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Physiology

Time of day influences brains global signal fluctuation – News-Medical.net

Feb 19 2020

As the day progresses, the strength of the brains global signal fluctuation shows an unexpected decrease, according to a study published on February 18 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by Csaba Orban and a multi-disciplinary team of scientists from the Faculty of Engineering, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and N.1 Institute of Health at the National University of Singapore.

The negative association between time of day and brain signal fluctuations was strongest in visual and somatosensory regions. Image Credit: Csaba Orban, CC BY

Circadian rhythms govern diverse aspects of physiology including sleep/wake cycles, cognition, gene expression, temperature regulation, and endocrine signaling. But despite the clear influence of circadian rhythms on physiology, most studies of brain function do not report or consider the impact of time of day on their findings.

To address this gap in knowledge, the team analyzed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data of approximately 900 subjects who were scanned between 8 am and 10 pm on two different days as part of the Human Connectome Project (HCP; http://www.humanconnectomeproject.org/). Multiple studies have shown that the brains global signal fluctuates more strongly when one is drowsy (e.g. after insufficient sleep), and fluctuates less when one is more alert (e.g. after coffee). Based on known circadian variation in sleepiness, the authors hypothesized that global signal fluctuation would be lowest in the morning, increase in the mid-afternoon and dip in the early evening.

Instead, they observed a cumulative decrease in global signal fluctuation as the day progressed. This global decrease was most prominent in visual and somatosensory brain regions, which are known for expressing dynamic fluctuations within individuals over time. Across the whole brain, time of day was also associated with marked decreases in resting-state functional connectivity the correlated activity between different brain regions when no explicit task is being performed.

We were surprised by the size of the overall time-of-day effects, since the global fMRI signal is affected by many factors and there is substantial variation across individuals. At the present moment we dont have a good explanation of the directionality of our findings. However, the fact that we also observed slight time-of-day-associated variation in the breathing patterns of participants suggests that we may also need to consider clues outside of the brain to fully understand these effects.

Csaba Orban, first author of the study

Based on the findings, the authors recommend that researchers explicitly report the time of day of fMRI scans and other experimental protocols and measurements, as this could help account for between-study variation in results and potentially even failure to replicate findings.

We hope these findings will motivate fellow neuroscientists to give more consideration to potential effects of time of day on measures of brain activity, especially in other large-scale studies where subjects are often scanned throughout the day for logistical reasons."

Thomas Yeo, studys senior author

This work is one of the first studies to come out of the recently established Centre for Sleep and Cognition at the National University of Singapore. The Centres director, Michael Chee, a co-author of this study, believes the results will stir broader interest in the effects of time of day or circadian variation on human physiology.

Source:

Journal reference:

Orban, C., et al. (2020) Time of day is associated with paradoxical reductions in global signal fluctuation and functional connectivity. PLOS Biology. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000602.

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Time of day influences brains global signal fluctuation - News-Medical.net

Physiology

New group created to highlight centenary of Aberdeen pioneer of insulin and help find a cure for diabetes – Press and Journal

A new voluntary organisation has been established in Aberdeenshire to help tackle the scourge of type 1 diabetes.

The JDRF group, based in Westhill, which meets for the time tomorrow, is planning a series of events to commemorate the discovery of insulin in 1921 by a trio of scientists.

Among their number was John MacLeod, a former Aberdeen Grammar School pupil, who studied at Aberdeen University before going on to win the Nobel Prize.

And the Macleod Centenary Group has been set up to support JDRF in its mission to find a cure for type 1 diabetes.

It comprises a broad range of people across many organisations, including Aberdeen University and Aberdeen FC, who have pledged to mark the centenary by raising the profile of JDRF, awareness of type 1 diabetes and the significance of insulin.

Carol Kennedy, regional fundraiser in Scotland for JDRF, which is the worlds leading type 1 diabetes research charity, said it was important to recognise Mr MacLeods place in history and use his achievements as the catalyst for making new scientific breakthroughs in the future.

She told the Press and Journal: We want to ensure that as many people as possible realise the vital contribution John MacLeod made in helping so many people with diabetes through his pioneering work with insulin.

The charity exists to find a cure for type 1 diabetes and its many complications.

At a global level, our volunteers and staff have already been responsible for raising more than 1 billion to support research.

But we know there is still a lot of work to be done and the latest projections estimate an increasing number of young people are being diagnosed with this.

It is a chronic condition, one which has a lifelong impact on those who are affected by it and their families.

We want to spread the word and ensure we do all we can to search for solutions.

We will be holding a series of meetings throughout the year leading up to when JDRF will be marking the anniversary in 2021.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition which cannot be prevented and is not linked to lifestyle factors.

People with the condition rely on multiple insulin injections or pump infusions every day just to stay alive.

It normally strikes children and stays with them for the rest of their lives. In the UK, it affects about 400,000 people in the UK, 29,000 of them children.

In Scotland, it impacts 32,000 people in Scotland, 6,000 of them children.

Further information is available at http://www.jdrf.org.uk.

John James Rickard MacLeod was born in Dunkeld in Perthshire in 1876, but soon after his birth, his clergyman father, Robert, was transferred to Aberdeen and the family relocated.

He attended Aberdeen Grammar School and, after being recognised as an intellectually gifted youngster, entered Marischal College at Aberdeen University to study medicine.

MacLeod moved to Canada upon graduating and became director of physiology at Toronto University, where he became interested in research on patients with diabetes.

Insulin was developed during his time there in 1921, after he had engaged in groundbreaking work with students Frederick Banting and Charles Best.

Following their collaboration, MacLeod received a Nobel Prize along with Banting, although he and the latter subsequently fell-out over their rival claims of who had contributed most to the discovery.

He returned to Scotland in 1928 to become Regius Professor of Physiology at Aberdeen University and later became Dean of the University of Aberdeen Medical Faculty.

He died in 1935 and is buried in Aberdeen. There is also a plaque near his old house.

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New group created to highlight centenary of Aberdeen pioneer of insulin and help find a cure for diabetes - Press and Journal

Physiology

Lawmakers hear emotional testimony but take no action on transgender – 6 On Your Side

Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on February 19, 2020

Supporters called it a matter of fairness. Opponents called it government-ordered discrimination and state-sanctioned exploitation.

Restricting transgender girls and women from playing in school sports could subject young people to invasive physical exams, innuendo and bullying and outing, said the opponents. How many lives need to be harmed or lost? asked Jen Moore, a licensed professional counselor.

Forcing girls and women to compete against, and lose to, boys and men could drive female athletes to take their lives, said Brian Stutzman, an Idaho Falls father. To allow XYers to play in an XX world is not fair to either group, said Stutzman, referring to the chromosomal differences between the genders.

After 90 minutes of emotional testimony, lawmakers took no action Wednesday. The House State Affairs Committee will take up the transgender athletics bill again Thursday, and could vote.

House Bill 500 which sponsors have titled it Fairness in Womens Sports Act would ban transgender girls and women from competing in girls and womens sports. Rep. Barbara Ehardt, the bills House sponsor, said her bill followed the spirit of Title IX, the landmark federal policy that opened intercollegiate athletics to female athletes.

We absolutely should not be going backwards, said Ehardt, R-Idaho Falls, a former college basketball player and coach. We should not be giving up these opportunities to boys and men, because they already have these opportunities.

Sen. Mary Souza, HB 500s co-sponsor and a critical care nurse, focused on physiology. Men have denser and stronger bones, tendons and ligaments and greater lung capacity. While the female pelvis is shaped for delivering a child, the male pelvis is shaped differently which gives boys and men an inherent advantage in track.

Science and common sense tells us that males are physically stronger than females, said Souza, R-Coeur dAlene.

The balance of testimony came from opponents who focused on the emotional toll HB 500 could exact.

One speaker read testimony on behalf of Chris Mosier, a Chicago-based transgender triathlete. In his testimony, Mosier challenged the notion that anyone would change gender simply to dominate in athletics. We need to call this bill what it is: a dangerous attack on young people.

Oliver Cowan, a Boisean who began his gender transition at age 23, disputed the notion that people change genders casually or quickly. That just isnt how it works. The transition is long and difficult, he said, and denying students the ability to play in sports would only complicate the process.

Transgender students already live and go to school in Idaho, ACLU Idaho policy director Kathy Griesmyer said. They should have the same chances to succeed and thrive.

Griesmyer said her group will sue if HB 500 passes saying the bill is discriminatory and represents an invasion of student privacy.

Committee members had pointed questions Wednesday, which could signal their leanings as a committee vote looms.

Im curious as to how you would define a woman, Rep. Julianne Young, R-Blackfoot, asked Griesmyer.

Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, asked Griesmyer if the ACLU had considered the science of the issue when it reviewed HB 500. Griesmyer said her group focuses on legal and constitutional issues.

Other questions focused on the physicians examination that would be used to determine gender. Rep. Elaine Smith, D-Pocatello, asked Ehardt if students would be subject to pelvic examinations; Ehardt said the process would glean information from non-invasive blood and urine samples. Rep. Brent Crane, R-Nampa, asked whether student-athletes already have to get a physical before competing. They do.

Rep. Brooke Green, D-Boise, questioned whether HB 500 is needed in the first place. She asked Ehardt if anyone has ever challenged an Idaho student-athletes eligibility, based on gender.

At this point, that has not happened, but it is just around the corner.

Committee members heard essentially the same thing from Ty Jones, executive director of the Idaho High School Athletics Association, the states governing body for school sports. Invited to speak by Green, Jones said the IHSAA has never received an eligibility appeal based on student gender.

IHSAA policy allows transgender girls to participate in girls sports, after completing at least 12 months of hormone treatment. Otherwise, transgender girls must compete in boys sports.

HB 500 is one of several bills on transgender policy before the Legislature this year. Ultimately, the last word on any of these bills belongs to Gov. Brad Little.

Meeting with reporters at an Idaho Press Club breakfast Wednesday morning, Little suggested the transgender bills might relate more to national trends than anything taking place in Idaho. He said he hasnt seen the bills and did not tip his hand, but added, Im not a big discrimination guy.

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Lawmakers hear emotional testimony but take no action on transgender - 6 On Your Side

Cell Biology

Journal of Cell Biology | Rockefeller University Press

Matthus Mittasch, Vanna M. Tran, Manolo U. Rios, Anatol W. Fritsch, Stephen J. Enos, Beatriz Ferreira Gomes, Alec Bond, Moritz Kreysing, Jeffrey B. Woodruff

Centrosomes withstand microtubule-mediated forces during spindle assembly, yet they are disassembled by similar forces during mitotic exit. Mittasch et al. use nanorheology to probe the material properties of centrosomes and how they change during the cell cycle. In anaphase, the centrosome scaffold becomes weak and brittle, thus allowing force-induced disassembly.

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Journal of Cell Biology | Rockefeller University Press

Cell Biology

Synthetic Biology Market to Witness a CAGR of 23.9% Through 2020-2025 – Increasing Demand for Protein Therapeutics & Personalized Medicine,…

DUBLIN, Feb. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Synthetic Biology Market by Tools (Oligonucleotides, Enzymes, Synthetic Cells), by Technology (Gene Synthesis, Bioinformatics), by Application (Tissue Regeneration, Biofuel, Renewable Energy, Food & Agriculture, Bioremediation) - Global Forecast to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

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The global synthetic biology market is projected to reach USD 19.8 billion by 2025 from USD 6.8 billion in 2020, at a CAGR of 23.9%.

This report analyzes the market for various synthetic biology market and their adoption patterns. It aims at estimating the market size and future growth potential of the synthetic biology market and its subsegments. The report also includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the key players in this market, along with their company profiles, product offerings, and recent developments.

Factors such as the increasing demand for synthetic genes and synthetic cells, wide range of applications of synthetic biology, declining cost of DNA sequencing and synthesizing, increasing R&D funding and initiatives in synthetic biology, and increasing investments in the market are propelling the growth of this market. However, rising biosafety, biosecurity, and ethical concerns related to synthetic biology are likely to hamper the growth of this market.

The oligonucleotides and synthetic DNA segment is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period

Based on tools, the market has been segmented into oligonucleotides and synthetic DNA, enzymes, cloning technology kits, chassis organisms, xeno-nucleic acids, and synthetic cells. In 2019, the oligonucleotides and synthetic DNA segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

This can be attributed to factors such as the rising demand for synthetic DNA, synthetic RNA, and synthetic genes, which are used in a wide range of applications, such as pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, personal care, flavors and fragrances, probiotics, green chemicals, and industrial enzymes.

The genome engineering segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period

On the basis of technology, the market is segmented into gene synthesis, genome engineering, cloning, sequencing, site-directed mutagenesis, measurement and modeling, microfluidics, nanotechnology, bioinformatics technologies.

The genome engineering segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period due to factors such as the increasing use of engineering technologies for manipulating complex genomes, growing therapeutics development for cancer and other diseases, and the increasing technological advances in CRISPR-toolbox and DNA synthesis technologies.

The industrial applications segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period

Based on application, the synthetic biology market is segmented into medical, industrial, food & agricultural, and environmental applications. The industrial applications segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR owing to the rising applications of synthetic biology in producing renewable energy, biomaterials & green chemicals, and enzymes.

The Asia Pacific is projected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period

The synthetic biology market is divided into North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. In 2019, North America accounted for the largest share of the synthetic biology market.

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However, the APAC region is expected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period owing to the growth in the number of pharmaceutical & biopharmaceutical companies, the increasing number of healthcare & life science facilities, and increasing requirements for regulatory compliance in pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies, growing number of international alliances, heavy funding for synthetic biology research, and strong government support.

Furthermore, the increasing focus on the Asia Pacific markets due to their low-cost manufacturing advantage also provides growth opportunities for manufacturers.

Key Topics Covered

1 Introduction

2 Research Methodology

3 Executive Summary

4 Premium Insights 4.1 Market Overview4.2 Asia Pacific: Market, By Application4.3 Market: Geographic Growth Opportunities4.4 Market, By Region (2018-2025)4.5 Market: Developed vs. Developing Markets

5 Market Overview 5.1 Introduction5.2 Market Dynamics5.2.1 Drivers5.2.1.1 Wide Range of Applications of Synthetic Biology5.2.1.2 Rising R&D Funding and Growing Initiatives in Synthetic Biology5.2.1.3 Declining Cost of DNA Sequencing and Synthesizing5.2.1.4 Increasing Investments in the Market5.2.2 Restraints5.2.2.1 Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Ethical Concerns5.2.3 Opportunities5.2.3.1 Rising Need for Fuel Alternatives5.2.3.2 Increasing Demand for Protein Therapeutics and Personalized Medicine5.2.3.3 Increasing Research in Synthetic Drugs and Vaccines5.2.4 Challenges5.2.4.1 Standardization of Biological Parts

6 Synthetic Biology Market, By Tool 6.1 Introduction6.2 Oligonucleotides & Synthetic DNA6.2.1 Oligonucleotides and Synthetic Dna to Dominate the Market During the Forecast Period6.3 Enzymes6.3.1 Development of Enzymes has Helped in Evolving New Therapies for A Range of Diseases6.4 Cloning Technology Kits6.4.1 Need for the Creation of Artificial Dna Along With Their Assembly is Driving the Growth of the Segment6.5 Synthetic Cells6.5.1 Synthetic Cells Will Allow Tailoring Biologics and Its Adoption is Expected to Grow in the Coming Years6.6 Chassis Organisms6.6.1 Increasing Demand for Fossil Fuels is Likely to Propel the Demand for Chassis Organisms6.7 Xeno-Nucleic Acids6.7.1 Xnas are Increasingly Researched With the Growing Demand for Breakthrough Medicine

7 Synthetic Biology Market, By Technology 7.1 Introduction7.2 Gene Synthesis7.2.1 Gene Synthesis to Dominate the Market During the Forecast Period7.3 Genome Engineering7.3.1 Increasing Demand for Synthetic Dna and Genes is Expected to Drive Market Growth7.4 Sequencing7.4.1 Ngs Technology is Rapidly Becoming an Indispensable and Universal Tool for Biological Research7.5 Bioinformatics7.5.1 Use of Bioinformatics Technologies is Increasing With the Rising Need for Data Management and Curation7.6 Cloning7.6.1 Cloning Aids in Building New Genetic Modules/Pathways, Enabling Rapid Advances in Research Across Various Industries7.7 Site-Directed Mutagenesis7.7.1 Wide Applications in Genetic Engineering, Dna Assembly, and Cloning Technologies is Driving This Segment7.8 Measurement & Modeling7.8.1 Computational Modeling is Aiding the Growth of the Segment During the Forecast Period7.9 Microfluidics7.9.1 Droplet Microfluidics is Gaining Wide Recognition in the Field of Synthetic Biology7.1 Nanotechnology7.10.1 Convergence Between Synthetic Biology and Nanotechnologies Aid in Building Complex Bodies

8 Synthetic Biology Market, By Application 8.1 Introduction8.2 Medical Applications8.2.1 Pharmaceuticals8.2.1.1 In 2019, the Pharmaceuticals Segment Accounted for the Largest Share of the Medical Applications Market8.2.2 Drug Discovery and Therapeutics8.2.2.1 Cancer Detection & Diagnostics8.2.2.1.1 With Rising Investments for Cancer Research, the Market for Synthetic Biology is Expected to Grow for This Segment8.2.2.2 Other Drug Discovery and Therapeutic Applications8.2.3 Artificial Tissue & Tissue Regeneration8.2.3.1 Bio-Synthesis8.2.3.1.1 Bio-Synthesis is Dominating the Market With Its Increasing Adoption in Creating Artificial Genomes8.2.3.2 Stem Cell Regulation8.2.3.2.1 Use of Synthetic Biology in Stem Cell Regeneration and Reprogramming Somatic Cells is Expected to Drive Market Growth8.2.3.3 Other Artificial Tissue and Tissue Regeneration Applications8.3 Industrial Applications8.3.1 Biofuel and Renewable Energy8.3.1.1 Advantages of Using Genetically Engineered Organisms for the Synthetic Production of Biofuels is Driving Market Growth8.3.2 Industrial Enzymes8.3.2.1 Textile Industry8.3.2.1.1 Synthetic Biology is Being Applied in the Textile Industry to Replace Traditional Raw Materials8.3.2.2 Paper Industry8.3.2.2.1 Enzymes are Being Increasingly Used in the Pulp and Paper Industry8.3.2.3 Other Industries8.3.3 Biomaterials & Green Chemicals8.3.3.1 Silk-Based Proteins are A Type of Biomaterial Prepared Through Synthetic Biology8.4 Food & Agriculture8.4.1 Synthetic Biology Techniques are Applied in the Food and Agriculture Industry to Produce Metabolites, Health Products, and Processing Aids8.5 Environmental Applications8.5.1 Bioremediation8.5.1.1 Owing to the Growing Severity of Environmental Problems, It has Become Necessary to Develop Cost-Effective, On-Site Methods for Environmental Monitoring and Bioremediation8.5.2 Biosensing8.5.2.1 Biosensor Applications Commonly Make Use of Microalgae Owing to Their High Reproductive Rates and Ease of Culturing Due to Their Microscopic Size

9 Synthetic Biology Market, By Region 9.1 Introduction9.2 North America9.2.1 US9.2.1.1 The US Dominates the North American Market9.2.2 Canada9.2.2.1 Strong Research Infrastructure and Availability of Funding Will Support Market Growth9.3 Europe9.3.1 UK9.3.1.1 The UK Holds the Largest Share of the European Market9.3.2 Germany9.3.2.1 The Rapidly Growing Pharmaceutical Market is Expected to Drive Market Growth9.3.3 France9.3.3.1 Research Across All Industries is Strongly Supported By the Government9.3.4 Denmark9.3.4.1 Denmark has the Third-Largest Commercial Drug-Development Pipeline in Europe9.3.5 Switzerland9.3.5.1 Market Growth is Primarily Driven By the Well-Established Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Industry in the Country9.3.6 Spain9.3.6.1 Spain has A Well-Established Network of Research Centers, Universities, and Hospitals, Which Form an Ideal Environment for Research9.3.7 Italy9.3.7.1 Growth in This Market is Mainly Driven By Increasing Life Science R&D in the Country, Funded By Both Public and Private Organizations9.3.8 Rest of Europe9.4 Asia Pacific9.4.1 Japan9.4.1.1 Large Number of Research Initiatives Towards the Development of Precision Medicine Supporting Market Growth9.4.2 China9.4.2.1 Growth in R&D to Enhance the Technological Capabilities in the Country, Thereby Driving the Demand for High-Quality Research Tools9.4.3 Australia9.4.3.1 Increasing Focus of the Healthcare System on Precision Medicine to Offer Significant Growth Opportunities9.4.4 India9.4.4.1 Increasing Pharma R&D and Government Funding in the Biotechnology Industry are the Major Factors Driving Market Growth9.4.5 Rest of Asia Pacific9.5 Latin America9.5.1 Strong Pharmaceutical Industry in the Region to Provide Significant Growth Opportunities9.6 Middle East and Africa9.6.1 Increasing Partnerships Among Global Players With Government Organizations in the Region to Support Growth

10 Competitive Landscape 10.1 Overview10.2 Market Share Analysis10.2.1 Synthetic Biology Market, By Key Players, 201810.3 Competitive Leadership Mapping10.3.1 Visionary Leaders10.3.2 Innovators10.3.3 Dynamic Differentiators10.3.4 Emerging Companies10.4 Competitive Situation and Trends10.4.1 Product Launches10.4.2 Expansions10.4.3 Acquisitions10.4.4 Other Strategies

11 Company Profiles 11.1 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.11.1.1 Business Overview11.1.2 Products Offered11.1.3 Recent Developments11.2 Merck KGaA11.3 Agilent Technologies Inc.11.4 Novozymes A/S11.5 Ginkgo Bioworks11.6 Amyris Inc.11.7 Intrexon Corporation11.8 Genscript Biotech Corporation11.9 Twist Bioscience11.10 Synthetic Genomics Inc. (SGI)11.11 Codexis Inc.11.12 Synthego Corporation11.13 Creative Enzymes11.14 Eurofins Scientific11.15 Cyrus Biotechnology Inc.11.16 Other Major Companies11.16.1 Atum11.16.2 Teselagen11.16.3 Arzeda11.16.4 Integrated DNA Technologies Inc.11.16.5 New England Biolabs

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/9yuhf0

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Synthetic Biology Market to Witness a CAGR of 23.9% Through 2020-2025 - Increasing Demand for Protein Therapeutics & Personalized Medicine,...

Cell Biology

Protein maintaining balance between protrusive and contractile machineries of cell identified – Mirage News

Tropomodulin maintains the fine balance between the protein machineries responsible for cell movement and morphogenesis. Disturbances in this balance are common in many diseases, for example, invasive cancers.

In a healthy cell, there is a fine balance between the protrusive structures that make the cell more migratory and the contractile structures that maintain the cells shape and its association with the environment. A disturbance in this balance leads to several diseases, such as invasive cancers.

The most important component of both protrusive and contractile machineries is a protein called actin. This means that the proper distribution of actin between these structures is essential for the normal function of the cell. Nevertheless, the mechanisms that ensure that actin is distributed correctly between the protrusive and contractile machineries have remained elusive.

Researchers at the University of Helsinki, Finland, and the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA, have now identified a protein called tropomodulin as a key player that maintains the balance between the protrusive and contractile actin-filament machineries within a cell.

The function of tropomodulin has previously been studied mainly in the context of muscles, where it maintains the architecture of actin filaments within the contractile fibers of muscle cells.

We have now revealed that tropomodulins stabilise the actin filaments of the contractile structures in non-muscle cells through interacting with specific proteins within these actin filament bundles. The depletion of tropomodulins led to a loss of contractile structures, accompanied by an excess of protrusive structures, and thus to severe problems in a cells shape and force production, says Academy Professor Pekka Lappalainen from the HiLiFE Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki.

Researchers were surprised to see that the depletion of one protein can have such drastic effects on the balance of the actin machinery.

Another exciting and unexpected finding of this study was the notion that the same protein can have a different function depending on the tissue or cell type. Our study also sheds light on why abnormal levels of tropomodulin are linked to the progression of various cancers, says PhD student Reena Kumari.

Kumari R, Jiu Y, Carman PJ, Tojkander S. Kogan K, Varjosalo M, Gunning PW, Dominguez R, Lappalainen P. Tropomodulins control the balance between protrusive and contractile structures by stabilizing actin-tropomyosin filaments. Current Biology (2020). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.12.049

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Protein maintaining balance between protrusive and contractile machineries of cell identified - Mirage News

Cell Biology

Phosplatin Therapeutics Announces Publication in OncoImmunology – PRNewswire

NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Phosplatin Therapeutics LLC, a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on oncology drug development, announced its publication in OncoImmunology of in vitro and in vivo data demonstrating that PT-112 is a bona fide immunogenic cell death (ICD) inducer, and as a result can initiate anticancer immunity, as a monotherapy and in combination with immune checkpoint inhibition.

PT-112 causes the release of so-called damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), a signature of ICD, by dying cancer cells. In addition, PT-112 synergizes with immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) in the context of superior immune infiltration. These findings are in line with preliminary clinical evidence on the use of PT-112 in patients with solid tumors, either as a monotherapy or in combination with anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint blockade.

"As a stand-alone agent, PT-112 has been validated as a potent ICD inducer," said Lorenzo Galluzzi, PhD, Assistant Professor of Cell Biology in Radiation Oncology at Weill Cornell Medical College, and senior author of the article. "Our model systems are designed to isolate the immune effects of a given agent, and PT-112 showed positive results across all model systems deployed thus far." "We have been delighted with our collaboration with Dr. Galluzzi and his laboratory team at Weill Cornell," said Matthew R. Price, Executive Vice President & COO at Phosplatin Therapeutics. "This publication underscores PT-112's role within the emerging field of immunotherapy, and its potential as a best-in-class ICD inducer."

Along with ICD induction, PT-112 possesses a unique combination of factors, including safety in heavily pre-treated patients, single-agent activity in patients with lung cancers, prostate cancer and thymoma. In addition, the pyrophosphate component of the drug is believed to be responsible for bio-distribution that includes high drug concentrations in mineralized bone (osteotropism). PT-112's features make it a promising candidate for the treatment of cancers that frequently metastasize to bone and/or are not likely to respond to checkpoint inhibitors.

Please refer to the OncoImmunology paper, "PT-112 induces immunogenic cell death and synergizes with immune checkpoint blockers in mouse tumor models," (Issue 9, Vol. 1) for the full description of the design and results of this work. The publication is available online here.

Further information on clinical trials with PT-112 that are currently open can be found at the clinicaltrials.gov registry under NCT 02266745, NCT 03409458, and NCT03288480.

About PT-112

PT-112 is a novel anti-cancer agent, the first cytotoxic small molecule conjugate of pyrophosphate developed in oncology therapeutics. PT-112 promotes immunogenic cell death (ICD), or the release of damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that lead to downstream immune effector cell recruitment in the tumor microenvironment. PT-112 represents a potential best-in-class small molecule inducer of this immunological form of cancer cell death. The first-in-human study of PT-112 demonstrated an attractive safety profile and evidence of long-lasting responses and tumor control among heavily pre-treated patients, and was presented at the ESMO 2018 Annual Congress, winning "Best Poster" among the Developmental Therapeutics category. The novelty of its pyrophosphate moiety also results in osteotropism, or the propensity of the drug to reach the mineralized bone. This property is of interest in cancer types that originate in bone, or frequently lead to metastatic bone involvement, such as metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer mCRPC. The first human clinical results in mCRPC were presented at the 2020 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium on February 13, 2020.

About Phosplatin Therapeutics

Phosplatin Therapeutics is a private, clinical stage pharmaceutical company that holds exclusive global license to phosphaplatins, a family of small molecules rationally designed to circumvent the mechanisms of drug resistance and toxicity commonly associated with chemotherapeutic regimens. The lead candidate, PT-112, is a novel chemical entity under clinical development that combines apoptotic and immunological properties in combating cancer. Clinical data generated to date across three studies have demonstrated single agent anti-cancer activity and an attractive tolerability profile. The company's research and development work to date has spanned fifteen countries and been funded by private investors and family investment offices in the United States, Europe and Asia, along with a sub-license agreement for the development, commercialization and use of PT-112 in Greater China.

See: http://www.phosplatin.com.

Contact: info@phosplatin.com

SOURCE Phosplatin Therapeutics

http://phosplatin.com

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Phosplatin Therapeutics Announces Publication in OncoImmunology - PRNewswire

Neuroscience

Trending 2020 Neuroscience Market Size, Share and Forecast by 2025 with Leading Players GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthineers, Noldus Information…

Research report on Global Neuroscience Market 2020 with industry primary research, secondary research, product research, size, trends and Forecast.

The report offers highly detailed competitive analysis of the Global Neuroscience industry, where the business and industry growth of leading companies are thoroughly evaluated on the basis of production, product portfolio, recent developments, technology, geographical footprint, and various other factors. The authors of the report have also provided information on future changes in the competitive landscape and the expected nature of competition in the global Neuroscience industry. This will help players to prepare themselves well for any unforeseen situations in the industry competition and give a tough competition to other players in the global Neuroscience industry.

Click here! For Updated Sample Copy of this [emailprotected] https://www.qyresearch.com/sample-form/form/1268289/global-neuroscience-market-size-status-and-forecast-

Major Manufactures Covered in this report:

GE Healthcare

Siemens Healthineers

Noldus Information Technology

Mightex Bioscience

Thomas RECORDING GmbH

Blackrock Microsystems

Tucker-Davis Technologies

Plexon

Phoenix Technology Group

NeuroNexus

Alpha Omega

Market segment by Type, the product can be split into

Whole Brain Imaging

Neuro-Microscopy

Electrophysiology Technologies

Neuro-Cellular Manipulation

Stereotaxic Surgeries

Animal Behavior

Other

Market segment by Application, split into

Hospitals

Diagnostic Laboratories

Research Institutes

Other

Global Neuroscience Market: Regional Segmentation

For a deeper understanding, the research report includes geographical segmentation of the global Neuroscience market. It provides an evaluation of the volatility of the political scenarios and amends likely to be made to the regulatory structures. This assessment gives an accurate analysis of the regional-wise growth of the global Neuroscience market.

Regions Covered in the Global Neuroscience Market:

The Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries and Egypt) North America (the United States, Mexico, and Canada) South America (Brazil etc.) Europe (Turkey, Germany, Russia UK, Italy, France, etc.) Asia-Pacific (Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Australia)

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Important Questions Answered in this Report:-

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Trending 2020 Neuroscience Market Size, Share and Forecast by 2025 with Leading Players GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthineers, Noldus Information...

Neuroscience

Curiosity drives this neuroscientist and artist – Science News for Students

When she was young, Christine Liu didnt plan to become a scientist. But chasing her curiosity led her to love neuroscience, the study of the brain and the nervous system. Shes now a graduate student and researcher at the University of California, Berkeley. There, she studies what nicotine, the addictive chemical in tobacco and e-cigarettes, does to the brain.

Outside the lab, Liu makes art, including some that communicates science. As half of the collective Two Photon Art, with environmental scientist Tera Johnson, Liu makes self-published magazines that illustrate science concepts. And the pair designs and sells science-themed items such as jewelry and clothes. Liu also shares her work on Instagram (such as the posts embedded in this story).

Liu isnt yet sure if her future is in the lab or making art, but she knows that neuroscience will be a big part of her career. In this interview, Liu shares her experiences and advice with Science News for Students. (This interview has been edited for content and readability.)

What inspired you to pursue your career?

I pursued neuroscience because of a curiosity about how the world works. Even as a little kid, I was interested in how people experience things differently. So I would ask questions like, Is the red that I see the same as the red that everyone else sees? When I started learning about psychology and biology and answers to these questions that researchers proposed, I got more interested. In college, I jumped at the opportunity to get in the lab as soon as I could. And I quite like doing lab work. But Ive been doing research for almost 10 years. So I might take the opportunity when I graduate to do art more seriously.

How did you get where you are today?

I grew up not really being that great at anything. It wasnt like I knew I had a special talent in science and that I was going to become a scientist. I also grew up low-income. My family didnt have a lot of money. As a kid, I spent a lot of time helping out around the house. I translated documents for my family and made sure that the rice was cooked before my parents got home. And I started working part-time jobs really early. In high school, I worked at a Jamba Juice and at a science museum. I did a bunch of jobs in college, too.

My college applications werent very strong. So I didnt get into the colleges in California I actually wanted to go to. Instead, I needed to apply last minute to the local state school. I went to University of Oregon in Eugene. It wasnt on the top of my list, but there were a lot of opportunities in neuroscience there. I was really able to take advantage of them. I overcame a lot of what I thought were shortcomings in my ability and competitiveness to do science.

When I started doing research, I was lucky to be in a lab with other female students. And I had done summer research programs with a diverse community of students and researchers. But when I started grad school, I was a little surprised at how few women and people of color I saw.

I also wasnt sure how to express myself if I needed to conform more or if I could really be myself. But then on Instagram, I found all these women who were not compromising how they express themselves. They were doing incredible science. And they were wearing lipstick and doing their hair and being feminine. This was something that I hadnt realized was missing in my life. I immediately tried to connect all of us on Instagram, and I created a group called The STEM Squad. (STEM is short for science, technology, engineering and math.) We now have over 1,000 people who identify with the gender thats been underrepresented in science. We each share our experiences and support each other.

How do you get your best ideas?

I get my best ideas when Im taking a break. This happens for a lot of people. Its like getting your best ideas in the shower or on a walk or right before you fall asleep. I find that when Im taking care of myself and getting enough rest and social time, I come up with ideas Im really excited about. Oftentimes, Ill have a breakthrough in planning experiments when Im not thinking about them. Its the same for artistic ideas of what to draw or make. I think when I let my brain rest, it does its own thing in the background and ideas just spark.

Whats one of your biggest successes?

What Ive been able to do with my art in grad school has been one of my biggest successes. Its brought me a lot of joy and connected me with people. Its also given me an idea of how I might actually be able to continue doing art after I finish grad school.

Labs in my research area can be competitive. Oftentimes, we dont want to share our experimental results until were ready. So it wasnt until this past year, my sixth year of grad school, that I presented my research at the biggest neuroscience conference. I presented it with a poster. But Ive been going to this conference for the past four years because they have a section for neuroscience art. Presenting my art there was a big success.

Whats one of your biggest failures, and how did you get past that?

What I perceived to be a failure was when I worked hard in high school to try to be competitive for college. And I didnt get into a school that seemed like a good choice for me. I was really sad. I thought I was a complete failure. A lot of my peers had gotten into great schools. But in the end, I realized that every failure is actually an opportunity to do better. I think if I had let myself get sucked into the narrative that I just wasnt good enough, I never would have recovered. In the end, the University of Oregon turned out to be really great for me.

What do you do in your spare time?

I make art! Because research is really hard, there can be lots of failures. Experiments might not work. Or they might work and prove your hypothesis wrong. During a stretch of months when research feels like it isnt working, I find it fulfilling to go home and draw, paint or share a piece of art. I really love painting. Its one of my favorite activities. I love the colors and mixing them. And I like how its a little bit messy. I also do other things that keep me happy and healthy, like cooking and visiting my grandparents.

I also try to support other scientists who have artistic interests or artists who have scientific interests through The Stem Squad. We raise money through artists in the community who submit their art. We print it on shirts, hats or things like that and sell them. This raises money to give out awards for people who do volunteer work to improve inclusion in STEM.

What piece of advice do you wish you had been given when you were younger?

If theres something that you really want to do, you have to take baby steps and start to do it as much as you can. If I had waited until someone invited me to join a lab, maybe I never would have started my research career. But because I was so in love with the idea of doing brain research, I emailed a bunch of professors and begged for a chance to work in the lab. Then I proved to myself that I can be a really great scientist despite my mediocre high school grades.

Also, if I had waited until I had more time to make art or until I felt like a perfect artist before selling my art, I dont think I would be where I am today. It took me a while to become comfortable sharing things that arent perfect and trying things even though I probably wasnt the best person for the job. But taking the risk and putting myself out there and being willing to learn I think thats whats gotten me the furthest.

This Q&A is part of a series exploring the many paths to a career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). It has been made possible with generous support from Arconic Foundation.

Originally posted here:
Curiosity drives this neuroscientist and artist - Science News for Students

Neuroscience

BioXcel Therapeutics Announces Initiation of a Phase 2 Study Designed to Assess Agitation-Associated Biomarkers and their Response to BXCL501 -…

NEW HAVEN, Conn., Feb. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. (BTI or Company) (Nasdaq: BTAI), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company utilizing artificial intelligence approaches to identify and advance the next wave of medicines in neuroscience and immuno-oncology, today announced the initiation of a Phase 2 study by researchers at Yale University designed to measure biomarkers associated with agitation in patients with schizophrenia and the response to treatment with BXCL501. The Company aims to utilize biomarkers to identify additional indications that exhibit the same physiological signals of hyperarousal, expanding the potential use of BXCL501 to new chronic disease indications.

Building on the significant results from our Phase 1b trial in patients with agitation associated with schizophrenia, this study is designed to further confirm the calming capabilities of dexmedetomidine, the active ingredient in BXCL501, using an objective scale to measure signs of hyperarousal, commented Dr. Frank Yocca, Chief Scientific Officer of BTI. In an agitated state, there are physiological changes that may occur, including differences in heart rate, electrodermal activity and EEG (electroencephalography), which have the potential to be used as an initial signal for treatment with BXCL501. In addition, we believe these biomarkers may have relevance for the treatment of additional distinct chronic indications characterized by nervous system arousal, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Managing agitation, a common symptom of neuropsychiatric conditions, is a burdensome challenge for both physicians and caregivers, added Dr. John Krystal, M.D., Robert L. McNeil, Jr. Professor of Translational Research and Professor of Psychiatry and of Neuroscience; Co-Director, Yale Center for Clinical Investigation and Chair, Department of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine. The ability to detect bodily signals that indicate an agitated state prior to the onset of visible symptoms could be extremely beneficial to caregivers. An early signal will allow for sufficient time to proactively treat the agitation before it becomes dangerous to the individuals involved.

The study will assess biomarkers, such as heart rate variability, actigraphy, electrodermal activity and EEG in patients with schizophrenia. Measurements will be taken at baseline and after the dosing of BXCL501 to determine its ability to impact the physiological signals of agitation. Topline data is expected to be reported in the second quarter of 2020.

About BXCL501BXCL501 is a potential first-in-class, proprietary sublingual thin film of dexmedetomidine, a selective alpha-2a receptor agonist for the treatment of acute agitation. BTI believes that BXCL501 directly targets a causal agitation mechanism and the Company has observed anti-agitation effects in multiple clinical studies across multiple neuropsychiatric indications. BXCL501 has also been granted Fast Track Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the acute treatment of agitation.

A Phase 1b safety and efficacy study of BXCL501 yielded positive dose-response data. BXCL501 is being evaluated in the SERENITY program, consisting of two Phase 3 studies for the acute treatment of agitation in patients with schizophrenia (SERENITY I) and bipolar disorder (SERENITY II). BXCL501 is also being evaluated in a Phase 1b/2 trial for the treatment of agitation associated with dementia, and the Company is preparing to initiate the Phase 1b/2 RELEASE trial of BXCL501 for the treatment of opioid withdrawal symptoms.

About BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc.BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company utilizing artificial intelligence to identify improved therapies in neuroscience and immuno-oncology. BTI's drug re-innovation approach leverages existing approved drugs and/or clinically validated product candidates together with big data and proprietary machine learning algorithms to identify new therapeutic indices. BTI's two most advanced clinical development programs are BXCL501, a sublingual thin film formulation designed for acute treatment of agitation resulting from neuropsychiatric disorders, and BXCL701, an orally administered systemic innate immunity activator designed for treatment of a rare form of prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer and advanced solid cancers in combination with other immuno-oncology agents. For more information, please visit http://www.bioxceltherapeutics.com/.

Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements in this press release include but are not limited to the ability to assess biomarkers for agitation and the timing of data from such trials involving BXCL501. When used herein, words including anticipate, being, will, plan, may, continue, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements or information that refer to expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, performance or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking. All forward-looking statements are based upon BTI's current expectations and various assumptions. BTI believes there is a reasonable basis for its expectations and beliefs, but they are inherently uncertain. BTI may not realize its expectations, and its beliefs may not prove correct. Actual results could differ materially from those described or implied by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including, without limitation, its limited operating history; its incurrence of significant losses; its need for substantial additional funding and ability to raise capital when needed; its limited experience in drug discovery and drug development; its dependence on the success and commercialization of BXCL501 and BXCL701 and other product candidates; the failure of preliminary data from its clinical studies to predict final study results; failure of its early clinical studies or preclinical studies to predict future clinical studies; its ability to receive regulatory approval for its product candidates; its ability to enroll patients in its clinical trials; its approach to the discovery and development of product candidates based on EvolverAI is novel and unproven; its exposure to patent infringement lawsuits; its ability to comply with the extensive regulations applicable to it; its ability to commercialize its product candidates; and the other important factors discussed under the caption Risk Factors in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2019, as such factors may be updated from time to time in its other filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov and on the Companys website at http://www.bioxceltherapeutics.com.

These and other important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent managements estimates as of the date of this press release. While BTI may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, except as required by law, it disclaims any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing BTIs views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc.www.bioxceltherapeutics.com

Investor Relations:John Grazianojgraziano@troutgroup.com1.646.378.2942

Media:Julia Deutschjdeutsch@troutgroup.com1.646.378.2967

Source: BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc.

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BioXcel Therapeutics Announces Initiation of a Phase 2 Study Designed to Assess Agitation-Associated Biomarkers and their Response to BXCL501 -...