Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-Seq) is a well-established method for identifying binding sites for DNA-binding proteins. This method involves (1) cross-linkage of DNA binding proteins to DNA, (2) DNA shearing, (3) immunoprecipitation of DNA fragments bound by a protein of interest, and (4) sequencing of precipitated DNA fragments. Resulting sequencing reads are aligned to the corresponding genome, and genome areas bound by the protein of interest are expected to…
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What’s “Mini Brain”? Can It Replace Experimental Animal?
With human cells as material, researchers from American have recently developed “mini” brain that has some of the features. This artificial organs can not only help scientists better detect drugs, but can also save a lot on the cost of laboratory animals. Currently, about 95% drugs that were through animal experiments can not be successfully applied to humans, thus a lot of human and financial resources are needed. Thomas…
Lack of Certain Transcription Factors May Promote Blood Vessel Growth
Blood Vessel plays a very important role as its growth determines whether timely nutrition is provided during embryonic development. In adulthood, the growth of new vessels can help the process of repair and regeneration. When the growth of them are disturbed, cancer, diabetes and eye disease may occur. By now, scientists have found that the growth of blood vessels in the innermost cell layer can be controlled by metabolism. The…
Sensing Proteins Prevents Obesity and Diabetes Found
Recently, researchers at the University of Melbourne determined an internal “sensor” which can help fight by indicating cells to burn their fat. This finding might play an important role in the treatment for obesity and metabolic diseases (including type 2 diabetes). In this study, the researchers found that when the increased dietary energy (food) intake triggers cells to become “unstable”, a protein called NLRP1 is opened. Activate this protein…
British Can “Smell” out Parkinson’s Disease?
A male patient of Parkinson’s Disease led to a new study-his widow found herself could “smell” the disease. This 65-year-old Joy Milne tole the researchers that she noticed changes in the smell of her deceased husband and a few years ago he has begun to have Parkinson’s symptoms. He died because of this disease earlier this year at the age of 65. The disease is a kind of neurological disease…
Cell Reports: Why Can We Feel Thirsty?
Recently, a breakthrough progress achieved by the RI-MUHC and Duke University might help us to understand how our brains perceive and prevent dehydration. They have identified the structure of a key protein located in the brain, that is involved in the body’s hydration and it can control the temperature. Published on Cell Reports on October 6, 2015, this study might have important clinical significance. For the protein might be a…
New mechanism of pRb Found
A recent study has found new mechanism of pRb-a well know tumor suppressor. The research completed by scientists at University of Illinois in the United States and Spain Pompeu Fabra University, was published in International academic journals Gene & Development. Tumor suppressor is a kind of protein that acts as natural “brake” for cellular proliferation, having the ability to prevent the formation of malignant tumors. Depth understanding of how these…
Novel Fluorescent DNA Dye Designed
To reveal the intricacies of how cells function, many assays work. However, nothing can compare to watching those process live in the cell. Then, numerous dyes and labels have been designed for live-cell imaging. But, even with this numerous choices, such studies are often complicated by toxic by toxic dyes, difficult labeling protocols, dye specificities and above all, phototoxicity following extended light exposure. In a recent study published in the…
Pesticides Linked to Increased Diabetes Risk
Previously, it has been revealed that the use of certain pesticides at home might increase the risk of childhood cancer. However, a recent study claimed that pesticides are also linked to increased risk of diabetes. The report said that long-term exposure to pesticides can significantly increase the risk of type 2 diabetes (60 percent). “Our study suggests that pesticides can significantly increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, even…
Pesticides May Increase Children’s Cancer Risk
According to a recent study published in Pediatrics, the use of certain pesticides at home might increase the risk of childhood cancer. In this analysis, scientists studied the potential links between the exposure to household pesticides and . To their surprise, they found that children exposed to indoor pesticides has 47 larger percentage of suffering from leukemia in the juvenile than those who never touched pesticides. And the risk of…