Growing neurons have a limited time to create connections before risking a 'clockwork death' due to lack of life-sustaining chemical signals. Researchers discovered an intermediate control mechanism, called en passant, which helps prevent miswiring by providing support as axons pass through the target region.
The three-dimensional structure reveals that invasin is a rod-like protein resembling five tandemly arranged beads. Researchers now have a more specific target for developing antibacterial agents, as blocking binding to crucial regions of the invasin receptors should prevent bacterial entry into cells.
Researchers have developed a new family of chemicals that bind specifically to the gp41 pocket, halting HIV's ability to infect cells. The compounds, created using mirror-image phage display, show promise as potential oral treatments for HIV, with advantages including reduced cell membrane penetration and lower likelihood of resistance.
Researchers at Howard Hughes Medical Institute uncover the first human disease linked to a defect in the MECP2 gene silencer mechanism. The discovery provides new insights into nervous system development and may lead to new treatments for Rett Syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder causing mental regression in young girls.
Scientists have identified a biochemical link between ancient bacteria and modern mammalian hemoglobins, revealing that nematode worms use their strong hemoglobin to destroy oxygen. This unique function may also inspire the development of new cancer therapies by starving tumors of oxygen.
A team of researchers has identified several chemical compounds that can prevent HIV from fusing with human cells, a crucial step in the viral infection process. By targeting the gp41 protein, these compounds may provide a new avenue for treating HIV and potentially other viruses.
Researchers found a gene crucial for roundworm mating strongly resembles a gene involved in human polycystic kidney disease. The study uses Caenorhabditis elegans to understand the role of genes controlling reproductive behaviors, potentially shedding light on PKD1's function and its connection to kidney disease.
Researchers from HHMI at Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School discovered that stem cells can deliver therapeutic genes to diseased organs, potentially remodeling genetically defective tissues. The study suggests that adult stem cells may be manipulated to heal genetic defects in various organs and tissues.
Researchers investigated how two proteins, Nodal and Pitx2, direct organ growth in mice, finding that Pitx2 plays a crucial role in determining lung leftness. The study also showed that a single transcription factor does not account for the entire left-right asymmetry in humans, highlighting the need for further research.
Researchers from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute have pinpointed how light resets the biological clock of fruit flies. By analyzing biochemical consequences of light pulses, they found that light triggers cell breakdown of a key protein called timeless, which is essential for synchronizing the biological to day-night cycle.
Scientists discover that removing two proteins controlling cell proliferation can lead to deadly consequences, including leukemia and immune system dysfunction. The study reveals critical regulatory roles of SOCS1 in T cells and its absence makes cells sensitive to cytokines.
Researchers successfully delivered fully functional proteins inside cells using a piece of the AIDS virus, overcoming the bioavailability wall that restricts large molecules. This technique has the potential to treat diseases such as cancer and genetic disorders by inserting working versions of damaged proteins into affected cells.
Researchers have successfully developed and used several types of tools to analyze the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster genome, extracting valuable information about genes and their function. The findings include a large-scale analysis of over 1,000 mutant fly strains, which identified more than 250 new genes.
A team of researchers has identified a single gene that causes familial advanced sleep phase syndrome (FASPS), a rare sleep disorder. The study found that the disorder follows a simple Mendelian inheritance pattern, making it easier to find the responsible gene and potentially leading to new treatments for circadian rhythm disorders.
Researchers discovered that neighboring RAG1 and RAG2 genes are controlled by a single genetic control signal, explaining their long-lived partnership in the immune system. This finding has implications for understanding gene evolution and regulation.
Researchers discovered a connection between a brain hormone called orexin and narcolepsy, a severe sleep disorder. The study found that mice lacking the orexin gene exhibited abnormal sleep patterns and behaviors similar to those of humans with narcolepsy.
Researchers at Duke University have discovered that spontaneous neural activity plays a key role in organizing the visual cortex, contradicting current theories on ocular dominance. The study used young ferrets with closed eyes to record brain activity patterns and found that input from one eye drives the entire system.
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has awarded $12.7 million in grants to 35 biomedical research institutions across 25 states to support science education programs in local schools. The grants will fund innovative programs, including computer-networked DNA laboratories and mentoring programs for rural and inner-city youngsters.
Researchers discovered a protein called yotiao, which anchors enzymes to NMDA receptors in neurons, controlling electrical impulses. This sophisticated control mechanism allows for precise and rapid signaling, enabling nerve cells to rapidly recover from activation.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) can mimic one of its molecular targets, blocking interferon's ability to kill viruses. This discovery may lead to the development of new therapies by targeting the E2 protein sequence that interferes with PKR phosphorylation.
Researchers used mathematical analysis to determine how potassium ions move through cell membranes. They found that a pool of approximately 50 water molecules and four protein spirals create an environment similar to the inside or outside of the cell, allowing for quick potassium flow.
Researchers have discovered that sons conceived through ICSI can inherit the same genetic defects in their fathers, including AZFc deletions. This finding raises ethical questions about assisted reproduction techniques and potential remedies for affected males.
Researchers have reclassified animals into three primary evolutionary lines based on new molecular evidence, including a study of the Hox gene family. The findings support earlier genetic investigations and provide insight into animal development and evolution, with implications for our understanding of life's origins.
Researchers confirmed that one type of genetic mutation causes inherited profound deafness, while another does not. Genetic tests found 42% of individuals with moderate to profound congenital deafness had sequence variations in the GJB2 gene.
Scientists have discovered the gene responsible for triggering embryonic cells in the inner ear to develop into sound- and motion-sensing hair cells. The Math1 gene signals precursor cells in the inner ear to become hair cells, which cover inner ear surfaces like wheat in a Kansas field.
Researchers have pinpointed an enzyme that controls the shape of a developing organ in the roundworm C. elegans, opening up new avenues for understanding organ development and potentially cancer research. The discovery reveals that two activities work together to define the shape of an organ.
HHMI researchers found a molecule called lynx1 in the brain of mice that is similar to a major component of deadly snake toxins. Lynx1 may be involved in pathways linked to memory and muscle function.
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute is awarding $14 million in grants to support research on infectious and parasitic diseases worldwide. The five-year program will help scientists identify the mechanisms of these diseases and develop new approaches for treatment.
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute will award $15 million in new grants to support biomedical research in the region. The five-year initiative aims to provide much-needed support for researchers in a region with limited resources.
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has awarded $1.32 million to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory to support advanced courses in molecular biology, neuroscience, and structural biology. The institution will also construct a new teaching laboratory and provide scholarships for scientists worldwide.
Nitric oxide is found to control cell death through its occupation of the caspase enzyme, which triggers programmed cell death. This discovery opens doors for potential therapeutic interventions in various diseases, including cancer, liver failure and immune system disorders.
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute is providing $550,000 to support research opportunities for DC and suburban Maryland/Virginia school teachers. Selected teachers will gain hands-on experience in NIH laboratories and share their knowledge with students.
Scientists discovered a common viral harpoon protein structure among measles, mumps and respiratory syncytial viruses. This finding suggests that these viruses may be related to HIV, influenza and Ebola viruses, potentially leading to the development of new drugs.
Scientists have discovered the molecular structure of ZAG, a protein linked to severe weight loss in cancer patients. The discovery provides crucial insights into how ZAG promotes fat breakdown, paving the way for potential treatments for clinical obesity and related conditions.
A new type of molecular cue, Slit, has been discovered that repels growing neurons and triggers them to sprout new connections in the developing nervous system. The discovery opens a promising new pathway to understanding how the brain and nervous system wires itself.
Researchers discover a gene, mahogany, that regulates obesity in mice, linking it to the immune system. The protein, made inside cells, passes through membranes to detect hormones, potentially leading to new treatment options for obesity.
Scientists discover that the sense of smell in mammals uses a combinatorial code to recognize and process odors, allowing for the detection of thousands of scents with relatively few odor receptors. The study reveals that different combinations of receptors are used to describe various smells.
Researchers at HHMI and Stanford University have developed a new method to engineer drug molecules that bind more effectively to their targets. By attaching small molecule inhibitors to larger proteins, the team increased the binding affinity of the inhibitor, making it easier to inhibit protein-protein interactions.
Researchers have identified a gene, Irx4, that regulates the formation of heart chambers in vertebrates. The discovery provides new insights into cardiac development and opens up opportunities for discovering other genes involved in this process.
Researchers at Yale University have successfully inserted a human cancer-suppressing gene into fruit flies, demonstrating a direct link between human and fly tumor suppressor genes. The study reveals that the insects can provide important new insights into human cancers.
A new database of over 360,000 mouse gene fragments will help scientists study mammalian development and compare genome sequences with humans. The catalog, developed by a team of researchers led by Marco Marra, provides quick access to genes and aids in mapping genes onto chromosomes.
Scientists from the University of Montana and HHMI successfully produced broadly effective antibodies against HIV by capturing the virus's infective machinery in the moment it fuses with a target cell. The new approach outperforms previous efforts, which only neutralized laboratory-grown strains.
Ritalin and other stimulants appear to restore balance between dopamine and serotonin, calming hyperactivity. The study suggests that targeting serotonin may be a more effective approach to treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) than previously thought.
A team of researchers discovered that malfunctions in the Tlr4 gene set the stage for septic shock, an often-fatal consequence of widespread bacterial infection. Identifying individuals susceptible to septic shock could lead to preemptive treatment with antibiotics and development of new drugs.
Researchers used x-ray crystallography to reveal the structure of HIV reverse transcriptase (RT) enzyme. The active form shows how genetic mutations confer resistance to antiviral drugs like AZT by preventing nucleotide analogs from binding, allowing RT to continue making DNA for the virus.
A team of researchers has identified the normal function of a protein associated with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), an inherited neuromuscular disease that is the most common genetic cause of infant mortality. The study, published in the journal Cell, also developed cell-based assays to search for potential therapeutic compounds.
Researchers found a SEX-1 hormone receptor signal in C. elegans that helps determine sex by counting X chromosomes, similar to the human Dax1 gene.
Researchers have found that cells in the developing limb provide a key signaling molecule that defines motor neuron identity. The study reveals that motor and sensory neurons express the same genes, suggesting a coordinating role for the target region in constructing proper connections within the spinal cord.
Researchers identify Hid protein as a key player in preventing programmed cell death, finding it relies on survival signals for regulation. The discovery has potential applications in treating neurodegenerative diseases and conditions like stroke.
Researchers have cloned a gene that causes zebrafish to develop a disease similar to congenital sideroblastic anemia (CSA) in humans. The sauternes mutation reveals a new mechanism behind the disease, potentially illuminating relevance for studying CSA in fish.