Lupus Research Institute awards $3 million in novel research grants to further new science in lupus
...ritis. The researchers will identify inflammatory molecules in the kidneys and urine that are associated with remission and relapse, and will use this information to study the urine of patients entering a clinical trial of a new therapeutic regimen for lupus nephritis. Umesh S. Deshmukh, PhD, University of...Study finds first evidence COX-2 enzymes can regulate DNA damage
...hese COX-1 enzymes make prostaglandins, regulatory molecules important for, among other things, preventing the formation of ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract. But what if the culprit in the creation of genotoxins, and thus the real target of aspirin in preventing cancer, had nothing to do with prosta...Other highlights in the June 16 JNCI
...s looked into whether BSP's interaction with other molecules enhances the invasiveness of cancer cells. They found that when BSP and two other molecules--matrix metalloproteinase 2 and integrin alpha v beta 3 --form a cell-surface trimolecular complex, cancer cells appear to become more invasive. Contact: Robe...JGI, VBI help unravel sudden oak death & soybean disease
...on," Rubin says. Aptamers are single-stranded DNA molecules that fold into three-dimensional structures and bind other molecules with high affinity and specificity. A public biotechnology company, Affymetrix, headquartered in San...Scientists receive awards, give lectures at the ASBMB/IUBMB meeting
...response. His group solved the structures of the molecules responsible for attenuating the T cell response. I...most common method for the primary closing of cDNA molecules using E. coli. His current focus is on whole genome analysis, and his contributions have led to the...Strengthening independent junior research groups in collaborative research centres
...logy and Medicine Cancer may occur when ras molecules in cells do not function properly. In the Transregional Collaborative Research Centre "Ras-dependent pathways in human cancer", scientists at the Universities of Marburg and Wrzburg will examine the link between intracellular signalling by ras protei...NIH launches first center in Nationwide Chemical Genomics Network
...h community for identifying a broad range of small molecules with promising properties for biological research,... plans to begin high-throughput screening of small molecules by the end of 2004. While most marketed drugs are small molecules and this class of chemicals has b...Nanotechnology pioneer slays 'grey goo' myths
...use robots the size of bacteria to join individual molecules into products. Assemblers would be highly producti.... The products would be precise and strong because molecules are small and uniform, and form strong bonds. For all these reasons, this idea was attractive. Howev...LARGE protein can overcome defects in some types of muscular dystrophy
...d that by expressing an enzyme that attaches sugar molecules to a protein essential for proper muscle structure, they can restore normal muscle function. Interestingly, the scientists found evidence of similar benefits when they expressed the protein, known as LARGE, in cells from patients with similar types o...Lab mice rescued from Type 1 diabetes via dendritic cell-assisted therapy
...alerted to stand down, or tolerate, the body's own molecules and cells. "This tolerance is literally what keeps us alive," says Steinman. "Studies in immunology have most often tried to describe immunity, as a defense against infections and tumors. If one could learn how to induce authentic immune silencing, o...Researchers develop blood test that can detect genetic changes in progressive breast cancer
...bined with chemotherapy. The antibody binds to the molecules that are produced by the HER-2 gene and reside on the cancer cells' surface. The drug neutralizes their effect with far fewer side effects than conventional chemotherapy. By utilizing this blood test to determine HER-2 gene amplificat...From lung to gut the Wnt signaling pathway transforms cell fate
...rmally occurs in cells that have been activated by molecules of the Wnt family. Wnts are known to play a role in the development of the gut, and their presence in developing lungs suggests that they also function in lung development. Wnts also control cell fate in cells of the epidermis and hair follicle. "The......in a long-lasting increase of triglycerides, fatty molecules in the blood that are indicators of risk for cardiovascular disease. Together, the hormonal responses observed after drinking beverages sweetened with fructose suggest that prolonged consumption of diets high in energy from fructose could lead to inc...Proteins transform DNA into 'molecular velcro'
...upercoiling" in DNA, which occurs when two helical molecules intertwine. "We decided to try to develop a...al structure. "The actual mechanism by which these molecules actually carry out their function is unknown," he said. "And so, we are very excited that we have be...Tiny tango: Device sorts microscopic particles with speed and precision
...l now there was no way to sort large quantities of molecules or cells by size with such speed and precision, ac...vices that are commonly used to separate cells and molecules based on mass, according to Cox. A primary use could be in sorting segments of DNA according to thei...Researchers report major advance in gene therapy technique
...e technique could be used effectively to introduce molecules that inhibit - rather than promote - gene expression, a powerful new procedure called RNA interference. "This could be very useful if you want to down-regulate a protein that's causing a muscle disorder, such as with myotonic dystrophy," says Wolff...Junk DNA yields new kind of gene
...ion, a powerful method for imaging the location of molecules in living cells, the researchers found that this was exactly what happened: a well-known activator fell off the SER3 promotor when SRG1 was turned on. In fact, when SER3 was replaced by a reporter gene, the same thing happened-the turning on of SRG1 ...UNC scientists block cellular enzyme activity involved in cancer progression
...d respond to their environment is through receptor molecules called integrins, which are located on the cell's ...urface. FAK relays signals from integrins to other molecules inside the cell that ultimately control the growth, survival and movement of the cell. Because unres...NASA researchers customize 'lab-on-a-chip' technology
...biosensor-like probes such as antibodies to detect molecules of interest. By applying this technology in laboratories and in the field where organisms live in extreme environments on Earth, astrobiologists can compare Earth-life with that which may be found on other planets. "The micro array chip system develo...RNAi delivery system crosses blood-brain barrier to target brain cancer
...posomes are the parcel. Composed of lipid, or fat, molecules that align to form an enclosed membrane much like a sealed envelope, the liposomes are constructed with thousands of molecular probes that recognize two specific proteins. The proteins are the addresses to which the liposome is targeted. One antibody...