A team of scientists has developed a tissue-engineered, organotypic 3D culture system of esophageal squamous cell cancer, revealing the genetic mutations and tumor microenvironment driving the disease. The model also highlights the critical role of stromal fibroblasts in cancer progression.
A genetic variant on chromosome 8q24 is associated with a higher risk of prostate cancer in African Americans. The study found that common genetic variants are linked to elevated prostate cancer risk, particularly among this high-risk population.
Meis1 is required for maintaining leukemia stem cell properties in MLL leukemia, including self-renewal and differentiation arrest. The study provides new insights into the genetic underpinnings of MLL leukemogenesis.
Two new genes, Jmjd1a and Jmjd2c, play a crucial role in regulating self-renewal of embryonic stem cells. Their depletion promotes differentiation at the expense of self-renewal.
Dr. Gregory J. Hannon is a recipient of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center's 2007 Paul Marks Prize for Cancer Research. His work on RNA interference has led to significant contributions in understanding and treating cancer.
Researchers at CSHL have identified three genes causing 20% of lung cancers that interact to reactivate fetal gene expression patterns leading to tumor growth. Reversing these genes may lead to new treatment options for patients.
Cold Spring Harbor Protocols features two new methods for neuroscience research: a step-by-step approach to prepare brain slices from rats or mice for growth in culture and how to properly assess courtship behavior in male fruit flies. These protocols allow researchers to examine the structure and function of neurons in their native en...
The adult mammalian lymphatic vasculature is derived from embryonic lymph sacs and has been shown to originate from venous endothelial cells using genetically modified mice. Understanding this origin is crucial for preventing, diagnosing, and curing lymphatic disorders.
Researchers have developed a protocol for generating mice with squamous cell carcinoma, allowing them to study the disease in a controlled environment. The method involves injecting mice with DMBA and TPA, leading to tumor formation and enabling scientists to examine the role of the immune system in susceptibility to skin cancer.
Researchers found that tDNA genes and components of RNA pol III are required for establishing silent chromatin cohesion at the HMR locus. This discovery provides new insights into chromosome architecture and may have implications for understanding genetic regulation.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph+) experience poor response to imatinib due to emerging drug-resistant clones. Research reveals signals from the bone marrow microenvironment can sustain viability of Ph+ ALL cells, enabling rapid resistance development.
Researchers reveal an alternative transcriptional core promoter complex directs cell-type specific differentiation during myogenesis. This new level of control has significant implications for multi-cellular differentiation mechanisms.
Scientists have found a direct link between mitochondrial DNA variants and metabolic markers for type 2 diabetes in rats. The study, published in Genome Research, highlights the role of mitochondrial genome variation in common diseases.
A cost-effective approach for generating siRNA molecules, called esiRNAs, is described in the article. This method allows scientists to efficiently target virtually any gene in mammalian cells, enabling large-scale studies of gene function.
Scientists at the University of Nebraska Medical Center have discovered the long-sought-after homo-oligomerization domain of Bax, a key regulator of apoptosis. This finding provides new insights into the protein's structure and function.
Researchers developed a cell-free system to investigate microRNA function, providing unprecedented insight into how miRNAs repress translation. The study resolves the current conflict over miRNA action by showing that miRNAs recruit complexes containing Ago2 and GW182 proteins.
A recent genomics study has identified genes and gene families associated with human traits such as endurance running and cognitive function. The study found that gene copy number variations in humans may have contributed to the evolution of these traits, with some genes being unique to the human lineage.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory propose a new model for understanding how autism is acquired, suggesting that spontaneous germ-line mutation is a significant cause. This mutation can be carried by women without severe symptoms and passed on to their children, increasing the risk of sons developing autism.
Researchers found that mutations in PPARγ lead to poor milk quality, causing health issues in nursing pups. Ingestion of toxic milk sets off an inflammatory response, disrupting hair growth and leading to baldness.
Researchers have identified IL6 as a protein that stimulates tumor growth when activated by Ras, leading to increased blood vessel formation. Suppressing IL6 activity has shown promising results in fighting tumor formation in preclinical models.
Researchers have discovered that p27 can act as both a CDK-dependent tumor suppressor and a CDK-independent oncogene. This finding has significant implications for understanding cancer growth and developing drugs to target p27 dysfunction.
Researchers found Ago2 necessary for normal blood cell development, but its role is independent of slicer activity. Ago2 regulates miRNA biogenesis in blood cells through translational control.
The journal highlights two articles on cutting-edge bioinformatics software programs, including a user's guide to BLAST and a computational pipeline for identifying DNA variants. These tools enable biologists to analyze large-scale data, infer gene functions, and identify disease predictors.
Dr. Douglas Black and colleagues reveal that a switch in PTB expression induces changes in alternative splicing patterns during neuronal development, adding a new layer of genetic regulation. This reprogramming enables the creation of unique genetic code in post-mitotic neurons.
Researchers found endosomes facilitate plant growth through brassinosteroid receptor trafficking, affecting shoot and root growth. This discovery expands understanding of endosome function in plants, shedding light on their evolutionary origins.
Researchers found bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a critical role in early stages of tumor progression. Eliminating EPCs stops cancer growth by preventing blood vessel formation.
Researchers have identified three key proteins that work together to execute plant innate immunity in the mustard weed Arabidopsis. These proteins are homologous to human spliceosome-associated components, suggesting potential parallels between animal and plant immune systems.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory cloned the band gene, finding it's an allele of ras-1, which plays a crucial role in circadian rhythms. The study uses Neurospora crassa as a model organism, demonstrating how a dominant point mutation in ras-1 affects circadian growth cycles.
The ENCODE project has mapped functional elements in the human genome, revealing widespread transcription and novel promoters. The study also highlights regions of evolutionary constraint, which may be linked to disease.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory identified a family of micro RNAs (miRNAs) that enable the p53 pathway to fight cancer growth. By comparing levels of miRNAs in cells with various pre-cancerous genetic lesions, they found a connection between changes in the p53 pathway and the loss of specific miRNAs, such as miR-34.
The article highlights protocols for characterizing epigenetic marks in native chromatin, investigating embryogenesis in Xenopus laevis, and cloning techniques. These methods provide insights into gene activity, cellular reprogramming, and disease states.
Research by Dr. Eileen White and colleagues suggests that autophagy can protect genome integrity during starvation, but its loss can accelerate tumor progression. The normal function of autophagy sustains cells while limiting genome damage.
Researchers have identified the cancer stem cell of rhabdomyosarcoma, a childhood cancer, and uncovered a novel genetic signature driving its progression. The discovery opens up new avenues for targeted therapies to prevent recurrence and metastasis.
A new study reveals how protein Yin Yang 1 regulates early B cell development, a crucial step in the immune system. The research demonstrates that YY1 plays a key role in controlling variable segment recombination, a process essential for B cell differentiation.
The opossum genome sequence has provided significant insights into the evolution of the mammalian immune system, revealing similarities with human immune-related genes. The sequence also revealed ancient DNA elements that have been recruited for specific biological activities, such as regulating gene expression.
Bruce Stillman, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory President and Cancer Center Director, has received the Curtin Medal for his pioneering work on DNA replication in cells. His research focuses on understanding illness, particularly cancer, and has contributed to knowledge of human virus replication and genome accuracy.
Scientists develop methods to mark genes and proteins using stable isotopes and fluorescent markers, enabling the tracking of metabolic shifts and chromosomal abnormalities. These methods provide valuable tools for understanding biological processes and diseases such as Down syndrome and cancer.
A new study sheds light on how histone and DNA methylation cooperate to silence genes. Mammalian HP1 proteins facilitate this cooperation by stimulating the activity of DNMT1, a DNA methyltransferase.
The discovery of microRNAs in the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii expands our understanding of small RNA regulation and challenges existing dogma. The researchers found functional characteristics between plant and animal miRNAs, suggesting a potential role in regulating sexual reproduction.
Researchers found that microRNA let-7 binds to HMGA2 mRNA transcript, suppressing its expression and preventing tumorigenesis. This establishes HMGA2 as a target of let-7, highlighting the potential role of microRNAs in cancer prevention.
Researchers have identified a minimal DNA structure that activates the ATR-mediated DNA damage checkpoint in a cell-free system. This discovery enables precise control and quantitative probing of checkpoint signaling responses.
Two reliable methods are presented for creating and detecting specific proteins, as well as characterizing the activities of specific genes during embryonic development. The methods involve attaching a GST tag to a protein of interest or using a reporter protein to visualize gene expression in transgenic mouse embryos.
Researchers identify PGC-1alpha as a key genetic component and potential therapeutic target for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Experimental elevation of PGC-1alpha improves DMD symptoms in mouse models, offering new therapeutic promise.
Scientists have discovered a key enzyme controlling melatonin synthesis in response to light and darkness. The study sheds new light on the intricate mechanisms regulating our sleep-wake cycles.
Researchers identified a candidate gene called DARC that may underlie differences in bone density between African-Americans and Caucasians. The study found that the DARC gene negatively regulates bone density in mice, and inhibiting its function could lead to therapies for osteoporosis.
Researchers discovered a gene called Atp5a1 that, when mutated, reduces the incidence of polyps in mice. The mutation leads to decreased levels of Atp5a1 gene expression, which may provide insights into its potential role in human cancer.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have found that spontaneous mutations in DNA are more common in sporadic cases of autism than in familial or healthy children. The study, published in Science, reports that at least 10% of children with autism carry a genetic alteration not found in either parent.
Researchers at CSHL have successfully corrected an mRNA splicing defect in SMA patients, using RNA splicing antisense technology. The therapy holds promise for treating the genetic disease, which causes progressive muscle weakness and respiratory failure.
A series of articles provides tried-and-true advice on maintaining and manipulating flies, inducing mutations, harvesting and analyzing embryos, and characterizing proteins. These protocols are designed to be easy to use at the bench, with reagents, equipment, and recipe lists.
Research by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory finds that harmless viruses can cause cancer through chromosomal instability, potentially leading to cancer progression. Protecting against these viruses may decrease cancer incidence.