Researchers found that severe asthma patients produce growth factors that block corticosteroids from working, leading to frequent breathing problems. This discovery may lead to new treatments targeting these growth factors to improve outcomes for patients with severe asthma.
A gene associated with Nascimento Syndrome triggers cells' defenses against environmental attacks by modifying proteins under stress. Rad6, a master regulator of this process, helps cells adapt to stressful conditions, shedding light on the disease's progression.
Scientists have discovered a small molecule that bypasses ADAR1 suppression and directly activates tumor cell death by ZBP1, inducing highly immunogenic cell death and destroying fibroblasts supporting tumor growth. This approach has the potential to improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy in treating therapy-resistant tumors.
Scientists found that lithium chloride can cause X-inactivation loss in female hESCs, leading to cell death. The study suggests a possible new model for regulating X-inactivation and warns against using GSK-3 inhibitors like lithium.
The study reveals that ZNG1 is a protein that puts zinc into other 'client' proteins, playing a crucial role in regulating cellular zinc homeostasis. ZNG1's identification opens up a new area of biology for exploration and may be one of the most important regulatory strategies by which humans cope with severe zinc starvation.
Researchers found microbes influence which genes are used for fat digestion and absorption, leading to changes in epithelial cells. The study also showed microbes promote lipid absorption and impact systemic processes like weight gain.
Researchers created a zebrafish model to study Bloom syndrome, uncovering similarities and species-specific novelties. The study found reduced fertility and shorter lifespan in mutant zebrafish, which are entirely male.
A collaboration between researchers identified crucial minerals regulating gene expression to control tissue renewal and growth. Minerals such as silicon, magnesium, and lithium induce endochondral ossification by turning on key genes, leading to the transformation of stem cells into bone cells.
Researchers found that individuals with a diverse population of macrophage cells, which include M2 and regulatory macrophages, are better protected against severe COVID-19. The study suggests that a balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses is key to preventing the worst symptoms.
Researchers at Princeton University demonstrate how specialized genetic sequences coordinate gene expression during early fly embryonic development. Tethering elements bring distant genes together in three-dimensional space, facilitating their co-expression.
Researchers have discovered a new sleep molecule, microRNA-137 (miR-137), that regulates hypocretin levels for normal sleep. The study found that miR-137 is associated with hypocretin regulation and sleep disorders such as narcolepsy and insomnia.
A study found that small genetic variations impact an organism's ability to utilize energy from various nutrients. Researchers identified several genes contributing to sugar tolerance in fruit flies, which are also present in humans and linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Scientists have identified over 100 phosphorylation sites with regulatory potential on RNA-binding proteins, including RBM20, which plays a crucial role in titin synthesis and heart muscle diseases. These findings provide insight into the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression.
A new study from MIT suggests that genome loops, which were believed to play a crucial role in controlling gene expression, are actually short-lived and fleeting. The researchers found that these loops only exist for about 3-6% of the time and last for only 10-30 minutes.
Researchers identified a signature of nonresponse to CAR T therapy in leukemia cells, characterized by DNA methylation and stem cell-like phenotypes. Decreased expression of genes involved in antigen presentation also hindered the immune response.
Researchers identified genes and epigenomic marks that enable cancer cells to resist chemotherapy. By inhibiting these marks, epi-drugs can restore treatment sensitivity. Future clinical trials aim to adapt this concept for human use.
Scientists have discovered a novel protein NDB1 that inactivates MYB1, a key regulator of nitrogen assimilation in plants. This finding could lead to improved biomass production and crop yields by manipulating NDB1. Researchers are now exploring the potential to boost plant growth through NDB1 manipulation.
Researchers developed a MOF-based system for delivering DNA into target cells, overcoming challenges in gene therapy. The tiny structures protected genetic cargo and helped ferry it into the nucleus, where gene activity takes place.
Australian researchers have discovered a new neurodevelopmental disorder linked to the tumor suppressor gene FBXW7. The condition causes mild to severe developmental delay, intellectual disability, and other symptoms, with genetic variations in this gene found in 28 individuals from 32 families worldwide.
Researchers have uncovered a collaboration between RNA decay and chromatin regulating complexes that work together to control the levels of transposable element RNAs, preventing genetic instability. The study reveals an unprecedented mechanism of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation.
Researchers developed a new method, EpiDamID, to analyze single cells and determine the location of modified proteins around which DNA is wrapped. This technique helps understand how PTMs affect gene expression and has implications for early development and disease research.
A genetic disease in children, CHARGE syndrome causes intellectual disability, attention deficit disorder, and autism. The INRS team is studying the gene's impact on brain development to identify potential treatments.
A new mechanism has been discovered that decorates the end tails of RNA molecules in a parasite causing sleeping sickness, preventing their degradation and potentially increasing virulence. This fundamental discovery opens new avenues for treatment strategies for this disease, as well as other RNA-based infections/diseases.
Researchers use stem cells from people with extra X chromosomes to identify key genes contributing to symptoms like infertility and intellectual disability. The study's findings could lead to new treatments for these conditions.
A new study led by Kelly Monaghan at West Virginia University suggests that interrupting the immune response may improve multiple sclerosis outcomes. The researchers found that targeting a specific protein called CCL17 can prevent the disease from attacking the central nervous system, leading to milder symptoms and delayed paralysis.
New research from Rutgers University sheds light on the genetic mechanisms of reproductive disorders, including infertility and miscarriage. The study reveals how the RNA helicase YTHDC2 regulates meiosis, a critical step in egg and sperm development.
Researchers at the University of Bergen found that genes linked to extreme obesity, appetite, and energy consumption regulate child growth. The study, published in Nature Metabolism, provides insight into mechanisms controlling appetite and energy metabolism early in life, potentially leading to better treatment for obesity.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham identified a new gene, Highlander, that regulates self-incompatibility in plants. The discovery opens up new avenues for improving crop yields and resistance to disease.
Researchers at Tohoku University create a novel method to quantify transcription factor activity in live organisms using viruses. This breakthrough enables scientists to understand how diseases develop and potentially treat them.
A recent study found that genetic changes in dogs' brain tissues are primarily about the number of genes affected rather than their function. The researchers discovered that approximately 3,500 genes were differentially expressed between young and old dogs, with most genes showing reduced activity in older animals.
Researchers have described a pioneering chemical technique that can degrade proteins implicated in cancer, potentially increasing the potency and selectivity of new and existing drugs. This technique, known as proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs), targets specific structures within cancerous cells to reduce harmful side effects.
A recent study found that enzyme Dicer plays a crucial role in maintaining the structural integrity of chromosomes. In mammalian cells, Dicer works with protein BRD4 to promote genome stability. Removing Dicer from embryonic stem cells caused chromosome misalignment and cell death.
Researchers identify two genes, GLI1 and Notch1, responsible for aggressive growth and spread of triple negative breast cancers in African American women. A combination approach using inhibitors and chemotherapy agents significantly inhibits tumor growth and metastasis.
Researchers aim to understand why up to 80% of individuals experience temporary or lasting changes in their sense of taste after COVID-19. Preliminary data suggests ACE2 and TMPRSS2 are highly expressed in taste buds, which may explain why these are common targets for the virus.
Researchers developed a novel genetic barcode system to mark cancer cells with different gene modifications and image their characteristics. The Perturb-map platform identified specific genes controlling lung tumor growth, immune composition, and response to immunotherapy, offering new approaches for targeting anti-cancer drugs.
Researchers mapped the molecular changes that orchestrate embryonic mouse cell differentiation into diverse cell types. The study provides a roadmap of mouse embryogenesis, which will help researchers understand the molecular programs controlling cell emergence and tissue organ formation.
Researchers discovered that an inorganic polyphosphate released by nerve cells contributes to the death of motor neurons in people with ALS and frontotemporal dementia. The study found that lowering levels of this toxin may be an innovative therapeutic strategy for diverse types of ALS/FTD.
Researchers discovered that plant volatile signals can warn neighboring plants of herbivore attacks, activating defense genes and increasing resistance. The team found epigenetic mechanisms, including histone acetylation, play a key role in this process.
Aging egg cells accumulate damage to genetic material, preventing maturation and fertilization. Researchers have identified a key process causing this damage and found that anti-viral drugs can reverse it.
A new study reveals that genes inherited from moms and dads play distinct roles in shaping behavior, with certain cells relying on the mother's copy of a gene to produce essential neurotransmitters. This discovery has implications for understanding how parental genetics may influence behavior and related health conditions.
Researchers uncover the pleiotropic functions of hnRNPK in regulating skeletal muscle cell differentiation, including inhibition of myoblast differentiation and suppression of genes involved in endoplasmic reticulum stress. The study suggests that targeting hnRNPK could be a potential therapeutic strategy for treating human disorders.
Researchers at the University of Washington developed an AI-designed protein that can awaken individual dormant genes by disabling chemical 'off switches'. This approach allows for safe upregulation of specific genes to affect cell activity without permanently changing the genome.
Scientists at Karolinska Institutet have developed a new high-precision tool to identify the function of noncoding DNA sequences, which may eventually contribute to the development of targeted drugs. The study reveals that these noncoding parts of patients' DNA are linked to genetic changes in diseases.
A team of researchers has discovered a novel epigenetic mark in bdelloid rotifers, small freshwater animals, that allows them to control jumping transposons. This marks the first time a horizontally transferred gene has reshaped the gene regulatory system in a eukaryote.
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have identified a protein called HDP1 that plays a critical role in activating genes required for the development of male and female stages of the malaria parasite. Without HDP1, parasites are unable to assemble mature gametocytes, leading to their death and inability to infect mosquitoes.
Researchers created a comprehensive genomic regulatory map of a 24-hour-old zebrafish embryo, identifying millions of regulatory segments that control gene transcription. The study used single-cell technologies and machine learning algorithms to analyze genome data from over 23,000 nuclei.
Xue Sherry Gao has won a prestigious CAREER Award to create versatile toolkits for controlling gene expression. Her research aims to develop broadly applicable platforms for gene regulation, with a focus on precision dosing and safety features.
A research group at the University of Helsinki has discovered the logic controlling gene regulation in human cells. They found that individual transcription factors contribute to gene regulation in an additive manner and identified regulatory elements that function within closed chromatin regions.
The study of MUNC long non-coding RNA reveals the importance of experimentally determining its structure to identify functional domains. The researchers found that two structural domains, including six common 'hairpins,' were crucial for regulating gene expression and muscle cell differentiation.
Scientists have identified a link between temperature and insect reproduction, finding that cold temperatures slow down reproduction in fruit flies and other insects. This discovery could lead to new control strategies for mosquitoes and agricultural pests, potentially reducing the spread of diseases like malaria.
Researchers at UC Davis MIND Institute found a novel gene linked to autism spectrum disorder in newborns. The study analyzed DNA methylation signatures in the placenta, which reflected fetal brain development and early autism diagnosis.
Researchers discovered a protein called PHR regulates arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) symbiosis based on phosphate availability. AM promotes phosphate uptake and other nutrient absorption, enhancing plant resistance to stressors.
Scientists at Washington State University have discovered a novel theory that the innate immune system can respond differently to specific pathogens. This quality, known as immunological specificity, is driven by the nervous system and could provide a basis for finetuning an experimental treatment to fight infection.
A study published by Arizona State University found that survivors of Hurricane Maria experienced accelerated aging in their immune systems, with molecular changes indicating a 7-8 year acceleration in human lifespan. The research used rhesus macaques as a model to explore the effects of extreme weather events on biological aging.
A new study reveals that mammals, including humans, have different mechanisms to resist cancer spread, which may be an evolutionary compromise to allow invasive pregnancies. Researchers identified specific genetic regulatory mechanisms explaining these differences.
Researchers developed a method called 6mASCOPE that measures DNA tagging system accuracy and distinguishes bacterial from human DNA. The study found high levels of methylation in plant, fly, mouse, and human cells, but mostly attributed to contamination.
A team of researchers at Baylor College of Medicine has developed a new approach to classify meningiomas into three biologically distinct groups, one of which is reliably malignant. This classification system, which integrates multiple molecular profiling approaches, provides better prognosis and reveals tumors that require more aggres...
Researchers at MedUni Vienna have developed a new Covid-19 mouse model that can be used to study the disease mechanisms and develop effective treatments. The model uses viral mutations that enable efficient virus infection and replication in mice, allowing for the study of symptoms and potential therapies.
Researchers at Uppsala University found that DNA-binding proteins often bind to similar sequences before finding their target, contradicting previous assumptions about gene regulation. This discovery explains how these proteins can rapidly adapt to changing environments without getting stuck on specific sequences.
A team of researchers at Harvard's Wyss Institute and ETH Zurich have developed a computational approach to identify genomic safe harbors (GSHs) with high potential for safe insertion of therapeutic genes. The study validated two GSH sites in adoptive T cell therapies and in vivo gene therapies for skin diseases.