news archive genetic news - March 15, 2006

March 15, 2006

your information resource in human molecular genetics

-	Partners In Crime Scientists have defined the detailed architecture of an enzyme crucial for the replication of two major human viruses.
-	Protein Teamwork Underlies Skeleton Researchers show how mutations in two different proteins can cause osteopetrosis, a rare congenital human disorder.
-	It's All In The Expression Changes in the expression level of certain genes may underlie some of the fundamental differences between humans and chimpanzees.
-	Coral Compound Blocks Viruses A small molecule has been discovered in coral that can be used to block the replication of certain viruses.
-	A Murine Model for Human Sepiapterin-Reductase Deficiency The Sepiapterin reductase gene (SPR) is essential for homeostasis of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) and for the normal functions of BH4-dependent enzymes.
-	Hemizygosity at the NCF1 Gene in Patients with Williams-Beuren Syndrome Decreases Their Risk of Hypertension The loss of a functional copy of the NCF1 gene protects a proportion of patients with WBS against hypertension.
-	Spread of an Inactive Form of Caspase-12 in Humans Is Due to Recent Positive Selection The authors suggest that the inactive form of the human caspase-12 gene arose in Africa 100–500 thousand years ago.
-	The Power to Detect Disease Associations with Mitochondrial DNA Haplogroups Scientists used a simulation-based (Monte Carlo) permutation test to generate power curves for European mtDNA haplogroup studies.
-	A model for studying cell plasticity in the embryonic microenvironment Transplanted human metastatic melanoma cells resemble neural crest stem cells in the chick embryo.