Mutations in the ABCR gene are an overwhelming cause of inherited vision loss
...ion of ABCR, it is becoming clear that even a mild disruption of the protein's activity will eventually lead to vision impairment. The implication that a single gene is responsible for such a wide range of retinal disorders makes it plausible that a single therapy, designed to replace ABCR activity, could alle...Tissue proteolysis and male infertility
Here, Uhrin et al. describe the targeted disruption of the PCI gene, which encodes the protein C inhibitor. This member of the serpin family of proteinase inhibitors was originally known for its role in regulating thrombosis, but its biochemical specificity is broad, as is its distribution in human ex......es represents the first time that the simultaneous disruption of two zygotic genes has resulted in vertebrate embryos without a head or trunk. In doing so, Dr. Gonzalez and colleagues have demonstrated that high levels of BMP activity in boz din double mutant embryos specifies posterior structures at the expens...Biological warfare: an emerging threat in the 21st century
...duced only a handful of cases, the public fear and disruption that would ensue might alone bring about the intended effect,`` he adds. Solutions During fiscal year 2000, the Clinton administration allocated $1.4 billion to combat both biological and chemical warfare - a good beginning but not enough, accord...February media highlights: Geology and GSA today
...ns of volcanoes. Strong tidal heating and crustal disruption are also seen on the neighboring moon Europa, creating what are called "chaos regions." Similarly, concentrations of mountains on Io can be viewed as examples of "chaos on Io." Did glaciation trigger intraplate seismicity in the New Madrid seism...Genomic analysis of pathogenic and benign gastritis bacteria
...rael et al. focus on one gene, cagE, and show that disruption of this single gene in a B128 background yields a strain whose effects in culture and in vivo mimic those of G1.1....Researchers study muscle cell damage that occurs when astronauts return from space
.... "The calcium that rushes in through the membrane disruption causes small vesicles or membranes inside the cells, to fuse with each other, making a bigger membrane structure that is a patch," Dr. McNeil said. "The patch then fuses with the cell surface." But if that patch doesn't form, calcium continues to r......e biggest problem comes when there's a large-scale disruption of the surface, like a construction project," says Stefanov. "When the soil has been broken up, the fine material, where a lot of these pesticides and heavy metals might be, are free to be picked up by the wind." Frequent watering of the ground surfa...Penn researchers explore the role of cell suicide in the development and treatment of cancer
...k, however, that are essential in carrying out the disruption of mitochondria. Interestingly, Bax and Bak are also redundant, as either protein by itself is effective in triggering apoptosis. According to Thompson, the redundant role of Bax and Bak represents a previously unknown but essential step in regula...Using lasers, biologists succeed in getting cells to change course
...he original genetic manipulation." Light-directed disruption studies promise to teach scientists much about cell movement and behavior, Roy said. "We think this opens a lot of possibilities for learning what many signaling molecules do inside cells," he said. "If you can understand the behavior of an internal...Murine model of human hyperinsulinism
...insulin into the bloodstream. However, due to the disruption of the KATP channels , these mutant mice release insulin into the bloodstream even during periods of severely low blood glucose levels. Dr. Kaestner and colleagues have thus identified the KATP ion channel as a novel target of Foxa2 in pancreatic b c...TDS - a new syndrome hitting men's reproductive health says Danish fertility expert
...ies leave little doubt that TDS can be a result of disruption in embryonic programming and the development of the sex organs in the fetus. As the rise in the incidence of the various symptoms of TDS has occurred rapidly over few generations, we must consider that adverse environmental factors such as hormone di...Clemson-led team makes breakthrough in controlling Bt resistance in pests
.... Through DNA analysis, the researchers found that disruption of a gene could be linked to Bt-resistance. "This is a first step to understanding the development of Bt-resistance by insect pests," Gahan said. "This discovery will open the door for other researchers and monitoring governmental agencies to assess...Knockout of cav-1 protein causes loss of a cellular organelle
... that is seen in electron micrographs. By targeted disruption of caveolin-1, the main protein component of caveolae, Drs. Teymuras V. Kurzchalia and Marek Drab and their colleagues have generated mice that lack caveolae. The absence of this organelle impaired nitric oxide and calcium signaling in the cardiovasc...Scientists at UCLAs Jonsson Cancer Center discover gene's role in regulating stem cells in the brain
...ls that later develop into adult brain cells.) The disruption causes the stem cells to behave abnormally, which may contribute to the formation of brain tumors. "This is the first evidence of PTENs critical role in the biology of brain stem cells, but overall, our findings could serve as a foundation for addres...Defective cell transport suggested in Alzheimer's disease
...a team of researchers led by Goldstein showed that disruption of the transport system caused by defects in these proteins can lead to nerve cell death. If you look at the history of breakthroughs in disease, often the understanding of what proteins normally do gives important clues to what is aberrant in diseas...Researchers identify gene required for marking DNA as having come from the mother
...ene when he showed that transmission of a targeted disruption of the Igf2 gene through the male germline resulted in progeny that were growth-deficient. When the disruption was transmitted maternally, the offspring were normal, indicating the gene was normally silenced on ...... even death to deep ocean marine life because of a disruption of oxygen-transport mechanisms (Science, Vol. 294, p. 319-320). In addition, Caldeira, in previous studies, showed that unless carbon dioxide is converted to some other form before injection, it will degas back to the atmosphere when diffusion or oce...Men with higher levels of PCBs more likely to father boys
...e shoreline. Among the potential dangers of PCBs: disruption of the body's endocrine system and a possible carcinogen. In this study, Karmaus and colleagues restricted their research to children born after 1963 and to families in which PCB levels were detectable in both fathers and mothers. This was a total o...The body's production of melatonin may be the reason why the elderly can't get a good night's sleep
...ecrease is causally related to the increased sleep disruption in older people. However, previous studies reveal ...tered timing may contribute to the increased sleep disruption with age. The Study To build upon their past research efforts, a team of physiologists set out to ex...