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Type 1 diabetes patients have lower blood levels of 4 proteins that protect against immune attack

Researchers found that type 1 diabetes patients have significantly lower levels of four proteins (IL8, IL-1Ra, MCP-1, and MIP-1β) that help protect against immune attack. These findings suggest a potential protein cocktail that could aid in disease diagnosis and management, as well as new therapeutic strategies.

SourceMedical College of Georgia at Augusta University·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateJul 29, 2015

Researchers find molecular mechanisms within fetal lungs that initiate labor

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified two proteins responsible for initiating the labor process, which control genes for pulmonary surfactant components that promote labor. Surfactant is essential for normal breathing outside the womb. Understanding these molecular mechanisms may help prevent preterm birth.

SourceUT Southwestern Medical Center·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJun 22, 2015

Cataract culprits

University of Delaware researchers have identified two genes linked to cataract formation. Deficiency in these genes leads to lens clouding and cataract development without aging or radiation exposure required. The study could contribute to interventions that delay or prevent cataract formation.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalHuman Genetics·DateJun 18, 2015

A tale of two roads into protein unfolding

Researchers used nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering to study the effects of high pressure and urea on protein unfolding. They found that while both methods cause proteins to unfold, they do so through different mechanisms, leading to distinct intermediate proteins.

SourcePublicase International·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 11, 2015

Scientists uncover gene 'architects' responsible for body's blueprint

Researchers have discovered two protein 'architects', MOZ and BMI1, which play opposing roles in guiding embryonic development. These proteins regulate Hox gene expression, ensuring the correct formation of body segments and tissues. The study sheds new light on how environmental factors can impact early embryo development.

SourceWalter and Eliza Hall Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 13, 2015

Getting yeast to pump up the protein production

Scientists at Northwestern University have found a way to harvest industrially useful protein from yeast in greater quantities without increasing its production. By genetically knocking out proteins responsible for reabsorption, the team increased protein yields by two- to three-fold.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalBiotechnology and Bioengineering·DateFeb 2, 2015

Duality in the human genome

Scientists at Max Planck Institute find millions of gene forms, 85% genes without predominant form, and 4,000 disease genes. The dual nature of human genomes reveals individual diversity in interactions between genes.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 28, 2014

Re-learning how to read a genome

A recent study suggests that genes and regulatory elements share a common architecture in their reading processes, with the main differences occurring after the initial step. This unified model could provide insight into how genes evolve and shed light on the evolutionary origins of new genes.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalNature Genetics·DateNov 10, 2014

A new angle on infertility

A single mutation in the beta-catenin gene can lead to abnormalities in sexual organ morphology, making natural reproduction impossible. The study found that this mutation affects specific tissues, causing malformations that prevent successful reproduction.

SourceRIKEN·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 7, 2014

Efficient genetic editing

Researchers at Harvard University have developed a method to efficiently deliver genome-editing proteins into cells, bypassing the need for DNA delivery. The new system uses commercially-available cationic lipids to introduce proteins into cells, offering hope for treating genetic diseases, including deafness.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateOct 31, 2014

Artificial cells act like the real thing

Researchers design a network-like cell system that reproduces dynamic behavior of protein synthesis, allowing for control over genetic content and protein production. The system enables the study of gene network design and emerging protein dynamics, potentially paving the way for controlling protein synthesis for various applications.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalScience·DateAug 18, 2014

New tools advance bio-logic

Researchers at Rice University and the University of Kansas Medical Center have developed modular genetic circuits that can handle multiple chemical inputs simultaneously. These new tools allow scientists to design synthetic cells for specific tasks, such as biofuel production, environmental remediation, and disease treatment.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Synthetic Biology·DateAug 4, 2014

Many bodies prompt stem cells to change

Researchers use mathematical tool to analyze gene networks and determine transition pathways between steady states, providing insight into how stem cells differentiate. The study builds on previous theories, incorporating the role of protein binding to DNA in gene expression.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 16, 2014

Insights into the geometry of genetic coding

Researchers from RIKEN and the University of Tokyo identified a surprising mechanism for accurate protein synthesis through crystallographic studies. The enzyme alanyl-tRNA synthetase precisely identifies proper tRNA molecules using a geometric feature, allowing cells to accurately translate genetic code into essential proteins.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature·DateJun 11, 2014

Virus rounds up enzymes, disarms plant

Researchers discovered how a plant-virus protein suppresses a key plant defense mechanism that remembers viral genetic information. The enzyme cluster formation caused by TGBp1 disrupts the recording of viral genetic information, reducing plant resistance to infection.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalThe Plant Cell·DateMay 30, 2014