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Discovery paves way for homebrewed drugs

A team of researchers has successfully engineered a yeast strain to produce morphine and potentially other drugs, including antibiotics and anti-cancer therapeutics. The breakthrough could significantly reduce the cost of drug discovery and manufacturing, but raises concerns about potential misuse and calls for urgent regulation.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateMay 18, 2015

Molecular networks provide insights for computer security, Carnegie Mellon finds

The Carnegie Mellon team developed an algorithm that generates robust architectures for computer networks by analyzing the evolution of molecular connections in yeast cells. This approach can help understand how networks respond to cascading failures and external threats, offering insights into designing secure systems.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateApr 29, 2014

Hopkins scientists turn on fountain of youth in yeast

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have successfully manipulated yeast life span by removing and restoring a protein function related to aging. By restoring this function, the organism's life span is dramatically extended. The discovery reveals molecular components of an aging pathway that appears related to one regulating longevity in humans.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalCell·DateNov 23, 2011

Deceitful lily fools flies

The Solomon's lily plant attracts drosophilid flies by mimicking the yeasty odor of fermentation using six chemicals. This deception is rooted in a deeply conserved neuronal pathway specifically tuned to yeast odors, exploiting an ancient instinct in flies for pollination and food.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology·JournalCurrent Biology·DateOct 7, 2010

Yeast holds clues to Parkinson's disease

Researchers are uncovering the molecular basis of Parkinson's disease by studying alpha-synuclein in yeast cells, which could lead to new therapeutic drugs. Small compounds found effective in preventing Parkinson's disease in worms and blocking toxic effects in rat neurons may form the basis of future treatments.

Quorum sensing in yeast

Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have made significant progress in understanding how yeast cells communicate with each other through quorum sensing. This complex process allows yeast to coordinate behaviors such as biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateApr 16, 2006

Improved statistical tools reveal many linked loci

Researchers have developed a new statistical method to identify linked genomic loci influencing gene expression in yeast, revealing 37% of gene expression traits link to two loci. The technique bypasses overwhelming computations and provides insights into the genetic basis of complex traits.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJul 25, 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

Dartmouth bioengineers develop humanized yeast

Researchers at Dartmouth College and GlycoFi have developed a technology to produce human-like glycoprotein structures in yeast, offering improved quality and quantity of pharmaceutical proteins. This breakthrough has the potential to increase patient access to life-saving drug therapies by overcoming production capacity bottlenecks.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalScience·DateAug 28, 2003