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Mouse can do without man's most treasured genes

Researchers found that 22% of essential human genes are nonessential in mice, and this discrepancy affects waste management. The study's results suggest that efficient waste management became increasingly important as life span increased in humans, making certain genes more essential.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 14, 2008

New target for Alzheimer's disease identified

Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have found that modulating enkephalin peptides in the brain may reduce cognitive deficits seen in Alzheimer's disease. Increased levels of preproenkephalin mRNA and enkephalins in brain regions affected by AD were observed, suggesting a potential new therapy target.

New approach to limiting organ damage in sickle cell disease

A new study found that bosentan prevents experimentally induced vaso-occlusive crises in a mouse model of SCD, reducing blood vessel resistance and preventing organ damage. Bosentan may provide a new way to limit VOCs and thereby reduce mortality and morbidity in individuals with Sickle Cell Disease.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateApr 1, 2008

Hopkins team develops first mouse model of schizophrenia

Researchers created a genetically engineered mouse that models both anatomical and behavioral defects of schizophrenia, a complex brain disorder. The new mouse is based on a genetic change in the DISC1 gene, which affects nerve cell function, and shows characteristic defects in brain structure and behavior.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 30, 2007

Mouse model advances understanding of synovial sarcoma

Scientists have developed a mouse model for synovial sarcoma, revealing that the tumor arises from skeletal muscle precursor cells called myoblasts. The study also showed that expression of a chimeric fusion protein called SYT-SSX in these cells is sufficient to induce synovial sarcoma with 100% penetrance.

SourceCell Press·JournalCancer Cell·DateApr 9, 2007

Study provides first look at the 'birth' of a retina cell

Researchers have identified NRL as the earliest marker of rod precursors, allowing them to pinpoint the exact time at which rods are formed. This discovery provides a new vantage point for understanding healthy visual system development and raises the possibility of re-directing cell production to stave off eye disease.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 5, 2006

Better model of deadly brain cancer

Researchers at Howard Hughes Medical Institute have created a mouse model of medulloblastoma, a common childhood brain cancer. The study found that mice lacking the XRCC4 gene or both XRCC4 and p53 died early from tumors, which displayed genetic abnormalities characteristic of human medulloblastomas. This new model will help understand...

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 26, 2006

Discoveries should aid research into cause of ALS

Researchers discovered a mechanism by which misfolded SOD1 proteins form aggregates that kill motor neurons in ALS. The normal form of SOD1 is recruited to participate in disease formation through intermolecular disulfide bonds, providing potential sites for therapeutic intervention.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 25, 2006