Researchers at the University of Michigan Medical School have identified a third gene involved in prostate cancer, expanding their groundbreaking announcement, published last October in Science, that the majority of prostate cancers carry a malignancy-inducing fusion of genes never before seen in solid tumors. The new findings appear in the April 1 issue of Cancer Research. Since prostate cancer is a cancer of the epithelial cells lining organs, lead researcher Arul Chinnaiyan and his colleagues be
We are all familiar with the dangers of too much fat in our diet–increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity are just a few of the most severe consequences. But some rare metabolic diseases, such as hypolipidemia and Tangier disease, seem to work in reverse–they severely limit the amount of fat and cholesterol that makes it into the bloodstream. Researchers from the Carnegie Institution and the University of Pennsylvania have found a specific gene that could be responsible for su
New evidence in the April 5, 2006 Cell Metabolism reveals a molecular mechanism that may play a general role in animals’ ability to respond appropriately when starved. The researchers discovered a pathway in worms that underlies their ability to adapt to food scarcity by remodeling their primary feeding organ.
In combination with earlier evidence, the findings suggest the so-called muscarinic acetylcholine pathway might play a conserved role in animals’ starvation response, t
But meta-analysis does not uncover enough benefits to recommend use of soy supplements
Because some studies have suggested that soy contains chemicals that may help ward off breast cancer, increasing numbers of women are using soy supplements as a potential tumor preventive. But although a new meta-analysis of all available published data finds that while soy intake may be associated with a small reduction in the risk of breast cancer, there is no evidence to recommend the use
University of Mississippi researchers say they have created the first-ever mammalian model of how alcohol consumption spurs tumor growth, showing that even moderate drinking resulted in larger and more robust tumors.
The research provides the first mammalian model of the links between alcohol, VEGF, and tumor growth, said Wei Tan, the study’s lead author. The study increases understanding of how alcohol over-stimulates production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEG
Scientists at the University of Illinois have discovered an antifreeze-protein gene in cod that has evolved from non-coding or ’junk’ DNA. Since the creation of these antifreeze proteins is directly driven by polar glaciation, by studying their evolutionary history the scientists hope to pinpoint the time of onset of freezing conditions in the polar and subpolar seas. Professor Cheng will present her latest results at the Annual Main Meeting of the Society for Experimental Biology in Can
Researchers at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia have uncovered a genetic “signature” that accurately identifies colon cancer–a key, they hope, to better understand how the cancer develops.
Colon cancer may begin when processes that regulate adult stem cells in the colon go awry. A handful of stem cells lie in the bottom of tiny tube-like “crypts” in the epithelium (or lining) of the colon. Stem cells produce daughter cells that proliferate, eventually making their way to
Omega 3 fatty acids in dietary fish oil are reported to have anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombogenic and anti-arrhythmic effects in humans, but the biochemical basis for these beneficial health effects is not well understood. Now a University of Michigan biochemist reports that fish oil significantly diminishes the production and effectiveness of various prostaglandins, naturally occurring hormone-like substances that can accentuate inflammation and thrombosis.
Dr. William L. Smith desc
Researchers identify genetic variants that lend clues to living longer
Many studies show that tweaking a single gene can extend life span in animal models. In a new study published in the open access journal PLoS Biology, Drs. Gil Atzmon and Nir Barzilai at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have found that people harbor alleles—alternative forms of a gene—that confer the same sort of longevity advantage.
The researchers looked for genetic clue
A horse’s saddle and the weight of its rider can directly affect equine performance, causing spinal abnormalities in racehorses and showjumpers. On Tuesday 4th April, at the Society for Experimental Biology’s Main Annual Meeting in Canterbury [session A7], Patricia de Cocq will present novel data showing that when a horse bears the weight of a rider it adjusts the position of its back and alters its limb movements, which makes it prone to back-pain. “The goal of this study is to advise horse tr
Unlike airplanes, leaving their landing gear down makes bees fly faster. When orchid bees extend their hind-legs they pitch forward to achieve maximal speed, and the legs produce lift forces to either side that help prevent the bee from rolling. “The hind-legs resemble airplane wings, which probably explains why they also generate lift”, says Dr Stacey Combes from the University of California, Berkeley who will present her research on Tuesday 4th April at the Society for Experimental Biology’s A
Now is the time to look for the sight of hares boxing – when a Jack hare starts chasing a Jill hare it is a sure sign of spring. The hares may seem brazen in their conspicuousness, but if a stray greyhound were to take advantage of their amorous distractions the hares would stand a very good chance of getting away. This security comes from the fact that hares have better muscles for jumping and turning than greyhounds. Sarah Williams, a research student in the Structure and Motion laboratory at
For scientists a good publication record is a recipe for success, and it’s never too early to start. Dr Celia Knight (University of Leeds) has established ‘Biolog-e’ – a web-based journal which publishes first class biology research projects. And the students love it! “They can show their friends, families and future-employers evidence of skills in science research and communication”, says Dr Knight who will be presenting the project at the Society for Experimental Biology Main Meeting in Canter
Findings May Offer Therapeutic Potential for Sepsis Treatment
Disruption of a single gene, Nrf2, plays a critical role in regulating the body’s innate immune response to sepsis and septic shock, according to a study by a research team led by Shyam Biswal, PhD, at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The researchers found that the absence of Nrf2 caused a dramatic increase in mortality due to septic shock in mice. The study’s findings, which will be published in the A
Scientists discover structure of defense process, how to inhibit it
Scientists from two universities in Italy and Virginia Tech in the United States have determined the structure of a protein that is responsible for the production xanthurenic acid (XA) in Anopheles gambiae, the malaria carrying mosquitoes. XA plays a key role in the sexual reproduction of the malaria parasite (Plasmodium falciparum) in A. gambiae mosquitoes. Interfering with the formation of XA could be an avenue for
The purity of birdsong is owed in large part to rapid, controlled changes in the shape of the birds’ upper vocal tracts, according to a new study of Northern Cardinals by scientists at Indiana University Bloomington, Purdue University and Australian National University. Their report will appear in next week’s (April 4) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
“We show that songbirds adjust the size and shape of their vocal tract to ’fit’ the changing frequency of their song,
Feedback
