Newswise Feature Channel: Cell Biology

New Tool Reveals Details of the Microscopic Brain Structures Between Neurons

University of Utah Health — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 12:05:56 EST

Between and around the billions of neurons in the human brain is an interlinked net of proteins and sugars, which can regulate memory, learning, and behavior. A new tool developed by University of Utah Health researchers has uncovered detailed, dynamic patterns in this network's structure.

LJI Discovery Paves the Way for Antivirals Against Ebola Virus and Its Deadly Relatives

La Jolla Institute for Immunology — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 17:05:16 EST

The new study, led by researchers in the Saphire Lab at LJI, reveals the inner workings of the Ebola virus nucleocapsid. LA JOLLA, CA--At this moment, the world has few tools to combat deadly filoviruses, such as Ebola and Marburg viruses. The only approved vaccine and antibody treatments protect against just one filovirus species.

How Targeting 'Zombie Cells' Could Help Extend Healthspan

Hevolution Foundation — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 16:05:02 EST

What if a drug could help you live a longer, healthier life? Scientists at the University of Connecticut are working on it. In a new study in Cell Metabolism, researchers described how to target specific cells to extend the lifespan and improve the health of mice late in life.

In Search of New Microscopy Tools to Observe How Cells Function

University of Utah — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 16:05:55 EST

Two labs at the University of Utah's Department of Chemistry joined forces to improve imaging tools that may soon enable scientists to better observe signaling in functioning cells and other molecular-scale processes central to life.

Testing a Revolutionary Treatment Against Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

Rutgers University-New Brunswick — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 12:05:04 EST

Rutgers Health researchers will enroll primary or secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (p-MS) patients to see if an engineered immune cell therapy can halt the progression of the autoimmune disease.

The Arnold I. Caplan Award for Distinguished Research in Orthobiologics

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 16:05:33 EST

Nomination deadline: November 3, 2024

Strengthening crop stems: new insights from pepper plant genetics

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 07:05:58 EST

A recent study has identified CaSLR1, a gene in pepper plants, as a key regulator of stem strength by controlling cell wall development. This discovery offers significant potential for agriculture, paving the way for breeding crops with enhanced resistance to lodging. Such improvements can lead to increased yield stability and reduced production costs, providing substantial benefits for farmers.

New Study Shows that Chronic Neurodegeneration can be Prevented after Traumatic Brain Injury

University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 09:05:28 EST

Violent blows or jolts to the head can cause traumatic brain injury (TBI), and there are currently about five million people in the U.S. living with chronic neurodegeneration and related impairments due to TBI.

Pathway Tied to Cancer-Driving Genome Alterations Identified

UT Southwestern Medical Center — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 11:05:40 EST

Cancer cells appear to hijack a genetic pathway involved in DNA repair to drive malignancy and overcome treatment, a study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers shows. Their findings, published in Cell, explain how chromosomes in some tumors undergo massive rearrangements and could lead to new strategies to avoid cancer drug resistance.

Age-Related Changes in Male Fibroblasts Increase Treatment-Resistant Melanoma

Johns Hopkins Medicine — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 11:00:00 EST

Age-related changes in the fibroblasts, cells that create the skin's structure, contribute to the development of aggressive, treatment-resistant melanoma in males, according to research in mice by the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.

RNA editing plays critical role in fruit flies' sense of smell and social interactions

Bar-Ilan University — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 14:00:00 EST

In humans and fruit flies alike, rna editing prevents autoimmune responses and adjusts protein functions. However, in humans, most editing occurs in non-coding regions, with only a small fraction leading to changes in protein function. In contrast, in flies, the majority of rna editing events occur in sequences that directly produce proteins.

MD Anderson Research Highlights for September 4, 2024

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 12:00:56 EST

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center's Research Highlights showcases the latest breakthroughs in cancer care, research and prevention. These advances are made possible through seamless collaboration between MD Anderson's world-leading clinicians and scientists, bringing discoveries from the lab to the clinic and back.

A bacterial defense with potential application in genome editing

Ohio State University — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 08:05:01 EST

Scientists who have described in a new study the step-by-step details of a bacterial defense strategy see the mechanism as a promising platform for development of a new genome-editing method.

Targeting and blocking sCD13 protein could lead to systemic sclerosis treatment

Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 15:05:24 EST

Fibrosis, or the scaring of tissue, occurs in many diseases, and is a central component of systemic sclerosis. There are currently no treatments that can reverse fibrosis and the current treatment only has a modest effect on the course of the disease. But research is finding new targets for potential treatments.

Leading Computational Scientist and Oncology Researcher Elana Fertig, PhD, Appointed as New Director of the Institute for Genome Sciences at the University of Maryland School of Medicine

University of Maryland School of Medicine — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 12:05:53 EST

University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean Mark T. Gladwin, MD, announced today the appointment of Elana J. Fertig, PhD, FAIMBE, as the new Director of the School's Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS).

Tomato tangles: cell wall components key to fruit ripening unveiled

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 01:05:19 EST

A pioneering study has revealed the crucial role of cell wall components in tomato fruit ripening. By investigating the effects of altered SlP4H3 gene expression on arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs), researchers have illuminated the complex biochemical processes that control fruit maturation. This discovery could revolutionize agricultural practices, paving the way for tomato varieties with enhanced texture, nutritional value, and resilience to environmental challenges.

Immune cells have a metabolic backup plan for accessing their anti-cancer playbook

Van Andel Institute — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 10:05:45 EST

Immune cells use two different routes to produce acetyl-CoA, an essential metabolite required to fight infection and cancer, reports a study led by Van Andel Institute scientists.

The secret to sleepy cells' control of inflammatory secretions

Sanford Burnham Prebys — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 13:05:10 EST

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys and the La Jolla Institute for Immunology have revealed a new secret regarding senescence, a cellular state similar to sleep that is more likely to affect aged cells.

Department of Energy Announces $19.5 Million for Integrated Biological and Computational Low Dose Radiation Research

Department of Energy, Office of Science — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 13:05:51 EST

Today the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $19.5 million in funding over three years for 14 projects on low-dose radiation - studying the cellular and molecular responses to doses of radiation that are at or near lower exposure limits.

MD Anderson Research Highlights for August 21, 2024

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 12:00:44 EST