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Virus protein discovery reveals new plant-animal class of cell division disruptors

Researchers have identified a novel plant-animal class of cell division disruptors, including the 17K protein from cereal-infecting viruses. The discovery reveals that these proteins can inhibit host cell growth by disrupting cell division, making them potential targets for controlling viral diseases in humans and crop plants.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 13, 2020

Helping the heart heal itself

Scientists at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered a protein called Meis1 that works with Hoxb13 to stop heart cell division, but deleting both genes can help heart cells regenerate. This finding could lead to new treatments for heart failure and other conditions.

'Make two out of one' -- division of artificial cells

Researchers at Max Planck Institute have achieved unprecedented control over the shape transformations and division process of artificial cells by anchoring low densities of proteins to the cell membranes. This simplified mechanism does not depend on precise molecular interactions, making it a promising tool for synthetic biology.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 24, 2020

How cells assemble their skeleton

Scientists from Heidelberg University discovered the formation of spiral-shaped microtubules using state-of-the-art cryo-EM. The study reveals how the gamma-tubulin ring complex serves as a structural template for microtubule assembly, enabling quick regulation of division and cell growth.

SourceHeidelberg University·JournalNature·DateJan 15, 2020

The protein p38gamma identified as a new therapeutic target in liver cancer

Researchers at CNIC have discovered that the protein p38gamma plays an essential role in initiating cell division in liver cells, making it a promising therapeutic target for liver cancer. The study found that inhibiting p38gamma slows down the development of liver cancer in mice, suggesting potential treatment options.

People can survive organ failure, a review explores how

A review explores how two cell populations respond to organ failure, with one type relying on endoreplication and the other on cell regeneration. This cooperative response allows organs to recover from failure, but also presents tradeoffs that can impact long-term health.

SourceCell Press·JournalTrends in Molecular Medicine·DateMar 29, 2019

Plant cells inherit knowledge of where's up and where's down from mother cell

Researchers at IST Austria found that plant cells inherit knowledge of where is up and down from their mother cell. The directional transport of hormone auxin sets up polarization, but this depends on polar distribution of PIN auxin transporters. Endocytosis and phosphorylation of PIN transporters are crucial for re-establishing polarity.

Defective protein factories in disease

Research unravels mechanism of defective ribosomes causing cellular damage, including DNA mutations and increased cancer protein levels. The discovery provides a solution to Dameshek's Riddle and turns ribosome defects into an attractive target in the fight against cancer.

SourceKU Leuven·JournalCancer Research·DateNov 28, 2018

The protein with the starting gun

Researchers have identified a crucial protein, FtsZ, that triggers bacterial cell division when its concentration reaches a threshold. By studying the gut bacterium E. coli, scientists developed a mathematical model predicting when cell division will commence, providing new insights into this fundamental biological process.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalMolecular Systems Biology·DateNov 28, 2018

Cells decide when to divide based on their internal clocks

A new study reveals that cells decide when to divide based on their internal clocks, with the time of day having a stronger influence than previously thought. The circadian clock continuously influences cell division throughout the day and night, fine-tuning the process by decreasing or accelerating division at different times.

SourceImperial College London·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 16, 2018

Sculpting bacteria into extreme shapes reveals the rugged nature of cell division

Researchers at OIST modified bacterial cells to form elaborate shapes, including stars, triangles, and pentagons, demonstrating the adaptability of bacterial cell division machinery. These findings suggest that geometry is not an obstacle to ring formation and have implications for developing new antibiotics.

Biophysics: Self-centered

Researchers developed a model explaining how the plane of cell division is specified in bacteria Myxococcus xanthus. The critical component PomZ proteins bind to DNA and recruit a cluster, then detach and diffuse, tethering it to the nucleoid. This system ensures accurate division by balancing forces and thermal fluctuations.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateAug 31, 2018

New insights into plants' conquest of land

Researchers at the University of Bristol have revealed insights into how plants evolved from simple aquatic algae to complex, upright forms. The study found that CLAVATA peptides control cell growth and division at plant tips, enabling 3D shapes and multiple directional growth.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJul 19, 2018

Mutation and 3D modeling reveal new structure to cell division process

Researchers at OIST Graduate University challenge cohesin's ring-shaped model by demonstrating that a mutation can't break down the complex, suggesting it may have a different structure. A new hold-and-release model proposes cohesin is like a jaw that holds chromatids in place and then opens to allow chromatin to move.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 2, 2018