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Categories: Biology: Molecular, Computer Science: Encryption
Published Genome of a drought-tolerant plant: Many genes are involved in 'resurrection'
(via sciencedaily.com) Some plants can survive months without water, only to turn green again after a brief downpour. A recent study shows that this is not due to a 'miracle gene.' Rather, this ability is a consequence of a whole network of genes, almost all of which are also present in more vulnerable varieties.
Published Memory B cell marker predicts long-lived antibody response to flu vaccine
(via sciencedaily.com) Memory B cells play a critical role to provide long-term immunity after a vaccination or infection. Researchers have now described a distinct and novel subset of memory B cells that predict long-lived antibody responses to influenza vaccination in humans. These effector memory B cells appear to be poised for a rapid serum antibody response upon secondary challenge one year later.
Published Researchers create artificial enzyme for fast detection of disease-related hormone in sweat
(via sciencedaily.com) Researchers have developed a handheld sensor that tests perspiration for cortisol and provides results in eight minutes, a key advance in monitoring a hormone whose levels are a marker for many illnesses including various cancers.
Published Photosynthesis 'hack' could lead to new ways of generating renewable energy
(via sciencedaily.com) Researchers have 'hacked' the earliest stages of photosynthesis, the natural machine that powers the vast majority of life on Earth, and discovered new ways to extract energy from the process, a finding that could lead to new ways of generating clean fuel and renewable energy.
Published Novel drug makes mice skinny even on sugary, fatty diet
(via sciencedaily.com) Deleting a gene that promotes magnesium transport into mitochondria (which are cells' power plants) resulted in more efficient metabolism of sugar and fat in the energy centers. The result: skinny, healthy mice. Now the research team, has developed a small-molecule drug that accomplishes the same effect in mice.
Published To ward off aging, stem cells must take out the trash
(via sciencedaily.com) Researchers find stem cells use a surprising system for discarding misfolded proteins. This unique pathway could be the key to maintaining long-term health and preventing age-related blood and immune disorders.
Published Muscle health depends on lipid synthesis
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Muscle degeneration, the most prevalent cause of frailty in hereditary diseases and aging, could be caused by a deficiency in one key enzyme in a lipid biosynthesis pathway. Researchers now characterize how the enzyme PCYT2 affects muscle health in disease and aging in laboratory mouse models.
Published Discovery of an unexpected function of blood immune cells: Their ability to proliferate
(via sciencedaily.com) The ability of a cell to divide, to proliferate, is essential for life and gives rise to the formation of complex organisms from a single cell. It also allows the replacement of used cells from a limited number of 'stem' cells, which then proliferate and specialize. In cancer, however, cell proliferation is no longer controlled and becomes chaotic. Researchers have discovered that, in a healthy individual, certain blood immune cells, the monocytes, also have this ability to proliferate, with the aim to replace tissue macrophages, which are essential for the proper functioning of our body.
Published An extra X chromosome-linked gene may explain decreased viral infection severity in females
(via sciencedaily.com) It has long been known that viral infections can be more severe in males than females, but the question as to why has remained a mystery -- until possibly now. Researchers have found that female mouse and human Natural Killer cells have an extra copy of an X chromosome-linked gene called UTX. UTX acts as an epigenetic regulator to boost NK cell anti-viral function, while repressing NK cell numbers.
Published Loss of Menin helps drive the aging process, and dietary supplement can reverse it in mice
(via sciencedaily.com) Decline in the hypothalamic Menin may play a key role in aging, according to a new study. The findings reveal a previously unknown driver of physiological aging, and suggest that supplementation with a simple amino acid may mitigate some age-related changes.
Published Humans bite back by deactivating mosquito sperm
(via sciencedaily.com) New research makes it likely that proteins responsible for activating mosquito sperm can be shut down, preventing them from swimming to or fertilizing eggs.
Published Compressive stress shapes the symmetry of Arabidopsis root vascular tissue
(via sciencedaily.com) A cytokinin-mediated, proliferation-based mechanism is involved in the generation and maintenance of cell-type specific tissue boundaries during vascular development in Arabidopsis roots. Specifically, the HANABA-TARANU transcription factor forms a feed-forward loop to cytokinin signaling, which in turn regulates the position and frequency of cell proliferation of proto-vascular cells such that mechanical stress of the surrounding tissues guides growth in an apical-oriented manor, maintaining cell patterning throughout the tissue section.
Published Where the HI-Virus sleeps in the brain
(via sciencedaily.com) The human immunodeficiency virus HIV-1 is able to infect various tissues in humans. Once inside the cells, the virus integrates its genome into the cellular genome and establishes persistent infections. The role of the structure and organization of the host genome in HIV-1 infection is not well understood. Using a cell culture model based on brain immune microglia cells, an international research team has now defined the insertion patterns of HIV-1 in the genome of microglia cells.
Published Cellular waste removal differs according to cell type
(via sciencedaily.com) 'Miniature shredders' are at work in each cell, disassembling and recycling cell components that are defective or no longer required. The exact structure of these shredders differs from cell type to cell type, a study now shows. For example, cancer cells have a special variant that can supply them particularly effectively with building blocks for their energy metabolism.
Published Study describes the structural and functional effects of several mutations on the androgen receptor
(via sciencedaily.com) The androgen receptor is a key transcriptional factor for the proper sex development -- especially in males -- and the physiological balance of all the tissues that express this receptor. The androgen receptor is involved in several pathologies and syndromes, such as the spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy or androgen insensitivity syndrome, among others, for which there is no specific treatment. Regarded as the main initial and progression factor in prostate cancer -- the second most common malignant disease in men in industrialized countries -- this receptor has been, for decades, the main therapeutical target for the treatment against this disease.
Published Researchers highlight nucleolar DNA damage response in fight against cancer
(via sciencedaily.com) Researchers have now encapsulated the young field of nucleolar DNA damage response (DDR) pathways. A new review highlights six mechanisms by which cells repair DNA damage. By attacking these mechanisms, future applied researchers will be able to trip up cancer's reproduction and growth.
Published Making sense of scents: Deciphering our sense of smell
(via sciencedaily.com) Breaking a longstanding impasse in our understanding of olfaction, scientists have created the first molecular-level, 3D picture of how an odor molecule activates a human odorant receptor, a crucial step in deciphering the sense of smell.
Published Scientists discover key information about the function of mitochondria in cancer cells
(via sciencedaily.com) A new study represents a first step towards generating highly detailed 3-dimensional maps of lung tumors using genetically engineered mouse models.
Published Designing more useful bacteria
(via sciencedaily.com) In a step forward for genetic engineering and synthetic biology, researchers have modified a strain of Escherichia coli bacteria to be immune to natural viral infections while also minimizing the potential for the bacteria or their modified genes to escape into the wild.
Published 'Glow-in-the-dark' proteins could help diagnose viral diseases
(via sciencedaily.com) Despite recent advancements, many highly sensitive diagnostic tests for viral diseases still require complicated techniques to prepare a sample or interpret a result, making them impractical for point-of-care settings or areas with few resources. But now, a team has developed a sensitive method that analyzes viral nucleic acids in as little as 20 minutes and can be completed in one step with 'glow-in-the-dark' proteins.