Explore

UC San Francisco Researchers Map Protein Interactions Linked to Profound Autism

UC San Francisco Researchers Map Protein Interactions Linked to Profound Autism

Researchers at UC San Francisco have mapped over a thousand interactions between proteins derived from specific autism risk genes, creating a molecular atlas that could lead to new treatments for profound autism. This work, published in the journal Science, addresses a critical gap in understanding how gene mutations contribute to the condition. While many high-impact genetic differences in individuals with profound autism have been identified, translating these genetic discoveries into effective drugs has been challenging. The team, led by Dr. Matthew State and Nevan Krogan, focused on the 'murky space' between genes and disease, where proteins interact. They used advanced technology, including an AI system called AlphaFold, to identify which proteins from autism risk genes interact and how these interactions are affected by mutations found in patients. This molecular atlas reveals that many of these protein interactions converge on shared biological pathways, particularly those related to early brain dev...

The Term 'Extant' Used Across Diverse Contexts in U.S. and International Discussions

The Term 'Extant' Used Across Diverse Contexts in U.S. and International Discussions

The term 'extant' is being used in various contexts, indicating its broad applicability across different fields. For instance, the Cambridge Dictionary defines 'extant' as something that still exists. In scientific research, specifically in a Nature Communications article, 'extant' refers to living mammals included in a dataset, distinguishing them from extinct species. On the entertainment front, 'Extant' is the title of a series available on Prime Video, suggesting its use in popular culture. Furthermore, Lorica Clothing, a design company, uses the term to describe its process of creating garments based on 'extant historical armor,' highlighting its relevance in historical and design contexts. Lastly, a PDF from the Palaeontographical Society discusses 'extant' Lycopodium species, indicating its use in botanical and paleontological studies. These examples collectively demonstrate the term's widespread usage and varied interpretations depending on the domain.

Researchers Unite Protein Sequence and Structure to Map the Protein Universe

Researchers Unite Protein Sequence and Structure to Map the Protein Universe

An international team of researchers, including those from the University of Haifa, Tel Aviv University, and the Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI), has developed a new protein language model called Contrastive Learning Sequence-Structure (CLSS). This model integrates both amino acid sequences and three-dimensional structures of proteins to create a unified 'protein world map.' Traditionally, protein analysis has treated sequence and structure separately, despite their complex relationship. CLSS uses contrastive learning to produce similar numerical representations (embeddings) for both the sequence and structure of a protein, allowing them to occupy similar locations on the map. This approach provides a novel way to visualize relationships across the vast protein universe and investigate their evolution over billions of years. The findings, led by Prof. Rachel Kolodny, PhD candidate Guy Yanai, Prof. Nir Ben-Tal, graduate student Gabriel Axel, and Specially Appointed Associate Professor Liam M. Longo, wer...

University of Vermont Secures $19 Million NSF Grant to Establish National Microscope Hub for Brain Mapping

University of Vermont Secures $19 Million NSF Grant to Establish National Microscope Hub for Brain Mapping

The University of Vermont (UVM) has been awarded a five-year, $19 million federal grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to create the National Connectomics and Ultrastructure Volume Observatory (NCUVO). This initiative will transform a research building in Burlington, Vermont, into the central hub for a new national science observatory. The NCUVO aims to utilize advanced electron microscopy, artificial intelligence, and powerful computing networks to visualize cells and brain circuits in three dimensions, enabling scientists to study structures too small for traditional light microscopes. Of the total grant, $15.68 million is allocated to UVM, with the remaining $3.32 million going to the University of California San Diego. UVM President Marlene Tromp highlighted the transformative nature of this research, emphasizing the university's leadership role in this national endeavor. The project builds upon previous work by Davi Bock, a neuroscientist at UVM's Larner College of Medicine, whose lab prod...

New Research Pinpoints European Origin of Bats 60 Million Years Ago, Reshaping Evolutionary History

New Research Pinpoints European Origin of Bats 60 Million Years Ago, Reshaping Evolutionary History

New research, led by Emma Tilling of the Sanger Institute and the Bat1K consortium, indicates that bats first appeared in Europe approximately 60 million years ago during the late Paleocene epoch. This finding, which integrates genetic data from 103 species across all 21 extant bat families with paleontological records, resolves a long-standing gap in understanding mammalian evolution. Previously, the fossil record only showed bats in the early Eocene (52-56 million years ago), by which time they were already advanced flyers with developed echolocation and a global distribution. The study reconstructed reference genomes for 41 species and incorporated data from 62 others, revealing a primary split into two lineages: Yinpterochiroptera and Yangochiroptera. The analysis also suggests a common ancestor with 26 pairs of chromosomes and recalibrates the phylogenetic position of certain groups, such as the Madagascar collared fruit bats. Morphological data from 44 extinct species identified two early ancestral c...

New Therizinosaur Species, Kayrasaurus changliensis, Discovered in China Challenges Dinosaur Ecological Assumptions

New Therizinosaur Species, Kayrasaurus changliensis, Discovered in China Challenges Dinosaur Ecological Assumptions

An international team of paleontologists has formally described a new species of feathered, plant-eating theropod, Kayrasaurus changliensis, from China's Jehol Biota. This discovery, detailed in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, challenges previous assumptions about how therizinosaurs coexisted. Kayrasaurus changliensis is the largest and most anatomically unusual therizinosaur found in this fossil bed, measuring over 3.6 meters (11.8 feet) long and estimated to weigh between 117 and 274 kilograms. The specimen, a subadult, suggests fully grown adults could have been even larger. Key distinguishing features include a lower jaw with over 45 tooth positions, the highest recorded for any therizinosaur, and a unique sub-triangular external mandibular fenestra. Its elongated neck architecture indicates it could reach higher vegetation, differentiating its feeding strategy from other therizinosaurs in the same ecosystem.

Understanding Fall Foliage: Why Leaves Change Color

Understanding Fall Foliage: Why Leaves Change Color

Discover the science behind the vibrant colors of fall foliage, from the role of pigments to the environmental factors that influence the season's brilliance.

Airway Cells Physically Expel Infected Cells to Combat Rhinovirus, Study Reveals

Airway Cells Physically Expel Infected Cells to Combat Rhinovirus, Study Reveals

Researchers at the Crick and King's College London have discovered a novel defense mechanism in airway cells against rhinovirus infection, the primary cause of the common cold. This process, termed 'virus-induced cell extrusion' (VICE), involves airway cells physically pushing infected cells out of the tissue. The study, published in Science Advances, highlights that this epithelial defense occurs in two distinct waves. The first wave is rapid, triggered by the cell's ability to sense mechanical changes before the virus fully enters. A second wave follows as the virus replicates, leading to cell death. This mechanism allows epithelial cells to act immediately without requiring signals from immune cells. Experiments with human epithelial cells in the lab showed that a healthy cell layer could remove infected cells and limit infection. However, disrupting the junctions between these cells led to a greater buildup of virus particles. The researchers also observed VICE in mouse lung tissue, confirming its rele...

University of Rochester Medical Center Research Suggests Circadian Rhythm Reinforcement Aids Stroke Recovery

University of Rochester Medical Center Research Suggests Circadian Rhythm Reinforcement Aids Stroke Recovery

Scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center have published research in the Journal of Clinical Investigation indicating that interventions designed to strengthen circadian rhythms can improve brain recovery after a stroke. The study, conducted on mouse models, demonstrated that reinforcing the body's natural daily rhythms led to enhanced activity in the glymphatic system, the brain's waste-clearing network, and reduced levels of inflammatory molecules post-stroke. This builds upon over a decade of research by neuroscientist Maiken Nedergaard, MD, DMSc, who discovered the glymphatic system in 2012. Further work by neuroscientist Lauren Hablitz, PhD, established a direct link between circadian biology and glymphatic function, showing that this system operates on daily cycles even independently of sleep. The research suggests that stroke not only causes vascular damage but also disrupts the brain's timing, leading to impaired glymphatic function and accumulation of harmful molecules. Intervention...

Mount Sinai Researchers Identify Reversible Mechanisms in Alzheimer's Disease Progression Linked to APOE4 Gene

Mount Sinai Researchers Identify Reversible Mechanisms in Alzheimer's Disease Progression Linked to APOE4 Gene

Mount Sinai researchers have made significant strides in understanding Alzheimer's disease, particularly how the APOE4 gene, a major genetic risk factor, contributes to its progression. Their studies, published in Cell and Cell Stem Cell, reveal that APOE4 damages the brain's blood vessels and promotes the accumulation of abnormal proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Specifically, APOE4 causes pericytes, cells crucial for stabilizing small blood vessels and maintaining the blood-brain barrier, to transform into scar-forming myofibroblast-like cells. This transformation leads to vascular fibrosis and increased amyloid accumulation around vessels, potentially compromising blood flow and promoting neurodegeneration. The research also found that APOE4 causes cholesterol to build up in astrocytes, impairing their ability to clear alpha-synuclein, a protein linked to Lewy body dementia and Parkinson's disease. This leads to the aggregation and spread of alpha-synuclein to neurons, forming harmful...

REM Sleep Paradox: Dreaming May Drain Brain Energy Despite Increased Fuel Supply

REM Sleep Paradox: Dreaming May Drain Brain Energy Despite Increased Fuel Supply

Researchers at Tohoku University have identified a paradox in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the stage associated with dreaming and memory processing. While the brain's apparent energy supply, indicated by increased blood volume, rises during REM sleep, the levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)—the energy molecule directly used by neurons—actually decline. This finding challenges the conventional understanding of brain energy management during sleep. The study, conducted on mice with transparent skulls to observe brain activity in real-time, tracked changes in brain blood volume, neuronal ATP, and astrocytic pyruvate. It revealed that about 50 seconds before REM sleep begins, brain blood volume increases, starting in the posterior cortex and moving forward, suggesting a metabolic preparation for REM sleep. However, once REM sleep commences, despite a rise in astrocytic pyruvate (a compound linking glucose to energy metabolism), neuronal ATP levels fall.

New Research Reveals Singing Lemurs Use Soprano-Like Vocal Technique for Long-Distance Communication

New Research Reveals Singing Lemurs Use Soprano-Like Vocal Technique for Long-Distance Communication

New research indicates that indris, a species of singing lemur found in Madagascar, employ a vocal technique similar to that of opera singers to project their songs over long distances. Scientists analyzed 83 video recordings of 19 wild indris in Madagascar's Maromizaha forest and Mitsinjo reserve, tracking facial landmarks and synchronizing them with audio. The study, published in the journal PLOS Computational Biology, found a robust correlation between the lemurs opening their mouths wider and producing higher-pitched notes. This adjustment, known as formant tuning, changes the shape of their vocal tract, allowing frequencies to resonate more effectively and boosting the power and reach of their voices. This adaptation is crucial for communication in dense forest environments where visual contact is limited. Indris are the only lemur species known for singing, and their songs are described as haunting, structured duets.