Category Biology/Biotechnology

Two gene-regulating molecules have been found to have a protective effect in the set of neurons most affected by the disease, and when their activity wanes, disease sets in. This discovery suggests new avenues by which the disease might be prevented or treated.

METHOD: They used genetically engineering mice to capture the genetic messages being translated into proteins in a specific population of cells. They then mapped the interactions of regulator genes with their target genes in the mouse brain, and used this new tool to interpret the changes they documented between normal mice and those suffering from Parkinson’s-like degeneration.

This led them to 2 molecules: proteins SATB1 and ZDHHC2, which are more abundant in the dopaminergic neurons in the SNpc (Substantia Nigra pars compac...

Cancer cells were treated with a control (left) and the overstimulating compound MCB-613 (right). Credit: Lei Wang

The demands of rapid cell division put a strain on cancer cells, and the approach works by tipping cell stress over the edge. Researchers show that the drug candidate inhibits tumor growth in a mouse model of breast cancer and efficiently kills a broad range of human cancer cells.

Because cancer cells acquire mutations in oncogenes to support their growth and survival, a great deal of research has focused on identifying oncogenes that could be targeted by cancer drugs...

Experimental setup. The IR probe beam (CO2/FEL, red) is divided into two branches using a geometrical beam splitter (BS) (Au-evaporated Si wafer), which redirects part of the beam towards the s-SNOM Credit: http://www.nature.com/srep/2015/150728/srep12582/full/srep12582.html

Computer-assisted technology developed especially for this purpose combines the advantages of both methods and suppresses unwanted noise. This makes highly precise filming of dynamic processes at the nanometer scale possible eg photosynthesis or high-temperature superconductivity.

The new camera from Dresden enables unaltered optical measurements of extremely small, dynamic changes in biological, chemical or physical processes...

VitB3 3D model

It will allow for novel drug development for obesity, diabetes type II and related metabolic diseases. A small molecule N1-methylnicotinamide prevents metabolic complications caused by a high-fat diet.

“Our laboratory investigates the metabolic effects of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide [NAD+], a metabolite derived from a form of vitamin B3 called nicotinamide,” explained assistant Prof Pavlos Pissios. NAD+ is central to intermediary metabolism, the intracellular process by which food is converted into cellular components in the body.

“Like reservatrol, which is found in red wine, NAD+ boosts the effects of the protein sirtuin 1 [Sirt1], which is known to provide many health benefits,” said Pissios...