Mar 2010
Arguing Over the Epigenome
31/03/10 11:47 Filed in: GenomeWeb Daily Scan
The notion published in Nature editorial that epigenetics could explain much about how similar genetic codes are expressed uniquely in different cells, in different environmental conditions and at different times was challenged by Mark Ptashne, Oliver Hobert, and Eric Davidson who advocated that the diversity arises primarily from difference in primary gene sequence. S.Pelech agrees and laments that there is no equivalent of the International Human Epigenome Consortium to promote advancement in the study of protein phosphorylation and other types of covalent modification of proteins. Read More...
Creatures of the Deep Provide Insight into Diabetes
23/03/10 11:46 Filed in: GenomeWeb Daily Scan
Maurice Elphick from Queen Mary's School of Biological and Chemical Sciences say NG peptides from marine animals such as sea urchins and acorn worms are made by a gene similar to the mutated vasopressin gene in humans that causes diabetes insipidus. S. Pelech argues that it is a long stretch to extrapolate from sea urchin research to developing strategies to counteract human diabetes. Read More...
The Human Genome Bubble
17/03/10 11:44 Filed in: GenomeWeb Daily Scan
The Human Genome Project generated high expectations, which spurred the US government to invest in the effort, which some argue catalyzed long-term investments by the private sector. S. Pelech argues that industry actually led the way to whole genome sequencing, and that since then insufficient followup work on the proteins encoded by genes has handicapped the potential of the Human Genome Project to yield better diagnostic tools and therapeutics. Read More...
The Surprising Variability of Mitochondrial DNA
09/03/10 11:41 Filed in: GenomeWeb Daily Scan
Different versions of the mitochondrial genome can be found in different organs from the same person, with single-letter DNA changes that occur in as few as one in 10,000 mitochondria. S. Pelech notes that this is not surprising and may arise from the presence of thousands of mitochondria in the fertilized egg that become portioned out during early reductive cell divisions that give rise ultimately to the distinct tissues and organs. Read More...
A Link Between Breast Cancer and Estrogen
03/03/10 11:40 Filed in: GenomeWeb Daily Scan
A new study in Cancer Research from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine researchers shed further light on how estrogen may fuel many breast cancers, which may be in part due to inhibition of the pro-apoptotic activity of the protein kinase MLK3. However, S. Pelech notes that the highly conserved MLK3 pathways acts upstream of JNK signalling, which can act in an anti-apoptotic manner to enhance tumour cell survivability. Read More...