Articles tagged with Extracellular Matrix
Researchers at UNC School of Medicine discovered that the protein Shc plays a vital role in forming new blood vessels through its ability to coordinate signals from growth factors and extracellular matrix. This finding highlights the importance of understanding molecular mechanisms in disease development and treatment.
A team at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology found that tiny pieces of a protein called tenascin-C can bind to specific sites on another protein, helping to construct tissue. These small domains may help stop uncontrolled matrix deposition in conditions like fibrosis, making them potential tools for controlling diseases.
A Wayne State University researcher has found that continuous restructuring of the extracellular matrix, which supports tumor weight, enables highly invasive cancer cells to spread to other parts of the body. The study identified fibronectin and cofilin as crucial components required for this mechanical response.
A study by RUB researchers found that sugar residues in the extracellular matrix control the growth and survival of motoneurons, a type of nerve cell. The study, published in Journal of Neuroscience Research, reveals that certain sugar residues can promote or inhibit neurite growth and cell death.
Stem cells can sense their environment through touch, with deeper penetration into compliant matrices. The study found that softer surfaces allow cells to feel further, while stiffer surfaces limit their reach.
Researchers at Tufts University discovered bioactive peptides that stimulate the healing process by promoting angiogenesis and epithelialization. The peptides, synthesized from collagenase treatment of extracellular matrix, show promise in treating acute and chronic wound healing.
Scientists discovered that blocking a molecule's function decreased bone hardness, causing hearing loss, while reactivating it restored the bone's hardness and hearing. The study reveals a molecular pathway regulating bone matrix properties, which may explain rare hearing disorders and connect to conditions like osteoporosis.
A study published in Developmental Cell sheds light on Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome, a rare genetic disease causing premature aging. Researchers discovered that defects in the extracellular matrix and Wnt signaling pathway contribute to progeria's characteristic symptoms.
Researchers at UT Health Science Center San Antonio will study protein fragments released into the bloodstream following heart attacks to identify those who need more intensive treatment. The goal is to develop a blood test to diagnose which heart attack survivors are at risk of heart failure.
Researchers have developed a novel hydrogel system using multidomain peptides as a biomimetic scaffold, enabling the directed differentiation and function of dental stem cells for targeted dentin-pulp complex regeneration. The material provides high control over nanofiber architecture and better chemical functionality.
Jeffrey A. Hubbell will receive the Elmer Gaden Award, a $1000 prize, and an acknowledgement in an upcoming journal issue. The award lecture will be held on March 15, 2005, at the American Chemical Society's National Meeting in San Diego.
Defects in enzymes responsible for processing dystroglycan protein cause several rare forms of muscular dystrophy. The discovery will help doctors diagnose and provide genetic counseling to patients. It also raises questions about links between muscle physiology and neurobiology, potentially improving understanding of learning and memory.
Researchers found that aggressive melanoma cells leave behind a molecular track in the extracellular matrix that contains information and cues. These cues can cause less aggressive tumor cells to become more aggressive when they interact with the same matrix.