news archive genetic news - December 11, 2009

December 11, 2009

your information resource in human molecular genetics

-	Brain Adaptations to Sensory Loss Rehabilitation strategies of blind and deaf individuals should take into consideration the changes in structure and function in the brain following sensory loss.
-	Sequencing Small Chips A technique to sequence small quantities of DNA is published online.
-	A Stroke Against Stroke A new cellular mechanism linked to neuronal damage during stroke is reported.
-	Inhibition Present in Absences An unexpected role of inhibitory activity in promoting epilepsy is reported.
-	Assessing Natural Memory How immune cells remember a natural pathogen varies depending on the route of infection.
-	Variant Associated with Alcoholic Liver Disease A genetic variant known to be associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is also associated with alcoholic liver disease.
-	Parkinson's Gene Mutated in Cancer PARK2, a gene commonly mutated in early-onset Parkinson's disease, is also mutated in glioblastoma, colon cancer and lung cancer.
-	Mismatch Associated with Graft-Versus-Host-Disease A genetic mismatch involving the gene UGT2B17 is associated with risk of acute graft-versus-host-disease.
-	High Levels of HLA-C Associated with Slower HIV/AIDS Progression High levels of the protein HLA-C -- a crucial part of the immune system -- are associated with slower progression of HIV/AIDS.
-	Feeding Back on Tumour Initiation The protein ZEB1 also influences the tumour initiating capacity of pancreatic and colorectal cancer cells, and could possibly promote cancerous cells proliferation once they have reached a new organ.
-	The Fasting Fox Protein The brain protein Foxa2 has a key role in regulating food intake, a mouse study suggests.
-	'Bone' Protein Linked to Fever A protein pair best known for their role in bone remodelling may have an unexpected role in the brain, helping to control fever and female body temperature.
-	Metabolite Levels Go Awry in Brain Tumours Mutations in an enzyme that result in unusually high brain levels of the metabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) may contribute to the formation of certain malignant brain tumours.
-	Re-Thinking Obesity Mutations in specific genes fully explain a small but significant subset of patients with obesity and/or type 2 diabetes while genetic factors play a key role in determining susceptibility to both disorders in the broader population.