Cell Biology

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Large transporter protein dysfunction associated with schizophrenia

Scientists have suspected mutations in a cellular cholesterol transport protein are associated with psychiatric disorders, but have found it difficult to prove this and to pinpoint how it happens.

29 Dec 2020

Gut cells alert the body to danger during parasite invasion

To effectively combat an infection, the body first has to sense it's been invaded, then the affected tissue must send out signals to corral resources to fight the intruder.

28 Dec 2020

Researchers develop new drug discovery method targeting membrane proteins on live cells

A research team led by Dr Xiaoyu LI from the Research Division for Chemistry, Faculty of Science, in collaboration with Professor Yizhou LI from School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University and Professor Yan CAO from School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University in Shanghai has developed a new drug discovery method targeting membrane proteins on live cells.

28 Dec 2020

Self-learning algorithms can help analyze biological image data

Imaging techniques enable a detailed look inside an organism. But interpreting the data is time-consuming and requires a great deal of experience.

28 Dec 2020

Protein encourages similar developing cells to clump together

Tohoku University scientists have, for the first time, provided experimental evidence that cell stickiness helps them stay sorted within correct compartments during development.

24 Dec 2020

Study clarifies the effect of aging on hematopoietic stem cells

By transferring mouse aged hematopoietic stem cells (aged HSCs) to the environment of young mice (bone marrow niche), it was demonstrated that the pattern of stem cell gene expression was rejuvenated to that of young hematopoietic stem cells.

24 Dec 2020

New device for investigating intrinsic extracellular pH dynamics in the brain

Researchers at Tohoku University have developed the first all-in-one miniature pH probe for real-time investigations of intrinsic extracellular pH dynamics in the deep brain structures.

24 Dec 2020

Researchers find mechanism underlying plasticity in adult brains

Developing brains constantly sprout new neuronal connections called synapses as they learn and remember. Important connections — the ones that are repeatedly introduced, such as how to avoid danger — are nurtured and reinforced, while connections deemed unnecessary are pruned away.

24 Dec 2020

Researchers create a molecular catalog that describes different types of neurons

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are the bottleneck through which all visual impressions flow from the retina to the brain. A team from the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, University of California Berkeley and Harvard University created a molecular catalog that describes the different types of these neurons.

24 Dec 2020

Researchers discover how shattered chromosomes make cancer cells more aggressive

Cancer is one of the world's greatest health afflictions because, unlike some diseases, it is a moving target, constantly evolving to evade and resist treatment.

23 Dec 2020

Study uncovers a new paradigm for the role of the thymus in pregnancy

How the immune system adapts to pregnancy has puzzled researchers for decades. An international team of researchers, including scientists from IMBA – Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences – has now discovered that important changes in the thymus occur in order to prevent miscarriages and gestational diabetes.

23 Dec 2020

Researchers discover protein that adjusts gene activity to match nutrient levels in roundworms

Transforming a fertilized egg into a fully functional adult is a complicated task. Cells must divide, move, and mature at specific times. Developmental genes control that process, turning on and off in a choreographed way.

23 Dec 2020

New drug starves cancer cells by attacking mitochondria

A newly developed compound starves cancer cells by attacking their "power plants" - the so-called mitochondria.

22 Dec 2020

Scientists discover molecular defects associated with rare genetic disorder in children

Damien D'Amours and his team at the Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology needed three years to discover the molecular defects associated with the LIC Syndrome, a serious genetic disorder that affects young children and result in acute respiratory distress, immune deficiency and abnormal chromosomes.

22 Dec 2020

New drug combination improves blood glucose control and weight loss in mice

Scientists have shown that adding an experimental cancer drug to a widely used diabetes treatment improves blood glucose control and weight loss in mice, according to a study published today in eLife.

22 Dec 2020

Gene-regulating snippet of RNA may contribute to breast cancer metastasis

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) scientists have discovered a gene-regulating snippet of RNA that may contribute to the spread of many breast cancers.

22 Dec 2020

Discovery reveals new type of brain cell sensitive to distance and direction of objects

The existence of GPS-like brain cells, which can store maps of the places we've been, like our kitchen or holiday destination, was already widely known, but this discovery shows there is also a type of brain cell sensitive to the distance and direction of objects that can store their locations on these maps.

21 Dec 2020

Study highlights the far-reaching effects of mutagenic compounds on human health

In order to survive, flourish and successfully reproduce, organisms rely on a high degree of genetic stability. Mutagenic agents, which can threaten the integrity of the genetic code by causing mutations in DNA, pose a serious risk to human health.

21 Dec 2020

Stem cells in the brain divide over months to create new nerve cells

For the first time, scientists at the University of Zurich have been able to observe stem cells in the adult mouse brain that divide over the course of several months to create new nerve cells. The study shows that brain stem cells are active over a long period, and thus provides new insights for stem cell research.

21 Dec 2020

The weak spot of colon cancer stem cells

Colon cancer stem cells have one weak spot: the enzyme Mll1. An MDC team led by Walter Birchmeier has now shown in Nature Communications that blocking this protein prevents the development of new tumors in the body.

21 Dec 2020

Cell Biology

Large transporter protein dysfunction associated with schizophrenia

Gut cells alert the body to danger during parasite invasion

Researchers develop new drug discovery method targeting membrane proteins on live cells

Self-learning algorithms can help analyze biological image data

Protein encourages similar developing cells to clump together

Study clarifies the effect of aging on hematopoietic stem cells

New device for investigating intrinsic extracellular pH dynamics in the brain

Researchers find mechanism underlying plasticity in adult brains

Researchers create a molecular catalog that describes different types of neurons

Researchers discover how shattered chromosomes make cancer cells more aggressive

Study uncovers a new paradigm for the role of the thymus in pregnancy

Researchers discover protein that adjusts gene activity to match nutrient levels in roundworms

New drug starves cancer cells by attacking mitochondria

Scientists discover molecular defects associated with rare genetic disorder in children

New drug combination improves blood glucose control and weight loss in mice

Gene-regulating snippet of RNA may contribute to breast cancer metastasis

Discovery reveals new type of brain cell sensitive to distance and direction of objects

Study highlights the far-reaching effects of mutagenic compounds on human health

Stem cells in the brain divide over months to create new nerve cells

The weak spot of colon cancer stem cells

Real-time Raman monitoring for pharmaceutical hot melt extrusion

Synthetic Psychedelics: A Growing Public Health Concern

How the Vutara VXL simplifies single-molecule imaging

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