IGC scientists, led by Lars Jansen, discover protein CENP-N that triggers centromere assembly, providing new insights into accurate cell division. The discovery earns an EMBO installation grant and a paper in Nature Cell Biology.
A new study reveals that three cell-signaling pathways work simultaneously to direct pancreas and liver progenitor cells to mature into their final state. The research provides insight into the basis of tissue development and how it can be manipulated for regeneration and development from embryonic stem cells.
Notch signaling plays a crucial role in determining cell fate in fruit flies. A study found that mutations in the WASp gene affect T-cell function, leading to Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. The researchers suggest that defects in Delta presentation could explain the loss and dysfunction of T-cells in patients with the disorder.
Researchers tracked three children with DiGeorge Syndrome after thymus tissue transplantation to measure the growth of T-cells and assess receptor diversity. The study found that factors regulating T-cell receptor diversity are a thousand times more common than those treating all T-cells alike.
A study published in Nature Cell Biology has shed light on the protein network that provides scaffolding for cell-wall structure and delivers growth-promoting molecules. The research discovered a novel mechanism by which microtubules guide cellulose synthase complexes to their place of action.
Scientists at Stanford University have discovered a plant protein called BASL that plays a key role in asymmetric cell division, a process vital for creating different types of cells in plants. The discovery sheds light on the unique mechanisms used by plants to control cell growth and development.
Researchers have discovered that contractile rings constrict at a constant rate proportional to cell size, maintaining consistent cell division duration despite smaller cells. This property could lead to improved therapies for cancer by preventing uncontrolled cell division.
LSUHSC researchers discovered that excessive IQGAP1 production weakens cell-to-cell contacts, promoting cell migration and invasion. The study provides insights into the prolonged activated state of Cdc42, a key protein involved in cancer spread.
A study published in the Journal of Cell Biology reveals that a mutated Alzheimer's-related protein called presenilin helps form and maintain nerve cell connections. The findings suggest that failing nerve transmission might be an early step in the disease's pathology.
A University of Minnesota study found that high school biology teachers significantly impact college students' acceptance of evolution and questioning of creationism. About two-thirds of students reported their high school classes included evolution, while one-third did not cover either evolution or creationism.
Gary Borisy, MBL director and CEO, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences for his distinguished contributions to cell biology. He is a pioneer in the field, having discovered protein tubulin and provided insights into chromosome movement, cell motility, and microtubule dynamics.
Researchers used computational approaches to analyze a human myeloid leukemia cell line's transcription factor network. They identified specific subnetworks of proteins that play a role in cell differentiation, and found the network to be redundant and resilient.
Researchers at Emory University discover a process required for epigenetic reprogramming between generations, shedding light on fertilization, stem-cell formation, and cloning. The study found that histone protein modification can be inherited through cell-to-cell transmission.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have found a way to change one cell type into another by flooding it with specific messenger RNAs from another cell type. This approach, called Transcriptome induced phenotype remodeling (TIPeR), offers the possibility for a new type of cell-based therapy for neurodegener...
A recent study published in the Journal of Cell Biology found that Vangl2, a protein involved in planar cell polarity, controls asymmetrical cell division and developmental fate of progenitor neurons. In Vangl2-lacking mouse embryos, large numbers of early-born neurons were observed, suggesting premature differentiation.
A new report by Michael Rodemeyer examines the benefits and drawbacks of regulating synthetic biology using the current U.S. biotechnology framework. While early applications may be adequately covered, advances in the field are expected to create significant challenges for regulatory agencies, including the EPA and FDA.
Research at University of Gothenburg reveals that egg cells can rejuvenate sperm by extending telomeres, reducing the risk of chromosomal abnormalities. This breakthrough has significant implications for future stem cell therapy, which aims to replace diseased or dying cells.
Yale researchers identify a crucial switching station beneath the cell surface for processing signals from outside the cell, describing a key molecular switch that terminates signaling. This discovery portrays a complex system of cellular information processing previously unseen.
Dr. Gregory King, a renowned researcher in craniofacial biology and orthodontics, has received the prestigious IADR Craniofacial Biology Research Award. The award recognizes his significant contributions to the field of bone biology and orthodontic tooth movement over a period of 30 years.
The Empire State Stem Cell Board has awarded Albert Einstein College of Medicine $12.7 million to support promising medical advancements, including treatments for sickle cell anemia and obesity. The new grants will help create technologies for cancer, heart and liver disease, as well as age-related diseases.
Penn Vet researchers identified colony stimulating factor 1 (Csf1) as a growth factor that enhances sperm stem cell self-renewal. The study reveals that Leydig cells secrete Csf1, which interacts with the microenvironment to support stem cell function.
A CU-Boulder research team has identified a type of skeletal muscle stem cell that contributes to the repair of damaged muscles in mice. The newly identified stem cells, dubbed satellite-SP cells, renew the satellite cell population after injection into injured muscle cells, contributing to recovery of muscle tissue.
Two studies by Rutgers University researchers found a significant correlation between cell phone use and motor vehicle fatalities, including pedestrian deaths. The studies suggest that crackdowns on cell phone use are necessary to reduce these accidents.
The University of Oklahoma has received a $398,020 grant from the National Science Foundation to improve instruction in introductory biology courses. The AIBS will provide programmatic staffing and expertise in building an online communication network for the project.
Portuguese scientists identify Slimb molecule controlling centrosome number in cells, associated with disease and cancer. Understanding this mechanism offers new avenues for researching tumour development.
The Synthetic Biology Project aims to minimize risks and maximize benefits through rigorous analysis and public engagement. The project explores governance options, examines public perceptions, and identifies knowledge gaps in synthetic biology.
The American Society for Cell Biology's Celldance contest reveals visually engaging and scientifically important cell-related content. This year's winners showcase stunning visuals of cellular processes, including Golgi ribbons and clathrin proteins, through videos and microscope stills.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have identified a single molecule, dynamin, that forms a short collar around emerging membrane fragments and squeezes them tight to separate new vesicles. This process is crucial for cellular endocytosis and may be ubiquitous throughout the cell.
Researchers at UCLA have discovered that blood stem cells are made by endothelial cells during mid-gestational embryonic development. This finding has significant implications for the treatment of blood disorders and cancers, as it could lead to new therapies for conditions such as leukemia.
Researchers at Rutgers University–Camden have identified a complex coding language that allows cells to organize and communicate, enabling the formation of intricate patterns in fruit fly eggs. This breakthrough understanding of genetic patterning has implications for our knowledge of developmental biology and diseases like cancer.
Researchers discovered a new mechanism for cell division in Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, revealing three proteins that form a band-like structure over the cell equator. This unique process could lead to new insights into ESCRT proteins and their role in protein transport within cells.
Researchers at Penn School of Medicine found that cells reorganize their internal skeleton to adjust their shape in response to external forces. This discovery validates a common theory in cell biology and has implications for understanding certain diseases, including cancer.
A new study published in Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation demonstrates that a reduced-intensity conditioning bone marrow transplant can eliminate symptoms of sickle cell disease in six out of seven patients. This approach eliminates life-threatening side effects associated with traditional bone marrow transplants.
Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have discovered a new molecular mechanism that coordinates cell identity and behavior in forming organs of embryos. The mechanism involves the interaction between two proteins, Wnt11 and Sfrp5, which regulate cell growth and development.
Researchers found that PIN proteins are transported throughout the cell membrane and then endocytosed before being recycled and transported to the bottom of the cell. This mechanism allows plants to quickly adapt to changes in gravity, enabling new 'undersides' for roots and shoots.
Dr. Randy Moore, a professor at the University of Minnesota, is receiving the 2008 Evolution Education Award for his innovative classroom teaching and community education efforts to promote evolutionary biology. His approach incorporates evolution as a unifying element of modern biology, helping students understand and appreciate nature.
Researchers at the GSK-IMCB Group in Singapore have made a groundbreaking discovery about how cells move, revealing a complex of three proteins that regulate the myosin network within a cell. This finding has significant implications for understanding various diseases, including cancer growth and developmental biology.
Researchers discovered a molecule called ACF7 that helps regulate and power cell movement along the extracellular matrix. Without ACF7, cellular movement slows down, suggesting its importance in preventing cancer cell migration and metastasis.
Cells undergoing apoptosis exert substantial forces on surrounding cells, contributing to processes like wound formation and organ development. Apoptotic cells imploding and withdrawing create a force that aids in closing eye-shaped openings during embryonic development.
Researchers have created a rapid cell inspection technique that can identify metastatic breast cancer cells, which have compromised the cell's structure and compromise deformation. The technique uses an electrical field within a microscopic fluid-filled channel and has been shown to expand cells by 75% in metastatic cases.
Researchers at the University of Utah have identified two early steps in adult stem cell differentiation using DNA 'tattoos' on planarian cells. The study found 259 genes associated with stem cells and their daughters, shedding light on how multipotent stem cells take differentiation decisions.
The Chicago Center for Systems Biology will focus on transcriptional networks, studying how multiple genes work together to regulate life's basic processes. Researchers will use complex biological models to understand gene regulation in response to environmental and genetic variation.
A new study has resolved a 50-year-old debate on cell division, finding that both polar relaxation and equatorial stimulation mechanisms exist in cells. This discovery may aid cancer research and provide insights into genetic diseases.
Rutgers University has received a $3.2 million grant from the NSF to equip experts in fields such as cell and molecular biology, computational modeling and biomaterials to move stem-cell breakthroughs from the biology lab into practical therapies. The program will also support training for underrepresented minorities and enhance divers...
A Northwestern University study has discovered a new mechanism for cell fate determination in yeast cells, showing why mothers and daughters express genes differently. The researchers found that a protein regulator gets trapped in the daughter nucleus, turning on genes that make it distinct from the mother.
Researchers discovered a new mechanism for cell fate determination in yeast cells, showing how the daughter cell becomes dramatically different from its mother. The Ace2 gene regulator is trapped in the daughter nucleus, turning on genes that make it distinct.
The Scripps Research Institute team has identified a protein called Nrm1 that plays a crucial role in regulating the cell cycle. When DNA replication stalls, Nrm1's repression of certain genes is blocked, allowing those genes to be expressed again, which enables the production of proteins needed to correct the problem.
The University of Georgia has been awarded a $9.2 million grant to explore the molecular underpinnings of human embryonic stem cell differentiation, aiming to identify genetic and protein modification patterns that accompany this process.
Researchers reconstruct cancer cell family tree using novel method, tracing developmental history and growth pattern. The technique enables estimation of cell depth, a key factor in understanding cancer behavior.
A three-year international scientific outreach program has been funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York through the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) to bring modern cell biology concepts to sub-Saharan Africa. The first stage of the program, a 'short course' on protozoan parasites, was held in Morogoro, Tanzania, and wil...
Eco1 and its human homologue maintain sister chromatid cohesion by affecting Smc3, a key component of the cohesion protein complex. This process is critical for genome stability and cell survival.
Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have successfully transplanted muscle stem cells into mice with muscular dystrophy, improving muscle function and replenishing the stem cell population. This breakthrough study demonstrates the potential of stem cell therapy for treating degenerative muscle diseases like Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Dr. Sheldon Baumrind is honored for his extensive work in craniofacial biology, including clinical investigation and application of devices and engineering concepts. His research includes articles on randomized clinical trials, radiographic assessment, and orthodontics.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have established a human cell-based system for studying sickle cell anemia by reprogramming somatic cells to an embryonic stem cell-like state. The new method improves reprogramming efficiency and increases the total number of reprogrammed cells, enabling future studies on blood diseases.
The UK is launching a Synthetic Biology Initiative with £900,000 funding to establish a world-leading research community. The project aims to bring together biologists, engineers, and computer scientists to tackle future challenges such as sustainable power generation and medical applications.
Researchers found that stem cells differentiate through the collective behavior of multiple genes in a network, leading to just a few endpoints. The findings also suggest that cell populations maintain built-in variability that nature can harness for change under the right conditions.
A team of Penn State researchers created a simple artificial cell with a mix of PEG and dextran polymers to investigate the organization and function of cell components. The model cell exhibited polarity, a critical step in development, and showed the interrelationship between cytoplasm and cell membrane.
A new study sheds light on how centromeric protein E (CENP-E) orchestrates chromosome movements at a critical stage of cell division. The researchers used a technique to watch CENP-E move along its microtubule tightrope, making key observations about its movement and force production.
The University of California, Santa Barbara will receive a $3.2 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to develop a state-of-the-art stem cell research facility. The center aims to foster interdisciplinary research and translation of stem cell-based therapeutics for human diseases.
The UCI Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center will house up to 26 researchers, a master's program in biotechnology, and programs educating patients and the public. The facility is expected to advance stem cell therapies for treating spinal cord injuries and other diseases.