16.03.2020

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the CNS1. Astrocytes contribute to the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis2, but little is known about the heterogeneity of astrocytes and its regulation. Here we report the analysis of astrocytes in multiple sclerosis and its preclinical model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) by single-cell RNA sequencing in combination with cell-specific Ribotag RNA profiling, assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing (ATAC-seq), chromatin immunoprecipitation with sequencing (ChIP...

24.02.2020

Signalling endosomes are essential for trafficking of activated ligand–receptor complexes and their distal signalling, ultimately leading to neuronal survival. Although deficits in signalling endosome transport have been linked to neurodegeneration, our understanding of the mechanisms controlling this process remains incomplete. Here, we describe a new modulator of signalling endosome trafficking, the insulin‐like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R). We show that IGF1R inhibition increases the velocity of signalling endosomes in motor neuron axons,...

10.02.2020

Enjoy this exciting article by Kim et. al that was recently published in Nature Communications. The authors were finally able to show that H3R2me2a is the key histone mark for CPC recruitment onto mitotic chromosomes. Furthermore, results of this work support the interesting concept of arginine methylation as a dynamic process. Abstract The kinase Aurora B forms the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) together with Borealin, INCENP, and Survivin to mediate chromosome condensation, the correction of erroneous spindle-kinetoch...

13.01.2020

The recent publication in the journal Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology titled ‘Marine Collagen Substrates for 2D and 3D Ovarian Cancer Cell Systems’ has demonstrated that jellyfish collagen provides a reliable in vitro micro-environment for the proliferation and migration of Ovarian cancer cells. (OvCa.3 & SKOV.3). Cancer biology remains one of the biggest challenges of this century. There were 7,470 new cases of ovarian...

06.01.2020

What has a German cockroach to do with allergen-specific immunotherapy, you may ask? Well, read the following article by Birrueta et al. and find out …   Abstract German cockroach extract is used clinically to evaluate allergen-specific sensitization and for subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy, though there are no guidelines for standardization in its manufacture. We performed an immunological evaluation of 12 different cockroach extracts prepared from different sources and their po...

18.12.2019

The Extracellular Matrix (ECM) is composed of collagen, non-collagenous glycoproteins and proteoglycans. These components are secreted from cells to create an ECM meshwork that surrounds cells and tissues. The ECM regulates many aspects of cellular function, including the cells' dynamic behavior, cytoskeletal organization and intercellular communication. Fibronectin and Laminin constitute the majority of the dynamic portion of the extracellular matrix of tissues and they are essential components of the culturing technique of many cell types. ...

02.12.2019

An article in Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology written by Shanghao Li, PhD and Miodrag Micic, PhD, ScD, describes formulations that isolate mononuclear and polymorphonuclear leukocytes with high yield and viability. The article titled “High-Performance Density Gradient Media for Purification of Leukocytes from Blood” can be read in its entirety below. Isolation of viable mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cells from blood serves as the starting point for a wide spectrum of immunology and cell biology studies. Unlike red blo...

27.11.2019

The NLRP3 inflammasome links two major components of Alzheimer’s desease: amyloid-β and tau protein, as recently reported by scientists from German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and the University of Bonn. Amyloid-β plaques can activate the NLRP3 inflammasome which in return can result in additional amyloid-β deposits. On the other hand, NLRP3 inflammasome phosphorylates tau, resulting in tau aggregates within neurons. This ambilateral impact of NLRP3 inflammasome in the pathogenesis of tauopathies has been describe...

19.11.2019

Applied biological or biomedical research aims to reach a thorough understanding of the physiology of organisms and to further development of disease therapeutics. Some scientific discoveries have narrow applicability or scope and are sometimes serendipitous or even entirely unexpected. Other have wider applicability and transferability having proved enormously useful over a wide range of domains. Among the latter are research antibodies. Read more to discover how they help progressing science.   Secure the future of science...

15.11.2019

Abstract Lipoic acid (LA) is a redox-active disulphide compound, which functions as a pivotal co-factor for mitochondrial oxidative decarboxylation. LA and chemical derivatives were shown to target mitochondria in cancer cells with altered energy metabolism, thereby inducing cell death. In this study, the impact of LA on the tumor suppressor protein p53 was analyzed in various colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines, with a focus on the mechanisms driving p53 degradation. First, LA was demonstrated to trigger the depletion of both wildtype and...