(Press-News.org) Cells control which genes they express by multiple mechanisms, one of which is the direct modification of DNA with small molecules. Methylation of genes effectively silences them, and excess DNA methylation, particularly of genes that control the cell cycle, is known to promote cancer formation. However, it is unclear whether the enzymes that modify DNA in this way target specific genes or whether random modifications select cells for enhanced tumorigenic capactiy.
In new research, Rudolf Jaenisch and colleagues, at the Whitehead Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, investigated DNA methylation in a mouse model of colon cancer. They found that a DNA methylating enzyme, Dnmt3b, targeted specific genes for silencing, and that these genes were similar to those silenced in human tumors. In addition, the researchers believe that their results show that aberrant DNA methylation may be one of the initiating events in the development of cancer.
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Gag order: how DNA silencing can promote cancer
2011-04-02
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JCI online early table of contents: April 1, 2011
2011-04-02
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Cat's out of the bag: PUMA contributes to ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease thought to be related to aberrant activation of the immune system in the intestine. Recent research has also suggested that regulated cell death (apoptosis) of the intestinal epithelial cells is a contributing factor to the pathogenesis. However, the molecular mechanisms that control the cellular response to inflammation are incompletely understood.
In this paper, Lin Zhang, at the University of Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania, found that in ...
Sugar-grain sized meteorites rocked the climates of early Earth and Mars, according to new study
2011-04-02
Bombardments of 'micro-meteorites' on Earth and Mars four billion years ago may have caused the planets' climates to cool dramatically, hampering their ability to support life, according to research published today in the journal Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta.
Scientists from Imperial College London studied the effects of the Late Heavy Bombardment (LHB), a period of time in the early Solar System when meteorite showers lasting around 100 million years barraged Earth and Mars. This bombardment discharged sulphur dioxide into the upper atmospheres of both planets and ...
Smyrna, GA Dentist Reaches Out to Patients Through New Website
2011-04-02
Leading dentists in Smyrna, Dr. James C. Pitts and Dr. Joseph M. Pitts, are pleased to introduce patients to a new avenue for communication and education through the launch of the practice's innovative website. The new informative website was created in order to enhance patient awareness of dental health care.
The new website for this dentist in Smyrna offers a wide array of valuable tools and information that patients can use to better inform themselves of various dental health care topics. Patients can visit this Smyrna dentist's website via the Internet at any moment ...
From science fiction to research breakthrough
2011-04-02
Focusing on interdisciplinary research is now leading to breakthroughs in bio nanotechnology research. A new method for drug development has become a reality.
Four years ago, the biologist Karen Martinez almost didn't believe in the research project herself when she started with her team working on it, but now it has been proven. Together with colleagues at the Nano-Science Center, her team has been able to combine nanoscale materials and technologies that are traditionally used for electronic devices with individual living cells. The researchers have shown that cells ...
Progress toward the clinical application of autologous induced pluripotent stem cells and gene repair therapy for treatment of familial hypercholesterolemia
2011-04-02
Study shows, for the first time, the successful reprogramming of diseased human hepatocytes into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC).1
Results also found differentiation into mature hepatocytes was more efficient than that with fibroblast-derived iPSCs.
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Dentist in West Orange, NJ Offers Patients Opportunity to Learn About Other Patients' Experiences
2011-04-02
Skilled West Orange dentist, Dr. Paul Feldman, allows patients to submit reviews of himself, his practice and his staff. The reviews are easily accessible via the practice's website and allow patients to view how other patients' experiences were. Patients can visit the website for this West Orange, NJ dentist to read reviews from previous patients who have received treatment from Dr. Feldman.
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In vivo RNAi screening identifies new regulators of liver regeneration
2011-04-02
This study establishes a unique system to perform in vivo RNAi screens for genetically dissecting the cellular signalling networks that regulate hepatocyte proliferation during chronic liver damage.1
Functional in vivo validation studies show that stable knockdown of the candidate gene by different shRNAs can significantly increase the repopulation efficiency of mouse hepatocytes and also increase the regenerative capacity of chronically damaged mouse livers.
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New studies provide beneficial insights expanding the pool of liver grafts and transplants
2011-04-02
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Smile Gallery for Warrenton Dentist Effectively Displays Smile Transformations
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First vaccine for viral hepatitis C could become a reality
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In the first study1, a therapeutic T-cell vaccine, based on novel adenoviral vectors was used on a small population of treatment naive patients with chronic genotype 1 HCV infection. Intra-muscular vaccination was administered 2 or 14 weeks into a 48-week course of treatment with Peg-IFNa2a/ribavirin. 50% of vaccinated patients had CD4+ and CD8+ HCV specific ...