E-Cad protein facilitates coordinated movement of diverse cell types, enabling them to migrate together and distribute at their destination. This new function may explain why tumours with intermediate E-Cad levels have a poorer prognosis, highlighting the protein's role in cancer metastasis.
The study reveals how lysine acetylation in histone tails influences gene activity by altering their structure. This modification makes DNA molecules more accessible to effector proteins, leading to increased gene expression.
A joint study by IRB Barcelona researchers reveals CEP63's crucial role in brain cell division and sperm production, providing new insights into Seckel Syndrome and microcephaly. The protein's inhibition may lead to therapeutic approaches for treating these conditions.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals that the protein dDsk2, a ubiquitin receptor, plays a key role in regulating gene expression. This discovery opens up new avenues for understanding the link between dDsk2 and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Huntington's.
Scientists at IRB Barcelona will study protein motions to identify new sites for drug targeting in prostate cancer. The project aims to unravel the connections between distant points of a protein, which could transform the field of drug discovery.
A computational tool, dSysMap, has been developed to interpret the effect of genetic mutations on the development of complex diseases. The tool positions over 23,000 documented genetic mutations on a map of known interactions between human proteins.
A study published in Nature Genetics reveals that the tissue surrounding tumor cells holds the key to classifying colon tumors into good or bad prognosis. By analyzing this tissue, scientists can identify patients at risk of relapse and develop targeted treatments using TGF-beta inhibitors.
A team of chemists at IRB Barcelona has developed a shuttle that can cross the blood-brain barrier and transport various substances into the brain, opening up new possibilities for treating diseases such as glioblastoma and Friedreich's Ataxia.
Scientists at IRB Barcelona have identified two derivatives of borrelidin that completely remove the parasite load from mice and confer immunological memory to fight future infections. These compounds act on the protein production machinery of the parasite, making them efficient in all phases of infection.
Researchers developed a predictive model associating chemical fragments with positive or negative effects in 20% of human diseases. The analysis of 10,000 chemical molecules revealed new knowledge on safer drug design and potential uses for current drugs.
Researchers found that mice eat less when their liver stores high levels of glucose, suggesting a link between the liver and brain in regulating appetite. The study's findings could lead to new therapeutic targets for improving diabetes and obesity.
Researchers at IRB Barcelona reveal a mechanism that allows differentiated cells to reactivate as stem cells again, a phenomenon seen in the liver's regenerative capacity. The key feature is the inhibition of endocycle entry, a modified cell cycle that prevents irreversible changes in gene expression.
Researchers generated a fruit fly model of human colon cancer, revealing key genetic factors behind the disease. The study identified subtle interactions in cancer development, shedding light on early-stage cancer progression.
Researchers distinguish different types of beta-amyloid aggregates and find that those with 20 to 100 units are most toxic, leading to neuronal death. The study provides evidence for the hypothesis that intermediate aggregates cause neuronal death.
Researchers found that p53 in flies adapts metabolic response to nutrient deprivation, making cells 'tighten their belts' and optimize energy stores. The study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of p53 and its potential involvement in diabetes and obesity.
Scientists have discovered where microtubules form inside the mitotic spindle and how their starting points are transported to opposite poles. This breakthrough provides a better understanding of cell division and paves the way for more effective cancer treatments.
A team of scientists has discovered that the colon has a safety mechanism to restrict adenoma formation and growth. The study found that an increase in BMP production limits the self-renewal capacity of adenoma stem cells, thus impeding rapid development.
A study by Xavier Salvatella and Modesto Orozco reveals the existence of information highways in proteins, enabling new sites for drug interaction. This discovery has the potential to improve drug efficiency and discovery.
Researchers at IRB Barcelona have identified a new gene, RARRES3, that promotes breast cancer metastasis to the lung. The study reveals that loss of function of this gene enhances adhesion and differentiation in cancer cells, leading to increased malignant capacity.
Scientists have identified DOR protein as a plausible target against muscle deterioration in certain diseases. The researchers found that inhibition of DOR would only partially reduce autophagy, maintaining beneficial levels for cells.
A team identified p38 as a dual role in colon cancer, both protecting the epithelial barrier and promoting tumour growth. Treatment with a p38 inhibitor reduced tumour size in mice.
Researchers used Drosophila flies to unravel the signalling mechanism involved in cell movement regulation. A new molecular component controls FGF expression, which is crucial for processes like embryonic development, wound healing and tumour invasion.
Neurons store glycogen as a rapid energy source, but excess leads to death. Conversely, small amounts are beneficial for cell survival during oxygen depletion.
Researchers have identified the first structure of one of eight human amino acid transporters, known as HATs. This breakthrough provides new insights into their functions and opens up possibilities for developing drugs to tackle various diseases associated with HATs.
Researchers reveal how auxins activate developmental genes in plants through specific transcription factors, unlocking key to understanding plant growth and development. The discovery sheds light on the complex mechanisms behind plant hormone regulation.
A collaborative effort between the GENEFA Platform and FARA has secured $100,000 in annual funding for a two-year research project to develop a gene therapy-based treatment for Friedreich's ataxia. The project aims to rescue a mutated frataxin gene defect in cells of the central nervous system.
ChroGPS is a software application that facilitates the analysis and interpretation of epigenetic data. The program provides easily interpretable maps to analyze and understand the immense volume of epigenetic and genetic data available.
Researchers at IRB Barcelona discover that a single cell can act as leader during multiple cell migrations in Drosophila melanogaster, dragging others with it. This discovery sheds light on angiogenesis, a critical process in cancer development.
Researchers at IRB Barcelona have identified a crucial protein called dBigH1 that regulates zygotic genome activation in the fly Drosophila. This discovery has significant implications for understanding embryonic development and potential connections to infertility, gestational disorders, or early miscarriage.
A team from IRB Barcelona discovered Mitofusin 2 plays a crucial role in measuring cellular stress levels. Removing Mfn2 leads to disrupted stress response pathways, reducing the capacity of cells to overcome stress.
Chemists at IRB Barcelona and PharmaMar develop synthesis method for pipecolidepsin A, a compound active against eleven types of cancers. The new approach simplifies production, reducing time and cost to produce large quantities of the molecule.
Researchers at IRB Barcelona have successfully synthesized a marine compound, baringolin, which shows promising antibiotic activity at low concentrations. The team aims to improve its solubility and design more active analogues to develop a viable drug in the next 10 years.
Researchers have synthesized peptides that change shape upon irradiation with light, allowing control of protein-protein interactions and endocytosis. These molecules have immediate applicability for studying cancer cells and developmental biology, paving the way for optopharmacology and personalized medicine.
A recent IRB study published in Chemistry and Biology has identified 1,162 side effects caused by drugs, with molecular descriptions for 446 cases explained solely by biology and 68 by chemistry. The research provides a list of
Researchers have successfully studied the shape of proteins using a novel strategy combining computational modeling and experimental techniques. This breakthrough has implications for understanding protein functions and diseases such as cancer, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's.
A study by IRB Barcelona researchers has identified a key miRNA called bantam that regulates the relationship between hormones controlling growth and sexual maturity. Reduced levels of bantam lead to increased steroid hormone levels, causing growth to stop.
A study published in Nature describes how the CPEB1 protein 'takes the brakes off' the production of proteins associated with cell proliferation and tumor progression. The mechanism, discovered using Hodgkin lymphoma cells, has been proposed as a general regulatory system that enhances cancer spread.
The conference, organized by IRB Barcelona and the BBVA Foundation, brings together experts to discuss the virtues of statistics for biomedical applications and present current state of the discipline. Biostatistics is applied to clinical assays, scrutinizing huge amounts of data and integrating information from diverse sources.
Scientists at IRB Barcelona created a Drosophila melanogaster fly model that reproduces the steps of healthy cell transformation into cancer. The model can help identify genes and molecules involved in cancer progression, potentially leading to specific treatments for cells with genomic instability.
A team of researchers found that tumour cells form alliances with surrounding healthy cells, called stroma, to colonize other organs during metastasis. This discovery could lead to a test to predict relapse and tailored treatment regimes for patients.
The study reveals that inhibitory Smads bind directly to their targets without requiring phosphorylation, constituting a crucial step in the regulation of gene transcription. This discovery sheds light on how organisms achieve balance between TGF-beta signaling pathways, critical for maintaining tissue and organism health.
Nek9 protein is required for chromosomes to separate into two identical groups during cell division. Its inhibition has been identified as a promising strategy against cancer.
Researchers at IRB Barcelona have identified specific combinations of errors in cell integrity processes as crucial to initiating tumors. The study reveals that genomic instability alone is not sufficient for tumor development and highlights the need for further investigation into cancer's complex origins.
The Tomato Genome Consortium has sequenced and assembled the tomato genome, revealing two rounds of triplications that have impacted genes controlling texture, color, and maturation. This analysis provides key information for studying the evolution of this species and exploring methods to promote resistance to pests and water scarcity.
A team of scientists has discovered a new family of six genes that regulate mitochondrial transport in neurons, which is crucial for brain activity and viability. The proteins are highly expressed in the nervous system and may be involved in neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
Research by IRB Barcelona scientists reveals that glycogen accumulation in neurons is toxic, causing brain damage and reducing lifespan in both flies and mice. This finding has significant implications for understanding Lafora progressive myoclonic epilepsy and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Scientists at IRB Barcelona and BSC successfully extracted structural information from a triple DNA helix in gas phase, preserving its biological environment. This breakthrough could lead to the development of antigen therapy based on these DNA structures.
Researchers suggest that stem cells have intrinsic capacities for self-maintenance and evasion of differentiation. By analyzing current properties and characteristics of stem cells, the 'by default' hypothesis proposes that stem cells exist due to factors that repress cellular signals for specialization.
A study by IRB Barcelona analyzed tRNA genes in over 500 species, revealing that enzyme activity adapted genome structures to specific codon recognition. This discovery explains the separation of Bacteria, eukaryotes, and archaea genomes and has implications for biotechnology and cancer research.
A study published in PNAS reveals that a deficiency of Mitofusin 2 protein causes insulin resistance and glucose intolerance in mice, highlighting its potential as a target for treating type 2 diabetes. The researchers also note that the protein plays a crucial role in maintaining normal glucose homeostasis.