Maybe we can use science as an escape from politics during the last week or so before the election? I hope so. Here are my weekly recommended reads. Several papers ended up relating to nucleus, cell and embryo size and space as well as chromatin, which is very interesting.
Cell and chromatin biology pubs, media
- Vast Self-Renewal Potential of Human AGM Region HSCs Dramatically Declines in the Umbilical Cord Blood, Stem Cell Reports
- DUSP16 is a regulator of human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and promotes their expansion ex vivo, Leukemia.
- Molecular goniometers for single-particle cryo-electron microscopy of DNA-binding proteins, Nature Biotechnology. This cool paper uses a number of notable methods and tools including DNA origami and something called goniometers. What are goniometers? They are kind of like molecular protractors in this case, but more complicated.
- Speaking of spatial dynamics in the nucleus, The nucleus measures shape changes for cellular proprioception to control dynamic cell behavior, and The nucleus acts as a ruler tailoring cell responses to spatial constraints both in Science.
- Embryo Size Regulates the Timing and Mechanism of Pluripotent Tissue Morphogenesis, Stem Cell Reports.
- Kyoto University project aims to supply iPS cells widely at low cost
- miR-504 modulates the stemness and mesenchymal transition of glioma stem cells and their interaction with microglia via delivery by extracellular vesicles, Cell Death and Disease.
CRISPR
bioRxiv preprint, Comprehensive deletion landscape of CRISPR-Cas9 identifies minimal RNA-guided DNA-binding modules
About that potential new human organ…
Tubarial salivary glands: A potential new organ at risk for radiotherapy. I teach histology including a lab with salivary glands so this, if real, would be a new addition to the course.
Knees
Why Don’t Runners’ Knees Fail More Often? Outside Online. In part I think this is because of the chondrogenic potential of the perichondrium, the capsule around the cartilage. But once a knee or other joint has an injury to cartilage then that’s not easily fixable so still not wise to over do it to the point of injury while running.
I did a post where I took a look at stem cells for knee arthritis and other arthritis and the data so far are not compelling. Not much has changed in the last few years. So do stem cells or PRP work for arthritis? Maybe, maybe not. It probably depends on the prep, the health care provider’s expertise, and the patient.
Congrats to the Robertson Investigators
Welcome 2020 NYSCF – Robertson Investigators: @DiMiccoLab (San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy), @morris_lab (@WUSTL), @ordovas_phd (@BostonChildrens), Jiami Guo (University of Calgary), @schneiderneuro (@nyuniversity), & John Tuthill (@UW) https://t.co/wPRpfYJFGs pic.twitter.com/Zgr3hEg8GC
— New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute (@nyscf) October 20, 2020
Blast from the past
Only 4 months ago, but this may be useful now: Research lab ramp-up plan & real-world tips to lower COVID-19 risk.