On the sequencing of the human genome

Our analysis indicates that the Celera paper provides neither a meaningful test of the WGS approach nor an independent sequence of the human genome. Our analysis does not imply that a WGS approach could not be successfully applied to assemble a draft sequence of a large mammalian genome, but merely that the Celera paper does not provide such evidence.

Splenic immunity and atherosclerosis:a glimpse into a novel paradigm?

In particular, there is now strong and growing evidence in hypercholesterolemic animal models that the immune system is specifically activated by atherosclerosis-associated antigens and that both innate and adaptive immunity can significantly modulate subsequent lesion development.

Prospects for Anti-RAS Drugs

Remarkable progress in understanding the mechanisms of Ras regulation and signal transduction has provided additional targets for rational drug design approaches to block or possibly to revert the aberrant function of Ras signalling in human cancer.

Natural killer T (NKT) cells and their role in antitumor immunity

Natural killer T (NKT) cells have become a major focus for those who study the innate immune response to tumors and infectious diseases, as well as autoimmunity.

Gene Repair and Transposon-Mediated Gene Therapy

This review outlines the advantages and disadvantages of gene correction. In particular, we discuss technologies based on chimeric RNA/DNA oligonucleotides, single-stranded and triplex-forming oligonucleotides, and small fragment homologous replacement.

Artificial cells: prospects for biotechnology

Artificial cells designed for specific applications combine properties of biological systems such as nanoscale efficiency, self-organization and adaptability at relatively low cost.

Acupuncture: Theory, Efficacy, and Practice

Recent data, obtained by using functional magnetic resonance imaging, suggest that acupuncture has regionally specific, quantifiable effects on relevant brain structures. Acupuncture may stimulate gene expression of neuropeptides. The training and provision of acupuncture care in the United States are rapidly expanding.

RHO–GTPases and Cancer

A branch of the RAS family — the RHO proteins — is also involved in cancer, but what is the role of these proteins and would they make good therapeutic targets?

Molecular ticket to enter cells

Just as important as starting cellular signalling pathways is switching them off again. It seems that the Cbl protein has a dual function in accelerating the degradation of certain signalling molecules.

Toll-like Receptors

The Toll-like receptors(TLRs) are a part of this innate immune defense, recognizing conserved patterns on microorganisms.And TLR signaling represents a key component of the innate immune response to microbial infection.

The IKK/NF-κB pathway

There are several well-characterized signaling pathways and transcription factors that are likely to be involved in critical diseases. Of these, the IKK/NF-κB pathway might play an exceptionally important role because of the rapidity of activation and its unique regulation.

Signaling by protein phosphatases in the nucleus

Here,we review the pleiotropic action of nuclear protein phosphatases and focus in particular on the underlying signaling strategies. It appears that nuclear protein phosphatases can both mediate and antagonize signaling by protein kinases, sometimes as part of feedback loops.

Degeneracy, as opposed to specificity,in immunotherapy Commentary

As has only recently been appreciated, while a given T cell receptor may ordinarily exhibit exquisite specificity, binding to some antigenic sequences can effect a conformational change to the receptor,allowing it to recognize MHC class II/peptide complexes in a highly degenerate fashion.

The Golgi apparatus: going round in circles?

It is proposed that Golgi apparatus proteins continuously recycle via the endoplasmic reticulum by vesicle transport, whereas cargo molecules remain in maturing cisternal structures.

Unlocking the Gates to Gene Expression

It is now clear that activators must orchestrate the recruitment of numerous proteins including chromatin-remodeling enzymes before gene transcription can proceed.

Two-hybrid arrays

The two-hybrid assay can be applied to random libraries or arrays of colonies that express defined pairs of proteins. Arrays enable the testing of all possible protein pairs for interactions in a systematic fashion.

Applied Proteomics:Mitochondrial Proteins and Effect on Function

The identification of a majority of the polypeptides in mitochondria would be invaluable because they play crucial and diverse roles in many cellular processes and diseases.The rapidly emerging field of proteomics can provide powerful strategies for the characterization of mitochondrial proteins.

Mechanisms of ageing:Public or Private?

Evidence is mounting that modulators of the rate of ageing are conserved over large evolutionary distances. As we discuss in this review, this conservation might stem from mechanisms that match reproductive rate to nutrient supply.

Chronic Infections and Atherosclerosis/Thrombosis

An emerging pathophysiologic paradigm implicates chronic inflammation in the initiation, progression, and destabilization of atherosclerotic vascular disease.

Genome complexity reduction for SNP genotyping analysis

An efficient method that can be used to simultaneously amplify a set of genetic loci across a genome with high reliability can provide a valuable tool for large-scale SNP genotyping studies. In this paper we describe and characterize a method that addresses this goal.

Functional protein microarrays

Micro-immunoassays, in which biological samples are exposed to arrays of immobilized antibodies, can be used for protein expression profiling. In addition, protein function can be elucidated by performing binding and enzymatic assays on arrays of biologically active proteins.

Chemical genomics: discovery of disease genes and drugs

Chemical genomics and chemogenomics refer to the use of small synthetic molecules that are highly specific for defined protein targets, for gene function analysis and to discover new drug leads.

Angiotensin, Inflammation,Hypertension, and Cardiovascular Disease

Recent evidence shows that Ang II is important in stimulating the production of reactive oxygen species and the activation of ancient inflammatory mechanisms. The nuclear factor kB (NF-kB) is pivotal to these processes.

Functional diversity of protein C-termini: more than zipcoding?

The combination of diversity and the plasticity of the chemistry of C-termini provides mechanisms for spatial and temporal specificity that are exploited by a variety of biological processes, ranging from specifying prokaryotic protein degradation to nucleating mammalian neuronal signaling complexes.

Angiotensin II induced inflammation in the kidney and in the heart of double transgenic rats

Our data show that inhibition of NF-κB by PDTC markedly reduces inflammation, iNOS expression in the dTGR most likely leading to decreased cytotoxicity, and cell proliferation. Thus, NF-κB activation plays an important role in ANG II-induced end-organ damage.

Advanced Glycation End Products Activate Endothelium Through Signal-Transduction Receptor RAGE

Recent studies suggested that AGEs may form in inflamed foci, driven by oxidation or the myeloperoxidase pathway.We tested the hypothesis that interaction of AGEs with RAGE on endothelial cells enhances vascular activation.

Reverse Engineering of Biological Complexity

Advanced technologies and biology have extremely different physical implementations, but they are far more alike in systems-level organization than is widely appreciated.This review describes insights from engineering theory and practice that can shed some light on biological complexity.

Systems Biology: A Brief Overview

To understand biology at the system level, we must examine the structure and dynamics of cellular and organismal function, rather than the characteristics of isolated parts of a cell or organism.

A Genomic Regulatory Network for Development

A gene regulatory network that controls the specification of endoderm and mesoderm in the sea urchin embryo is summarized here. The network was derived from large-scale perturbation analyses, in combination with computational methodologies, genomic data, cis-regulatory analysis, and molecular embryology.

The inflammatory response in myocardial infarction

This review summarizes our current understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating the inflammatory response following myocardial ischemia and reperfusion.

Modeling the Heart—from Genes to Cells to the Whole Organ