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Scientists get the drop on the cell's nucleus

Researchers have developed a novel strategy to measure material properties of the cell nucleus and its components using naturally occurring cellular dynamics. The study shows that human nucleoli behave like liquid droplets, which can influence disease progression, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

SourceNew York University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateOct 5, 2018

New micro-platform reveals cancer cells' natural behavior

Researchers developed a new cell culture platform to observe cancer cells' never-before-seen behaviors, revealing the mechanisms behind pancreatic cancer's clinical properties. The study shows that cancer cells can self-organize into micro-tumors and evade the immune system by releasing chemical markers on their surfaces.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalScientific Reports·DateSep 19, 2018

Protocell guests flee the nest

Scientists at the University of Bristol have developed protocell communities that can exhibit cooperative and antagonistic behavior by responding to a chemical signal. The study demonstrates a new approach to creating synthetic soft materials with life-like properties.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 7, 2018

Organ regeneration is no longer a distant dream

Researchers at Osaka University have clarified the cellular mechanism behind left-right asymmetric organ morphogenesis using live imaging and computer simulations. The team discovered that 'cell sliding' is essential for this process, which may lead to breakthroughs in regenerating organs with tubular structures.

Curve-eye-ture: How to grow artificial corneas

Researchers developed a new technique to grow artificial corneas with improved transparency and strength by controlling the alignment of cells in a dish. This breakthrough could provide a solution for the shortage of donated corneal tissues and offer a practical alternative to plastic corneas.

SourceNewcastle University·JournalAdvanced Biosystems·DateOct 19, 2017

How to hack a cell

A new study by Boston University engineer Wilson Wong outlines a simplified platform to target and program mammalian cells as genetic circuits, enabling researchers to make complex computations. The BLADE platform uses DNA recombinases to allow for more targeted manipulation of cells and their behavior.

SourceBoston University College of Engineering·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateApr 4, 2017

New understanding of chronic lung inflammatory diseases unfolding

A comprehensive review article explores cytokine regulation of fibroblast behavior and extracellular matrix in the lung, shedding light on chronic inflammation. The study highlights the role of metabolic changes, age, and epigenetic mechanisms in affecting fibroblast activity and immune system cell populations.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalJournal of Interferon & Cytokine Research·DateMar 23, 2017

When green means stop

Researchers at IST Austria create a novel optogenetic receptor that responds to green light, allowing for the rapid control of cellular behavior in defined spaces. The new tool enables scientists to study cellular signaling pathways and their role in human disorders without constant exposure to light.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateMar 22, 2017

Researchers imitate molecular crowding in cells

Chemists from the University of Basel have successfully simulated molecular crowding in artificial vesicles, offering insights into the development of nanoreactors and artificial organelles. The study reveals that the crowding effect influences enzymatic kinetics, enabling specific control over chemical reactions.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalSmall·DateMar 1, 2017

Cell phone conversations hinder child pedestrian crossing abilities -- Ben Gurion U. study

A study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev found that cell phone conversations significantly impact children's ability to safely cross roads, slowing their reaction times and reducing visual attention. The study suggests that increasing public awareness among young pedestrians can help improve road safety.

Thermal microscopy of single cells

A team of researchers developed a new imaging approach that provides images of a single cell with micrometer resolution using a contrast based on the cell's thermal properties. This technique allows for unprecedented sensitivity in detecting diseased conditions at the sub-cell scale and may aid in optimizing cryopreservation processes.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateDec 29, 2015

Parasitism runs deep in malaria's family tree

Researchers at University of British Columbia discover that parasites in the apicomplexan family evolved to become parasites earlier than thought, with some relatives being photosynthetic algae. Advanced genomic analysis and observations of cell structure and behavior reveal a more complex evolutionary history.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 23, 2015

Cell behavior in low oxygen conditions mapped

A new study at the University of Liverpool explains how cells adapt to low oxygen environments, potentially controlling cell survival signals. By monitoring protein levels and gene expression, researchers discovered optimal conditions for keeping cells alive, which could lead to cancer treatment advancements.

SourceUniversity of Liverpool·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateFeb 20, 2014

Protein changes are discovered that control whether a gene functions

A Penn State-led research team found that histone protein changes can control whether a gene functions, with the potential to maintain genetic expression and prevent disease. The study's findings have significant implications for the study of diseases like cancer and understanding cellular behavior.

SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 6, 2013

New material system permits 3-D patterning to regulate stem cell behavior

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University developed a new material system that permits 3D patterning to regulate stem cell behavior, offering promise for studying influences on cell fate decisions. The technique enables local control over cell proliferation and differentiation, potentially allowing the engineering of complex tissues.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateApr 11, 2013

What sea squirts can teach us about the heart

Researchers study sea squirts' simple body structure to unravel complex mechanisms of heart formation, shedding light on GATA's role in congenital heart defects. Disrupting GATA function independently in the developing gut preserves heart cell identity, while disrupting it in heart precursor cells causes limbo-like state.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalDevelopmental Biology·DateApr 8, 2011

Researchers make the leap to whole-cell simulations

A team of researchers has built a computer model of a bacterial cell's crowded interior, accurately simulating the behavior of living cells in response to environmental stimuli. By analyzing the distribution of molecules within the cell, they found that molecular crowding affects individual molecule movement and chemical reactions.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateMar 30, 2011

Hopkins researchers use light to move molecules

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have developed a tool that uses light to move and interact with individual molecules in living cells. This allows for greater control over cellular processes, enabling scientists to study the role of specific proteins and their interactions in cell behavior.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMar 16, 2011

'Prima donna' protein doesn't work well in pairs

Researchers find that kinesins, powerful cargo-moving proteins, struggle to coordinate their efforts when paired, leading to inconsistent cargo transport. This discovery sheds light on the complex mechanisms governing intracellular transport and its link to neurodegenerative diseases.

SourceRice University·JournalBiophysical Journal·DateNov 5, 2010

Researchers find cells move in mysterious ways

A new study by Brown University and Caltech scientists reveals how cells interact with their environment, including the force exerted on tissues as they move. The research provides the most complete assessment to date of cell movement in three dimensions.

SourceBrown University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 16, 2009

Brown scientists take the petri dish to new dimensions

A team of Brown University biomedical engineers has invented a 3-D Petri dish that can grow cells in three dimensions, enabling the quick and cheap production of realistic cells for drug development and tissue transplantation. The technique employs a new dish made from a sugary substance that allows cells to self-assemble naturally and...

SourceBrown University·JournalTissue Engineering·DateSep 19, 2007

Renegade RNA -- Clues to cancer and normal growth

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have discovered a tiny piece of genetic code, miR-29b, that moves far away from the cell's protein-making machinery. This finding reveals that microRNAs contain hidden elements that control their behavior in cells, opening up new possibilities for gene regulation and cancer research.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalScience·DateJan 4, 2007

New NIAID program aims to model immune responses and key infectious diseases

The Program in Systems Immunology and Infectious Disease Modeling (PSIIM) aims to understand complex biochemical networks regulating interactions between pathogens and human cells. The program employs Simmune software to simulate biological systems, enabling scientists to predict how drugs affect cell behavior and develop new treatments.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateJul 12, 2006