A high-fat diet during pregnancy produces permanent changes in the offspring's brain, leading to overeating and obesity early in life. The research found that rat pups born to mothers on a high-fat diet had more neurons producing orexigenic peptides, stimulating appetite and weight gain.
A new platform has been developed to study how specialized proteins regulate RNA in living, intact cells. By identifying every sequence within every strand of RNA to which proteins bind, researchers can now address questions about how differences in RNA explain the vast differences between humans and worms.
Scientists have discovered that glial cells play a crucial role in regulating the activity of sensory neurons and enabling animals to perceive their environment. Without glia, sensory neurons are unable to coordinate an appropriate response to stimuli.
A recent study has found that anxiety levels in mice are directly influenced by the immune system, specifically through mast cells. Mice without mast cells showed reduced willingness to navigate open and high spaces, indicating lower anxiety levels.
Scientists have discovered an important fat precursor cell that may explain how changes in fat cells lead to obesity. The discovery could also shed light on conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Researchers discovered a molecule called ACF7 that helps regulate and power cell movement along the extracellular matrix. Without ACF7, cellular movement slows down, suggesting its importance in preventing cancer cell migration and metastasis.
Scientists at Rockefeller University have developed a predictive model of worldwide population shifts that will provide more accurate estimates of migration patterns. The model accounts for approximately 60% of the variation in annual numbers of migrants and has the potential to improve resource allocation and economic conditions.
New research finds that adolescent brains exposed to painkillers like Oxycontin can sustain permanent changes in their reward system, making them more vulnerable to addiction later in adulthood. Adolescent mice self-administered the drug less frequently than adults, and re-exposed adult mice had higher dopamine levels.
Associate professor C. Erec Stebbins at Rockefeller University has been awarded a prestigious EUREKA grant to exploit a 'nanosyringe' technology for delivering proteins into specific cells. The grant aims to develop therapeutic applications, including restoring tumor-suppressing proteins and treating genetic diseases.
Researchers at Rockefeller University amplify cell death signals to induce self-destruction in precancerous cells. By inactivating a protein called IAP, they found that mice without the RING domain lived twice as long as those with it, highlighting a potential breakthrough in cancer therapy.
Researchers found that fruit flies with a normal sense of smell had a survival advantage over odor-blind ones in experiments. In tests where food was scarce, the sense of smell proved crucial for finding food, leading to massive competition disadvantage for odor-blind flies.
Researchers found evidence that humans fought back against an ancient retrovirus with a defense mechanism called APOBEC3G, which is still used to attack modern retroviruses. This discovery provides insight into the evolutionary battle between humans and viruses.
Researchers at Rockefeller University tested Ceftobiprole against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria, achieving a 100% kill rate. The new antibiotic successfully targeted the gene that confers resistance, offering hope in combating staphylococcal infections worldwide.
Researchers have identified four celestial events in Homer's Odyssey that match astronomical patterns, suggesting a total solar eclipse occurred on April 16, 1178 BCE. This could help date the fall of Troy and shed new light on Odysseus' journey.
Using total internal reflection microscopy, researchers have observed hundreds of thousands of molecules coming together to form a single HIV particle. The technique allows scientists to study the assembly process in real-time and gain insights into viral behavior.
Researchers at Rockefeller University and the University of Tokyo found that insects use fast-acting ion channels to smell odors, a major break with previous understanding. This new strategy allows for direct detection of odor molecules, bypassing complex biological apparatus previously thought to be necessary.
Scientists at Rockefeller University have pinpointed DEET's molecular target in insects, showing that the widely used bug repellent acts like a chemical cloak, masking human odors. By targeting specific receptors, DEET confuses mosquitoes and prevents bites.
Researchers at Rockefeller University discovered a tiny RNA molecule that helps skin cells form a protective barrier. MicroRNA-203 plays a crucial role in regulating genes outside the cell's nucleus, specifically suppressing the activity of p63 to prevent stem cells from proliferating excessively.
Researchers at Rockefeller University have identified a crucial signaling molecule, BMP6, that maintains cross-talk between skin cells controlling hair growth. This finding suggests that dermal papilla cells receive signals from their microenvironment to regulate key genes and features.
Researchers found that manipulating serotonin receptors can block L-DOPA-induced side effects in advanced Parkinson's disease. The discovery suggests a new approach for developing treatments for this disorder, which is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's.
A recent study from Rockefeller University has discovered the protein NFATc1, which regulates hair growth and maintains stem cell potency. The research suggests that these stem cells do not need prolonged resting periods to maintain their abilities.
Research at Rockefeller University reveals that flies use stereo cues to navigate towards scented targets more accurately when detecting smells with both olfactory organs. By exploiting infrared technology, scientists created an environment where they could visualize and quantify the distribution of smells.
Researchers at Rockefeller University found that elevated CO2 levels within the first five days of birth can alter a fly's carbon dioxide detection circuit. The circuit's genetic plan adjusts to real-world conditions, suggesting a general feature of the olfactory system.
Researchers at Rockefeller University have discovered a new accessory protein called SNMP that plays a crucial role in detecting pheromones. The study reveals that SNMP is essential for neurons to respond to these invisible communication signals, which are involved in behaviors such as recognizing siblings and courting mates.
Researchers have uncovered a new pathway that regulates killer proteins called caspases, which are essential for trimming down heavy sperm to make them better swimmers. This discovery provides insights into the causes of human infertility and opens up opportunities for developing drugs that can alter cell death for therapeutic purposes.
A new study reveals that a single gene, OR7D4, plays a crucial role in determining how people perceive the scent of androstenone, a potent ingredient in male body odor. Variants of this gene can make humans perceive androstenone as sweet or unpleasant, with some unable to detect it at all.
Researchers discovered a unique set of olfactory neurons in mice that are sensitive to carbon dioxide, allowing them to detect the gas. This finding may have significant implications for how animals adapt to increasing atmospheric CO2 levels.
Researchers found that microRNA levels are crucial for maintaining homeostasis during blood cell development, but not the 'slicer' activity of Ago2 protein. The study suggests that low levels of microRNA have distinct effects on different blood cell lineages.
A recent study published in the journal Cell found that the ATM protein plays a crucial role in preventing genetic damage from being passed on to future generations of cells. The protein helps repair double-stranded breaks in DNA and activates checkpoints that prevent damaged cells from dividing.
Scientists at Rockefeller University have identified a key player in the development of left-right asymmetry in the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans. A gene involved in gap junctions establishes communication between neurons on opposite sides, allowing them to coordinate their activity and create permanent differences. This discovery p...
Researchers found that immune response to SOX2 protein protects against myeloma development in patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. This discovery suggests targeting cancer stem cells may be key to preventing or treating myeloma.
New research from Rockefeller University and St. Jude Children’s Hospital shows that a viral protein-derived lysin can prevent middle ear infections in mice by killing the bacteria that cause them. The treatment was 100% effective against secondary infections, which contribute to much of the sickness and death rates during flu season.
Researchers at Rockefeller University successfully differentiated embryonic stem cells into fully functional granule neurons, the most plentiful neuron in the cerebellum. This breakthrough study marks a significant step toward understanding how to regulate embryonic stem cells and potentially use them for cell replacement therapy.
Researchers at Rockefeller University have discovered a new therapeutic target, casein kinase 1, which may lead to treatments for Alzheimer's disease that don't cause harmful side effects. By blocking casein kinase 1, production of beta-amyloid proteins can be reduced without affecting Notch signaling.
New research by Rockefeller University shows that bortezomib can kill multiple myeloma cells in a way that elicits an immune response, potentially enhancing patients' immunity to tumors. The treatment works by exposing heat shock proteins on dying cells, which then activate dendritic cells to present antigens to memory and killer T cells.
Researchers have assembled a genetic portrait of birdlife in the U.S. and Canada, identifying 15 new species that are nearly indistinguishable from human eyes and ears. The team also successfully logged DNA attributes of 87 bat species of Guyana, revealing six new species.
Researchers at Rockefeller University have successfully cloned mice from adult skin stem cells using nuclear transfer, with a success rate of 19 out of 100 attempts. This breakthrough could lead to the creation of personalized embryonic stem cell lines for disease research and treatment.
A new study reveals that autophagy, a cellular process, enhances vaccine effectiveness by presenting antigens on MHC class II molecules to helper T cells. This process is more widespread than previously thought, affecting 50-80% of certain immune cells.
Research from Rockefeller University reveals that unfolded protein response serves a protective role, shielding cells from death. The study focuses on autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa, where unfolded proteins accumulate in the endoplasmic reticulum, indicating their protective mechanism.
Researchers have identified two molecular receptors in fruit flies that detect carbon dioxide, a key factor in attracting blood-feeding insects. This finding could lead to the design of insect repellents to combat global infectious diseases.
Researchers found that HIV-1 infection leads to the loss of immune cells in the gut, which may never return to normal levels. A subset of patients showed only half the normal number of CD4+ effector memory T cells in their GI tracts despite effective antiretroviral therapy.
A new RNA map provides the first comprehensive understanding of how alternative splicing works throughout the genome. The results reveal that specific locations of short RNA snippets affect the regulation of alternative splicing in the brain, with implications for learning, memory, neurological diseases, and cancer biology.
Researchers at Rockefeller University developed a modified HIV virus that can infect both human and monkey cells, paving the way for more effective vaccine testing. By manipulating key proteins, they created a 'simian tropic HIV' (stHIV) that replicates vigorously in primate cells.
Rockefeller University has been awarded a Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) of over $45 million to enhance its infrastructure for translating scientific discoveries into improved health. The award will support translational researchers and train physician-scientists in clinical research.
Researchers at Rockefeller University have uncovered the mechanism by which Yersinia proteins disrupt host cell structure, killing their hosts. A mutation that impairs this process significantly reduces the bacteria's virulence, offering a potential target for new antibiotics.
Researchers uncover a unique population of cells within the sebaceous gland, which produce and maintain the oily mixture called sebum. The discovery sheds new light on how stem cells renew and differentiate, with implications for understanding sebaceous gland disorders.
Researchers discovered that a small fraction of IgG antibodies in IVIG carry sialic acid, responsible for its anti-inflammatory effects. The team enriched IVIG for these molecules, increasing its activity by a factor of ten and paving the way for a new class of therapeutics.
A recent study published in Cell reveals that mice have two proteins working together to protect chromosome ends, suggesting rapid evolution. The findings identify the distinct functions of POT1a and POT1b proteins, which could impact human telomere biology.
A new mathematical method provides a better way to analyze noise by visualizing areas with no sound. Researchers credit this approach for its ability to tease out specific sounds from complex white noise.
Researchers have identified a new protein called PlyPH that can kill anthrax bacteria by bursting their cell walls. This protein has a wide pH range and is highly specific to anthrax bacteria, making it an attractive option for environmental decontamination and treatment.