Press Release
Scientists at Genome Institute of Singapore Discover Gene that Controls the Birth of Neurons
By ACN Newswire - August 27, 2024 10:36 PM EDT
Discovery of long non-coding RNA’s role in neurogenesis may lead to cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease
Singapore, Aug 28, 2024 - (ACN Newswire) - Scientists at A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) have discovered an unusual gene that controls the generation of neurons[1]. This important finding, which is crucial in understanding serious diseases of the brain such as Alzheimer’s disease, was reported in the 8th August 2013 issue of the prestigious scientific journal, Molecular Cell.
The central nervous system is composed of numerous cell types that develop into a complex, higher-ordered structure. The birth of neurons (known as neurogenesis) is a process that requires exquisite temporal and spatial control of hundreds of genes. The expression of these genes is controlled by regulatory networks, usually involving proteins, which play critical roles in establishing and maintaining the nervous system. Problems with neurogenesis are the basis of many neurological disorders, and the understanding of the molecular details of neurogenesis is therefore crucial for developing treatments of serious diseases.
Targeting aggressive prostate cancer
Collaborative study shows how non-coding RNAs fuel cancer growth
(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) — A team of researchers from UC Davis, UC San Diego and other institutions has identified a key mechanism behind aggressive prostate cancer. Published on August 14, 2024 in Nature, the study shows that two long non-coding RNAs (PRNCR1 and PCGEM1) activate androgen receptors, circumventing androgen-deprivation therapy. In their active state, these receptors turn on genes that spur growth and metastasis, making these cancers highly treatment-resistant. The study illustrates how prostate cancer can thrive, even when deprived of hormones, and provides tempting targets for new therapies.
Interview with Dr. Christopher Evans
“Androgen-deprivation therapy will often put cancer in remission, but tumors come back, even without testosterone,” said contributor Christopher Evans, professor and chair of the Department of Urology at the UC Davis School of Medicine. “We found that these long non-coding RNAs were activating the androgen receptor. When we knocked them out, cancer growth decreased in both cell lines and tumors in animals.”
CMU Prof receives Kaufman Grant for research on “High-Throughput Probing of Human IncRNA Structure”
Press Release: Six Carnegie Mellon Professors Awarded Research Grants From Pittsburgh Foundation’s Charles E. Kaufman Fund
Contacts: Ken Walters / 412-268-1151 / walters1@andrew.cmu.edu
Chriss Swaney / 412-268-5776 / swaney@andrew.cmu.edu
PITTSBURGH—Six Carnegie Mellon University professors are among the first series of grant recipients of The Charles E. Kaufman Foundation, part of The Pittsburgh Foundation, which today announced nearly $1.6 million in research grants to support cutting-edge scientific research at institutions across Pennsylvania.
Carnegie Mellon recipients are:
- Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Joel McManus for research on “High-Throughput Probing of Human IncRNA Structure.”
- Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering Aditya S. Khair for research on “Charges, Forces and Particles in Ionic Liquids.”
- Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Veronica Hinman, Professor of Biological Sciences Jonathan Minden, Chemistry Professor Bruce Alan Armitage and Associate Chemistry Professor Danith H. Ly for research on “Developing a Sea Star Model for Regenerative Biology.”
McManus and Khair will receive two-year, $150,000 New Investigator grants. Hinman, Minden, Armitage and Ly will receive a two-year, $300,000 New Initiative grant.
Exiqon launches LNA™ gapmers for inhibition of mRNA and lncRNA in functional studies
from Global Newswire
Exiqon A/S (NASDAQ OMX: EXQ), a leading supplier of high-value gene expression analysis products, today announced the launch of its LNA™ longRNA GapmeR products for specific and efficient inhibition of mRNA and lncRNA.
The LNA™ longRNA GapmeRs are high affinity antisense oligonucleotides used for functional analysis, allowing researches to study the gene function and downstream biological consequences of silencing a specific mRNA or long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in cell-cultures or animal models. The broad range of LNA™ longRNA GapmeR products enables researcher to start from initial cost-effective in vitro screening in cell-lines of multiple gapmer designs and continue with high-purity animal-grade gapmers for in vivo testing.
Long non-coding RNAs act like enhancers of gene regulation
from The Max Planck Institute for Molecular Medicine