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Researchers report way to target hard-to-hit site in disease pathway

Scientists at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have identified a class of lead compounds that successfully recognize a key target in the Ras signaling pathway, opening the door to future development of therapies. The lead compound NSC-658497 was found to be effective at blocking SOS1-mediated molecular signaling in the Ras...

SourceCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center·JournalChemistry & Biology·DateNov 20, 2014

Dodging dots helps explain brain circuitry

Researchers at Brown University studied tadpoles' neural signals to understand how they detect approaching visual stimuli. They found that the tectum region of the brain plays a crucial role in distinguishing impending collisions from mere presence, with inhibitory neurons acting as facilitators of network function.

SourceBrown University·JournalEuropean Journal of Neuroscience·DateJul 7, 2014

3-D printer can build synthetic tissues

Researchers at Oxford University have developed a custom-built 3D printer that can create materials with properties similar to living tissues. The printed 'droplet networks' are entirely synthetic and could potentially deliver drugs or replace damaged human tissues in the future.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalScience·DateApr 4, 2013

Cooperative communications when collaborators are not synchronized

Cooperative communications technology allows multiple single-antenna terminals to share their antennas, creating a virtual antenna array. This enables the exploitation of spatial resource in traditional MIMO techniques without requiring multiple antennas. Distributed space-time coding (DSTC) has emerged as an efficient technique for pr...

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Information Sciences·DateOct 23, 2011

The forces of attraction: How cells change direction

A team of researchers developed a novel technique to study how cells respond to changing concentrations of chemoattractants. The study reveals two ways cells can reorient in response to changes, and provides insights into the underlying signaling pathways that control chemotaxis. The research has clinical significance for embryonic dev...

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 4, 2011

Algebra adds value to mathematical biology education

Researchers highlight algebraic models as a crucial tool for undergraduate biologists, allowing them to integrate mathematical modeling into their coursework. These models focus on the logic of network connections, making them accessible to students with limited mathematical background.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalScience·DateJul 30, 2009

Researchers study signaling networks that set up genetic code

Researchers at the University of Illinois have identified and visualized signaling pathways in protein-RNA complexes to understand how the genetic code is set in all organisms. The study uses molecular dynamics simulations and visualization software to analyze the optimal communication pathways, revealing modules and local communities ...

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 14, 2009

How to steer a moving cell

Researchers have developed a method to analyze the entire network of signaling proteins controlling cell movement. The study provides the first comprehensive profile of these proteins, shedding light on the inner workings of the 'steering wheel' that drives cells forward.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 7, 2007

Funnel in the eye: Signal focusing increases photosensitivity

Researchers from the University of Bonn have discovered how the eye adapts to darkness by forming a network that combines signals from multiple light-sensitive rods, boosting sensitivity. The study found that dopamine triggers the closure of a channel in amacrine II cells, inhibiting communication and allowing for signal focusing.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateNov 2, 2006

Learning how leukemia comes to life

Researchers at Ludwig Maximillians University report that AML1-ETO cooperates with FLT3 to induce rapid and aggressive acute leukemia in mice. This study supports a pathogenetic model of acute leukemia, which requires activating mutations in signal transduction pathways and transcription factors for leukemogenesis.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJul 14, 2005

Dioxin-receptor network identified

A team of researchers used yeast to elucidate the steps involved in the pathway that regulates vertebrate cell response to dioxin, identifying 54 genes with a significant influence on AHR response. The study reveals five discrete biochemical steps in the signaling pathway and identifies one previously undescribed nuclear step.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateMar 16, 2004

Mathematical modeling predicts cellular communication

Researchers used mathematical modeling to study the Wnt pathway, a complex signaling system involved in embryonic development and carcinogenesis. The model revealed surprising differences in concentrations of key proteins, suggesting that breakdowns in cellular communication play a role in cancer development.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateOct 13, 2003