Applied Genetics News articles from July 2001

Applied Genetics News archives from July 2001

BASIC SCIENCE: Copying Only One Gene.
July 1, 2001... Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco, led by Jochim Li, have deciphered the long-puzzling process by which every cell shuts down the gene copying process as soon as one complete copy is made. These findings are published in...

Alzheimer's Protein Regulates Gene.
July 1, 2001... Thomas C. Sdhof and Xinwei Cao of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center have found the first evidence that indicates a cellular function for the protein that produces the brain-clogging amyloid plaque deposits that cause...

GENOMICS: Biological Diversity Vaster Than Supposed.
July 1, 2001... A new species of salamander discovered in an isolated range of hills in southeastern Mexico illustrates an unexpected aspect of evolution. The soil dwelling salamander looks identical to a salamander living in mountain foothills several...

Homologs Genes in Drosophila.
July 1, 2001... Biologists at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) have identified 548 genes in Drosophila that appear to be counterparts of genes responsible for more than 700 different genetic diseases in humans. Their results are detailed in the...

Gene for Kidney Barrier Protein.
July 1, 2001... A team of scientists at Lexicon Genetics Inc. (4000 Research Forest Dr., The Woodlands TX 77381; Tel: 281/364-0100, Tel: 800/578-1972, Fax: 281/364-0155; Website: www.lexgen.com) has discovered a gene called Neph1 that may play an important...

Neurotrophic Factor Rescues Neurons.
July 1, 2001... Prescient NeuroPharma Inc. (96 Skyway Ave., Toronto, ON, Canada M9W 4Y9; Tel: 416/674-8047, Fax: 416/674-8060; Website: www.prescientneuropharma.com ) has identified genes that may rescue brain cells that die in Parkinson's disease. The company...

Cardiac Gene Activator Identified.
July 1, 2001... Researchers at the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas (UT Southwestern) have identified a novel cardiac-specific gene expression activator for Collateral Therapeutics'(9360 Towne Centre Dr. San Diego, CA 92121; Tel:...

GENE THERAPY: Gene Injection Rescues Starving Mice.
July 1, 2001... Researchers from the University of Washington led by Richard Palmiter have used gene therapy to generate feeding behavior in starving mice that had avoided eating because their brains contained a low level of dopamine. These results were...

Integrin Helps Nerves Regenerate.
July 1, 2001... Maureen Condic, of the University of Utah, has genetically engineered adult neurons in culture to produce greater quantities of integrin in attempt to improve regeneration of nerve fibers. Her work is reported in the July 2001 issue of the...

BIOMANUFACTURING: Bacteria Synthesize Polyglutamate.
July 1, 2001... Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (CTI, 201 Elliot Ave. W., Ste. 400, Seattle, WA 98119; Tel: 206/282-7100, Fax: 206/213-8317; Website: www.cticseattle.com) researchers have induced bacteria to make the company's polyglutamate (PG) polymer, expanding the...

ANTIBODIES: Three Monoclonals Battle Psoriasis.
July 1, 2001... Protein Design Labs, Inc. (34801 Campus Dr., Fremont, CA 94555; Tel: 510/574-1400) (PDL) reviewed the three humanized antibodies it is developing for psoriasis at the Second Joint Meeting of the International Psoriasis Symposium and European...

CELL THERAPY: Regeneration Institute Is Established.
July 1, 2001... To realize the potential of tissue engineering and other regenerative medical techniques, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Health System have established the McGowan Institute...

REPRODUCTION: European Men Losing Fertility.
July 1, 2001... Adverse environmental factors may be responsible for a worrying increase in a range of problems in male reproductive health, according to Neils Skakkebaek, from Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshopitalet. Speaking at the European Society of...

ENZYMES: Drug Treats Fabry Disease.
July 1, 2001... A paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that Fabrazyme, (agalsidase beta), an investigational enzyme replacement from Genzyme General (One Kendall Sq., Cambridge, MA 02139-1563; Tel: 617/252-7500, Fax: 617/374-7368;...

AG-BIO: Pollen Coat Proteins Identified.
July 1, 2001... Researchers at the University of Chicago, led by Dianne Preuss, have identified the genes that code for proteins that coat the pollen of the flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Their work is published in the June 29, 2001 issue of Science....

Messenger to Underdeveloped Nations.
July 1, 2001... EDEN Bioscience Corp. (1816 N. Creek Pkwy., Bothell, WA 98011- 8205; Tel: 425/806-7300, Fax: 425/806-7400; Website: www.edenbio.com) has unveiled a program to bring leading-edge agricultural technology to less-developed countries that will help...

New Source of Nitrogen Fixation.
July 1, 2001... A team of scientists from Michigan State University (MSU) has discovered a new and unusual source of nitrogen fixation, the process that converts the nitrogen in the atmosphere into a form that can be used by all life on earth. Microbiologist...

How Plants Conserve Water.
July 1, 2001... Scientists from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) have deciphered the chemical signaling mechanism that allows plants to close their stomata-the tiny pores in leaves through which gases and water vapor flow during photosynthesis...

INDUSTRY NEWS: Battle Plan Against AIDS.
July 1, 2001... The General Assembly of the United Nations has adopted by unanimous vote a Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS. The 15- member Security Council released a statement in support of the declaration, declaring that "the HIV pandemic if unchecked...

Roche in Alliance with deCode.
July 1, 2001... deCode genetics (Lynghals 1, IS-110 Reykjavik, Iceland; Tel: 354/570-1900, Fax: 354/570-1901; Website: www.decode.com) and F. Hoffmann-LaRoche Ltd. AG (CH-4970, Basel, Switzerland; Tel: ++41/61 6811 11, Fax: ++41/61 691 93 91; Website:...

Human Genome Consortium Expires.
July 1, 2001... Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (9410 Key West Ave., Rockville, MD 20850; Tel: 301/309-8504, Fax: 301/309-8512) is inviting new corporate partners to participate in opportunities for drug discovery, development, and sale of new products. These new...

CALENDAR.
July 1, 2001... July 23-24, 2001, Fourth International Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and Related Disorders, Princeton, NJ. Contact: Strategic Research Institute; Tel: 212/967-0095, ext. 255; E-mail: banderson@srinstitute. ...