Category Health/Medical

Molecular model showing the novel proposed mechanism for the activation of SMURF2. The C-lobe (in yellow) of the SMURF2 protein interacts with an ubiquitin molecule (in green), which was transferred to SMURF2 by USP15. Credit: Image courtesy of National University of Singapore

In certain settings, the TGF-beta pathway can act as an oncogene, enhancing cancer progression in humans. The activation of this pathway can increase the growth of tumors by promoting cell invasion, activating cancer stem cells, and in some cases, promoting the spread of cancer. In recent years, a number of deubiquitinating enzymes have been shown to regulate the TGF-β pathway and may potentially be considered as a new class of drug targets...

Previous experiment (a) When Dnmt3a2 is overexpressed in aged mice, it improves memory formation. (b) Conversely, when Dnmt3a2 is artificially reduced in young mice by shRNA-mediated knockdown, this is sufficient to disrupt memory formation. These results demonstrate the requirement for Dnmt3a2 in hippocampus-dependent memory formation.

Research findings could lead to new treatment for anxiety disorders including PTSD. Mouse experiments showed that the Dnmt3a2 protein can boost memory performance in the animals. Because this protein also affects fear memory and the ability to erase bad memories, the researchers hope these findings can be used to develop new treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder and other forms of anxiety.

In an earlier study, the Heidelberg scientists learned that ...

A first-of-its-kind (anti-PD-1) immunotherapy was approved today by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration as first-line treatment for metastatic melanoma — allowing greater access to this therapy for patients without having to previously receive other prior treatments.

Co-developed by UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer member Dr. Antoni Ribas, the drug pembrolizumab has signaled a paradigm shift in the way melanoma is treated. The protein works by blocking the immune system’s brakes, thereby allowing its T cells to recognize and attack cancer cells.

Pembrolizumab (Keytruda®) originally received accelerated approval by the FDA in 2014 for metastatic melanoma...

Transient and stable DNA methylation during memory acquisition and maintenance.

Their study confirms that the formation of memories is accompanied by an altered activity of specific genes. In addition, they found unprecedented evidence that supports the hypothesis DNA methylation may be the molecular basis of long-term memory.

The scientists stimulated long-term memory in mice, by training the animals to recognise a specific test environment. Based on tissue samples, they could discern to what extent this learning task triggered changes in the activity of the genes in the mice’s brain cells. Their focus was on epigenetic modifications. Gene regulation can happen through methylation. Changes in the histones that are packaging the DNA may also occur.

Hennion: “Research on epigenetic change...