Engineered yeast speeds ethanol production
... proteins typically control large groups of genes, regulating when these genes are turned on or shut off. When the researchers altered a transcription factor called the TATA-binding protein, it caused the over-expression of at least a dozen genes, all of which were found to be necessary to elicit an improved...Gene-bender proteins may sway to DNA
...make us who we are. Certain proteins do the job of regulating gene expression by clasping onto key spots of DNA -- the nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions. How does the protein recognize a particular binding site" Structural changes in both the protein and DNA, sometimes with the DNA within the...Novel regulatory mechanism identified for key tumor suppressor p53
...udies to identify methylation as playing a role in regulating the activity of proteins that are not histones. Hi...ne other study has shown a role for methylation in regulating p53. In that study, a methyl group added to a specific site on p53 called K372 was shown to activate...University of Iowa scientists explore function of 'junk DNA'
... not give rise to a protein, but do play a role in regulating protein production. In their study, Davidson and colleagues not only discovered that microRNAs could be expressed in a different way than previously known, they also found that some of the junk DNA is not junk at all, but instead consists of sequence...RNA map provides first comprehensive understanding of alternative splicing
...d in or out in a binary, computer-like fashion. By regulating alternative splicing cells can produce a wide vari...tion of the peaks correlated with Nova's action on regulating whether the alternative exon is spliced in or out. The researchers tested whether this RNA map wa...Carnegie Mellon scientist plays key role in unveiling sea urchin genome
...e proteins that mix with mineral crystals, thereby regulating the growth and shape of the emerging skeleton, just as in humans. But having the sea urchin genome has revealed a provocative discovery: many of the biomineralization proteins, especially those that control late stages of the process, are completely ...ACS News Service Weekly PressPac -- Nov. 1, 2006
...archers began uncovering NO's far-ranging roles in regulating blood pressure, immunity, bone mass and other body functions. Lippard and Lim previously developed a bright fluorescent sensor that illuminates in the presence of NO. Visible under the fluorescent microscope, the sensor will help scientists see where...Neuron cell stickiness may hold key to evolution of the human brain
...ot code for proteins but play an important role in regulating gene expression. In their Science paper, the researchers identified 992 CNSs whose sequences were specifically modified in humans and enriched near genes involved in neuronal cell adhesion. This is the first genome-wide unbiased study to detect cle...JCI table of contents: Nov. 1, 2006
... that it had been proposed that GBA2 had a role in regulating a key step in the metabolism of bile acid, bile acid metabolism in these mice occurred normally. Instead, male mice lacking GBA2 showed decreased fertility. This was because the sperm from these mice had abnormally large, round heads, and were fewer ...Lack of GBA2: A contraceptive for male mice
... that it had been proposed that GBA2 had a role in regulating a key step in the metabolism of bile acid, bile acid metabolism in these mice occurred normally. Instead, male mice lacking GBA2 showed decreased fertility. This was because the sperm from these mice had abnormally large, round heads, and were fewer ...Open Science Conference to focus on regional sustainability challenges to the Earth system
...can adapt to such impacts or mitigate them through regulating policies, law and institutions in order to achieve sustainable development. Plenary Session Day 1: Monsoon Asia Integrated Regional Study. Parallel Session 6, Earth System research in Monsoon Asia. Monsoon Asia Expert: Congbin Fu Sea-level rise a...Professor analyzes nuclear receptors in bee genome
...n where they appear to serve a similar function of regulating brain growth. Nuclear receptors, a family of DNA-binding proteins found only in animals, regulate many aspects of development and reproduction, Fahrbach said. In humans, for example, the receptors for estrogen and testosterone are members of this ...Secrets revealed in sequencing of honey bee genome
...development of fruit flies have been implicated in regulating the activity of these thousands of genes. It appears that master regulator genes involved in nervous-system development in fruit flies are re-used by nature for behavioral functions in adult honey bees. These early findings hint at the wealth of kn...Insights into activity-dependent neuronal growth through RSRF-supported research
...g that BDNF and neuronal activity may cooperate in regulating MeCP2 function. Finally, this study shows that MeC...nt phosphorylation of MeCP2 at S421 is involved in regulating circadian rhythms, including the sleep-wake cycle. New work by Wang et al. (Katz lab) published i...Algae provide new clues to cancer
...k of cancer cells, which exhibit severe defects in regulating growth and division. "In mammalian cells it is very hard to separate size control from cell cycle control because it is very easy to mess up cell size as an indirect consequence of manipulating cell cycle rates," says Umen. The tiny single-cell...Does missing gene point to nocturnal existence for early mammals?
...t but uses light for non-visual processes, such as regulating our day-night rhythms and pupil constriction." Although the melanopsin gene is present in all vertebrates, the version in mammals was unusually different to that found in fish, amphibians and birds. "At first, we put this genetic anomaly between ...... to play a significant functional role, such as in regulating gene expression. To conduct this genetic sleuthing, they developed a customized gold-DNA conjugate. As usual, they attached to each gold nanoparticle roughly 100 DNA strands that are 54 base pairs long. But among these base pairs they inserted a s...Have traits, will travel: Some butterflies travel farther, reproduce faster
...appears to be a key. It plays an important role in regulating egg and larval development and also regulates reproduction, particularly egg maturation, in adults, Fescemyer said. Vitellogenin is the protein precursor to egg yolk, which the embryo uses for food. Total protein is the most important nutrient for eg...Histamine tied to changes in blood pressure during exercise-recovery period
...or of human physiology. "Some people have problems regulating blood pressure during and after exercise. Trained athletes have had fainting bouts at the end of exercise. It may be that these result from a natural overactivation of these two receptors for histamine." The histamine receptors involved are known a......e active component of T4 and is the key hormone in regulating metabolism, Pinto said. When an animal becomes cold, for example, its body converts T4 to T3 to speed metabolism and warm the body, he explained. "Mice strains that exhibit extended longevity tend to have lower thyroid hormone concentrations than s...