Muscle Cell News Volume 1.19 | Jul 25 2016

TOP STORY

Gene Found to Control Regeneration of Injured Muscle by Adult Stem Cells

Scientists found that levels of a single protein known as AUF1 determine whether pools of stem cells retain the ability to regenerate muscle after injury and as mice age. Changes in the action of AUF1 have also been linked by past studies to human muscle diseases. [Press release from New York University discussing online publication in Cell Reports] Press Release | Full Article | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

CARDIAC MUSCLE CELLS

The Cardiomyocyte RNA-Binding Proteome: Links to Intermediary Metabolism and Heart Disease

Investigators determined the RNA-binding proteins repertoire of beating cardiomyocytic HL-1 cells by jointly employing two in vivo proteomic methods, mRNA interactome capture and RBDmap. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Effect of the Long-Acting Insulin Analogues Glargine and Degludec on Cardiomyocyte Cell Signaling and Function

The authors compared the signaling and functional impact of the long-acting insulin analogues insulin glargine and insulin degludec in cardiomyocyte cell models. They demonstrated similar efficacy under steady-state conditions relative to regular insulin in functional endpoint experiments. [Cardiovasc Diabetol] Full Article

Cholesterol Depletion Alters Cardiomyocyte Subcellular Signaling and Increases Contractility

Investigators determined whether acute reductions in cardiomyocyte cholesterol levels alter subcellular protein kinase activation, intracellular Ca²⁺ and contractility. [PLoS One] Full Article

SKELETAL MUSCLE CELLS

Autophagy Regulates Satellite Cell Ability to Regenerate Normal and Dystrophic Muscles

Scientists monitored autophagy in muscles of mdx mice and human Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients at different stages of disease. Their data showed that autophagy is activated during the early, compensatory regenerative stages of DMD. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract

Expression Profiling and Functional Characterization of miR-192 throughout Sheep Skeletal Muscle Development

Investigators examined the microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles of developing sheep skeletal muscle using a deep sequencing approach. They detected 2,396 miRNAs in the sheep skeletal muscle tissues. Of these, miR-192 was found to be up-regulated in prenatal skeletal muscle, but was down-regulated postnatally. [Sci Rep] Full Article

SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

Vascular Smooth Muscle Sirtuin-1 Protects against Diet-Induced Aortic Stiffness

Investigators studied the effects of vascular smooth muscle Sirtuin-1 on arterial stiffness in the context of diet-induced metabolic syndrome. [Hypertension] Abstract

Functional and Proteomic Investigations Reveal Major Royal Jelly Protein 1 Associated with Anti-Hypertension Activity in Mouse Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

The major royal jelly protein 1 (mrjp1) gene was inserted into mouse vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to investigate how MRJP1 influences VSMC functionality by functional and proteomic analysis. [Sci Rep] Full Article

TWEAK Favors Phosphate-Induced Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells through Canonical and Non-Canonical Activation of NFκB

Researchers explored the involvement of TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) in human vascular smooth muscle cells human vascular smooth muscle cells calcification in vitro. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Slug Is Increased in Vascular Remodeling and Induces a Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferative Phenotype

The authors evaluated the expression of Slug during the phenotypic switch of smooth muscle cells in vitro and throughout the development of vascular remodeling. [PLoS One] Full Article

Myoblast Fusion: Experimental Systems and Cellular Mechanisms

Fusion of myoblasts gives rise to the large, multi-nucleated muscle fibers that power and support organism motion and form. The mechanisms underlying this prominent form of cell-cell fusion have been investigated by a variety of experimental approaches, in several model systems. [Semin Cell Dev Biol] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the muscle cell research field.

IU-Based Startup Arrhythmotech Awarded $1.47M NIH Grant

A life sciences company based on Indiana University technology has received a two-year, $1,472,476 grant from the National Institutes of Health to help researchers determine if nerve activity is associated with a common heart rhythm disorder. [Indiana University] Press Release

PTC Therapeutics Provides Regulatory Update on Translarna™ (Ataluren)

PTC Therapeutics, Inc. announced global regulatory updates on Translarna™ for the treatment of nonsense mutation Duchenne muscular dystrophy and nonsense mutation cystic fibrosis. [PTC Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Scientific Literature: Information Overload

Recent bibliometrics show that the number of published scientific papers has climbed by 8–9% each year over the past several decades. In the biomedical field alone, more than 1 million papers pour into the PubMed database each year — about two papers per minute. For researchers who are already overwhelmed by bench and field work, grant-writing, publishing and other time-eaters, trying to navigate the growing deluge of data has become a second job. [Nature Careers] Editorial

Chinese Scientists to Pioneer First Human CRISPR Trial

Chinese scientists are on the verge of being first in the world to inject people with cells modified using the CRISPR–Cas9 gene-editing technique. A team led by Lu You, an oncologist at Sichuan University’s West China Hospital in Chengdu, plans to start testing such cells in people with lung cancer next month. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Organoids: Modeling Organ Development and Disease in 3D Culture
October 12-15, 2016
Heidelberg, Germany

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NEW Center Manager – Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (University of Queensland)

NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellowship – Functional Genomics and Bioinformatics (L’Institut du Thorax)

Postdoctoral Position – Biomedical Engineering (University of South Dakota)

Postdoctoral Position – Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (Leiden University Medical Center)

Group Leader – Cardio Pulmonary Science (Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen)

Postdoctoral Position – Epigenetics and Cell Differentiation (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Muscle Energetics (National Institutes of Health)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Skeletal Muscle Biology (University of Texas Health Science Center)

Post-Doc/Associate Specialist – Autophagy (Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Skeletal Muscle Biology (University of Michigan)

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