Researchers at Max Delbrück Center find GRHL2 protein crucial for concentrating urine and maintaining salt levels in the kidneys. Genetically modified mice lacking GRHL2 produce more diluted urine, highlighting its importance for regulating body fluids.
A large-scale study has identified 136 genetic loci that increase the risk of developing atopic dermatitis, hay fever, and asthma. These variants are associated with genes involved in regulating the immune system, suggesting a shared genetic origin for the three diseases.
A study published in Nature found that common salt reduces certain lactic acid bacteria in the gut of mice and humans, impacting immune cells responsible for autoimmune diseases and hypertension. Probiotics ameliorate disease symptoms in mice.
A study published in Nature Communications has identified five genetic risk loci associated with food allergies in children, highlighting the importance of skin and mucous membrane barriers. The research, involving over 1,500 participants, also found that four of the five risk loci are linked to other chronic inflammatory diseases.
The Max Delbrück Center receives funding to collaborate on the Human Cell Atlas project, focusing on understanding heart muscle cells. The goal is to create a three-dimensional model of the human heart and advance personalized medicine.
Researchers identify DLX5 gene as key player in preeclampsia, a complex disease affecting 4% of pregnancies. An in vitro model demonstrates the disorder's dysregulation and opens door to new treatments.
Researchers analyzed RNA from transplanted hearts to discover new risk factors for dilated cardiomyopathy and other heart conditions. The study identified 228 genes that are expressed differently in DCM patients and healthy subjects, including 60 new genes linked to the disease.
Scientists at Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association use a new spatial mapping algorithm to reassemble the fly embryo from thousands of single cells, revealing unique gene expression profiles. The virtual embryo shows exactly which genes are active where at this point in time.
Researchers have discovered a circular RNA, Cdr1as, that regulates microRNA levels and modulates synaptic responses in the brain. This finding has significant implications for our understanding of neural function and may hold potential for treating psychiatric diseases.
A genetic study identified neuronal circuits responsible for mouse pups' ultrasonic calls, which summon their mothers. These findings may shed light on the development and manifestation of speech disorders in humans.
A Berlin study of patients with early-stage colon cancer has found that the MACC1 gene and DNA repair mechanisms can help determine prognosis and predict response to chemotherapy. Patients with low MACC1 levels and proficient mismatch repair status have a higher five-year survival rate.
Researchers from Oliver Daumke's group have uncovered the role of protein Mic60 in forming intricate folds in mitochondrial membranes. The discovery sheds light on how defects in membrane structure contribute to diseases like cancer and neurological conditions.
Researchers have found that a signaling molecule produced by T-cells can induce the regression of blood vessels in tumors, effectively shutting down their supply of oxygen and nutrients. This discovery could lead to improved treatment options for solid tumors using immunotherapy with T-cells.
Researchers discovered that naked mole rats can survive extreme oxygen deprivation due to their ability to metabolize fructose. This alternative energy source supplies vital organs with energy when glucose is scarce, allowing them to thrive in low-oxygen environments.
Researchers found that consuming more salt led to reduced water intake and conserved body water by triggering a mechanism in the kidneys. The study suggests that urea plays a crucial role in maintaining proper water balance and challenges previous assumptions about its function.
Researchers have devised a powerful new technique to map the entire genome in three dimensions, revealing key interactions between genes and their switches. This breakthrough aims to shed light on genetic variation and its impact on human health.
EHD proteins assemble on the surface of cells to create vesicles, which are used to transport molecules and transmit neural signals. The molecular machines reorganize membrane structure through ring-like formations.
Researchers have successfully reprogrammed liver cells to behave like precursor cells that give rise to the pancreas, paving the way for potential cell therapies for type I diabetes. By altering a single gene, the team induced an identity crisis in liver cells, which then developed into cells with pancreatic properties.
Researchers have created a human stem-cell based system to find drugs for mitochondrial disease. They extracted skin cells from patients with faulty mitochondria and used them to identify a promising potential drug called avanafil. This breakthrough gives the potential for truly personalized treatments for rare diseases.
Researchers identified a substance called OB-1 that suppresses neuropathic pain caused by nerve injuries or diabetes without affecting other sensations. The compound tunes down the ion channel responsible for mechanical hypersensitivity, providing a new strategy for treating painful conditions.
A new program called CrispRGold helps scientists identify the most effective and specific RNA sequences for CRISPR-Cas9 system. This allows for efficient inactivation of genes in primary cells, enabling researchers to discover new genes involved in immune cell regulation.
Researchers found a way to break up p97 complex into its subunits using ASPL protein, which could be a promising new approach to kill proliferating cancer cells. This discovery may lead to the identification of smaller molecules that can disrupt the structure of p97 in a targeted manner.
Researchers discovered that naked mole-rats' unique TrkA receptors alter protein building blocks, reducing signal-relaying action and making them insensitive to thermal hyperalgesia. This finding may lead to new pain therapies by blocking NGF and TrkA interactions.
The Max Delbrück Center researchers identified a new layer of PKA regulation through the binding of ARHGAP36 to its catalytic subunit. This interaction can inhibit PKA's kinase action, and its expression is limited to embryonic muscle cells and certain types of cancer.
Researchers found that when tumor cells lack sufficient neo-epitopes, they are no longer recognized by T-cells. Epitopes require enzymatic processing for correct trimming and presentation on the cell surface.
Researchers discovered that around one-tenth of proteins remain stable and live longer than expected as they age. This finding could explain why additional gene copies don't automatically result in more protein production.
Systems biologist Jan Philipp Junker and molecular geneticist Gaetano Gargiulo have each received a €1.5 million ERC Starting Grant to study cellular processes in zebrafish and glioblastoma, respectively. Their research aims to understand the mechanisms behind variable phenomena in developmental biology.
Researchers have discovered how the Doa10 ligase complex forms a ubiquitin chain to mark faulty proteins for degradation. This process is crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis and preventing diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The study sheds light on the importance of protein quality control in cells.
Researchers identified new mechanisms controlling stem cell properties in flatworms, including alternative splicing processes that operate only in stem cells. The study also reveals a previously unknown interaction between proteins MBNL and CELF, which may have implications for human regenerative medicine.
Scientists have found that a time-dependent coding mechanism is essential for distinguishing between similar smells. By inhibiting signals to olfactory bulb output neurons, researchers showed that mice could no longer differentiate between odor mixtures with slightly different ratios or molecules with similar chemical structures.
A study found that a cellular sorting protein called SORLA disrupts fat metabolism by recycling molecular receptors for insulin. This causes fat cells to become overly sensitive to insulin, leading to excessive fat deposits and obesity. The researchers discovered this link in human samples, mouse models, and cell cultures.
Research reveals lower CD74 receptors on placental macrophages disrupt fetal nourishment, leading to abnormal placentas and preeclampsia. This discovery opens new possibilities for long-term therapy targeting root causes of the disease.
Researchers monitored nerve impulses in awake mice to study the flow of information between sensory perception and behavior. They discovered that different layers of the cortex handle impulses in unique ways while remaining coordinated with each other.
A recent study by Dr. Susanne Wolf found that white blood cells act as an intermediary between the gut microbiome and the brain, playing a crucial role in neurogenesis and memory function. The research suggests that antibiotics may disrupt this communication pathway, leading to impaired neurogenesis and memory deterioration.
Research finds that blood vessels grow thicker or branch based on collective cell behavior and oscillating signals, providing new insights into diseases like diabetes and cancer. The discovery could lead to therapies that renormalize blood vessels or inhibit their growth.
Researchers discovered how small capillaries form during angiogenesis, a process crucial for embryonic development, cancer, and diabetes. Blood pressure drives the membrane of endothelial cells to cave in and grow into the cell's body.
Researchers have identified the three-dimensional structure of a hantavirus protein, providing a promising model for developing drugs against the disease. The protein's circular complexes may play a role in inhibiting viral growth, making it an ideal target for future treatments.
Researchers develop gene therapy using T cells to target cancer mutations, reducing side effects. The approach involves transferring tumor-specific T cell receptors into fresh T cells, enabling them to fight tumors.
Researchers have developed a new mouse model that successfully suppresses NF-kappaB signaling, reducing tissue damage and inflammation in the kidneys. This breakthrough could lead to a tailored therapy for patients with ischemic renal failure.
Researchers have discovered a molecule that blocks cancer stem cells' ability to survive and replicate. The compound, LF3, targets the Wnt signaling pathway and reduces tumor growth in living animals.
Dr. James Poulet, a neuroscientist at the Max-Delbrück Center, has received a €2 million ERC Consolidator Grant to continue his research on how the brain generates sensory perception. The funding will support his team's efforts to understand how different sensory inputs are integrated to create a coherent percept.
Scientists have developed a method to detect and preserve human pluripotent stem cells, which can become any cell type, for potential use in treating diseases. The technique allows researchers to isolate and maintain these cells, which are difficult to cultivate, using a reporter linked to fluorescent protein.
Researchers discovered that human macrophages can divide and self-renew by activating a gene network similar to one found in embryonic stem cells. This finding could provide new directions in regenerative medicine and therapies, potentially replacing diseased tissue without using embryonic or induced pluripotent stem cells.
A research team has generated comprehensive 3D maps of the mouse genome's spatial organization, showing how genes are regulated and interact. The findings could help track down genes involved in hereditary diseases, such as cancer and congenital disorders.
A new method called RiboTaper helps to clarify the function of unknown genes by analyzing sequencing data. By filtering out background noise, researchers can determine which genes are actively producing proteins and identify specific points on RNA where significant events occur.
A recent study led by Enno Klußmann and Veronika Anita Deák discovered that the GSKIP protein plays a crucial role in embryonic development, with implications for understanding Goldenhar syndrome. The research found a high degree of correlation between mouse and human genes responsible for the condition.
Researchers at the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine found that FOXO1 is essential for both germinal center dark zone formation and efficient B cell response to pathogens. The study sheds light on the transcription factor's role in normal immune function, but further research is needed to understand its link to lymphomagenesis.
A study published in Nature Communications has identified seven genetic risk loci for atopic dermatitis and asthma, suggesting a link between the two conditions. The research found that regions determining atopic dermatitis risk also influence the development of asthma and other allergies, known as the atopic march.
Researchers identified VRAC channels as responsible for half of anti-cancer drug uptake, with down-regulated subunits linked to therapy resistance and programmed cell death disturbances. The study's findings hold high clinical relevance and suggest potential new targets for overcoming cancer therapy resistance.
Researchers have identified ten new genetic risk loci for eczema, a chronic inflammatory skin disorder. The study found strong correlations with known risk factors for asthma, allergies, and other autoimmune diseases.