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Researchers uncover how a key transcription factor reads DNA in human cells

With a new study in the journal Cell, researchers at Stanford University and Stockholm University have contributed to increased knowledge about gene regulation in human cells.

26 Nov 2025

Discovery of sequence-driven DNA methylation offers new path for epigenetic engineering

All the cells in an organism have the exact same genetic sequence. What differs across cell types is their epigenetics-meticulously placed chemical tags that influence which genes are expressed in each cell.

22 Nov 2025

New sequencing method reveals how transposons move and shape the genome

Cornell researchers have found that a new DNA sequencing technology can be used to study how transposons move within and bind to the genome.

22 Nov 2025

Study clarifies how biliary atresia overlaps with multiple congenital syndromes

Biliary atresia (BA) represents one of the leading causes of pediatric liver failure, often requiring surgical intervention or transplantation in early infancy.

12 Nov 2025

New insights reveal how TCF and LEF proteins control Wnt signaling and disease progression

Researchers have unveiled the intricate molecular mechanisms governing TCF/LEF-mediated transcription in the canonical Wnt pathway, identifying these proteins as promising therapeutic targets for cancer and fibrotic diseases.

7 Nov 2025

Alzheimer’s breakthrough reveals how tweaking one gene shields brain connections

Lowering the transcription factor PU.1 reprograms microglia into a neuroprotective, lymphoid-like state that compacts amyloid, blocks tau spread, and preserves synapses in Alzheimer’s disease. Microglial CD28 signaling helps restrain inflammation, revealing a regulatory switch that may inform future immunotherapies targeting microglia rather than neurons.

6 Nov 2025

Stress hormones may silence crucial neuronal genes through specific RNA molecules

What if the brain's response to stress could be read not in fleeting neurotransmitter bursts, but in the quieting of genes deep inside chromatin? Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have now shown that stress hormones may silence crucial neuronal genes through an unexpected class of RNA molecules that operate not by encoding proteins, but by reshaping the genome's architecture.

4 Nov 2025

Nuclear binding protein identified as key contributor to trisomy 21-related CHDs

Three copies of chromosome 21 causes Down syndrome (DS), and roughly half of children born each year in the United States with DS-approximately 2,600-also have congenital heart defects (CHDs).

22 Oct 2025

Discovery offers a breakthrough approach to combat prostate tumor growth

Prostate cancer relies on genetic "switches", called enhancers, that can turn on tumor-promoting genes.

22 Oct 2025

MRI age clocks reveal how each organ ages differently and predict who develops disease or lives longer

Researchers developed seven MRI-based biological age clocks across major organs using UK Biobank imaging, linking each to proteins, metabolites, genetics, disease risks, mortality, and cognitive decline. These organ-specific age gaps reveal how uneven aging shapes vulnerability to conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and dementia, opening new paths for precision prevention and clinical trial stratification

19 Oct 2025

New insights reveal persistent genome structure during cell division

Before cells can divide, they first need to replicate all of their chromosomes, so that each of the daughter cells can receive a full set of genetic material.

17 Oct 2025

What happens when microplastics reach the testes? Study shows autophagy and cell loss

Researchers found that microplastics from everyday plastic tableware accumulate in human semen and, although not linked to semen quality in the full cohort, were associated with altered sperm parameters in specific subgroups. Experimental models confirmed that 50 nm polystyrene particles trigger autophagy and apoptosis via the FOXA1/MAP3K1/p38 pathway, impairing sperm structure and function.

15 Oct 2025

Lifestyle choices and hormonal imbalances can impact men's reproductive health

A new research paper was published in Volume 12 of Oncoscience on September 30, 2025, titled "Lifestyle and hormonal factors affecting semen quality and sperm DNA integrity: A cross-sectional study."

10 Oct 2025

Multidimensional regulation of stem cell fate by the cohesin complex

Conventional studies on stem cell fates are primarily focused on transcription factors, with the limited consideration for 3D genome architecture.

10 Oct 2025

Air pollution plays a significant role in the development of metabolic disorders

Long-term exposure to fine air pollution can impair metabolic health by disrupting the normal function of brown fat in mice. A study co-led by the University of Zurich shows that this occurs through complex changes in gene regulation driven by epigenetic mechanisms.

9 Oct 2025

Cancer cell nuclear hypertrophy can suppress metastasis

In tissue biopsies, cancer cells are frequently observed to have nuclei (the cell's genetic information storage) larger than normal.

29 Sep 2025

Study shows how early-life epigenetic 'memory' can influence adult brain inflammation

Why do some people remain healthy through childhood yet become more vulnerable to brain disorders such as dementia later in life? A KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) -led team has uncovered a key part of the answer: a developmental 'switch' in astrocytes—the brain's most abundant support cells that shapes how strongly the brain's immune system reacts in adulthood.

25 Sep 2025

GPR120 plays a key role in mediating the effects of n-3 fatty acids on mammary function

During lactation, the mammary gland undergoes significant structural and functional changes to produce milk, which is essential for neonatal nutrition and early immune development.

23 Sep 2025

Johns Hopkins team develops urine-based test for prostate cancer detection

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital and four other institutions have devised a novel method to test for prostate cancer using biomarkers present in urine, funded in part by the National Institutes of Health.

9 Sep 2025

Urine test identifies three biomarkers for accurate prostate cancer detection

2 Sep 2025