by the same researchers that LKB1 was phosphorylated in cells at a specific threonine residue. As a next step to understand the importance of this phosphorylation, they developed an antibody to this phosphorylated form of LKB1 and demonstrated that exposure of cells to ionising radiation induced a marked phosphorylation of this threonine residue. Excitingly, the authors demonstrate that in cells lacking ATM, ionising radiation no longer induces phosphorylation of LKB1 and also show that LKB1 is efficiently phosphorylated by ATM in vitro.
"The results of this study provide the first link between ATM and LKB1, two protein kinases involved in regulating cell proliferation," says Gopal Sapkota (Dundee) "This is a potentially important finding that indicates that LKB1 could mediate some of the DNA damage check-point control processes that are triggered by ATM. This research will stimulate future work to identify the mechanism by which LKB1 regulates cell growth and how this could regulate DNA damage and repair pathways."
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
ATM is a master sensor of DNA damage, ensuring that when DNA damage occurs, cell division is immediately halted until the damage is repaired. Mutations in ATM that inactivate this kinase lead to cancer predisposition as these cells are thought to undergo cell division before any DNA damage can be repaired. ATM is activated in cells by double stranded DNA breaks induced by ionising radiation, and halts cell division by phosphorylating proteins that regulate the cell cycle. It is likely that many of the cellular ATM substrates have not yet been discovered.
LKB1 regulates cell growth by an unknown mechanism. It was previously demonstrated by the same researchers that LKB1 was phosphorylated in cells at a specific threonine residue. As a next step to understand the importance of this phosphorylation, they developed an antibody to this phosphorylated form of LKB1 and demonstrated that exposure of cells to ionising radiation induced a marked phosphorylation of this threonine residue. Excitingly, the authors demonstrate that in cells lacking ATM, ionising radiation no longer induces phosphorylation of LKB1 and also show that LKB1 is efficiently phosphorylated by ATM in vitro.
"The results of this study provide the first link between ATM and LKB1, two protein kinases involved in regulating cell proliferation," says Gopal Sapkota (Dundee) "This is a potentially important finding that indicates that LKB1 could mediate some of the DNA damage check-point control processes that are triggered by ATM. This research will stimulate future work to identify the mechanism by which LKB1 regulates cell growth and how this could regulate DNA damage and repair pathways."
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
DNA Current Events and DNA News RSSScientists at UA, collaborating institutions decode maize genome
Scientists from the University of Arizona led by Arizona Genomics Institute director Rod A. Wing and from collaborating institutions have deciphered the complete genetic code of the maize plant for the first time.
Ancestry attracts, but love is blind
People preferentially marry those with similar ancestry, but their decisions are not necessarily based on hair, eye or skin colour.
Scientists unlock clues for tailoring corn plant for food, energy needs
Scientists have long known that the offspring of two inbred strains tend to be superior to both their parents. Now, a team of researchers including a University of Florida geneticist has discovered clues to why that might be the case for one of the most important crops in the world: corn.
Cigarettes Harbor Many Bacteria Harmful to Human Health
Cigarettes are "widely contaminated" with bacteria, including some known to cause disease in people, concludes a new international study conducted by a University of Maryland environmental health researcher and microbial ecologists at the Ecole Centrale de Lyon in France.
Technique finds gene regulatory sites without knowledge of regulators
A new statistical technique developed by researchers at the University of Illinois allows scientists to scan a genome for specific gene-regulatory regions without requiring prior knowledge of the relevant transcription factors.
Unknowlingly consuming endangered tuna
While most of us would never willingly consume a highly endangered species, doing so might be as easy as plucking sushi from a bento box.
New research into the mechanisms of gene regulation
A team led by Penn State's Ross Hardison, T. Ming Chu Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, has taken a large step toward unraveling how regulatory proteins control the production of gene products during development and growth.
New Maize Map to Aid Plant Breeding Efforts
In a massive survey of genetic diversity in maize, also known as corn, researchers across the United States, have developed a gene map that should pave the way to significant improvements in a plant that is a major source of food, fuel, animal feed and fiber around the world.
UAB Researchers Discover Antibody Receptor Identity, Propose Renaming Immune-System Gene
Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) have uncovered the genetic identity of a cellular receptor for the immune system's first-response antibody, a discovery that sheds new light on infection control and immune disorders.
GEN reports on enhancing the applications of qPCR
Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technology is experiencing a surge of interest and rapid expansion as a result of advances such as instrumentation that pushes capacity to 1,536 wells and optimization-free multiplexing.
More DNA Current Events and DNA News Articles
 |
Thames & Kosmos Genetics and DNA by Thames & Kosmos In depth investigation of genetics and DNA. Isolate the DNA from a tomato, learn about inheritance and how traits are expressed, build a DNA model, breed bacteria to experiment with genetic engineering. The full-color, 48-page manual guides your experiments. |
 |
DNA: The Secret of Life by James D. Watson (Author) James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA and author of the international bestseller "The Double Helix" tells the story of the amazing molecule since its discovery fifty years ago, following modern genetics from his own Nobel prize-winning work in the fifties to today's Dolly the sheep, designer babies and GM foods. Professor Watson introduces the science of modern genetics, along with its history and its implications, in this magnificent guide to one of the most triumphant achievements of human science. |
 |
Science Wiz DNA Kit by Sciencewiz The central concepts of molecular biology becomes child's play in this set of camp favorites. 40 Page science book and materials with 8 Major Activities. Makes the DNA revolution accessible. Extract DNA from a fruit Probe and spool real DNA Build a double helix Solve a chromosome puzzle Is it a boy or a girl? Play the gene construction game Country of Origin: U.S.A., China & Hong Kong. |
 |
DNA Science: A First Course, Second Edition by David Micklos (Author), Greg A. Freyer (Author) This is the second edition of a highly successful textbook (over 50,000 copies sold) in which a highly illustrated, narrative text is combined with easy–to–use thoroughly reliable laboratory protocols. It contains a fully up–to–date collection of 12 rigorously tested and reliable lab experiments in molecular biology, developed at the internationally renowned Dolan DNA Learning Center of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, which culminate in the construction and cloning of a recombinant DNA molecule. Proven through more than 10 years’ of teaching at research and nonresearch colleges and universities, junior colleges, community colleges, and advanced biology programs in high school, this book has been successfully integrated into introductory biology, general biology,... |
 |
K'NEX Educational DNA, Replications and Transcription Set by K'NEX K'Nex kits inspire young minds and satisfy kids' curiosity on how to build simple creations. Each innovative kit keeps young builders busy and intrigued for hours on end. This K'Nex Kit allows one to two kids to work as a team. Models demonstrate the structure and processes of DNA and mRNA molecules. Everything comes in a large compartmentalized storage case with snap-on lid. Curriculum sold separately. |
 |
Genes and DNA (Kingfisher Knowledge) by Richard Walker (Author), Steve Jones (Author) Genes & DNA explores modern genetics, from an investigation of genes and their function, to forensics, therapy, and cloning. |
 |
DNA on DNA by DNA Previously released on CD by No More Records, now issued on a limited edition 2LP featuring newly-discovered songs exclusive to this LP: "Pompeii," "Shrinking Thing," "Drinking Water," plus two encores from DNA's final performance at CBGB's. Definitive collection of studio and live recordings by New York's seminal no wave band DNA. Surviving two line-ups over a brief period of four years; this highly influential, strikingly original and extremely under-recorded band left a huge void in its wake. Formed in 1978, Brazilian-raised singer/guitarist Arto Lindsay hastily assembled an international trio of non-musicians. Robin Crutchfield played keyboard and Japan's Ikue Mori played drums. DNA played their first gig within weeks and recorded their first 7" shortly afterwards. The ear of Brian... |
 |
NOVA - Cracking the Code of Life Starring: Robert Krulwich Directed By: Betsey Arledge; Elizabeth Arledge Does it amaze you that yeast is your very close relative? That you possess roughly the same number of genes as a mouse? That you are 99.9% genetically identical to every other human? ABC Nightline correspondent Robert Krulwich lends a lighthearted touch to genetic science in this provocative two-hour NOVA special that takes you inside the amazing, complex and contentious race to decode the human genome. The Human Genome Project was born in 1990, when an international consortium of labs set out to sequence all 3 billion letters of our DNA, predicting they’d finish by 2005. Halfway through their schedule, controversial scientist and entrepreneur J. Craig Venter threw the genome world into turmoil, when he announced his for-profit company Celera could finish the job in just two years.... |
 |
The Stuff of Life: A Graphic Guide to Genetics and DNA by Mark Schultz (Author), Zander Cannon (Illustrator), Kevin Cannon (Illustrator) The Stuff of Life gives readers a complete introduction to the history of genetics that's as easy to understand as it is entertaining to read. |
 |
Discovery Exclusive DNA Explorer Kit by DISCOVERY CHANNEL Explore one of the newest frontiers in science - DNA mapping. From science labs to courtrooms, few discoveries are as exciting as the world of DNA. With this deluxe, first-of-its-kind kit, you can extract, view and map real DNA yourself. Ideal for budding forensic-scientists or secret agents, the working lab and tools are just like the real thing. Plus, you |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |