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Racism takes its toll on brain and body

A new study finds that discrimination influences the central and enteric nervous systems, altering the bidirectional signaling between the brain and gut microbiome. This leads to changes in systemic inflammation, emotional arousal, and psychological symptoms across different racial and ethnic groups.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 13, 2022

New study explains mechanisms of salt transport and could help treat cystic fibrosis

A recent study by Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center researchers has shed light on the mechanisms of salt transport across membrane barriers. The findings have significant implications for treating cystic fibrosis, a disease caused by mutations in three types of sodium-potassium pumps.

SourceTexas Tech University Health Sciences Center·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateSep 21, 2022

New tool to accelerate drug discovery

Researchers at the University of Houston have developed a novel technology to monitor membrane protein trafficking in real-time using bioluminescence. This allows for the study of cellular processes and drug development for heart disease, metabolic disorders, cancer, infectious diseases, COVID-19, and others.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalCommunications Biology·DateMar 22, 2022

How bacteria cope with stress

Researchers discovered that bacteria suppress membrane protein transport in response to stress, using alarm hormones to regulate the process. This allows the microorganisms to slow down their cellular processes and recover when conditions become more favorable.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 7, 2022

Scientists discover how our brain uses nutritional state to regulate growth and age at puberty

Researchers found that a receptor in the brain detects nutritional state and regulates puberty timing and growth rate, explaining why humans have been growing taller and reaching sexual maturity earlier over the past century. The discovery has immediate practical implications for testing children with growth delays.

SourceUK Research and Innovation·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 3, 2021

Hormone differences

A University of Delaware researcher studies the impact of birth experiences on hormone development, finding that C-sections disrupt natural hormonal signals. He proposes investigating potential interventions to promote healthier outcomes, such as reintroducing missing microbes or hormones in children born via cesarean.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalJournal of Endocrinology·DateNov 4, 2020

Breaking the coupling process

Researchers at University of Freiburg and University of Zurich provide detailed understanding of allostery's dynamics and structure changes. Allostery is crucial for protein signaling, with disruptions potentially leading to diseases like cancer.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 6, 2020

'Gut sense' is hardwired, not hormonal

Scientists have discovered a neural superhighway that enables rapid communication between the gut and brain, contradicting decades of research on hormonal transmission. This breakthrough has profound implications for our understanding of appetite and other gut-related disorders.

SourceDuke University·JournalScience·DateSep 20, 2018

Binge drinking affects male and female brains differently

Repeated binge drinking alters gene expression in the brain, affecting hormone signaling and immune function in females, while nerve signaling is impacted in males. This study highlights the importance of tailoring treatments for male and female patients with alcohol use disorder.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Genetics·DateSep 10, 2018

Hormone activation of genes takes teamwork

A team of Duke scientists used DNA-sequencing and computerized biology to study the glucocorticoid receptor's signaling system. They found that only 13% of binding sites directly respond to hormones, while the remaining 87% act as clusters that amplify signals.

SourceDuke University·JournalCell·DateAug 25, 2016

Oat oil preparation makes you feel fuller

A new study from Lund University reveals a special oat oil preparation can produce greater satiety, leading to reduced energy intake. The unique composition of the oat oil, featuring polar fats, delays fat breakdown and stimulates the release of three key satiety hormones.

SourceLund University·JournalFood & Nutrition Research·DateNov 20, 2014

Gut hormone makes food look even yummier

A new study found that ghrelin increases the response to food pictures in brain regions involved in reward and motivation, suggesting a link between pleasure signals and metabolic drives. The findings may have implications for treating obesity and could inform policies aimed at reducing fast food consumption.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Metabolism·DateMay 6, 2008

How size matters

Researchers at Norwich BioScience Institutes discover that cells at the margins of leaves and petals secrete a mobile growth signal controlling size. This signal is distinct from classical plant hormones, influencing leaf division until a certain threshold is reached.

SourceNorwich BioScience Institutes·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateDec 12, 2007

New molecular regulators of hyperthyroidism and goiter

A study published in JCI Journals reveals that Gq/G11-mediated signaling plays a crucial role in regulating thyroid gland function. Mice lacking these proteins had impaired thyroid function and symptoms similar to hypothyroidism, highlighting their potential as therapeutic targets for hyperthyroidism.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateAug 9, 2007

Decision making at the cellular level

Researchers discovered a molecular switch that guides cell communication before a message reaches the nucleus, adding complexity to understanding cellular signals. This switch determines which signal - calcium or cAMP - will be used, leading to different responses in target proteins and potential therapies for serious disorders.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalNature·DateJun 25, 2002

Tidying up transcription factors

Researchers James E. Darnell and Ali H. Brivanlou propose a reclassification of all known transcription factors, grouping them by their behavior rather than physical structure. This framework aims to provide a better understanding of how cells 'read' genetic instructions and may lead to new drug therapies for diseases such as cancer an...

SourceRockefeller University·JournalScience·DateJan 31, 2002

Converging pathways regulate energy metabolism

Researchers discovered two converging pathways regulated by leptin, which modulate energy expenditure through the TRH promoter. Thyroid hormone also suppresses TRH production, integrating various signals to control energy metabolism.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateDec 31, 2000

Auxin takes root

Researchers have made significant advances in understanding the molecular pathway of root development by studying the auxin signaling pathway. The study identified a novel plant gene called NAC1, which is expressed in root tips and regulates the effect of auxin on root formation.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateNov 30, 2000