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Pediatric brain tumors

Researchers have discovered that the regulatory protein FoxM1 is crucial for the growth of malignant childhood brain tumors, medulloblastomas. The level of FoxM1 expressed in tumor cells significantly correlates with patient survival time, making it a useful prognostic marker to guide treatment strategies.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalClinical Cancer Research·DateSep 19, 2011

Researchers identify new drug target that stimulates

JDRF-funded researchers identify a protein and chemical compound that stimulate beta cell growth, providing a new drug target for diabetes treatment. The discovery may lead to the development of tests to measure beta cell number using Tmem27 fragments as a biomarker.

SourceJDRF·JournalCell Metabolism·DateSep 6, 2011

The brain grows while the body starves

Researchers have identified a key gene that enables the brain to continue growing while other organs shut down in fetal development. This genetic link may hold clues for understanding intra-uterine growth restriction and its potential links to metabolic disease later in life.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateAug 4, 2011

How muscle develops: A dance of cellular skeletons

Muscle cell fusion is crucial for understanding normal muscle growth and regeneration after injury or disease. Johns Hopkins researchers discovered the role of a regulatory protein called Blown Fuse in facilitating muscle cell merging by disrupting the WASP-WIP protein duo, which regulates cytoskeleton dynamics.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateJun 3, 2011

'Catch-up' growth signals revealed

Scientists at the University of Michigan have identified a crucial biochemical pathway involved in catch-up growth, which is triggered by changes in oxygen levels. The research has implications for understanding why babies who experience catch-up growth are at higher risk for later life health problems.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalDevelopment·DateJan 27, 2011

Nanotech medicine

Researchers at EUREKA have developed a new laser-based technology to create nano-structured polymers that enable faster and more efficient growth of human skin cells. This innovation has the potential to revolutionize nanotech medicine, allowing for the creation of artificial implants and tissue engineering.

SourceEUREKA·DateJan 18, 2011

Microsensors offer first look at whether cell mass affects growth rate

University of Illinois researchers developed microsensors that can track individual cells' masses and divisions over time. They found that cells grow faster as they grow heavier, rather than at a fixed rate throughout the cell cycle. The sensors also allow for imaging and tracking of cellular processes in conjunction with changes in mass.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 15, 2010

How the dragon got its 'snap'

Researchers use snapdragon flower as model to study genetic and chemical cues that shape biological structures, revealing key role of genes in controlling cell growth and orientation. The study also suggests evolutionary tinkering played a role in shaping complex forms.

SourceNorwich BioScience Institutes·JournalPLOS Biology·DateNov 9, 2010

Scorpion has welcome sting for heart bypass patients

Researchers have discovered a potent toxin in scorpion venom that can prevent neointimal hyperplasia, a leading cause of heart bypass graft failure. The compound, margatoxin, is up to 100 times more effective than other known inhibitors, offering new hope for patients undergoing bypass surgery.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalCardiovascular Research·DateOct 22, 2010

Your body recycling itself -- captured on film

McGill researchers discovered how cells identify and recycle proteins by capturing an image of the UBR box component. This finding holds promise for understanding and treating Johanson-Blizzard syndrome, a rare disease causing deformations and mental retardation.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateSep 13, 2010

A strategy to fix a broken heart

Engineers and physicians at the University of Washington have developed a scaffold that supports the growth and integration of stem cell-derived cardiac muscle cells. The scaffold accelerates oxygen and nutrient supply to transplanted tissue, promoting heart repair and vascular tissue engineering.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 9, 2010

Constant overlap

Scientists at EMBL identified two proteins, PRC1 and kinesin-4, that control the formation and size of microtubule overlaps in the spindle. This adaptive mechanism ensures the overlap remains constant without affecting microtubules elsewhere in the cell.

The secret of life may be as simple as what happens between the sheets -- mica sheets

The 'life between the sheets' hypothesis proposes that structured compartments formed between layers of mica could have sheltered and evolved pre-life molecules. Mica's unique properties make it an ideal environment for life to emerge, with its ability to withstand wet/dry cycles and provide a stable surface for cells to develop.

SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalJournal of Theoretical Biology·DateAug 5, 2010

Scientists find direct line from development to growth

Researchers at Duke University have identified a direct connection between plant development and growth, revealing that the Short-root protein controls the activity of genes involved in cell division. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of growth and development in plants and potentially other species.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature·DateJun 30, 2010

Flower power: Marking winners and losers

A new study reveals that a protein called Flower marks weaker cells for elimination, allowing fitter neighbors to dominate. This process of cell competition may provide insight into pathological conditions like cancer and aging.

SourceCell Press·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateJun 14, 2010

'Junk DNA' drives cancer growth

Researchers at University of Leeds and Charité University Medical School have discovered that 'junk' DNA promotes cancer cell growth in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma. Long terminal repeats (LTRs) are a form of genetic material that can activate cancer genes, leading to the growth of cancer cells.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalNature Medicine·DateMay 2, 2010