17 April 2013LATEST HIGHLIGHTS
Untangling how fat fuels diabetes
National Institute of Immunology, India
A fatty-acid-binding protein that promotes insulin resistance may offer a useful target for the treatment of diabetes
Five genes linked to lung cancer
The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan
Two studies involving Asian populations reveal additional genetic risk factors for the deadliest cancer type
A gut check for cancer stem cells
Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan
In the intestine, a protein called Dclk1 distinguishes tumor stem cells from their healthy counterparts
Exploring regional roots of disease risk
RIKEN Center for Genomic Medicine, Japan
A search for genetic factors associated with kidney disease in East Asian individuals identifies variants overlooked in studies of European cohorts
Managing immune disarmament
National University of Singapore, Singapore
A cell-death-promoting protein helps prevent a healthy response to infection from turning into autoimmune disease or cancer
Matching the man to the medicine
The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan
By identifying genetic variations that alter drug metabolism, scientists are working to improve the efficacy of treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
Stem-cell reprogramming recipe refined
Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
The addition of the gene Zscan4 to the standard reprogramming cocktail makes for more stable pluripotent stem cells
Preventing lung cancer’s spread
National Taiwan University, Taiwan
Targeting the CCN2 protein could prevent lung cancer cells from metastasizing
High-quality images for malaria diagnosis
National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), Thailand
Automated digital imaging of thick blood films could expedite the identification of malaria and allow for more accurate treatment
Deciphering a complex message
Institute for Virus Research Kyoto University, Japan
By switching off production of a key immune receptor in a specific subset of cells, researchers gain a better perspective of its numerous functions
Sugar tagging fuels lung cancer
Academia Sinica, Taiwan
An enzyme that adds sugar molecules to proteins promotes lung cancer progression, research from Taiwan shows
Boosting a receptor’s responses
Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Protein structural rearrangements, triggered by a flow of ions, amplify signals that allow the immune system to respond promptly to threats
