Research News
December 22, 2011
Long intervening non-coding RNAs play pivotal roles in brain development
Whitehead Institute scientists have identified conserved, long intervening non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs) that play key roles during brain development in zebrafish, and went on to show that the human versions of these RNAs can substitute for the zebrafish lincRNAs.
December 7, 2011
Long non-coding RNA prevents the death of maturing red blood cells
A long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) prevents programmed cell death during one of the final stages of red blood cell differentiation, according to Whitehead Institute researchers. This is the first time a lncRNA has been found to play a role in red blood cell development and the first time a lncRNA has been shown to affect programmed cell death.
December 1, 2011
Not all cellular reprogramming is created equal
Tweaking the levels of factors used during the reprogramming of adult cells into induced pluriopotent stem (iPS) cells can greatly affect the quality of the resulting iPS cells, according to Whitehead Institute researchers. This finding explains at least in part the wide variation in quality and fidelity of iPS cells created through different reprogramming methods.
November 7, 2011
Novel surface triples stem-cell growth in culture
By irradiating typical polystyrene lab plates with ultraviolet (UV) waves, Whitehead Institute and MIT scientists have created a surface capable of tripling the number of human embryonic stem (ES) and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells that can be grown in culture by current methods.
October 31, 2011
High levels of master heat shock protein linked to poor prognosis in breast cancer patients
Whitehead Institute scientists report that patients whose estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancers have high levels of an ancient cellular survival factor experience poor outcomes—including increased mortality.
October 27, 2011
Yeast model connects Alzheimer's disease risk and amyloid beta toxicity
In a development that sheds new light on the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a team of Whitehead Institute scientists has identified connections between genetic risk factors for the disease and the effects of a peptide toxic to nerve cells in the brains of AD patients.
October 27, 2011
How major signaling pathways are wired to our genome gives new insight into disease processes
Whitehead Institute scientists have determined that master transcription factors determine the genes regulated by key signaling pathways. In this way, signaling pathways are targeted to genes that are most relevant to each cell type and tailor gene expression to control cell state, growth, differentiation, and death.
September 27, 2011
Whitehead Member Rudolf Jaenisch honored with National Medal of Science
For the second straight year, President Barack Obama is recognizing a member of the Whitehead Institute faculty with the nation’s highest scientific honor.
August 24, 2011
Scientists identify point of entry for deadly Ebola virus
Using an unusual human cell line of this type, Whitehead Institute researchers and their collaborators performed a genetic screen and identified a protein used by Ebola virus to gain entry into cells and begin replicating. The discovery may offer a new approach for the development of antiviral therapeutics.
August 18, 2011
Cancer stem cells made, not born
New findings by scientists at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and Whitehead Institute point to a decentralized society in tumors, with cancer cells able to interconvert between different types. These results have potential implications for the treatment of tumors, in particular, that attacking cancer stem cells alone may not be enough to fight cancer.
August 8, 2011
Protein unmasks pathogenic fungi to activate immune response
Whitehead Institute researchers have uncovered a novel association between two fungal recognition receptors on the surface of certain immune cells, called macrophages. The interaction of these receptors (dectin-1 and galectin-3) sheds new light on how the innate immune system discriminates between non-pathogenic and pathogenic fungi.
August 7, 2011
How yeast chromosomes avoid the bad breaks
Whitehead Institute researchers have discovered how yeast cells protect themselves against a novel type of chromosome fragility that occurs in repeated DNA during meiosis—the cell division that produces spores in fungi or eggs and sperm in plants and animals.
July 18, 2011
Key metabolic pathway implicated in intractable form of breast cancer
Using a new in vivo screening system, Whitehead Institute researchers have identified a protein in a key metabolic pathway that is essential in estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer.
July 14, 2011
Precision gene targeting in stem cells corrects disease-causing mutations
Using two distinct methods, Whitehead Institute researchers have successfully and consistently manipulated targeted genes in both human embryonic stem (ES) cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells (adult cells that have been reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell-like state).
July 10, 2011
MicroRNAs jumpstart production of obesity-fighting brown fat
Whitehead Institute scientists have identified the first microRNAs (miRs) that regulate the development of brown fat. Brown fat, which is found in small deposits in the neck, along the shoulders, and down the spine in adult humans, generates heat by burning the lipids. These miRs provide an opportunity to understand better how brown fat develops and may lead to methods for stimulating brown fat production to counter obesity.
June 14, 2011
Whitehead Member Mary Gehring named a Pew Scholar
The Pew Charitable Trusts has named Whitehead Institute Member Mary Gehring a 2011 Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences.
June 10, 2011
Scientists discover new component of key growth-regulating signaling pathway
Researchers in the lab of Whitehead Institute Member David Sabatini have identified a previously unknown substrate of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase, called Grb10. Linking Grb10 activity to mTOR provides a more detailed understanding of the function of mTOR and may open up new areas for mTOR research.
June 9, 2011
Signaling pathways point to vulnerability in breast cancer stem cells
Whitehead Institute researchers have identified signals impinging on breast epithelial cells that can induce those cells to acquire and stably display migratory and self-renewing characteristics.
May 16, 2011
Leucine deprivation proves deadly to malignant melanoma cells
Whitehead Institute researchers have found that depriving human melanoma cells of the amino acid leucine can be lethal to the cells, suggesting a possible strategy for therapeutic intervention. The researchers observed the effect in melanoma cells with a mutation in the RAS/MEK signaling pathway—the most common mutation found in the deadliest form of skin cancer.
May 12, 2011
Pluripotent adult stem cells power planarian regeneration
Whitehead Institute researchers have determined that the planarian flatworm regenerates missing tissues by using pluripotent adult stem cells. Until now, scientists could not determine whether the dividing cells in planarians, called neoblasts, are a mixture of specialized stem cells that each regenerates specific tissues, or if individual neoblasts are pluripotent and able to regenerate all tissues.
May 12, 2011
Ancient gene gives planarians a heads-up in regeneration
A little-studied gene known as notum plays a key role in the planarian’s regeneration decision-making process, according to Whitehead Institute scientists. At head-facing (anterior) wounds, the gene notum acts as a dimmer switch to dampen the Wnt pathway—an ancient signaling circuit that operates in all animals—and promote head regeneration.
May 3, 2011
Whitehead Member David Bartel elected to National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences has announced that Whitehead Institute's David Bartel is among 72 new Academy members elected today in recognition of distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.
April 28, 2011
Two unsuspected proteins may hold the key to creating artificial chromosomes
Whitehead Institute scientists report that two proteins once thought to have only supporting roles, are the true “stars” of the kinetochore assembly process in human cells.
April 21, 2011
Whitehead Institute Director honored with March of Dimes Prize
Whitehead Institute Director David Page has been named a recipient of the 2011 March of Dimes Prize in Developmental Biology. The prize honors Page’s groundbreaking body of research on the human Y chromosome.
April 11, 2011
Scientists ignore cultural barriers to find the cause of a rare disease
In a research collaboration blind to affairs of politics, ethnicity, and religion, an international team led by Israeli scientists has identified the genetic cause of a neurological disorder afflicting members of a Palestinian family.
April 11, 2011
Scientists identify a surprising new source of cancer stem cells
Certain differentiated cells in breast tissue can spontaneously convert to a stem-cell-like state, according to Whitehead Institute researchers. Until now, scientific dogma has stated that differentiation is a one-way path; once cells specialize, they cannot return to the flexible stem-cell state on their own.
March 16, 2011
Whitehead scientist helps revisit "Hallmarks of Cancer"
Renowned cancer researchers Robert Weinberg and Douglas Hanahan and have updated the “Hallmarks of Cancer”, their seminal review that codified the traits that all cancers have in common. The original article has greatly influenced scientists, both in and outside cancer research. The revised work incorporates information gleaned from the past eleven years of cancer research and is expected to have a profound impact on the study of cancer and the quest for approaches to treat it.
March 9, 2011
What's in a name? Broadening the biological lexicon to bolster translational research
So-called model organisms have long been at the core of biomedical research, allowing scientists to study the ins and outs of human disorders in non-human subjects.
March 9, 2011
Novel method could improve the performance of proteins used therapeutically
Whitehead Institute scientists have created a method that uses the enzyme sortase A to site-specifically modify proteins. Using this technique, researchers were able to increase potency, slow the metabolism, and improve thermal stability of several proteins.
March 1, 2011
Back on top: Whitehead reclaims title as best place for postdocs to work
For the second time in three years, Whitehead Institute has been named the best place in the country for postdoctoral researchers to work.
February 15, 2011
Whitehead Member Rudolf Jaenisch honored for groundbreaking stem cell research
Israel’s Wolf Foundation, whose stated mission is “to promote science and art for the benefit of mankind,” has named Whitehead Institute Founding Member Rudolf Jaenisch a recipient of the prestigious 2011 Wolf Prize in Medicine.
January 24, 2011
In Memoriam: Abraham J. Siegel
With the passing last week of Board Member Emeritus Abraham Siegel, Whitehead Institute has lost a true friend and one of its earliest and most trusted advisers.
January 24, 2011
Whitehead Member Hidde Ploegh honored for immunology research
The American Association of Immunologists has named Whitehead Institute Member Hidde Ploegh the recipient of its 2011 Meritorious Career Award.
January 12, 2011
Whitehead Member Terry Orr-Weaver named AAAS Fellow
Whitehead Institute Member Terry Orr-Weaver has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
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Last updated December 22, 2011. |
