Extracellular Matrix News Volume 1.02 | May 6 2010

Endothelial Cell Adhesion to the Extracellular Matrix Induces c-Src-Dependent VEGFR-3 Phosphorylation Without the Activation of the Receptor Intrinsic Kinase Activity
The data suggest that cell adhesion to extracellular matrix induces a downstream signaling using the tyrosine kinase receptor vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-3 as a scaffold. [Circ Res]

Designed Biomaterials Mimicking Biology
Engineered artificial proteins that mimic the elastic properties of muscles in living organisms are the subject of a new article. This work represents a step forward in the design at the single-molecule level of potentially useful biomaterials. [Press release from Virginia Tech discussing online prepublication in Nature]

Designed Biomaterials to Mimic the Mechanical Properties of Muscles
Researchers show that these artificial elastomeric proteins can be photochemically crosslinked and cast into solid biomaterials. Researchers anticipate that these biomaterials will find applications in tissue engineering as scaffold and matrix for artificial muscles. [Nature]

D-Amino Acids Trigger Biofilm Disassembly
Researchers found that, before biofilm disassembly, Bacillus subtilis produced a factor that prevented biofilm formation and could break down existing biofilms. [Science]

Targeted Vezf1-Null Mutation Impairs Vascular Structure Formation During Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation
Together, these results suggest that Vezf1 is involved in early differentiation processes of the vasculature by regulating cell differentiation, proliferation, and extracellular matrix distribution and deposition. [Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol]

Type IIB Procollagen NH2-Propeptide, PIIBNP, Induces Death of Tumor Cells via Interaction With Integrins Alpha(v)Beta(5) and Alpha(v)Beta(3)
The NH(2)-propeptide is liberated into the extracellular matrix prior to deposition of the collagen fibrils. This peptide, called PIIBNP, adheres to and kills cells from chondrosarcoma, cervical and breast cancer cell lines via the integrins alpha(v)beta(5) and alpha(v)beta(3). [J Biol Chem]

Transcriptional Regulation of Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 and Collagen1a2 Explains the Antifibrotic Effect Exerted by Proteasome Inhibition in Human Dermal Fibroblasts
By altering the binding of at least two transcription factors, c-Jun and SP1, proteasome inhibition results in increased production of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and decreased synthesis of type I collagen in human dermal fibroblasts. [ Arthritis Res Ther]

Extracellular Matrix Suppresses Expression of the Apoptosis Mediator Fas by Epigenetic DNA Methylation
Researchers demonstrate that the extracellular matrix prevents activation of Fas by epigenetic DNA-methylation. [Apoptosis]

Hydrogel Matrix to Support Stem Cell Survival After Brain Transplantation in Stroke
A biopolymer hydrogel composed of cross-linked hyaluronan and heparin sulfate significantly promoted the survival of two different neural progenitor cell lines in vitro in conditions of stress and in vivo into the infarct cavity. [Neurorehabil Neural Repair]

Human Umbilical Cord Blood Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Matrix Prohibits Metastatic Cancer Cell MDA-MB-231 Proliferation
Researchers demonstrate that the extracellular matrix produced by umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells was able to arrest the growth of metastatic tumor cells by upregulating levels of PTEN in aggressive cancer cells. [Cancer Lett]

Targeted In Vivo Extracellular Matrix Formation Promotes Neovascularization in a Rodent Model of Myocardial Infarction
Researchers investigated whether extracellular matrix protein fragments could be targeted with antibodies to ischemically injured myocardium to promote angiogenesis and myocardial repair. [PLoS One]

Sec24D-Dependent Transport of Extracellular Matrix Proteins Is Required for Zebrafish Skeletal Morphogenesis
Researchers show that Sec24D is essential for secretion of cartilage matrix proteins, whereas the preceding development of craniofacial primordia and pre-chondrogenic condensations does not depend on this isoform. Bulldog chondrocytes fail to secrete type II collagen and matrilin to extracellular matrix, but membrane bound receptor beta1-integrin and cadherins appear to leave the endoplasmic reticulum in Sec24D-independent fashion. [PLoS One]

Landec Corporation Acquires Lifecore Biomedical
Landec Corporation, a materials science company that develops and markets patented polymer products for food, agriculture, personal care and drug delivery applications, announced that it has acquired Lifecore Biomedical, Inc. from Warburg Pincus Private Equity IX, LP. [Landec Corp. Press Release]

Hypoxia Induces Stem Cell Gene Expression, Protein Production and Cell Surface Markers
Histogen, Inc. presented new findings at the International Conference on Stem Cell Engineering. Analysis of the cells grown under Histogen’s proprietary conditions of hypoxia and low gravity show the expression of specific markers associated with embryonic stem cells. [Histogen, Inc. Press Release]

Inotek Pharmaceuticals Presents Preclinical Data at Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting Confirming That INO-8875 Lowers Intraocular Pressure by Increasing Outflow Through the Trabecular Meshwork
Inotek Pharmaceuticals Corp. presented results confirming the mechanism of action of the Company’s lead glaucoma candidate, INO-8875, as a trabecular meshwork outflow enhancer. [Inotek Pharmaceuticals Corp. Press Release]

Halozyme Announces First Quarter 2010 Financial Results Conference Call and Presentation at Upcoming Investor Conference
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing products targeting the extracellular matrix, announced it plans to report first quarter 2010 financial results on Friday, May 7, 2010 before the open of the financial markets. [Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. Press Release]

BellBrook Labs Launches Compound Profiling Services with High Content 3D Invasion Assay
BellBrook Labs announced at the 2010 Society for Biomolecular Screening Symposium the launch of a new invasion assay service for profiling the effects of potential drug molecules on migration of tumor cells through extracellular matrix. [PRWeb Press Release]

Recombinant Proteins Target Tissue Engineering
Amsbio has launched a range of recombinant proteins for cell-culture and tissue-engineering applications that can substitute extracellular matrix proteins currently extracted from mouse sarcoma. The Mussel Adhesive Protein-based matrix (Maptrix) extracellular matrix line of products are coating reagents with genetically incorporated bioactive peptides, which mimic the ECM activity of collagen, fibronectin, laminin and vitronectin proteins. [Laboratory Talk Press Release]

CIRM Awards $28 Million to Answer Fundamental Questions in Stem Cell Biology
At a meeting at the City of Hope, the governing board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), the state stem cell agency created by Proposition 71, approved funding $28 million to support 16 Basic Biology II Awards that answer fundamental questions about stem cell biology and one Leadership Award. [California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Press Release]

Details of New Wellcome Trust Investigator Awards Announced
The Wellcome Trust announced further details of its Investigator Awards, a major new scheme to support world-class researchers to tackle ambitious research questions about health and disease. [The Wellcome Trust Press Release]

FDA Faulted in Heparin Case
The Food and Drug Administration failed to pursue several “specific and credible leads” that might have identified culprits in China during the 2008 crisis involving contaminated imported heparin, according to a congressional investigation. [United States Congress, United States]

Commission to Boost Research and Innovation by Making it Easier to Apply for and Manage European Union Grants
The European Commission has unveiled a plan to simplify the procedures for taking part in European Union-funded research projects. [European Research, Innovation and Science Commission, European Union]

Statement of NIH Director on Federal Funding for Embryonic Stem Cell Lines
National Institutes of Health Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., announced that 13 additional human embryonic stem cell lines have been approved for federal funding and added to the NIH Stem Cell Registry. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Final Opportunity to Attend a 2010 NIH Regional Seminar on Program Funding & Grants Administration: Register Now for Portland, OR (June 24-25, 2010) (NOT-OD-10-092) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for: Centers of Research Translation (CORT) (P50) RFA-AR-11-002 (NOT-AR-10-035)  [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Individual Predoctoral Fellows in PharmD/PhD Programs (F31) (PA-10-178) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Extension of Expiration Date for PA-07-277, PA-06-367, and PA-06-368: Research on Ethical Issues in Human Subjects Research (NOT-OD-10-086) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

List of Establishments Granted Approval for a Variance to 21CFR640.3(d) and 21CFR640.3(f) [Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States]

May 7, 2010: Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting Announcement [Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States]

Guidance for Industry: Requalification Method for Reentry of Blood Donors Deferred Because of Reactive Test Results for Antibody to Hepatitis B Core Antigen (Anti-HBc); Availability [Docket No. FDA-2008-D-0263] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Emerging Infectious Diseases: Evaluation to Implementation for Transfusion and Transplantation Safety and Quantitative Risk Assessment: Blood Safety and Availability; Public Workshops [Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0001] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Considerations Regarding Food and Drug Administration Review and Regulation of Articles for the Treatment of Rare Diseases; Public Hearing [Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0218] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Stem Cells, Tissue Homeostasis and Cancer Conference
May 12-15, 2010
Heidelberg, Germany

Mater Medical Research Institute (MMRI) Stem Cell Symposium 2010: Epigenetics, Transcriptomics and Nanobiotechnology of Stem Cells
May 20-21, 2010
Brisbane, Australia

16th Annual International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) Meeting
May 23-26, 2010
Philadelphia, United States

Systems Biology of Stem Cells
May 24-25, 2010
Irvine, United States

International Scientific Symposium: Stem Cells in Biology and Disease
May 26-28, 2010
Lisbon, Portugal

American Society for Artificial Internal Organs (ASAIO) 56th Annual Conference
May 27-29, 2010
Baltimore, United States

46th American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting
June 4-8, 2010
Chicago, United States

The First Cedars-Sinai Regenerative Medicine Scientific Symposium
June 14, 2010
Los Angeles, United States

International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 8th Annual Meeting
June 16-19, 2010
San Francisco, United States

21st Meeting of the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR) 
June 26-29, 2010
Oslo, Norway

United Kingdom National Stem Cell Network (UKNSCN) Third Annual Scientific Conference
July 12-14, 2010
Nottingham, United Kingdom

2010 World Cancer Congress
August 18-21, 2010
Shenzhen, China

The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Meeting – Advancing the Life Sciences
September 4-7, 2010
Barcelona, Spain

Stem Cells USA & Regenerative Medicine Congress 2010
September 13-15, 2010
Philadelphia, United States 

15th Congress of the European Society of Surgical Oncology (ESSO)
September 15-17, 2010
Bordeaux, France

9th Annual Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) World Congress
September 19-23, 2010
Sydney, Australia

35th European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress
October 8-12, 2010
Milan, Italy

Fraunhofer Life Science Symposium 2010
October 29-30, 2010
Leipzig, Germany

6th National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Conference
November 7-10, 2010
Liverpool, United Kingdom

Visit our events page to stay up to date with the latest events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community.

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