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Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory


Lurking lung cancer alleles

A recent study identified 64 genetic variants associated with lung cancer development, including changes in proteins expressed by the genes. These findings suggest that a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors contributes to lung cancer susceptibility, while tobacco smoke remains the leading risk factor.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenome Research·DateMay 31, 2006

Targeting lung cancer

Researchers engineered mice with mutated EGFR genes that can be turned on or off to study lung tumorigenesis and treatment responses. Mutations in EGFR drive lung tumors into regression by inhibiting the gene or turning it off.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateMay 17, 2006

Prozac's target revealed

Researchers have identified the specific step in the neurogenesis pathway that Prozac (fluoxetine) stimulates, increasing the number of neurons in the brain. The study's findings lay the foundation for future cell replacement therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 15, 2006

Modeling head and neck cancers

Researchers have developed a completely penetrant mouse model of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, recapitulating the human disease at both pathological and molecular levels. The model enables testing of combinations of targeted therapies and prevention approaches for HNSCC.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateMay 14, 2006

Quorum sensing in yeast

Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have made significant progress in understanding how yeast cells communicate with each other through quorum sensing. This complex process allows yeast to coordinate behaviors such as biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateApr 16, 2006

SIRT7

Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have identified SIRT7 as a key regulator of cellular metabolism and longevity. The study reveals that SIRT7 promotes the activity of key enzymes involved in glucose and lipid metabolism, leading to improved energy balance and lifespan.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateApr 16, 2006

Major obesity gene is 'lost in the shuffle'

Researchers have discovered a 100-kilobase segment of DNA missing from the agouti signaling protein (ASIP) gene in gibbons. The ASIP gene plays a role in lipid metabolism and energy homeostasis, but its deletion may have helped gibbons adapt to arboreal niches. Future studies will examine the physiological effects of this deletion.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenome Research·DateMar 31, 2006

Novel function of APC

The APC tumor suppressor has a novel function in regulating Wnt signaling in the nucleus. In this new study, researchers demonstrate that APC opposes beta-catenin activity directly at Wnt target genes. The findings suggest that full-length APC protein is necessary to repress c-Myc gene expression and prevent colon cancer progression.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateFeb 28, 2006

Stopping smad

Researchers discovered pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase as a key player in the dephosphorylation of MAD, a Drosophila Smad protein. This finding offers new insights into how BMP signals can be downregulated in various physiological contexts.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateFeb 27, 2006

Masterminding muscle development

Researchers discovered that MAML1 plays a crucial role in regulating muscle cell differentiation, with increased expression leading to enhanced myotube formation and muscle-specific gene expression. The study also found that MAML1 works together with MEF2C to 'turn on' genes required for muscle development.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateFeb 27, 2006

Protein translation in sperm

Researchers discovered that protein translation takes place in sperm prior to fertilization, essential for sperm functions like motility and fertilization. Inhibiting mitochondrial translation machinery leads to decreased sperm motility and fertility rates.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateFeb 14, 2006

Targeting pancreatic cancer

Researchers have identified the stage-specific roles of individual cathepsins in tumorigenesis, revealing that inhibiting cathepsin B, L, and S suppresses cancer development. The study found that these cathepsins promote tumor invasion by cleaving E-cadherin.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateFeb 14, 2006

Genetics of muscular dystophy

Researchers identified altered expression of proteins involved in muscle differentiation, leading to reduced myoblast differentiation potential. Forced expression of MyoD or desmin restored this defect, providing new mechanistic insight into LMNA mutations contributing to muscular dystrophy.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateFeb 14, 2006

microRNA-mediated metabolism

miR-278 plays a crucial role in regulating insulin sensitivity in flies, with reduced insulin sensitivity and elevated blood glucose levels observed in flies lacking this microRNA. The study highlights the importance of microRNAs in metabolic regulation.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateFeb 14, 2006

Equalizing the sexes

New research reveals the Drosophila homolog of the mammalian UNR protein as a co-factor required for SXL-mediated repression of msl-2 translation. This mechanism prevents dosage compensation in female cells, highlighting an essential role for the UNR protein in maintaining sex-specific regulation.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateJan 31, 2006

Why the brain has 'gray matter'

Researchers propose that brain regions like cerebral cortex and spinal cord are designed with low conduction delays in mind, allowing for efficient signal transmission. The study provides a mathematical framework for understanding the segregation of gray and white matter in the brain.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJan 11, 2006

Tandem transcripts team together

Researchers identified over 200 cases of TIC involving 421 human genes, finding that genes often reside closer together and share standard splicing machinery. The discovery challenges the 'one gene, one protein' rule and may lead to the development of non-toxic engineered fused proteins for drug applications.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenome Research·DateJan 4, 2006

New small RNAs found

A novel class of 23-24-nt small RNAs has been identified in Tetrahymena, participating in a second distinct RNAi pathway. The discovery sheds light on the diversity of sRNA functions and biogenesis mechanisms, with potential applications for other systems.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateDec 15, 2005

Gene loops

Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have identified a new mechanism for gene regulation known as 'gene loops', which play a crucial role in controlling the expression of genes. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of gene function and regulation.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateDec 7, 2005

Artificial replication

The researchers created an artificial mammalian replication origin that can specify a DNA replication origin and enable scientists to explore the mechanism of replication initiation. This discovery will provide a new direction for creating vectors for gene therapy that are less mutagenic than current integrating vectors.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateNov 30, 2005

The yeast glycome

Researchers created a protein chip containing 5573 purified proteins and performed the first global analysis of protein glycosylation in yeast. This effort identified nearly double the known yeast glycome, including over 100 new N-linked glycoproteins.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateNov 30, 2005

p53 and organogenesis

Analysis found that increased p53 delta113 expression in def-mutant digestive organs leads to cell cycle arrest, reducing organ growth. The p53 isoform's role in hypoplasia of the digestive organs is believed to be significant but not fully understood.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateNov 30, 2005

SWI/SNF and erythropoiesis

A Brg1 mutation in mice reveals the importance of SWI/SNF complexes in beta-globin regulation and erythropoiesis. This study may provide insight into common ailments such as beta thalassemia and anemia. The findings highlight the significance of chromatin-remodeling complexes in development and physiology.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateNov 13, 2005

Common viruses may cause cancer

A recent study at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory found that certain viral infections may cause cancer by fusing cells, leading to aneuploidy and potentially tumor formation. The researchers discovered that specific gene mutations in human cells can make them more susceptible to this process.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalJournal of Cell Biology·DateNov 7, 2005

New brain tumor model developed

Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have identified a heretofore unknown role for the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor INK4C in medulloblastoma development. The study found that Ink4c inactivation cooperates with mutations in Patched to stimulate medulloblastoma formation, even when p53 is intact.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateOct 30, 2005