Protein News and Research

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Proteins are complex molecules that are made up of amino acids. They can be found in every cell in the body, and carry out vital processes that keep human beings alive. Mutations in proteins can lead to a multitude of diseases, the most common being cancer.

Newborn neurons in the adult brain can settle in the wrong neighborhood

A new study published in this week's PLoS Biology could have significant consequences for neural tissue transplantation to treat brain injuries or neural degeneration.

11 Nov 2008

Nanoporous ceramic membranes could provide breakthroughs for implantable medical devices

A team of researchers led by North Carolina State University has made a breakthrough that could lead to new dialysis devices and a host of other revolutionary medical implants.

11 Nov 2008

New development of optical probes in chemistry

A chance discovery by a team of scientists using optical probes means that changes in cells in the human body could now be seen in a completely different light.

11 Nov 2008

Does HBV infection induce acute cellular DNA damage?

Eukaryotic cells employ multiple strategies of checkpoint signaling and DNA repair mechanisms to monitor and repair damaged DNA.

11 Nov 2008

Differences between benign and cancerous moles

Research into a cancer that is on the rise in the UK is to be presented at the University of Leicester.

11 Nov 2008

Protein can nurture or devastate brain cells, depending on its 'friends,' UT Southwestern researchers find

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have uncovered new insights into the "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" nature of a protein that stimulates stem-cell maturation in the brain but, paradoxically, can also lead to nerve-cell damage.

11 Nov 2008

Discovery of mechanism that regulates the development of stem cells into neurons

Researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) have identified a novel mechanism in the regulation and differentiation of neural stem cells.

11 Nov 2008

Stem cells from umbilical cord blood may help build new heart valves

Children with heart defects may someday receive perfectly-matched new heart valves built using stem cells from their umbilical cord blood, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2008.

11 Nov 2008

Signaling between protein, growth factor is critical for coordinated cell migration

The mysterious process that orchestrates cells to move in unison to form human and animal embryos, heal wounds, and even spread cancer depends on interaction between two well-known genetic signaling pathways, two University of Utah medical school researchers have discovered.

11 Nov 2008

Researchers describe how cells recycle protein waste

Garbage collectors are important for removing trash; without them waste accumulates and can quickly become a health hazard.

11 Nov 2008

Researchers aim to over-stress already taxed mantle cell lymphoma cells

Cancer cells are already stressed by the fast pace they require to grow and spread and scientists believe a little more stress just may kill them.

11 Nov 2008

Latest research on diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases

Researchers are presenting more than 450 abstracts on investigational findings in the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases at the ACAAI Annual Meeting in Seattle, Nov. 6-11. Following are highlights of some key studies on asthma.

11 Nov 2008

Protein called TIM-3 turns off HIV-fighting T cells

In HIV-infected patients the body's immune system is unable to fight off the virus.

11 Nov 2008

Newborn neurons in the adult brain can settle in the wrong neighborhood

In a study that could have significant consequences for neural tissue transplantation strategies, researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies report that inactivating a specific gene in adult neural stem cells makes nerve cells emerging from those precursors form connections in the wrong part of the adult brain.

11 Nov 2008

Simple blood test for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein is a useful marker for cardiovascular disease

This year, about 450,000 Americans will die of coronary heart disease – the leading cause of death for both men and women.

11 Nov 2008

Ewing sarcoma treatment ineffective, despite promising laboratory data

Ewing sarcoma is the second most common type of primary bone cancer seen in children and young adults.

10 Nov 2008

Santaris Pharma releases positive data on LNA-based survivin inhibitor

Santaris Pharma announced today that SPC3042, a RNA-based antisense oligonucleotide developed using the company's proprietary Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) technology, potently blocks survivin, a key survival protein in cancer cells, in both in vitro and in vivo models of prostate cancer. Importantly, SPC3042 works synergistically with the anticancer drug paclitaxel (Taxol) in both model systems.

10 Nov 2008

New risk factor for heart disease suggests more should be on statins

Canadian scientists have discovered a new risk factor for cardiovascular disease and the significance of their discovery was so conclusive that the clinical trial was stopped before its scheduled completion date.New risk factor for heart disease suggests more should be on statins

10 Nov 2008

VIA Pharmaceuticals announces results of phase 2 trials of VIA-2291 in cardiovascular disease

VIA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has announced the results of two Phase 2 studies of its lead drug, VIA-2291.

10 Nov 2008

T-cell-based strategy for HIV-1 vaccines still viable option

The question of whether or not to continue to pursue the development of T-cell-based HIV-1 vaccines has been a source of controversy following last year's widely publicized failure of the field's most promising candidate, a vaccine developed by Merck known as V520.

10 Nov 2008