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VGLL4 plays a critical role in heart valve development and homeostasis

February 21, 2019

VGLL4 plays a critical role in heart valve development and homeostasis

Image credit: Yu, Ma and colleagues

Topic Pages Collection

This collection aims to increase the coverage of computational biology and genetics-related topics                                                  in Wikipedia by rewarding authors with a citable, PubMed-indexed version of the living document on Wikipedia.

Collection

02/15/2019

Research Article

An African-specific haplotype in MRGPRX4 is associated with menthol cigarette smoking

In the US, more than 80% of African-American smokers use mentholated cigarettes, compared to less than 30% of Caucasian smokers. By performing an exome-wide association study, Kozlitina, Risso et al find a significant association between menthol cigarette use and variants in MRGPRX4, a G-protein coupled receptor expressed in sensory neurons. The authors further find that the variant haplotype is found only in populations of African ancestry.

Image credit: markusspiske, Pixabay, CC0

An African-specific haplotype in MRGPRX4 is associated with menthol cigarette smoking

Recently Published Articles

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Current Issue

Current Issue January 2019

02/19/2019

Research Article

Myoinhibitory peptide signaling modulates aversive gustatory learning in Caenorhabditis elegans

Neuropeptides are essential signaling molecules in the brain and are emerging as important modulators of learning and memory processes. In this study, Katleen Peymen and colleagues find that the C. elegans receptor SPRR-2 and its ligands, the MIP-1 neuropeptides—which are members of the evolutionarily conserved myoinhibitory peptide system—are required for aversive gustatory learning.

Image credit: Katleen Peymen and colleagues

Myoinhibitory peptide signaling modulates aversive gustatory learning in Caenorhabditis elegans

02/19/2019

Research Article

Dynein promotes sustained axonal growth and Schwann cell remodeling early during peripheral nerve regeneration

To understand the mechanisms by which peripheral nerves regrow, Ducomm Priest et al use live cell imaging in zebrafish to observe the process of nerve regeneration, monitoring axons and Schwann cells simultaneously during this process. The authors identify a role for the molecular motors kinesin-1 and dynein in promoting axonal regrowth, and find that dynein plays an additional role in Schwann cell response to injury.

Image credit: Melissa Ducommun Priest and colleagues

Dynein promotes sustained axonal growth and Schwann cell remodeling early during peripheral nerve regeneration

02/13/2019

Research Article

A systematic genetic screen identifies essential factors involved in nuclear size control

Here, Cantwell and Nurse perform a systematic genetic screen of deleted essential genes in yeast to identify those with aberrant nuclear size phenotypes. The screen reveals 25 novel genes that influence nuclear size and bioinformatic analysis implicates both RNA processing and protein complexes in nuclear size control.

A systematic genetic screen identifies essential factors involved in nuclear size control

Image credit: Cantwell and Nurse

02/14/2019

Research Article

Epigenetic inheritance of telomere length in wild birds

Using longitudinal data of free-living jackdaws, Corvus monedula, Christina Bauch and colleagues show that erythrocyte telomere length (TL) of subsequent offspring decreases with parental age within individual fathers, but not mothers. By cross-fostering eggs, the authors confirm the paternal age effect to be independent of paternal age dependent care.

Epigenetic inheritance of telomere length in wild birds

Image credit: Christina Bauch and colleagues

02/14/2019

Perspective

Evolution as a guide for experimental cell biology

Colgren & Nichols comment on work by Raza et al who demonstrate that components of the adherens junction share an evolutionary history, proving evolutionary conversion rate analysis is a powerful method of identifying novel components of cell adhesion complexes in Drosophila.

Evolution as a guide for experimental cell biology

Image credit: Colgren and Nichols

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