Zip it up to shut it down

Zip it up to shut it down

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) can be lethal to a cell. However, most sexually reproducing organisms deliberately induce a substantial amount of developmentally programmed DSBs that are subsequently repaired via homologous recombination in meiosis. The goal of this self-damage and self-repair process is to establish physical connections between homologous chromosomes, thereby ensuring accurate...

Tune it down to live it up? Rapid, nongenomic effects of cortisol on the human brain.

The stress hormone cortisol acts on the brain, supporting adaptation and time-adjusted coping processes. Whereas previous research has focused on slow emerging, genomic effects of cortisol, we addressed the rapid, nongenomic cortisol effects on in vivo neuronal activity in humans. Three independent placebo-controlled studies in healthy men were conducted. We observed changes in CNS activity wit...

Pancreatic Cancer Metabolism: Breaking It Down to Build It Back Up.

UNLABELLED How do cancer cells escape tightly controlled regulatory circuits that link their proliferation to extracellular nutrient cues? An emerging theme in cancer biology is the hijacking of normal stress response mechanisms to enable growth even when nutrients are limiting. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is the quintessential aggressive malignancy that thrives in nutrient-poor, hyp...

If it is to be, it is up to me.

Build it up-Tear it down: protein quality control in the cardiac sarcomere.

The assembly and maintenance of the cardiac sarcomere, which contains the basic contractile components of actin and myosin, are essential for cardiac function. While often described as a static structure, the sarcomere is actually dynamic and undergoes constant turnover, allowing it to adapt to physiological changes while still maintaining function. A host of new factors have been identified th...