This month in Bio-Med Roundup:
- Berns et al . investigated the neurobiological basis of dread.
- Wiœniewska et al ., Petrásek et al ., and Dharmasiri et al . provided new insights into the control of auxin flow in plants.
- Thore et al . determined the structure of a eukaryotic riboswitch involved in regulating the synthesis of a common metabolite.
- Imai et al . deduced the gene regulatory network of an embryonic sea squirt, a primitive chordate whose tadpole larvae share a common body plan with vertebrates.
Neuroscience
Structural Biology
Medicine
Plant Science
Cell Biology
Developmental Biology
Microbiology
This month's sponsor: Welsh Development Agency Biodirectory
Need to find a bioscience product, service, or advice?
Visit our website for a comprehensive list of Welsh-based bioscience companies. Search for products and services by using simple keywords, or click on the map of Wales to specify companies in the area you want.
Neuroscience
Neurobiological Substrates of Dread ( 5 May 2006 )
G. S. Berns, J. Chappelow, M. Cekic, C. F. Zink, G. Pagnoni, M. E. Martin-Skurski
The pain centers are preferentially activated in the brains of people who prefer to suffer unpleasantness promptly, avoiding anticipatory dread.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5774/754
Related Perspective at http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/312/5774/704
Conjunctive Representation of Position, Direction, and Velocity in Entorhinal Cortex ( 5 May 2006 )
F. Sargolini, M. Fyhn, T. Hafting, B. L. McNaughton, M. P. Witter, M.-B. Moser, E. I. Moser
In rats, one region of the cortex contains cells that code the animal's position, head direction, and speed, and may integrate this information to provide a sense of its spatial location.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5774/758
Ischemia Opens Neuronal Gap Junction Hemichannels ( 12 May 2006 )
R. J. Thompson, N. Zhou, B. A. MacVicar
When neurons are deprived of oxygen and glucose, the gap-junctional channels between them open, interfering with appropriate ion flow.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5775/924
Hypothalamic mTOR Signaling Regulates Food Intake ( 12 May 2006 )
D. Cota, K. Proulx, K. A. Blake Smith, S. C. Kozma, G. Thomas, S. C. Woods, R. J. Seeley
In addition to responding to carbohydrates and fat in the blood, neurons in the brain can also be activated by blood-borne amino acids, the building blocks of proteins.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5775/927
See related Perspective at http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/312/5775/861
Agent-Specific Responses in the Cingulate Cortex During Economic Exchanges ( 19 May 2006 )
D. Tomlin, M. A. Kayali, B. King-Casas, C. Anen, C. F. Camerer, S. R. Quartz, P. R. Montague
The abstract ideas of self and other seem to be represented in two distinct regions of the human cingulate cortex.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5776/1047
Bruchpilot Promotes Active Zone Assembly, Ca 2+ Channel Clustering, and Vesicle Release ( 19 May 2006 )
R. J. Kittel, C. Wichmann, T. M. Rasse, W. Fouquet, M. Schmidt, A. Schmid, D. A. Wagh, C. Pawlu, R. R. Kellner, K. I. Willig et al.
A protein necessary for organization of the vesicle release site in neuronal synapses also influences calcium channel localization and interaction with vesicles.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5776/1051
See related Perspective at http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/312/5776/1008
Structural Biology
Structure of the Multidrug Transporter EmrD from Escherichia coli ( 5 May 2006 )
Y. Yin, X. He, P. Szewczyk, T. Nguyen, G. Chang
A t ransporter in the E. coli inner membrane confers resistance to hydrophobic drugs by binding them with specialized loops within the membrane and then exporting them.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5774/741
Signal Recognition Particle Receptor Exposes the Ribosomal Translocon Binding Site ( 5 May 2006 )
M. Halic, M. Gartmann, O. Schlenker, T. Mielke, M. R. Pool, I. Sinning, R. Beckmann
New proteins emerging from ribosomes can form a docking complex that exposes a binding site for the translocon, which guides the new proteins across the membrane.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5774/745
Recognition of Histone H3 Lysine-4 Methylation by the Double Tudor Domain of JMJD2A ( 5 May 2006 )
Y. Huang, J. Fang, M. T. Bedford, Y. Zhang, R.-M. Xu
Tandem domains form an interdigitated structure that is required to recognize and demethylate methylated histone tails, a reaction important for gene regulation.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5774/748
RNA Recognition and Cleavage by a Splicing Endonuclease ( 12 May 2006 )
S. Xue , K. Calvin, H. Li
The two catalytic subunits of a dimeric enzyme that cleaves RNA at two sites interact reciprocally.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5775/906
Structure of the Eukaryotic Thiamine Pyrophosphate Riboswitch with Its Regulatory Ligand ( 26 May 2006 )
S. Thore, M. Leibundgut, N. Ban
The structure of a common metabolite bound to a ubiquitous riboswitch shows how its ligand turns it off, suppressing translation of genes for the metabolite's synthesis.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5777/1208
Medicine
Defective Lipolysis and Altered Energy Metabolism in Mice Lacking Adipose Triglyceride Lipase ( 5 May 2006 )
G. Haemmerle, A. Lass, R. Zimmermann, G. Gorkiewicz, C. Meyer, J. Rozman, G. Heldmaier, R. Maier, C. Theussl, S. Eder et al.
Mice deficient in the enzyme that degrades the lipids in fat show abnormal metabolism and massive lipid accumulation in the heart, resulting in premature death.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5774/734
Impaired Control of IRES-Mediated Translation in X-Linked Dyskeratosis Congenita ( 12 May 2006 )
A. Yoon, G. Peng, Y. Brandenburg, O. Zollo, W. Xu, E. Rego, D. Ruggero
A rare disease that increases cancer susceptibility is caused by defective protein synthesis from messenger RNAs that are translated from an internal start site.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5775/902
A Regulatory SNP Causes a Human Genetic Disease by Creating a New Transcriptional Promoter ( 26 May 2006 )
M. De Gobbi, V. Viprakasit, J. R. Hughes, C. Fisher, V. J. Buckle, H. Ayyub, R. J. Gibbons, D. Vernimmen, Y. Yoshinaga, P. de Jong et al.
A type of anemia is caused by a change in a single nucleotide, creating a new promoterlike sequence that disrupts transcription of downs t ream red blood cell genes.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5777/1215%20
Pituitary Adenoma Predisposition Caused by Germline Mutations in the AIP Gene ( 26 May 2006 )
O. Vierimaa, M. Georgitsi, R. Lehtonen, P. Vahteristo, A. Kokko, A. Raitila, K. Tuppurainen, T. M. L. Ebeling, P. I. Salmela, R. Paschke et al.
Molecular and genealogical data from a Finnish population show that benign but health-threatening tumors of the pituitary gland are caused by mutations in a regulatory gene.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5777/1228
Plant Science
Polar PIN Localization Directs Auxin Flow in Plants ( 12 May 2006 )
J. Wisniewska, J. Xu, D. Seifertová, P. B. Brewer, K. Ruzicka, I. Blilou, D. Rouquié, E. Benková, B. Scheres, J. Friml
The local distribution of auxin transport proteins within cells controls the direction of auxin flow in plants.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5775/883
See related Perspective at http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5775/914
PIN Proteins Perform a Rate-Limiting Function in Cellular Auxin Efflux ( 12 May 2006 )
J. Petrásek, J. Mravec, R. Bouchard, J. J. Blakeslee, M. Abas, D. Seifertová, J. Wisniewska, Z. Tadele, M. Kubes, M. Covanová et al.
Inserting a specific plant protein and its regulated hormone auxin into nonplant cells shows that the protein can move auxin out of cells on its own.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5775/914
See related Perspective at http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/312/5775/858
CO/FT Regulatory Module Controls Timing of Flowering and Seasonal Growth Cessation in Trees ( 19 May 2006 )
H. Böhlenius, T. Huang, L. Charbonnel-Campaa, A. M. Brunner, S. Jansson, S. H. Strauss, O. Nilsson
Poplar, a perennial tree, contains genes cont rolling flowering and the onset of dormancy that are homologs of flowering time genes in Arabidopsis .
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5776/1040%20
AXR4 Is Required for Localization of the Auxin Influx Facilitator AUX1 ( 26 May 2006 )
S. Dharmasiri, R. Swarup, K. Mockaitis, N. Dharmasiri, S. K. Singh, M. Kowalchyk, A. Marchant, S. Mills, G. Sandberg, M. J. Bennett, M. Estelle
An int racellular protein directs a hormone transporter to a specific destination in the plant's root that allows it to grow selectively downward in response to gravity.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5777/1218%20
Cell Biology
B Cell Ligand Discrimination Through a Spreading and Contraction Response (5 May 2006)
S. J. Fleire, J. P. Goldman, Y. R. Carrasco, M. Weber, D. Bray, F. D. Batista
For maximal activation, antibody-producing immune cells extend their membranes over the surface of other cells, thus gathering stimulating molecules into a cluster.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5774/734
Related Perspective at http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/312/5774/709
A Systems Approach to Mapping DNA Damage Response Pathways ( 19 May 2006 )
C. T. Workman, H. C. Mak, S. McCuine, J.-B. Tagne, M. Agarwal, O. Ozier, T. J. Begley, L. D. Samson, T. Ideker
Analysis of transcription factors activated by DNA damage, their binding sites, and the effects of their deletion reveals the regulatory network for the repair response.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5776/1054
Lamin A–Dependent Nuclear Defects in Human Aging (19 May 2006)
P. Scaffidi and T. Misteli
Sporadic defects in the lamin A protein, which helps form the architecture of the nucleus, have been implicated in a premature aging disease and are also responsible for normal aging.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5776/1059
CRACM1 Is a Plasma Membrane Protein Essential for Store-Operated Ca 2+ Entry (26 May 2006)
M. Vig, C. Peinelt, A. Beck, D. L. Koomoa, D. Rabah, M. Koblan-Huberson, S. Kraft, H. Turner, A. Fleig, R. Penner, J.-P. Kinet
Two membrane proteins that control calcium flow into cells upon depletion of intracellular calcium stores are either part of the elusive calcium release–activated calcium channel or act as its regulators.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5777/1220%20
Developmental Biology
The Embryonic Vertabrate Heart Tube Is a Dynamic Suction Pump ( 5 May 2006 )
A. S. Forouhar, M. Liebling, A. Hickerson, A. Nasiraei-Moghaddam, H.-J. Tsai, J. R. Hove, S. E. Fraser, M. E. Dickinson, M. Gharib
Imaging shows that the embryonic, unchambered vertebrate heart develops as a fluid dynamic pump, not a peristaltic pump as had been assumed.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5774/751
Wnt Gradient Formation Requires Retromer Function in Wnt-Producing Cells (12 May 2006)
D. Y. M. Coudreuse, G. Roël, M. C. Betist, O. Destrée, H. C. Korswagen
A multiprotein complex that transports molecules into cells is required for formation of a protein gradient that patterns developing tissues in animals.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5775/921
Regulatory Blueprint for a Chordate Embryo (26 May 2006)
K. S. Imai, M. Levine, N. Satoh, Y. Satou
Sea squirts, among the simplest of extant chordates, now yield a glimpse at the network of regulatory gene interactions needed to gene rate a chordate animal.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5777/1183
See related Perspective at http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/312/5777/1145
Regulation of Adult Bone Mass by the Zinc Finger Adapter Protein Schnurri-3 (26 May 2006)
D. C. Jones, M. N. Wein, M. Oukka, J. G. Hofstaetter, M. J. Glimcher, L. H. Glimcher
A newly identified regulatory protein maintains the proper proportion of growing bones by cont rolling the degradation of a bone cell growth factor.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5777/1223
Microbiology
Oceanographic Basis of the Global Surface Distribution of Prochlorococcus Ecotypes (12 May 2006)
H. A. Bouman, O. Ulloa, D. J. Scanlan, K. Zwirglmaier, W. K. W. Li, T. Platt, V. Stuart, R. Barlow, O. Leth, L. Clementson et al.
A global census of an abundant photosynthetic marine bacterium reveals that its distribution is predicted by light, nutrients, and other oceanographic parameters.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5775/918
Emergent Properties of Reduced-Genome Escherichia coli (19 May 2006)
G. Pósfai, G. Plunkett, III, T. Fehér, D. Frisch, G. M. Keil, K. Umenhoffer, V. Kolisnychenko, B. Stahl, S. S. Sharma, M. de Arruda et al.
Targeted deletion of up to 15 percent of the genome of a common bacterium yielded new and improved strains, including ones that could take up foreign DNA more efficiently.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5776/1044
Yersinia YopJ Acetylates and Inhibits Kinase Activation by Blocking Phosphorylation (26 May 2006)
S. Mukherjee, G. Keitany, Y. Li, Y. Wang, H. L. Ball, E. J. Goldsmith, K. Orth
The plague-causing bacterium inhibits the innate immune responses of its infected host by blocking the phosphorylation and activation of key signaling enzymes.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5777/1211
See related Perspective at http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/312/5777/1150
This month's sponsor: Welsh Development Agency Biodirectory
Need to find a bioscience product, service, or advice?
Visit our website for a comprehensive list of Welsh-based bioscience companies. Search for products and services by using simple keywords, or click on the map of Wales to specify companies in the area you want.