A study by Berman et al. reveals that mitochondrial size and shape are regulated by fusion, fission, growth, and degradation processes. The researchers found that a protein called Bcl-xL manages the number, size, and energy-producing capacity of mitochondria.
Researchers found that Snail1 promotes tissue invasion and angiogenesis in cancer cells by stimulating fibroblast function. Fibroblasts without Snail1 are less able to degrade the extracellular matrix and form invadopodia, key structures for cell invasion.
Researchers at Rockefeller University Press have uncovered a mechanism that limits centriole duplication, allowing cells to fashion extra centrioles only once per cell cycle. This discovery could lead to the development of new cancer treatments by restricting tumor cells' ability to replicate centrioles.
Researchers study how Toxoplasma gondii infects mice and finds that infected cells fuse with endoplasmic reticulum to present parasitic peptides. This process, called cross-presentation, helps the parasite evade immune detection.
Perturbation of lamin B1-Oct-1 interactions can affect the expression of genes regulated by Oct-1, leading to increased reactive oxygen species production. This could be a key mechanism underlying the aging process.
Research reveals that mutations in the LMNA gene disrupt neuromuscular junction organization, leading to muscle fiber innervation disruption. This study provides insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy.
A study by Chen et al. reveals that chopped-up ECM triggers excitotoxicity through the kainate receptor's KA1 subunit, leading to brain damage. Drugs blocking KA1 might provide an alternative way to save brain cells after stroke or head trauma without causing cognitive impairment.
Researchers found that leptin enlists the sympathetic nervous system to prevent bone-making cells from releasing osteocalcin, which stimulates insulin release. This back-door route could lead to a new treatment for diabetes using osteocalcin.
A new study found a population of anergic B cells in the blood of healthy adults, which accounted for 2.5% of circulating B cells. These cells may contain precursors to self-attacking immune cells seen in autoimmune diseases like lupus and RA.
Researchers found PSD-95 stimulates the growth of large dendritic spines that are connected to multiple axons. Reducing PSD-95 levels impairs synapse development.
Research suggests FHL1 enhances transcription factor NFATc1 activity to promote muscle hypertrophy. Overexpressing FHL1 in mice and myoblasts resulted in increased strength and endurance.
In a developmental program, Dictyostelium cells acquire polarized morphology and aggregate to form a migrating stream. The team discovered that ACA-containing vesicles cluster at the rear of cells, creating a 'breadcrumb trail' that guides fellow cells to join the parade.
Researchers found that claudin 11 prevents charged ion leakage through myelin layers, increasing resistance and affecting signal conduction. This defect may be linked to cognitive deficits and neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in neurons with thin myelin sheaths.
Parkin protein prompts neuronal survival by clearing damaged mitochondria. Researchers found that Parkin translocates to mitochondria upon damage, sending them to autophagosomes for degradation. This process prevents damaged mitochondria from triggering cell death.
Research reveals vitamin D's role in regulating colon cancer cell behavior by modulating gene expression and cytoskeleton structure. The study highlights a previously unknown pathway governing vitamin D's diverse effects on cancer cells.
Researchers found that HP1 proteins help cells fix damaged DNA by latching onto methylated histones. The study used mouse models to show that one missing version of the protein leads to genomic instability and brain defects.
A new study reveals that TIM-3 protein inactivates virus-killing T cells in HIV-infected patients, leading to their exhaustion. Blocking this protein may one day help patients eliminate HIV and other chronic infections.
Scientists have discovered that a protein banished from mature axons allows them to transform into dendrites. This process could occur after nerve cell damage, raising possibilities for the reverse transformation.
A new study reveals how an HIV vaccine may have enhanced infection rates by tethering the vaccine to immune cells, facilitating entry and activation of T cells. This raises concerns about the effectiveness of the vaccine in preventing HIV infection.
Researchers discovered that adding sarcospan to muscle cells improves protection against Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a condition caused by faulty anchoring of the dystrophin protein. Sarcospan coaxes utrophin, a dystrophin relative, to spread out on the muscle membrane, providing additional protection.
Researchers have identified Wnt/b-catenin signaling as a key pathway regulating brain development and maintaining the integrity of the blood-brain barrier. The study suggests that tweaking this signaling pathway could potentially mend damaged blood-brain barriers in patients with stroke or other conditions.
Researchers found that valproic acid improved memory and reduced brain lesions in mice with an AD-like disease. The drug also prompted damaged nerves to start repairing themselves and improved performance in memory-related tests.
Researchers identified AHI-1 protein that protects leukemia stem cells from imatinib, a current treatment for CML. Blocking AHI-1 restores imatinib's ability to kill leukemia cells, paving the way for combination therapy.
Researchers investigate how neuronal activity leads to amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleavage and the formation of fibrous plaques in Alzheimer's disease patients. Treatment with a cdk5 inhibitor reduces APP association with BACE microdomains and cleavage.
A study by French researchers found that infused T cells recognize a new protein called meloe-1, which is highly expressed in melanoma cells but not normal skin cells. Meloe-1-specific T cells were more common among patients who remained relapse-free, suggesting this strategy may improve adoptive immunotherapy efficacy.
Researchers at Rockefeller University Press identified an amino acid switch that flaviviruses use to gain access to cells. The team discovered that mutating one specific histidine residue can completely abolish fusion ability in tick-borne encephalitis virus, a dangerous human pathogen.
Astrocytes fine-tune synaptic plasticity by secreting and re-releasing neurotrophic factor BDNF, influencing long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD). This process affects neurons' ability to communicate with each other, impacting learning and memory.
A new study in mice with an MS-like disease found that the brain's response to a specific immune protein, interferon-g (IFNg), dictates which part of the brain is attacked. This discovery may bring scientists closer to understanding the variable manifestations of human multiple sclerosis.
Research reveals that blocking avb3 integrin leads to a5b1's increased trafficking and association with EGFR1, activating the Akt pathway and promoting random migration and invasive ability. This study sheds light on the mechanisms underlying metastatic movement in tumor cells.
A new study may have uncovered the cause of Devic's disease by identifying glutamate as a key player in the progression of the disease. The researchers found that an autoantibody called NMO-IgG triggers a toxic build-up of glutamate, leading to damage to nerve cells and their insulating myelin coats.
A new study reveals that laminin influences post-synaptic patterning by corraling cell surface receptors on the muscle side of the synapse. Maturation of the muscle side was slowed in mice lacking specific laminin chains, highlighting the protein's role in coordinating nerve and muscle fiber development.
Research reveals that certain adult stem cells are more active than previously thought, actively controlling their behavior through the interaction between laminin A and integrins. This interaction enables follicle stem cells to remain in place, primed for division, by laying down laminin A to build their own niche.
Researchers found that egg P bodies lack degradation proteins Pat1 and DCAP-2 to safeguard maternally-derived gene messages until fertilization. The specialized P bodies interact with each other, suggesting they exchange mRNAs.
Researchers found that autophagy promotes premature activation of trypsinogen, a digestive enzyme that can damage pancreatic cells. In rodents with pancreatitis, high levels of autophagy were observed, and blocking the process reduced symptoms. The study reveals autophagy as a potential trigger for pancreatitis in mice.
Researchers used CO-FISH to detect centromeric recombination and found 15 events per centromere, six times the rate of telomeric DNA, and 175 times genomic DNA. Methyltransferase knockdown increased recombination but also decreased centromere length due to misaligned segments.
Researchers found that activating the c-Jun gene in cultured neurons with Schwann cells promotes dedifferentiation and speeds nerve healing. The study suggests a new potential target for understanding and treating diseases like Charcot-Marie Tooth disease and Guillain-Barre syndrome.
Normally functioning prions prevent neurons from self-destruction by inducing overactive brain cells that respond longer and more vigorously to stimulation. This hyperactivity eventually leads to neuron death, potentially explaining why misfolded prions cause dementia.
A group of leading US public sector agricultural research institutions has agreed to share their patented technologies to help improve staple crop varieties like rice, cassava, and sorghum. The Public-Sector Intellectual Property Resource for Agriculture (PIPRA) initiative aims to accelerate research and development to boost the domest...