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Salk Institute


The Internet and your brain are more alike than you think

Researchers discovered that an algorithm called additive increase, multiplicative decrease (AIMD) is used both in engineered systems like the Internet and biological networks like the human brain. This finding sheds light on how the brain manages information and potentially helps understand learning disabilities.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalNeural Computation·DateFeb 9, 2017

Curb your immune enthusiasm

Researchers found that inhibiting PLSCR1 controls the infected cell's antiviral response, providing long-term protection from immune attack and excessive inflammation. This discovery holds promise for virally delivered treatments, inflammatory conditions, autoimmune disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalNeuron·DateJan 19, 2017

Worms have teenage ambivalence, too

A study by Salk Institute scientists reveals that adolescent roundworms exhibit erratic behavior when seeking food, unlike adult worms which show efficient behavior. This discovery provides insight into the drivers of neurological development and may shed light on human brain function and diseases.

SourceSalk Institute·JournaleNeuro·DateJan 5, 2017

Building a better brain

Scientists at the Salk Institute have developed a 3D mini-brain model grown from human stem cells, which is structurally and functionally more similar to real brains than existing 2D models. This breakthrough model may help understand brain development and neurological diseases like Alzheimer's or schizophrenia.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalCell Reports·DateDec 20, 2016

Turning back time: Salk scientists reverse signs of aging

Researchers at the Salk Institute have discovered that intermittent expression of genes normally associated with an embryonic state can reverse the hallmarks of old age. This approach resulted in the rejuvenation of mice with a premature aging disease, countering signs of aging and increasing their lifespan by 30%. The early-stage work...

SourceSalk Institute·JournalCell·DateDec 15, 2016

The Goldilocks effect in aging research

Scientists found that a balance of telomere elongation and trimming in stem cells is necessary for optimal telomere length. Over-elongated telomeres accumulate DNA damage and can lead to cancer. The study deepens understanding of stem cell biology and has implications for regenerative medicine and aging research.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateDec 5, 2016

Molecular conductors help plants respond to drought

Scientists at the Salk Institute have discovered key molecular conductors in plant stress responses, enabling a better understanding of how plants cope with environmental hardships. By controlling these conductors, researchers can potentially develop new technologies to optimize water use in plants and help agriculture adapt to drought.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalScience·DateNov 3, 2016

Heart disease, leukemia linked to dysfunction in nucleus

A new study reveals that the nuclear membrane acts as an active regulatory structure, influencing gene expression and contributing to diseases like leukemia, heart disease, and aging disorders. The discovery provides insight into the critical role of nucleoporins in regulating genomic sites.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalGenes & Development·DateNov 2, 2016

Targeting fat to treat cancer

A team of researchers at the Salk Institute has found a way to obstruct the creation of fat molecules in cancer cells, stalling their growth. This approach involves inhibiting an enzyme called Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase, which is crucial for lipid synthesis activity.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalNature Medicine·DateOct 12, 2016

Salk scientists map brain's action center

Researchers at Salk Institute created a comprehensive map of the striatum, a lesser-known brain structure that controls movement. The study reveals how patch and matrix neurons coordinate diverse functions, shedding light on long-standing questions about neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalNeuron·DateAug 25, 2016

New mechanism discovered for Alzheimer's risk gene

Researchers at Salk Institute identify a connection between ApoE4 and protein build-up associated with Alzheimer's, providing a possible biochemical explanation for extra ApoE4 causing the disease. They also found that ApoE4 keeps the enzyme HtrA1 from breaking down tau protein, responsible for tau tangles associated with Alzheimer's.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateAug 17, 2016

Disregarded plant molecule actually a treasure

Research by Salk Institute scientists reveals phaseic acid's unexpected role as a plant hormone crucial for drought resistance and survival traits. The study suggests that phaseic acid may inform the development of new, hardier crops to weather climate change-induced natural disasters.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalCell·DateAug 11, 2016

Gauging stem cells for regenerative medicine

Scientists developed guidelines to evaluate laboratory-generated stem cells, finding that no current methods produce truly naïve embryonic cells. The new criteria may aid researchers in achieving this goal, which could benefit both basic research and medical applications of stem cells.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateJul 14, 2016

New neurons reveal clues about an individual's autism

A new study co-led by Salk Institute scientists found that some people with autism spectrum disorder have brains that grow faster than usual, often before diagnosis. The researchers used stem cell reprogramming technologies to model the earliest stages of complex disorders and evaluate potential therapeutic drugs.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·DateJul 7, 2016

Powering up the circadian rhythm

Researchers at the Salk Institute found that REV-ERBα acts as a molecular conductor to regulate thousands of genes, with disruptions to its amplitude affecting metabolism and hormone levels. Studying mice with altered REV-ERBα levels revealed a link between circadian rhythms and glucose and lipid metabolism.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalCell·DateMay 26, 2016

Adult brain prunes branched connections of new neurons

A recent study tracked developing cells in an adult mouse brain, finding that the brain prunes back excess dendrite branches to achieve optimal design. This pruning process may hold implications for understanding neurological disorders such as autism, intellectual disabilities, and schizophrenia.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateMay 2, 2016

Brain guardians remove dying neurons

Salk scientists discovered that specific immune receptors in the brain play a crucial role in clearing both healthy and dying neurons. In their absence, new neurons increased dramatically in certain regions, suggesting that these receptors may also target living but dysfunctional cells.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalNature·DateApr 6, 2016

Fighting liver fibrosis, the wound that never heals

The Salk Institute has identified a drug called JQ1 that prevents and reverses liver fibrosis in animals, a condition that replaces normal liver cells with scar tissue until the organ no longer works. This discovery may also treat fibrosis in other organs such as the lung, pancreas, and kidney.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 8, 2015