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Bacteria's hidden traffic control

Researchers have mapped nearly every protein in a bacterial cell for its entire cell cycle, discovering a large number of distinct patterns with subtle spatial and temporal differences. This approach has implications for understanding how bacteria coordinate the timing and location of subcellular processes.

Hidden cell types revealed

A new statistical method for RNA-seq analysis has identified and corrected for hidden structure between cells, revealing new subtypes that may have distinct functions. This breakthrough allows researchers to create more accurate gene-expression profiles and explore cell types in cancers and diseases.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateJan 19, 2015

From single cells to multicellular life

Researchers observed the evolution of simple self-reproducing groups of cells from individual cells, revealing a reproductive division of labour. Cheats that initially exploited others' cooperation eventually became seeds for future generations, leading to the emergence of multicellular organisms with improved fitness.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·DateNov 6, 2014

Cell division discovery could optimise timing of chemotherapy and explain some cancers

Researchers discovered that cell division in mammalian cells synchronises with the body's daily rhythm, known as the circadian clock. This synchronization can help explain why people with disrupted circadian rhythms are more susceptible to cancer and may also inform an optimal timing for administering chemotherapy.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 24, 2014

JCI early table of contents for Jan. 16, 2014

New research reveals that macrophage populations mediate tumor cell removal following monoclonal antibody treatment. Additionally, targeting the p57Kip2 pathway in adults with type 2 diabetes may improve β cell function and expand β cell mass.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJan 16, 2014

A secret to making macrophages

Researchers at Caltech have discovered a new mechanism for creating macrophages by increasing the accumulation of regulatory protein PU.1 through slowed cell division. The process involves an unexpected cycle where cell division slows, allowing higher PU.1 levels to accumulate and prompt macrophage generation.

Type 1 diabetes: Can insulin-producing cells be regenerated?

Researchers have found that pancreatic β cells can be regenerated at least three times using a mechanism that involves the forced activation of the Pax 4 gene. This breakthrough suggests that the pancreas has a virtually inexhaustible source of cells capable of replacing lost β cells, offering new hope for treating Type 1 diabetes.

Researchers find novel mechanism regulating replication of insulin-producing beta cells

Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have discovered a novel mechanism that regulates the replication of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. The findings, published in Diabetes, provide new insights into how to regenerate beta cells and potentially lead to new therapies for Type 1 and 2 diabetes.

New role for the JNK protein

A recent study reveals that the JNK protein controls the cell cycle by regulating key drivers of cell growth. The findings suggest that hyperactive JNK activity may contribute to genomic instability and promote tumor growth.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalNature Cell Biology·DateJul 14, 2010

New screening system for hepatitis C

A new screening system for hepatitis C has been developed by Texas A&M University researchers, allowing for the study of all aspects of the virus's life cycle. The system enables the discovery of small, low-cost molecules that block the HCV life cycle, which could lead to more effective and affordable therapies.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 11, 2010

Stem cells not the only way to fix a broken heart

Researchers have devised a new method to fix a broken heart by coaxing adult heart muscle cells into reentering the cell cycle, allowing them to divide and regenerate healthy heart tissue. The key ingredient is neuregulin1, which may one day be used to treat failing human hearts.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateJul 23, 2009

Novel drug discovery tool could identify promising new therapies for Parkinson's disease

Researchers have developed a novel drug discovery tool that uses baker's yeast to rapidly search for drugs to treat Parkinson's disease. The tool identifies cyclic peptides with protective effects on yeast cells and neurons in an animal model of the disease, offering new hope for treatment breakthroughs.

Regulation of cell proliferation by the OGF-OGFr axis is dependent on nuclear localization signals

The Opioid Growth Factor (OGF) and its receptor (OGFr) play a crucial role in regulating cell proliferation by modulating cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors. The study found that transport of OGFr into the nucleus required two out of three nuclear localization signals, highlighting the importance of this pathway in cancer treatment.

SourceSociety for Experimental Biology and Medicine·JournalExperimental Biology and Medicine·DateApr 23, 2009

'Birth control' for centrioles

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.

SourceRockefeller University Press·JournalJournal of Cell Biology·DateJan 26, 2009

Genetic 'tag team' keeps cells on cycle

Researchers at Duke University have discovered a genetic 'tag team' that regulates the cell cycle, finding that nearly 70% of periodic genes continue to turn on and off without cyclins. The study suggests a new understanding of gene regulation in mammalian cells.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature·DateMay 7, 2008

Steroid hormones regulate the body clock

Research by Nicholas Foulkes and colleagues found that peripheral clocks require cortisol to generate daily rhythms of cell proliferation. Constant levels of cortisol can restore normal cell-division rhythms in cortisol-deficient strains.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateMar 19, 2007

Researchers learn more about ways to regenerate the ear's hearing cells

Scientists have made significant progress in understanding how to regenerate hair cells in the inner ear, a major breakthrough in the quest for new treatments for acquired hearing loss. The study found that blocking the Rb protein can promote hair cell regeneration, with specific areas of the inner ear exhibiting different responses.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 28, 2006