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Digital versions of standard molecular biology tool to detect common tumor-associated mutation in CSF

Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers and their colleagues have used digital versions of a standard molecular biology tool to detect a common tumor-associated mutation in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with brain tumors. In their report being published in the open-access journal Molecular Therapy - Nucleic Acids, the investigators describe using advanced forms of the gene-amplification technology polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to analyze bits of RNA carried in membrane-covered sacs called extracellular vesicles for the presence of a tumor-associated mutation in a gene called IDH1.

24 Jul 2013

Structural properties have changed across bacterial families without putting limits on antibiotic resistance

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have been emerging at an alarming rate. In some of the scariest of these pathogens, the mechanism responsible for the bacteria's ability to defeat antibiotics is a complex protein molecule embedded in the bacterial cell wall -- the enzyme β-lactamase.

20 Jul 2013

Absence of Shp-2 enzyme near cartilage cells can lead to multiple benign cartilage tumors in mice

Rhode Island Hospital researchers have found that the absence of the Shp-2 enzyme near specialized cartilage cells can lead to the development of multiple benign cartilage tumors in mice, a model that recapitulates the rare human tumor syndrome metachondromatosis.

20 Jul 2013

Protein on surface of human breast tumour cells may serve as drug target for breast cancer

Scientists have identified higher levels of a receptor protein found on the surface of human breast tumour cells that may serve as a new drug target for the treatment of breast cancer.

19 Jul 2013

Scientists discover molecular switch that determines death or survival of cell

The study is the result of a collaboration of scientists at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, University of Michigan, and University of California San Diego, USA, who were interested in finding out whether autophagy can be affected by events in the cell nucleus. Surprisingly, they discovered that a signal chain in the nucleus serves as a kind of molecular switch that determines whether the cell dies or survives.

19 Jul 2013

FDA grants orphan drug designation to ARMAGEN's AGT-182 for treatment of Hunter syndrome

ARMAGEN announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted orphan drug designation to its lead product AGT-182 for the treatment of mucopolysaccharidosis type II (also known as Hunter syndrome or MPS II).

19 Jul 2013

Researchers develop new drug delivery technique for diabetes treatment

Researchers have developed a drug delivery technique for diabetes treatment in which a sponge-like material surrounds an insulin core. The sponge expands and contracts in response to blood sugar levels to release insulin as needed. The technique could also be used for targeted drug delivery to cancer cells.

19 Jul 2013

Quest Diagnostics completes sale of ibrutinib commercialization rights to Royalty Pharma

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services, announced today that it has completed the sale of its rights to royalties from commercialization of the drug candidate ibrutinib to Royalty Pharma, the industry leader in acquiring royalty interests in marketed and late stage biopharmaceutical products, for $485 million in cash.

From Quest Diagnostics 18 Jul 2013

Virginia Commonwealth University receives $1.8M grant to study biology of allergic disease

The National Institutes of Health has awarded Virginia Commonwealth University a grant totaling $1.8 million to study the biology of allergic disease - work which may one day point researchers to the development of therapies to fight asthma, allergy and inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and heart disease.

18 Jul 2013

Drug that spurs cancer cells to self-destruct is on road to human clinical trials

Thanks to a new $2 million investment, a drug that spurs cancer cells to self-destruct while sparing healthy cells is on the road to human clinical trials. The compound, known as PAC-1, has so far proven safe and has promising anti-cancer effects in cell culture, in mouse models of cancer and in pet dogs with spontaneously occurring lymphomas and osteosarcomas.

18 Jul 2013

Modified forms of bisphenol A found to alter hormone signaling in new, disturbing ways

For years, scientists have been worried about bisphenol A. The chemical is known as an "endocrine disruptor," a substance that interferes with the body's hormone signaling system, and it's found in everything from plastic drink bottles to the linings of food and drink cans to the thermal paper used for cash register receipts - not to mention the urine of 92.6 percent of Americans over the age of six.

18 Jul 2013

TAp73 protein frequently overexpressed in wide range of human tumors

They say you can pick your friends, but not your family. The same may hold true for related proteins. The protein TAp73 is a relative of the well-known, tumor-suppressor protein p53. It shares extensive common gene sequences with p53 and, as suggested by some previous studies, it may function similar to p53 to prevent tumor formation.

17 Jul 2013

Some strains of avian H7N9 influenza develop resistance to antiviral drugs

Some strains of the avian H7N9 influenza that emerged in China this year have developed resistance to the only antiviral drugs available to treat the infection, but testing for antiviral resistance can give misleading results, helping hasten the spread of resistant strains.

17 Jul 2013

Researchers develop pocket-sized drug test for use in health care settings

The National Institute on Drug Abuse has agreed to award $2.1 million to Lidong Qin, Ph.D., and Ping Wang, Ph.D., of the Houston Methodist Research Institute to develop a pocket-sized drug test for use in health care settings.

17 Jul 2013

Reciprocal communication between different cell types contributes to neuronal integrity

Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have discovered a new form of communication between different cell types in the brain. Nerve cells interact with neighboring glial cells, which results in a transfer of protein and genetic information. Nerve cells are thus protected against stressful growth conditions.

16 Jul 2013

Law of physics can be demonstrated by collection of individual protein molecules

Experiments by biochemists at the University of California, Davis show for the first time that a law of physics, the ergodic theorem, can be demonstrated by a collection of individual protein molecules -- specifically, a protein that unwinds DNA. The work will be published online by the journal Nature on July 14.

16 Jul 2013

USC study shows missing brain protein may be responsible for severe over-worry and fear

A little bit of learned fear is a good thing, keeping us from making risky, stupid decisions or falling over and over again into the same trap. But new research from neuroscientists and molecular biologists at USC shows that a missing brain protein may be the culprit in cases of severe over-worry, where the fear perseveres even when there's nothing of which to be afraid.

16 Jul 2013

Cranberry consumption may prevent chronic infections

Consuming cranberry products has been anecdotally associated with prevention of urinary tract infections (UTIs) for over 100 years. But is this popular belief a myth, or scientific fact?

16 Jul 2013

Proteins involved in immunity produce cancer-causing DNA mutations, study finds

A set of proteins involved in the body's natural defenses produces a large number of mutations in human DNA, according to a study led by researchers at the National Institutes of Health. The findings suggest that these naturally produced mutations are just as powerful as known cancer-causing agents in producing tumors.

15 Jul 2013

Scientists discover new details of biochemical interactions necessary for cell division

Building on earlier work exploring the complex choreography by which intricate cellular proteins interact with and copy DNA prior to cell division, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory and collaborators have captured a key step-molecular images showing how the enzyme that unwinds the DNA double helix gets drawn to and wrapped around its target.

15 Jul 2013

Enzyme News and Research

Digital versions of standard molecular biology tool to detect common tumor-associated mutation in CSF

Structural properties have changed across bacterial families without putting limits on antibiotic resistance

Absence of Shp-2 enzyme near cartilage cells can lead to multiple benign cartilage tumors in mice

Protein on surface of human breast tumour cells may serve as drug target for breast cancer

Scientists discover molecular switch that determines death or survival of cell

FDA grants orphan drug designation to ARMAGEN's AGT-182 for treatment of Hunter syndrome

Researchers develop new drug delivery technique for diabetes treatment

Quest Diagnostics completes sale of ibrutinib commercialization rights to Royalty Pharma

Virginia Commonwealth University receives $1.8M grant to study biology of allergic disease

Drug that spurs cancer cells to self-destruct is on road to human clinical trials

Modified forms of bisphenol A found to alter hormone signaling in new, disturbing ways

TAp73 protein frequently overexpressed in wide range of human tumors

Some strains of avian H7N9 influenza develop resistance to antiviral drugs

Researchers develop pocket-sized drug test for use in health care settings

Reciprocal communication between different cell types contributes to neuronal integrity

Law of physics can be demonstrated by collection of individual protein molecules

USC study shows missing brain protein may be responsible for severe over-worry and fear

Cranberry consumption may prevent chronic infections

Proteins involved in immunity produce cancer-causing DNA mutations, study finds

Scientists discover new details of biochemical interactions necessary for cell division

Biochemistry eBook

Achieving and maintaining ISO 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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