By Syed Moiz Ahmed, PhD Student, Nanyang Technological University Cancer cells, like other fast proliferating cells, undergo DNA replication at overwhelming speeds, which puts them in a precarious situation with respect to DNA topology. Excess underwound or overwound DNA can lead to premature termination of replication. DNA supercoiling (the coiling of the DNA about itself)
By Dipanjan Basu, PhD The brief answer to this question is “We don’t know”. But the bigger question here is why should we bother to know? Cancer has been around for a very long time and humanity has come a long way investigating the characteristics and treatments for various kinds of cancer. In fact, in
Despite the improvements made to weight loss surgeries that reverse diabetes and obesity, numerous patients continue to opt against it, finding it too invasive. This prompted Dr. Ali Tavakkoli of Brigham and Women’s Hospital to find a less invasive way to deliver the same benefits. The goal is to produce a pill that delivers a
A new study has identified an enzyme that regulates DNA repair through deubiquitylation of a key protein. The research, led by University of Sheffield scientists, has implications for better understanding chemotherapy-resistant cancers as well as neurological disorders. The paper, published in Cell Reports, cites Kerafast’s MultiDsk Ubiquitin Binding Protein Reagent, which allows for the capture
In 10% of pediatric T-cell leukemia patients, the BCL-2 protein is overproduced due to a defect in the ribosomes, where proteins for cells are synthesized. A BCL-2 inhibiting drug is currently being used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia, but researchers at KU Leuven in Belgium are conducting studies to apply the drug to T-cell leukemia
The number one cause of death in the world is heart failure, according to the World Health Organization. Causing 80% of the 17.7 million global cardiovascular disease deaths annually, heart failure caused by heart attack or stroke is a huge public health concern. A new study by researchers at the University of Washington has given
By Netanya Y. Spencer, MD, PhD On June 11, 2018, Nature Medicine published two papers side-by-side. In one study, Haapaniemi and colleagues studied immortalized human retinal pigment epithelial cells; in the other study, Ihry and colleagues studied human pluripotent stem cells. Both papers presented one major discovery, which plunged a number of stock prices way
During the months of June and July, we invite our readers to submit blogs to us which will be published on our website and social media channels. Our employees and readers will vote for their favorite with the winner receiving a $500 Amazon gift card and two runners up each receiving $100 Amazon gift cards.
A new University of Toronto study uncovers how a protein complex helps dividing cells accurately split their DNA between two daughter cells. The study’s findings, published in The Journal of Cell Biology, provide insight into the development of kidney tumors, developmental disorders and other cancers. RSC and cell division When a cell divides, it is
The human microbiome is a community of bacteria, viruses, archaea, and eukaryotic microbes that colonize the body and can influence a variety of physiological functions. The microbiota of the gut is exceptionally diverse compared to other sites of the body. Within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract alone, trillions of bacteria representing over a thousand species can