Researchers have discovered a new role for amyloids in memory storage. They found that Orb2 protein self-aggregates form biochemically active aggregates at synapses, promoting synaptic translation and memory persistence. This finding challenges the traditional view of amyloids as neurotoxic structures.
Researchers from the Stowers Institute for Medical Research have discovered that BRK kinase binds to and leads to the breakdown of SMAD4, a key tumor suppressor protein. This finding suggests that targeting BRK may help retain SMAD4 function, reducing or stopping tumor growth in breast cancer.
Researchers discovered that different mechanisms govern chromosome interaction with the synaptonemal complex, particularly for sex chromosomes like X. The findings highlight the importance of structural features over primary amino acid sequences and suggest a chromosome-specific aspect to human meiotic defects.
Researchers discover that abnormally small epithelial cells can dissociate from each other, leading to geometric effects on tissue packing. The study provides insights into the role of cell size variation in human disease progression, particularly in tumorigenesis.
Scientists have used super-resolution microscopy to identify physical connections between five human chromosomes, revealing a shared sequence encoding ribosomal DNA that holds the chromosomes together. The findings suggest that these inter-chromosomal linkages are pervasive in healthy and diseased tissue, and may play a role in chromos...
Researchers discovered that ribosomes in human cells destroy healthy mRNAs, affecting protein production and regulating gene expression. This discovery may lead to a better understanding of gene misregulation in human diseases.
Researchers have created a novel way to define individual protein associations using the topological scoring (TopS) algorithm. This approach helps identify proteins that come together in biological processes, allowing for better understanding of how proteins perform functions and interact with each other.
Researchers have identified two functional populations of hematopoietic stem cells: 'primed' and 'reserve', which act under normal conditions and during times of stress, respectively. The reserve cells are protected by N-cadherin+ bone-lining cells, which provide survival factors to support their function.
Researchers identified 'navigator' neurons that play a key role in establishing the olfactory map and correcting faulty connections. These neurons, which only exist during early development, undergo exuberant axon growth and have distinct molecular signatures.
A new study reveals that Hox genes play a role in regulating the body plan of radially symmetrical animals like sea anemones. The research found that disrupting Hox gene function led to defects in segmentation and tentacle patterning, suggesting an ancestral role for these genes in controlling body development.
Researchers have identified a way to expand blood-forming adult stem cells from human umbilical cord blood, increasing their availability for transplant patients. This breakthrough could lead to more people being able to receive life-saving treatments without a suitable bone marrow match.
Researchers developed a logic-based model incorporating information about developmental signaling pathways to predict disease progression and outcome in neuroblastoma. The model proved accurate in predicting outcomes in children less than 2 years old with 91% accuracy.
Researchers developed a new assay to measure nucleation, the first step in prion transformation, allowing them to distinguish between proteins with prion behavior and those without. This approach may help understand prions associated with diseases as well as their role in normal biological processes.
Researchers at Stowers Institute for Medical Research have isolated a regenerative cell capable of regrowing entire organisms. By combining genomics, single-cell analysis, flow cytometry, and imaging techniques, they targeted the elusive cell, which is a subtype of adult pluripotent stem cells, to discover its secrets.
Researchers at Stowers Institute for Medical Research discovered a global regulatory element within the Hoxb cluster that controls its expression in blood-forming stem cells. This mechanism helps maintain normal hematopoiesis and prevents acute myeloid leukemia by regulating Hoxb cluster genes in a methylation-dependent manner.
Researchers at the Stowers Institute have solved the three-dimensional structure of the synaptonemal complex, a critical protein complex that ensures proper chromosome sorting during meiosis. The structure is composed of two railroad tracks stacked on top of each other, connecting homologous chromosomes and ensuring smooth cell division.
A study by the Stowers Institute for Medical Research found that cancer cells often lose copies of repetitive sequences known as ribosomal DNA, which may enable faster proliferation but also render them more sensitive to DNA damage. This could potentially be exploited by DNA-damaging chemotherapeutics.
Researchers discovered a genetic survival strategy in fission yeast that uses a 'poison' to eliminate competition, but also keeps an 'antidote' for its own transmission. This mechanism, found in the wtf4 gene, can lead to infertility and has potential applications in eradicating pest populations or facilitating desirable traits.
Researchers at Stowers Institute for Medical Research discovered direct cross-regulatory feedback between Nanog and Hox genes, which regulate pluripotency and differentiation. This study provides important insight into tissue formation processes and holds relevance for regenerative medicine and cancer therapy.
Recent research from the Stowers Institute for Medical Research reveals that polymerase pauses prevent other machines from immediately following, thereby controlling the flow of genetic information. Paused polymerases keep new polymerases from initiating transcription, maintaining a controlled pace during gene expression.
Researchers at Stowers Institute for Medical Research used topological data analysis to identify new insights into the organization of complicated protein interaction networks. The study revealed topological network modules composed of proteins with shared properties, providing insight into biological functions and disease mechanisms.
A new report from the Stowers Institute for Medical Research has discovered that adult planarian stem cells called neoblasts arise during a specific stage of embryonic development. These cells retain the ability to access embryonic developmental programs during adulthood, allowing them to drive regeneration of lost body parts.
Stowers researchers discovered that DNA enhancers engage in an ongoing contest between activation and repression, resulting in a different epigenetic state of histone proteins. This finding clarifies the often misunderstood role of repression in DNA enhancers and its importance as an action.
Researchers at the Stowers Institute discovered Orb2's role in encoding memory and forming long-term memory in fruit flies. The protein's prion-like ability transforms into clusters under certain conditions, which helps stabilize memories.
Researchers found that a dramatic shift in the microbial community of planaria robs it of regenerative abilities, similar to observed shifts in human inflammatory disorders. The study provides a valuable model for understanding the interplay between immunity and regeneration.
Researchers at Stowers Institute have identified a key molecule, EGFR-3, that directs planarian stem cells to make copies of themselves. The discovery has important implications for advancing regenerative medicine and developing effective cancer therapies.
Scientists at Stowers Institute for Medical Research discovered a unifying cellular mechanism underlying Treacher Collins syndrome, a rare congenital disorder. Loss-of-function mutations in genes TCOF1, POLR1C, and POLR1D cause the condition, which affects craniofacial development and survival of progenitor neural crest cells.
Researchers at Stowers Institute have mapped where genetic recombination occurs in fruit flies, providing insights into understanding chromosomes and inheritance mechanisms. The study reveals separate mechanisms for crossovers and non-crossovers, with varying distributions and rules for each chromosome arm.
High-arched palate is under-researched, but researchers developed a reliable technique using a mouse model of Treacher Collins syndrome to study its genetic aspects. The study found that TCS mice exhibited high-arched palates and provided significant criteria for defining the condition.
Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery about the role of enzymes in regulating chromatin, which plays a crucial role in planarian stem cell differentiation. The study found that specific enzymes, Set1 and MLL1/2, target genes involved in cilia formation, suggesting that defects in these processes may be linked to various huma...
Researchers at Stowers Institute discover that Orb2 protein transforms from repressor to activator, solidifying and strengthening memory connections in the brain. This biochemical mechanism may underlie how fleeting experiences create enduring memories.
The study reveals how the Gtl2 locus, located on mouse chromosome 12qF1, restricts metabolic activity in hematopoietic stem cells to prevent oxidative damage. The researchers found that non-coding RNAs produced by the Gtl2 locus suppress mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolism, reducing reactive oxygen species and preventing cell death.
Researchers at Stowers Institute have discovered a protein complex called SESAME that links glycolysis to chromatin modification, suggesting a potential target for detecting and treating cancers. The study's findings may also shed light on the relationship between cellular metabolism and gene expression in humans.
A team of researchers has developed a novel optical technique to resolve individual components of spindle pole body (SPB) duplication in living yeast cells, uncovering surprising facts about this nanoscale process. The study reveals that SPB duplication begins near the end of mitosis and forms structures not previously seen.
Researchers studied zebrafish to understand how support cells contribute to hair cell regeneration after damage or death. Approximately half of the dividing support cells differentiated into hair cells, while the rest self-renewed, maintaining a reserve force for regenerative action.
Researchers discovered how elongin A morphs between roles as facilitator and destroyer in response to stress and DNA damage. This understanding sheds light on diseases like cancer where genes are improperly turned on or off.
Researchers at Stowers Institute for Medical Research developed a new method to precisely map individual transcription factor binding sites in the genome. The technique, called ChIP-nexus, uses an enzyme to trim back DNA fragments to the spot where transcription factors bind, providing more accurate information than existing methods.
A new approach, called an evolutionary trap, steers cells into one evolutionary path while shutting off others, then knocks out the cell population for good. The strategy may be applied to various clinical scenarios where drug resistance is a problem.
Researchers discovered that Topoisomerase II is required to resolve DNA threads connecting homologous chromosomes, allowing them to separate. Without this enzyme, chromosomes get stuck together, preventing meiosis from completing and resulting in infertility and birth defects.
Scientists at the Stowers Institute discovered that megakaryocytes, a type of 'mega' cell in bone marrow, regulate stem cells to produce platelets and other blood cells. This finding could lead to new treatments for patients recovering from chemotherapy or organ transplantation.
Researchers found that 90% of misfolded protein aggregates form on the ER surface, dependent on active protein synthesis and ribosome activity. The aggregation is regulated by mitochondria, which play a key role in confining the aggregates to the mother cell during asymmetric cell division.
A study by the Stowers Institute for Medical Research reveals that the sea lamprey, a jawless vertebrate, exhibits a pattern of gene expression reminiscent of its jawed cousins, indicating that the genetic program used by jawed vertebrates was up and running ages before they possessed recognizable faces. This finding suggests that regu...
Mutations in histone H3.3 drive cancer by repressing PRC2 and recruiting demethylases like KDM3B. This alters chromatin structure, allowing oncogenes to be derepressed, potentially leading to tumorigenesis. The specific role of these mutations remains an open question.
Researchers have shown that injecting a weakened version of the anaerobic bacteria Clostridium novyi can shrink tumors in rats, dogs, and a human patient. The bacteria excise tumor tissue in a precise, localized way that spares surrounding normal tissue.
Adult stem cells in fruit flies undergo self-renewal and differentiation through competition between Bam and COP9 proteins. This study reveals the molecular mechanisms controlling balance between these functions, which could inform therapies to regenerate diseased tissue.
Stowers researchers identified two classes of pheromone receptors that help male mice detect female presence and ovulation, essential for triggering the mating process. The findings provide new insight into how the mammalian brain processes sensory information like pheromones to elicit courtship behaviors.
A team of scientists identified a key regulator called FoxA that drives pharynx regeneration in planarian worms. The study reveals how stem cells sense loss of a structure and rebuild it, shedding light on the mechanisms behind regeneration in these animals.
Researchers at Stowers Institute for Medical Research identify a critical developmental window of one week after birth for establishing proper olfactory neuron connections. After this period, regenerated neurons lose the capacity to make correct connections and may become mis-wired.
A genome-wide analysis of genes that drive cell division in a multicellular organism has been conducted, revealing over 300 genes differentially expressed during the G1 and G2 phases. The study provides a searchable resource for scientists and citizens to explore gene expression in wing discs and cultured cells.
Researchers suggest that far-flung genome mutations could activate cancer-causing genes by disrupting enhancer function. The study found that MLL family proteins play a crucial role in regulating gene expression at enhancers, and that mutations in these proteins can promote oncogenesis.