SCIENCE NEWSNIH Genomic Mapping Study Finds Largest Set of Genes Related to Major Risk Factor for Heart Disease
Scanning the genomes of more than 100,000 people from all over the world, scientists report the largest set of genes discovered underlying high cholesterol and high triglycerides. Taken together, the gene variants explain between a quarter and a third of the inherited portions of cholesterol and triglyceride measured in the blood. [Press release from the National Institutes of Health discussing online prepublication in Nature]Molecular Mechanism Triggering Parkinson's Disease Identified in Study
Scientists have identified a molecular pathway responsible for the death of key nerve cells whose loss causes Parkinson’s disease. [Press release from Stanford University School of Medicine discussing online prepublication in Nature] Scientists Discover Protein that Shuttles RNA into Mitochondria
Researchers have uncovered a role for an essential cell protein in shuttling RNA into the mitochondria. [Press release from the University of California, Los Angeles Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center discussing online prepublication in Cell] Scientists Find Gas Pedal – and Brake – for Uncontrolled Cell Growth
Researchers have identified a new way to regulate the uncontrolled growth of blood vessels, a major problem in a broad range of diseases and conditions. [Press release from the University of California, San Diego discussing online prepublication in Nature Medicine] Newts' Ability to Regenerate Tissue Replicated in Mouse Cells by Scientists
Scientists have taken a big step toward being able to confer the regenerative capacity of newts on mammalian muscle cells; they accomplished this feat in experiments with laboratory mice in which they blocked the expression of two tumor-suppressing proteins. [Press release from Stanford University School of Medicine discussing online prepublication in Cell Stem Cell] Alphavirus-Based Vaccine May Slow Some Cancers
An experimental vaccine based on a virus that causes encephalitis in the wild appears to block tumor growth in some cases of advanced cancer. Scientists say the vaccine is able to stimulate an immune response, even in the face of profound immune system suppression. [Press release from Duke University Medical Center discussing online prepublication in the Journal of Clinical Investigation] Epileptic Seizures May Be Linked to an Ancient Gene Family
Researchers have identified an ancient gene family that plays a role in regulating the excitability of nerves within the brain. [Press release from the Pennsylvania State University discussing online prepublication in Nature Neuroscience] Cellular Suicide Spurs Cancer
Two studies looked at the role of a protein called PUMA, which triggers cell death in response to damaged DNA. Both research teams observed the same phenomenon: the absence of the suicide switch protected the mice, not harmed them. [Press release from NatureNews discussing online prepublication in Genes and Development] Researchers Find Key Step in Body's Ability to Make Red Blood Cells
Researchers found that a tiny fragment of RNA prompts stem cells to mature into red blood cells. They also created an artificial RNA inhibitor to block this process. [Press release from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center discussing online prepublication in Genes and Development] Researchers Identify a Gene Affecting Chronic Pain; Open Way for New Treatment Approach
Researchers have succeeded in identifying a gene associated with susceptibility to chronic pain caused by nerve injury in humans, signaling a significant step toward better understanding and treating of the condition. [Press release from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem discussing online prepublication in Genome Research] Taiwan Doctors Control Tumor Using Gene Therapy
Doctors have succeeded in controlling a tumor in rodents using gene therapy, and plan to conduct clinical tests on human beings soon. [Press release from Earth Times discussing online prepublication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA] Scientists Target Possible Cause of One Form of Bowel Disease
A possible cause of irritable bowel syndrome has been traced to a small piece of RNA that blocks a substance protecting the colon membrane, leading to hostile conditions that can produce diarrhea, bloating and chronic abdominal pain. [Press release from Ohio State University discussing online prepublication in Gut] Gene Brings Teeth in Shape
No healthy teeth without this gene: if during tooth formation the Jagged2 gene is inactivated, and hence the Notch signaling pathway interrupted, tooth crowns will be malformed and enamel will be lacking. [Press release from ScienceDaily discussing online prepublication in Development] Human Embryonic Stem Cells Purified in New, Rapid Technique
Researchers are reporting the first success in very rapidly purifying one type of embryonic stem cell from a mix of many different types of embryonic stem cells in the culture dish. The technique avoids the need to genetically alter the cells to distinguish them. [Press release from the University of California, San Francisco discussing online prepublication in Stem Cells and Development] “Genome Mining” May Yield New Drugs
Researchers have discovered a promising new antibiotic using the “genome mining” approach. The drug was extracted from the soil bug Streptomyces after the scientists found and activated a particular group of dormant genes in the microbe. [Press release from the Press Association discussing online prepublication in Microbiology] Scientists Develop “Designer Protein,” Opening New Door in Cancer Research
Scientists have identified a way to target and destroy Glioblastoma multiforme cells without harming healthy cells. [Press release from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center discussing online prepublication in Genes and Cancer] World's First Demonstration of Successful Adult Brain Cell Re-Growth Confirmed at Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience
A research team has confirmed — through extensive research and peer-reviewed testing — the world's first successful example of brain cell re-growth in an adult mammal. [University of Lethbridge Press Release] Herpes Virus Treats Head and Neck Cancer Patients
A genetically engineered cold sore virus has been used to treat head and neck cancer patients in a Phase I/II clinical trial. [Institute of Cancer Research Press Release] Invention’s Bit of Gold Goes a Long Way
A researcher has combined nanoscale-sized-particles of gold with two powerful tools in molecular biology to make DNA analysis more than 10 times faster at room temperature, rather than previously required higher temperatures. [Simon Fraser University Press Release] CURRENT PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by Impact Factor of the Journal) Biological, Clinical and Population Relevance of 95 Loci for Blood Lipids
Researchers screened the genome for common variants associated with plasma lipids in more than 100,000 individuals of European ancestry. Here they report 95 significantly associated loci, with 59 showing genome-wide significant association with lipid traits for the first time. [Nature] Pathogenic LRRK2 Negatively Regulates MicroRNA-Mediated Translational Repression
Results implicate deregulated synthesis of E2F1/DP caused by the miRNA pathway impairment as a key event in LRRK2 pathogenesis and suggest novel miRNA-based therapeutic strategies. [Nature] Direct Reprogramming of Fibroblasts into Functional Cardiomyocytes by Defined Factors
Researchers report that a combination of three developmental transcription factors (Gata4, Mef2c, and Tbx5) rapidly and efficiently reprogrammed postnatal cardiac or dermal fibroblasts directly into differentiated cardiomyocyte-like cells. [Cell] PNPASE Regulates RNA Import into Mitochondria
Researchers show a new role for PNPASE in regulating the import of nuclear-encoded RNAs into the mitochondrial matrix. [Cell] MicroRNA-132-Mediated Loss of p120RasGAP Activates the Endothelium to Facilitate Pathological Angiogenesis
Researchers show that the microRNA miR-132 acts as an angiogenic switch by targeting p120RasGAP in the endothelium and thereby inducing neovascularization. [Nat Med] Transient Inactivation of Rb and ARF Yields Regenerative Cells from Postmitotic Mammalian Muscle
Results show that differentiation of mammalian cells is reversed by inactivation of Arf and Rb and support the hypothesis that Arf evolved at the expense of regeneration. [Cell Stem Cell] An Alphavirus Vector Overcomes the Presence of Neutralizing Antibodies and Elevated Numbers of Tregs to Induce Immune Responses in Humans with Advanced Cancer
Data suggest that virus-like replicon particle-based vectors can overcome the presence of neutralizing antibodies to break tolerance to self antigen and may be clinically useful for immunotherapy in the setting of tumor-induced immunosuppression. [J Clin Invest] Deletion of the Potassium Channel Kv12.2 Causes Hippocampal Hyperexcitability and Epilepsy
Genetic deletion and pharmacologic block of Kv12.2 substantially reduced the firing threshold of hippocampal pyramidal neurons. [Nature Neurosci] Apoptosis of Leukocytes Triggered by Acute DNA Damage Promotes Lymphoma Formation
Mice defective in p53-induced apoptosis due to loss of its proapoptotic target gene, puma, resist gamma-irradiation-induced lymphomagenesis. [Genes Dev] Apoptosis-Promoted Tumorigenesis: Gamma-Irradiation-Induced Thymic Lymphomagenesis Requires Puma-Driven Leukocyte Death
Tumor suppression by Puma deficiency reflected its protection of leukocytes from gamma-irradiation-induced death, because their glucocorticoid-mediated decimation in Puma-deficient mice activated cycling of stem/progenitor cells and restored thymic lymphomagenesis. [Genes Dev] Defective Erythroid Differentiation in miR-451 Mutant Mice Mediated By 14-3-3Zeta
Researchers show that microRNA-451 (miR-451) regulates erythropoiesis in vivo. Mice lacking miR-451 display a reduction in hematrocrit, an erythroid differentiation defect, and ineffective erythropoiesis in response to oxidative stress. [Genes Dev] 
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