New epigenetic drug against Mantle Cell Lymphoma A new study by doctor Manel Esteller, Director of the Epigenetics and Cancer Biology Program (PEBC) of the Bellvitge Biomedical ResearchInstitute (IDIBELL), ICREA Researcher and Professor of Genetics at the University of Barcelona, presents an epigenetic drug capable of slowing down cell growth in Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL), a...
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How ‘gatekeepers’ to a cell’s nucleus let genetic instructions pass through
New structural details emerge about one of the body’s biggest protein assemblages, the nuclear pore complex CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Standing guard between a cell’s nucleus and its main chamber, called the cytoplasm, are thousands of behemoth protein structures called nuclear pore complexes, or NPCs. NPCs are like the bouncers of a cell’s nucleus, tightly...
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Gene signatures and biomarkers predict onset of rheumatoid arthritis in at-risk individuals
The results of two studies presented today at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2018) provide insight into molecular changes prior to the onset of arthritis which could inform future novel diagnostics and early therapeutic interventions. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterised by joint inflammation leading to destruction of bone and cartilage. Since structural joint damage is...
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Incredible self-balancing ‘robotic suit’ that uses algorithms to mimic how humans move could let wheelchair users walk again
A French startup built a ‘robotic’ exoskeleton that helps paraplegic patients walk It attaches to the user’s legs and back via straps that distribute pressure evenly A series of motors in the hips, knees and ankles communicate with a computer, which analyzes the person’s ‘gait’, or how they walk, in order to stay balanced Developer...
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Researchers identify new gene changes that point to elevated prostate cancer risk
Findings may help identify men who need early, regular screening CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY As the result of a six-year long research process, Fredrick R. Schumacher, PhD, a cancer epidemiology researcher at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and an international team of more than 100 colleagues have identified 63 new genetic variations that could indicate...
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Team develops framework to identify genetic missense mutations linked to autism spectrum disorder
Missense mutations occur when there is a change in one gene’s DNA base pair, and the change results in the substitution of one amino acid for another in the gene’s protein. Mutations that disrupt the function of proteins are widely recognized as a risk source for development disorders such as intellectual disability, congenital heart defects...
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A serious new hurdle for CRISPR: Edited cells might cause cancer, find two studies
Editing cells’ genomes with CRISPR-Cas9 might increase the risk that the altered cells, intended to treat disease, will trigger cancer, two studies published on Monday warn — a potential game-changer for the companies developing CRISPR-based therapies. In the studies, published in Nature Medicine, scientists found that cells whose genomes are successfully edited by CRISPR-Cas9 have the potential...
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‘Surgery in a pill’ a potential treatment for diabetes
Orally administered material temporarily coats the intestine, reduces blood sugar spikes in preclinical study BRIGHAM AND WOMEN’S HOSPITAL Boston, MA — Over the last decade, bariatric surgeons have made strides in performing weight loss surgery that not only reverses obesity but can also reverse type 2 diabetes in patients with both conditions. Despite dramatic improvements...
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Manipulated enzymes
TU Graz researchers set milestone in biocatalysis research GRAZ UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY TU Graz researchers managed for the first time ever to ‘retrain’ an enzyme to build ring-shaped molecular structures instead of performing its natural task of reducing double bonds. The work was published in Angewandte Chemie, and is relevant for the production of pharmaceuticals and plant protection products. IMAGE: KATHRIN HECKENBICHLER...
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Artificial gene defect reveals target to fight genetic disease
(Vienna, June 11, 2018) DNA Repair is essential for a healthy organism. In every day of our lives, tens of thousands of damages occur in the genetic material of our cells. Hence, it is not surprising that a broad variety of repair mechanisms developed in the course of evolution that enables cells to quickly react...