Such movements are very common epithelial, but draws particular attention to the scientific world: the abdomen of the fly Drosophila melanogaster (Drosophila species most commonly used in genetic experiments) upon the conversion of larva into an adult fly. The key step involves the disappearance of cells larvesques (larval epidermal cells, LEC), which give way to histoblasts that proliferate to occupy the entire surface of the abdomen.

It’s on a better understanding of the mechanism of this step that researchers Czech Institute of Biology of the Academy of Sciences, located in Ceske Budejovice, [1] have made an important contribution. For the first time, and Pr Sekyrova Uhlirova, conducting their research in collaboration with scientists from the University of Cologne in Germany, [2] have highlighted the interaction in vivo gene ATF3 and oncoprotein jun.

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Few would have weighed the idea of protein in bacteria to determine whether they are harmful or not. Yet in this way that are committed Ondrej Sedo [2] Institute of Experimental Biology [3] Faculty of Sciences [4], Masaryk University and his team. The paradox is that bacteria, or at least “good” bacteria, could save the lives of people with serious diseases. According Ondrej Sedo, whose work is done in collaboration with German colleagues, life and the world of bacteria are much more complex than we previously thought.

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The Hayashibara Group is a Japanese biotechnology company with operations in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. In 2006 , researchers from the division ‘s research group discovered the cells they were baptized HOZOT . These cells were obtained by culturing human cells with umbilical cord blood stromal cells [1 ] of mice. They have properties similar to those of several types of leukocytes [2 ] : they are cytotoxic (capable of destroying other cells, including cancer cells or infected by a virus) and are also capable of regulating the activity of the immune .

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IPS cells represent today an important avenue of research for the development of methods for regenerative medicine (eg , production of tissues or organs, which could be grafted to the patient without risk of rejection as obtained from its own cells ) . However , before considering clinical use , many issues must be improved, particularly with regard to the production of iPS cells in sufficient quantity and quality . In recent months , three Japanese research teams announced the results in this direction .

= > Production method for obtaining safer iPS cells

The method of producing original iPS cells is to introduce four genes , known as Oct3 / 4, Sox2 , Klf4 and c- Myc in adult somatic cells . One problem is that the gene c- Myc oncogene is , that is to say that the cells in which it is overexpressed tend to become cancerous. It is possible to generate iPS cells by simply using Oct3 / 4, Sox2 and Klf4 , but the yield decreases drastically.

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The achievement is a first step of the process that could one day provide power, green in more ways than one.

The research team led by Gadi Schuster and Noam Adir, considered a key protein in the process of electrons moving along the production line of photosynthesis. In its natural state, this protein extract electrons from water and moves through the plant cell membrane.

Altering an amino acid of the hundreds found in the protein, the researchers changed the direction of electron emission, thus allowing the energy produced in the process could take for later use. This modified protein “export” electrons at a frequency high enough to produce a useful amount of energy. The change from positive to negative does not affect the protein function and the development of the plant, thanks to which it is possible to obtain large amounts of protein at minimal cost.

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This technique involves transferring the nucleus of a somatic cell of an individual ( the donor) into an egg ( female sex cell ) whose was removed nucleus . The resulting embryo is then implanted in a surrogate mother who gave birth to a person having the same genetic background as the donor. In 1996 Dolly the sheep was the first mammal to be born using this technique , which sparked great interest. Fifteen years later , a number of technical barriers still limit the applicability : in particular , the percentage of embryos cloned mammals that come to term is low.

The researchers studied mouse embryos obtained by nuclear transfer of somatic cell. They have engaged in an extensive study of their gene expression profile and found an insufficient expression of a number of genes on the X chromosomes of embryos , regardless of their sex.

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The researchers first obtained from mouse embryos genetically engineered to be incapable of producing pancreas during development. About three days after fertilization , they injected these embryos cells stem induced pluripotent (or iPS ) [1 ] derived from cells of rat tail . The embryos were then transplanted into female mice. Mice that are born of this experience had a pancreas made only cells of rats. This pancreas remained functional in mice reached adulthood , because their blood glucose remained values normal .

If scientists know now produce a number of tissues from cells stem pluripotent embryonic , induced or adults , they do not know yet produce whole organs in vitro by the complex process of organogenesis . The experience recounted in this brief represents a proof of concept for the possibility of using an animal species to produce in vivo a functional body of another species from cells pluripotent . Ultimately , this technique could achieve a major goal of regenerative medicine : the production of human organs for transplantation.

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These unique panels for packaging are made from agricultural residues and roots inedible mushrooms. The material is called “mycobond”, and their manufacture involves only one-eighth of energy and a tenth of the carbon dioxide from the process of preparing the foam material typically used to protect the contents of packages blows.

And, unlike most foam substitutes, when no longer useful, it becomes a very useful organic fertilizer in the garden.

The technology is the work of two former students of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Gavin McIntyre and Eben Bayer, who founded Ecovative Design, a biomaterials company located in Green Island, New York, to implement your idea.

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This discovery will probably serve to develop future treatments for sunburn and help prevent skin cancer.

Dongping Zhong, physical and chemical Ohio State University, and colleagues were able to observe how the enzyme called photolyase, injects an electron and a proton in a damaged DNA strand. The two subatomic particles repaired the damage within a few billionths of a second.

It seems simple, but those two atomic particles began a very complex series of chemical reactions. Also, things happened very quickly, so timing had to be extremely accurate.

The research team synthesized DNA in the laboratory and exposed to ultraviolet light, resulting in the DNA damage similar to sunburn. Later, they added the enzyme photolyase. Using ultrafast pulses of light, took a series of “photographs” to grasp how an enzyme repairs DNA at the atomic scale.

Ultraviolet light damages the skin by making chemical bonds are formed in the wrong places along the DNA molecules in our cells.

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The material from the sea may have applications as varied as drugs from marine bacteria , algae-based cosmetics or pesticides from environmental marine sponges . Johannes Imhoff, Director of the Center for Active Substances in the IFM -GEOMAR ( KiWiZ ) [ 1], is the initiator of this agreement. He explains : “We want to create a professional network and innovative research that stimulates the strength of competitiveness and innovation of marine biotechnology in northern Germany .

The 20 partners of the network come from Mecklenburg -Western Pomerania , Schleswig -Holstein and Hamburg . In KiWiZ join the Institute of Pharmacology, University of Greifswald [2 ] , the establishment of Marine Biotechnology Fraunhofer Lubeck [3 ] , the Centre for Research and Technology of the West Coast Büsum [ 4] and several companies in the development and commercialization of marine products . The network’s activities focus on products derived from marine organisms that may have applications in medicine and healthcare technologies , plant protection , health , industrial biotechnology , cosmetic and food industries.

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