Labslink Research News

Biochemistry: Unspooling DNA from nucleosomal disks

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:56:02 PDT

In higher organisms the genomic DNA is stored in the cell nucleus, wrapped around disk-shaped particles called nucleosomes, each consisting of two pairs of four different histone proteins and accommodating two loops of DNA. Packed in this way to form chromatin, the DNA is protected, but it is inaccessible to the enzymes that mediate DNA transcription, repair and its replication. However, so-called chromatin-remodeling factors, including histone chaperones, ensure that chromatin is maintained in a dynamic state by locally modifying nucleosome structure, interacting with histone subunits and detaching stretches of the packaged DNA from the nucleosome core.........> Full story

UCI study reveals new mechanism for estrogen suppression of liver lipid synthesis

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:54:51 PDT

With this finding, Dr. Ellis Levin and colleagues believe they are changing long-held views in the field. Study results appear in the May 21 issue of the journal Science Signaling.........> Full story

University of Illinois biophysicists measure mechanism that determines fate of living cells

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:53:40 PDT

Cells in the human body do not function in isolation. Living cells rely on communication with their environment—neighboring cells and the surrounding matrix—to activate a wide range of cellular functions, including reproduction of new cells, differentiation of stem cells into distinct cell types, cell adhesion, and migration of white blood cells to fight bodily infections. This cellular communication occurs on the molecular level and it is reciprocal: a cell receives cues from and also transmits function-activating cues to its neighbors.........> Full story

Cradle turns smartphone into handheld biosensor

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:52:12 PDT

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign researchers have developed a cradle and app for the iPhone that uses the phone’s built-in camera and processing power as a biosensor to detect toxins, proteins, bacteria, viruses and other molecules........> Full story

Scientists discover how rapamycin slows cell growth

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:50:30 PDT

University of Montreal researchers have discovered a novel molecular mechanism that can potentially slow the progression of some cancers and other diseases of abnormal growth. In the May 23 edition of the prestigious journal Cell, scientists from the University of Montreal explain how they found that the anti-cancer and anti-proliferative drug rapamycin slows down or prevents cells from dividing.........> Full story

Costs to treat stroke in America may double by 2030

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:54:50 PDT

Costs to treat stroke are projected to more than double and the number of people having strokes may increase 20 percent by 2030, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association........> Full story

Children of married parents less likely to be obese

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:52:58 PDT

Children living in households where the parents are married are less likely to be obese, according to new research from Rice University and the University of Houston.......> Full story

How healthy are you for your age?

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:51:47 PDT

JoVE will publish details of a technique to measure the health of human genetic material in relation to a patient’s age. The method is demonstrated by the laboratory of Dr. Gil Atzmon at New York’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Atzmon hopes that the dissemination of this technique will lead to the development of a “genetic thermometer” to assess a patient’s health in relation to other individuals of the same age.........> Full story

Research offers promising new approach to treatment of lung cancer

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:49:55 PDT

Researchers have developed a new drug delivery system that allows inhalation of chemotherapeutic drugs to help treat lung cancer, and in laboratory and animal tests it appears to reduce the systemic damage done to other organs while significantly improving the treatment of lung tumors........> Full story

Study details genes that control whether tumors adapt or die when faced with p53 activating drugs

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:48:46 PDT

When turned on, the gene p53 turns off cancer. However, when existing drugs boost p53, only a few tumors die – the rest resist the challenge. A study published in the journal Cell Reports shows how: tumors that live even in the face of p53 reactivation create more of the protein p21 than the protein PUMA; tumors that die have more PUMA than p21. And, for the first time, the current study shows a handful of genes that control this ratio.........> Full story

UofL scientists uncover how grapefruits provide a secret weapon in medical drug delivery

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:24:43 PDT

Lipids (right panel first three tubes) derived from grapefruit. GNVs can efficiently deliver a variety of therapeutic agents, including DNA, RNA (DIR-GNVs), proteins and anti-cancer drugs (GNVs-Drugs) as demonstrated in this study.......> Full story

Single-cell transfection tool enables added control for biological studies

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:23:25 PDT

Northwestern University researchers have developed a new method for delivering molecules into single, targeted cells through temporary holes in the cell surface. The technique could find applications in drug delivery, cell therapy, and related biological fields........> Full story

MU researchers develop radioactive nanoparticles that target cancer cells

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:22:11 PDT

Cancers of all types become most deadly when they metastasize and spread tumors throughout the body. Once cancer has reached this stage, it becomes very difficult for doctors to locate and treat the numerous tumors that can develop.........> Full story

Keeping stem cells strong

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:20:51 PDT

When infections occur in the body, stem cells in the blood often jump into action by multiplying and differentiating into mature immune cells that can fight off illness. But repeated infections and inflammation can deplete these cell populations, potentially leading to the development.......> Full story

Study reveals how fishing gear can cause slow death of whales

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:19:01 PDT

Using a “patient monitoring” device attached to a whale entangled in fishing gear, scientists showed for the first time how fishing lines changed a whale’s diving and swimming behavior. The monitoring revealed how fishing gear hinders whales’ ability to eat and migrate, depletes their energy as they drag gear for months or years, and can result in a slow death........> Full story

1 in 10 teens using 'study drugs,' but parents aren't paying attention

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:13:00 PDT

As high schoolers prepare for final exams, teens nationwide may be tempted to use a “study drug” – a prescription stimulant or amphetamine – to gain an academic edge. But a new University of Michigan poll shows only one in 100 parents of teens 13-17 years old believes that their teen has used a study drug.......> Full story

New in GEOLOGY: Gems, Darwin, Mars, Hemp, Snowball Earth, a Siberian Impact Crater, and More

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:11:30 PDT

New Geology articles posted online ahead of print 9 and 16 May 2013 cover a wide swath of geoscience subdisciplines, including minerals exploration, archaeology, planetary geology, tectonics, oceanography, geophysics, and paleobotany. Locations studied include Siberia; the Sumatran subduction margin; the Monte Arsiccio mine at Alpi Apuane, Italy; Ukraine; Mars; and the Southeastern U.S. Atlantic Margin. Brief highlights follow:.......> Full story

Penn research makes advance in nanotech gene sequencing technique

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:10:12 PDT

The allure of personalized medicine has made new, more efficient ways of sequencing genes a top research priority. One promising technique involves reading DNA bases using changes in electrical current as they are threaded through a nanoscopic hole........> Full story

Amazon River exhales virtually all carbon taken up by rain forest

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:09:02 PDT

The Amazon rain forest, popularly known as the lungs of the planet, inhales carbon dioxide as it exudes oxygen. Plants use carbon dioxide from the air to grow parts that eventually fall to the ground to decompose or get washed away by the region’s plentiful rainfall........> Full story

U of M researchers develop model for better testing, targeting of MPNST

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:07:45 PDT

Researchers from the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, and the University’s Brain Tumor Program, have developed a new mouse model of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) that allow them to discover new genes and gene pathways driving this type of cancer........> Full story

Nature: X-ray tomography on a living frog embryo

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:32:03 PDT

X-ray diffraction enables high-resolution imaging of soft tissues,” explains Ralf Hofmann, one author of the study and physicist at KIT. “In our work, we did not only manage to resolve individual cells and parts of their structure, but we could also analyze single cell migration as well as the movement of cellular networks.......> Full story

New X-ray method shows how frog embryos could help thwart disease

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:30:35 PDT

An international team of scientists using a new X-ray method recorded the internal structure and cell movement inside a living frog embryo in greater detail than ever before.......> Full story

SUMO wrestling cells reveal new protective mechanism target for stroke

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:29:19 PDT

Post-translational modification of substrate proteins by the covalent attachment of small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) proteins regulates multiple cellular pathways, ranging from nuclear organization and transcriptional regulation to membrane protein trafficking and stability.......> Full story

Women's reproductive ability may be related to immune system status

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:27:59 PDT

New research indicates that women’s reproductive function may be tied to their immune status. Previous studies have found this association in human males, but not females........> Full story

Study identifies new approach to improving treatment for MS and other conditions

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:26:29 PDT

Working with lab mice models of multiple sclerosis (MS), UC Davis scientists have detected a novel molecular target for the design of drugs that could be safer and more effective than current FDA-approved medications against MS........> Full story

Researchers say they are shocked by new statistics on head injuries among people who are homeless

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:13:17 PDT

Men who are heavy drinkers and homeless for long periods of time have 400 times the number of head injuries as the general population, according to a new study by researchers who said they were shocked by their findings........> Full story

Herpes infections: Natural killer cells activate hematopoiesis

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:11:38 PDT

Balanced hematopoiesis is essential for the function of the immune system. During fetal development, hematopoiesis takes place mainly in the liver and the spleen. Later the process is delegated to the bone marrow, and this tissue normally serves as the sole source of blood cells for the rest of one’s lifetime. However, certain infections........> Full story

What role do processing bodies play in cell survival and protection against viral infection?

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:10:21 PDT

As scientists learn more about processing bodies (PBs), granules present within normal cells, they are unraveling the complex role PBs play in maintaining cellular homeostasis by regulating RNA metabolism and cell signaling. Emerging research is revealing how virus infection alters PBs to enhance viral replication and how, in turn, PBs are able respond and limit a virus's ability to reproduce. This novel mechanism allows PBs to contribute to the body's immune defenses, as described in an article.......> Full story

DNA-guided assembly yields novel ribbon-like nanostructures

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:09:04 PDT

Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory have discovered that DNA "linker" strands coax nano-sized rods to line up in way unlike any other spontaneous arrangement of rod-shaped objects. The arrangement—with the rods forming "rungs".......>Full story

Nanotechnology could help fight diabetes

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:06:40 PDT

Injectable nanoparticles developed at MIT may someday eliminate the need for patients with Type 1 diabetes to constantly monitor their blood-sugar levels and inject themselves with insulin.......> Full story

Study finds plasmin -- delivered through a bubble -- more effective than tPA in busting clots

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:39:11 PDT

A new study from the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine has found that, when delivered via ultrasound, the natural enzyme plasmin is more effective at dissolving stroke-causing clots than the standard of care, recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA)........> Full story

Evolution shapes new rules for ant behavior, Stanford research finds

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:37:08 PDT

In ancient Greece, the city-states that waited until their own harvest was in before attacking and destroying a rival community's crops often experienced better long-term success........> Full story

Stanford ultraresponsive magnetic nanoscavengers for next generation water purification

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:35:40 PDT

There is an error in the URL you entered into your browser. (Please check the spelling and try again.)......> Full story

The developmental genetics of space and time

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:34:29 PDT

Albert Erives, associate professor in the University of Iowa Department of Biology, and his graduate student, Justin Crocker, currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Janelia Farm Research Campus, have conducted a study that reveals important and useful insights into how and why developmental genes often take inputs from two independent “morphogen concentration gradients.”........> Full story

Can breastfeeding protect against ADHD?

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:21:46 PDT

Breastfeeding has a positive impact on the physical and mental development of infants. A new study suggests that breastfeeding may protect against the development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) later in childhood. The study is reported in Breastfeeding Medicine.......> Full story

Human disease leptospirosis identified in new species, the banded mongoose, in Africa

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:20:32 PDT

The newest public health threat in Africa, scientists have found, is coming from a previously unknown source: the banded mongoose........> Full story

Male testosterone levels increase when victorious in competition against rivals, but not friends

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:19:01 PDT

Sporting events can bring a community together, such as when the Louisville Cardinals won the NCAA championship and University of Louisville campus was filled with camaraderie. They also can fuel bitter rivalries, such as the long-standing animosity between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs. A new University of Missouri study has found that testosterone levels during group competition are modulated depending on the relationships among the competitors and may be related to the formation of alliances in warfare........> Full story

Study IDs key protein for cell death

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:17:35 PDT

When cells suffer too much DNA damage, they are usually forced to undergo programmed cell death, or apoptosis. However, cancer cells often ignore these signals, flourishing even after chemotherapy drugs have ravaged their DNA........> Full story

Massage therapy shown to improve stress response in preterm infants

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:15:56 PDT

It seems that even for the smallest of people, a gentle massage may be beneficial. Newborn intensive care units (NICUs) are stressful environments for preterm infants; mechanical ventilation, medical procedures, caregiving activities and maternal separation create these stressful conditions........> Full story

Bird flu in live poultry markets are the source of viruses causing human infections

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:30:49 PDT

On 31 March 2013, the Chinese National Health and Family Planning Commission announced human cases of novel H7N9 influenza virus infections. A group of scientists, led by Professor Chen Hualan of the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences........> Full story

Serotonin mediates exercise-induced generation of new neurons

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:29:17 PDT

Mice that exercise in running wheels exhibit increased neurogenesis in the brain. Crucial to this process is serotonin signaling. These are the findings of a study by researchers at the Max Delbrück Center Berlin-Buch. Surprisingly, mice lacking brain serotonin due to a genetic mutation exhibited normal baseline neurogenesis. However, in these serotonin-deficient mice, activity-induced proliferation was impaired, and wheel running did not induce increased generation of new neurons.......> Full story

Study identifies possible new acute leukemia marker, treatment target

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:27:12 PDT

A study has identified microRNA-155 as a new independent prognostic marker and treatment target in patients with acute myeloid leukemia that has normal-looking chromosomes under the microscope (that is, cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia, or CN-AML)........> Full story

Breakthrough in how pancreatic cancer cells ingest nutrients points to new drug target

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:25:12 PDT

In a landmark cancer study published online in Nature, researchers at NYU School of Medicine have unraveled a longstanding mystery about how pancreatic tumor cells feed themselves, opening up new therapeutic possibilities for a notoriously lethal disease with few treatment options. Pancreatic cancer kills nearly 38,000 Americans annually, making it a leading cause of cancer death. The life expectancy for most people diagnosed with it is less than a year........> Full story

Seabird bones reveal changes in open-ocean food chain

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:23:23 PDT

A research team, led by Michigan State University and Smithsonian Institution scientists, analyzed the bones of Hawaiian petrels – birds that spend the majority of their lives foraging the open waters of the Pacific. They found that the substantial change in petrels’ eating habits, eating prey that are lower rather than higher in the food chain, coincides with the growth of industrialized fishing.......> Full story

After the breakup in a digital world: Purging Facebook of painful memories

Thu, 09 May 2013 16:19:28 PDT

The era is long gone when a romantic breakup meant ripped-up photos and burned love letters. Today, digital photos and emails can be quickly deleted but the proliferation of social media has made forgetting a bigger chore........> Full story

Biomaterial shows promise for Type 1 diabetes treatment

Thu, 09 May 2013 16:18:17 PDT

Researchers have made a significant first step with newly engineered biomaterials for cell transplantation that could help lead to a possible cure for Type 1 diabetes, which affects about 3 million Americans........> Full story

Loss of eastern hemlock will affect forest water use

Thu, 09 May 2013 16:16:19 PDT

The loss of eastern hemlock from forests in the Southern Appalachian region of the United States could permanently change the area’s hydrologic cycle, reports a new study by U.S. Forest Service scientists at the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory (Coweeta) located in Otto, North Carolina, published online in the journal Ecological Applications and available now in preprint format........> Full story

Researchers discover dynamic behavior of progenitor cells in brain

Thu, 09 May 2013 16:15:09 PDT

By monitoring the behavior of a class of cells in the brains of living mice, neuroscientists at Johns Hopkins discovered that these cells remain highly dynamic in the adult brain, where they transform into cells that insulate nerve fibers and help form scars that aid in tissue repair.........> Full story

Unleashing the watchdog protein

Thu, 09 May 2013 16:13:54 PDT

McGill University researchers have unlocked a new door to developing drugs to slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Collaborating teams led by Dr. Edward A. Fon at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital -The Neuro, and Dr. Kalle Gehring in the Department of Biochemistry at the Faculty of Medicine, have discovered the three-dimensional structure.......> Full story

Cannibal tadpoles key to understanding digestive evolution

Wed, 08 May 2013 16:42:39 PDT

A carnivorous, cannibalistic tadpole may play a role in understanding the evolution and development of digestive organs, according to research from North Carolina State University. These findings may also shed light on universal rules of organ development that could lead to better diagnosis and prevention of intestinal birth defects.......> Full story