Stowers researcher publishes DNA double-strand break repair discovery in Science
...ecomes phosphorylated by a DNA damage- recognizing factor in the proximity of DNA double-strand breaks. This finding raised the possibility that the complex, which was called the dTip60 complex, might specifically be attracted by phospho-H2A.X/v, and thus targeted to sites of DNA damage. Dr. Kusch was...Genetic predisposition can play an important role in development of lung cancer
... The dominant role of tobacco smoke as a causative factor in lung cancer has been well established. Other st...hors write. The researchers found that a familial factor for lung cancer was shown to extend beyond the nuclear family, as evidenced by significantly increas...Hospital epidemiologists trace outbreak of organism to commonly used wound care equipment
... pulsatile lavage treatment was a significant risk factor for the infection. Patients who had pulsatile lavage treatment were more than 30 times more likely to have infection than patients who were not treated with pulsatile lavage. Prior residence in a long-term care facility was also a significant risk ...Scientist discover the cellular roots of graying hair
...in it is often fatal. Sun exposure is a major risk factor in the disease, which has been increasing in the past several decades. Melanocytes, which manufacture and store the pigment that combines with hair-making cells called keratinocytes to color the hair, are specialized cells spawned by colorless melano...First 'atlas' of key brain genes could speed research on cancer, neurological diseases
... different parts of the brain, which transcription factor (TF) genes regulate the development of that brain ...s. "This tells you that a particular transcription factor is involved in the formation of some specific kind of cell." Stiles is pursuing TF's that direct the...Healthy mix of GI tract microbes are key to preventing allergies and asthma
... the gastrointestinal tract are a major underlying factor responsible for the immune system's ability to ignore inhaled allergens," says Gary Huffnagle, Ph.D., an associate professor of internal medicine and of microbiology and immunology in the U-M Medical School. "Change the microflora in the gut and you ...Vollum Institute discovery may unlock human genome
...ves linking DNA from a cell with the transcription factor protein, then isolating the complex through a proc...e regulatory sites involving a given transcription factor protein. "You can start to put together a transcriptional map of pathways that are involved in cellu...New painkiller was born in Utah
...ty of Utah biologist Doju Yoshikami determined the factor blocked the transmission of nerve signals through ...nerve cells. Olivera and Yoshikami developed the factor named omega-MVIIA, or omega conotoxin M seven A for use in basic research in neuroscience. "It blo...15-year study shows strong link between fast food, obesity and insulin resistance
...white. This study of cardiovascular disease risk factor evolution included 3,031 young (age 18-30 years in 1985) African-American and white adults whose frequency of fast-food visits, changes in body weight and insulin resistance were monitored and measured for 15 years. This was a multi-center, populati...Brain tumor study reveals why treatment efforts fail in genetic disorder
...nificantly affected, suggesting it is an important factor in this disease. Moreover, when the team activated K-RAS in normal astrocytes, the cells developed many of the same characteristics and activities as those lacking Nf1. For example, both types of abnormal astrocytes were round and dense, grew and mu...Urban ecology study witnessing the birth of a 'designer ecosystem'
...orhood. Economic issues appear to be a controlling factor for the urban ecosystem, much like climate and the abundance or absence of resources is in the surrounding desert environment. "The urban ecosystem is driven very largely by the local economy," said Grimm. "The populations are systematically altered...JCI table of contents, 3 January 2005
...m cells and exposed these cells to FGF20, a growth factor that is produced exclusively in the area of the br...s Jefferson University demonstrate that the growth factor IL-7 is a unique, potent, and strain-specific inducer of latent HIV-1 activation in infected individ......s Jefferson University demonstrate that the growth factor IL-7 is a unique, potent, and strain-specific inducer of latent HIV-1 activation in infected individuals on virally suppressive HAART. IL-7, a molecule that promotes the growth and activation of B and T cells, was shown to also stimulate HIV-1 activa...Transplantation of monkey embryonic stem cells reverses Parkinson disease in primates
...m cells and exposed these cells to FGF20, a growth factor that is produced exclusively in the area of the brain affected by Parkinson disease and is reported to have a protective effect on DA neurons. The authors observed increased DA neuron development and subsequently transplanted these neurons into monk...Protein in urine may warn of preeclampsia risk in pregnant women
...d by an imbalance of circulating angiogenic growth factor molecules, which enable the growth of small blood vessels. "In a normal pregnancy, the developing fetus signals the mother's body to widen blood vessels to the placenta, which supplies oxygen and nutrients to the fetus," explains Karumanchi. "But for...Human complexity and diversity spring from a surprisingly few (relatively speaking) genes
...of the Alu element in the human genome are a major factor in why genes undergo RNA editing," says Maas. "If you look at any gene sequence, you find more than one Alu element in the gene, and usually about a dozen." Scientists estimate that of 100,000 types of RNA molecules so far analyzed computationally, 1...Other highlights in the January 5 JNCI
...as found that blocking vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR-3) prevented lymphangiogenesis in a mouse model but had no effect on blood angiogenesis or the survival or function of existing lymphatic vessels. Specifically targeting VEGFR-3 may inhibit tumor metastasis by preventing lymphatic v...Searle grant funds proteomics initiative
...esses essential to life. But they also are a major factor in disease, making proteins an important target of drug therapies. To help position Chicago as a leader in the emerging field of proteomics, the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust have awarded a $1.5 million grant to the Chicago Biomedical C...Scientists decipher genome of fungus that can cause life-threatening infections
...ollowing diagnosis." The major virulence factor of C. neoformans is its extensive polysaccharide... Cryptococcus and will continue to be an enormous factor in the pace of discovery and in the scope of questions that can be asked about the basic biology of ......f this fungus. "This research will be an enormous factor in developing treatments for C. neoformans infection, which is a major problem for those with compromised immune systems," Lodge said. "We've discovered several unique attributes that point to new ways to attack the fungus and cure infection." For ...