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Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa yesterday

This breakthrough paves the way towards programmable gene expression, offering the ability to precisely control gene activity in space and time. The findings not only deepen our understanding of developmental biology but may inform new therapeutic strategies targeting the non-coding genome.
Such approaches could one day enable treatments that selectively adjust gene expression in specific tissues, with implications for diseases caused by gene misregulation.

A dual enhancer-attenuator element ensures transient Cdx2 expression during mouse posterior body formation, Developmental Cell (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2025.06.006. www.cell.com/developmental-cel … 1534-5807(25)00361-2

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Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa yesterday

Scientists reveal how diverse cell types are produced in developing embryos

A team of scientists has uncovered a previously unknown mechanism that controls how genes are switched "on" and "off" during embryonic development. Their study sheds light on how diverse cell types are produced in developing embryos.

The research is published in Developmental Cell.

All cells contain the same DNA but must turn specific genes '"on" and "off"—a process known as gene expression—to create different body parts. The cells in your eyes and arms harbor the same genes but "express" them differently to become each body part.
The work focused on the gene Cdx2. The duration of Cdx2 expression helps to determine where and when a cell produces spinal cord progenitors. The researchers wanted to understand what processes control this brief window.

The team discovered a DNA element they termed an "attenuator," which reduces gene expression in a time and cell type-specific manner—unlike enhancers or silencers, other types of DNA elements that broadly switch genes on or off.

By altering this element, they could tune how long or how strongly Cdx2 was expressed, effectively acting like a "genetic dimmer switch." Disrupting the "switch" in mouse embryos also confirmed its essential role in shaping the developing body plan.

Part 1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa yesterday

Plants, food and the environment also have microbiomes. For example, soil microbes help plants grow by cycling nutrients and fermented foods such as yogurt contain beneficial bacteria that support gut health. Environmental microbiomes, such as those in the Arctic permafrost, play vital roles in regulating climate by controlling greenhouse gas emissions.

Microbiomes are being threatened by human activities that disrupt their natural balance, according to research.

 In humans, the overuse of antibiotics, cesarean sections and formula feeding can reduce the diversity of gut microbes, leading to increased risks of allergies, autoimmune diseases and metabolic disorders. In food, the excessive use of preservatives and additives can harm beneficial microbes.

The microbiome is under big threat, a threat that is in many ways analogous to climate change. Human activities are depleting our microbiome, and there's lots of evidence of that.

For plants, unsustainable agricultural practices, such as heavy pesticide use, can destroy soil microbiomes essential for nutrient cycling and plant health. Environmental microbiomes are affected by pollution, climate change and habitat destruction, which can lead to the loss of microbes that regulate greenhouse gas emissions and maintain ecosystem stability.

The idea of the initiative is to support efforts to identify healthy microbes, store them and freeze them before they disappear.

It is a long term project  and maybe 100 years from now, having saved these microbes could prevent a major disaster.

 Safeguarding Earth's microbial heritage for future generations: focus on the Microbiota Vault Initiative, Nature Communications (2025). www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-61008-5

Part 2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa yesterday

'Microbial Noah's Ark' ramps up to save Earth's invisible life forms

A global effort to create a "microbial Noah's Ark" to preserve the world's diverse collection of healthy microbes before they disappear is now entering an active growth phase.

In a perspective article published in Nature Communications, a team of 25 scientists involved in the formation of the Microbiota Vault Initiative reported their successes and also laid out an ethical framework to ensure equitable collaboration and depositor sovereignty. This set of principles is designed to guide the initiative in its mission to safeguard microbial diversity for future generations.

The announcement, which coincides with World Microbiome Day on June 27, marks a significant step forward in a global effort. Scientists founding the initiative in 2018 were inspired by The Seed Vault within the Arctic Circle in Svalbard, Norway, where seeds collected worldwide are safeguarded to ensure the preservation of genetic diversity in the event of a global crisis.

The Microbiota Vault Initiative represents a proactive effort to protect and preserve the microbial life that is essential for the health of our planet and its inhabitants.

Microbes—tiny living organisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi—exist everywhere, including in our bodies, where they form communities known as microbiomes. Recent research has highlighted the crucial role of "good microbes" in maintaining human health by aiding digestion, bolstering the immune system and protecting against harmful invaders.

Part 1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa yesterday

How a faulty transport protein in the brain can trigger severe epilepsy

Citrate is essential for the metabolism and development of neurons. A membrane transport protein called SLC13A5 plays a central role in this process and has previously been linked to a particularly severe form of epileptic encephalopathy.

Building on data from the recently completed RESOLUTE and REsolution flagship projects, scientists at CeMM have comprehensively studied the function and structure of the membrane transporter SLC13A5, experimentally investigating 38 mutant variants.

Their findings, published in Science Advances, shed new light on the mechanisms of this disease and lay the foundation for further research into epilepsy and other disorders.

Citrate, the negatively charged ion of citric acid, is a key component in the metabolism of every cell. In the citric acid cycle—often referred to as the "hub" of cellular metabolism—organic substances are broken down to generate chemical energy, while also producing various precursors for the biosynthesis of fatty acids and critical signaling molecules involved in inflammation and cell development. In neurons, citrate plays an especially important role. As a so-called "neuromodulator," it influences neuronal activity and is therefore present in relatively high concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid.

Accordingly, neurons express high levels of the SLC13A5 transporter to facilitate citrate uptake. When this transporter is not fully functional, it can lead to SLC13A5 Citrate Transporter Disorder—a severe form of epilepsy associated with impaired brain development (scientifically referred to as developmental epileptic encephalopathy, DEE).

This condition is caused by mutations in the SLC13A5 gene.

To address this knowledge gap, scientists  performed a technique called "deep mutational scanning" (DMS), analyzing the effect of nearly 10 thousand different genetic mutations on the function of the SLC13A5 transport protein.

The dataset was further enriched by computational analyses of protein stability, and 38 mutated SLC13A5 variants were selected for experimental investigation. This approach revealed several molecular mechanisms linked to the manifestation of the disease. These included differences in transporter production levels in neurons, their precise localization in the cell membrane, and the actual rate of citrate transport.

Wen-An Wang et al, Large-scale experimental assessment of variant effects on the structure and function of the citrate transporter SLC13A5, Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adx3011. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adx3011

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on Friday

Scientists 3D-print part of human femur as strong as real bone

A group of  doctors and scientists printed part of a human femur—the longest and strongest bone in the body—that mimics the strength, flexibility and overall mechanics of a real femur. The findings were published in 2024 in a study in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research.

Recreating bones and organs like the heart or blood vessels is an emerging field. 3D-printed organs are far from replicating the functionality of a flesh-and-blood organ. 3D-printed bones, however, are being leveraged to various degrees.

 In scientific studies assessing how different forces stress and contort bone, these skeletal replicas offer scientists and physicians an accessible alternative to what is typically used: cadaver bones.

The printed bones  have the same strength or maybe even better strength than the human femur.

The 3D-printed bone is made with a low-cost biodegradable polymer called polylactic acid. In total, the bone costs about $7 to make, which is much cheaper than making other synthetic bones or obtaining cadaver bones.

Robert C. Weinschenk et al, Three‐dimensional‐printed femoral diaphysis for biomechanical testing—Optimization and validation, Journal of Orthopaedic Research (2024). DOI: 10.1002/jor.25954

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on Friday

Study shows sleeping brain remains alert to harsh, urgent sounds

During sleep, the brain must achieve a delicate balance: disconnecting from sensory input to allow restorative functions, while remaining alert enough to wake if danger arises. How does it sort through external stimuli—particularly sounds—during sleep? Scientists have studied how the brain responds to so-called "rough" sounds, such as screams or alarms.

They discovered that these sounds are systematically processed, unlike other sounds, triggering specific brain waves. These results, published in the journal Scientific Reports, provide a better understanding of certain perceptual disorders, such as hyperacusis (hypersensitivity and/or intolerance to certain sounds), as well as the impact of repeated nighttime disturbances on brain function.

Roughness is an acoustic property characterized by rapid modulations of sound intensity, between 40 and 100 times per second. Unlike speech, where syllables occur at a rate between 4 and 8 Hz, rough sounds hit the auditory system at much higher frequencies, producing a shrill and often unpleasant sensation.

This quality—typical of audible alarms, human screams and infant cries—is precisely what makes them so effective: They automatically capture our attention to signal imminent danger. These sounds directly activate the amygdala, a brain region involved in emotional responses and attention.

In the research conducted, the roughness—regardless of whether the sound was high- or low-pitched—that activated the brain's alert systems. The research team also observed two key phenomena. First, rough sounds consistently triggered a brain response, unlike other types of sounds. Second, sound roughness correlated with an increase in sleep spindles. These are short bursts of brain activity elicited in response to a sensory, and potentially disturbing, stimulus during sleep.

Sound roughness is not commonly encountered in everyday environments. In both humans and animals, it's typically reserved for urgent, high-stakes communication.

 Guillaume Y. T. Legendre et al, Scream's roughness grants privileged access to the brain during sleep, Scientific Reports (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-01560-8

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on Friday

Exercise sends 'mechanical messages' to cells, unlocking new energy pathways

Scientists  have made a breakthrough in understanding how cells in our body respond to physical activity and exercise.

Researchers discovered a direct mechanical signal that travels from outside the cell into the energy-producing parts of the cell, which could change the way we think about exercise and its benefits.

Researchers found a protein production factory in the cell, the endoplasmic reticulum, can sense external mechanical forces, such as stretching or strain and transmit them deep into the cell.

The process helps regulate energy production in the cell and maintains tissue health.

Cells constantly experience physical forces, especially in load-bearing tissues such as tendon, muscle and lung. Researchers found that the endoplasmic reticulum plays a central role in converting these mechanical cues into metabolic responses, controlling how cells produce energy and prevent tissue damage.

They discovered that while moderate physical activity and exercise could enhance energy production in cells, excessive strain or injury could disrupt this process, leading to cellular damage.

 Ziming Chen et al, External strain on the plasma membrane is relayed to the endoplasmic reticulum by membrane contact sites and alters cellular energetics, Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ads6132

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on Friday

Tech giants' net zero goals verging on fantasy: Researchers

The credibility of climate pledges by the world's tech giants to rapidly become carbon neutral is fading fast as they devour more and more energy in the race to develop AI and build data centers, researchers warned this week.

Apple, Google and Meta said they would stop adding CO₂ into the atmosphere by 2030, while Amazon set that target for 2040.

Microsoft promised to be "net negative"—pulling CO₂ out of the air—by the end of this decade.

But those vows, made before the AI boom transformed the sector, are starting to look like a fantasy even as these companies have doubled down on them, according to independent analysts.

"The greenhouse gas emissions targets of tech companies appear to have lost their meaning", the researchers say.

Source: News agencies

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Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on Thursday

Synthetic protein jams up diseased cells
A synthetic ‘killswitch’ protein, just 17 amino acids long, can jam droplet-like structures that coordinate key cellular processes such as cancer, viral replication, gene expression and more. The droplet-like structures have no membranes and help to organize proteins and RNA molecules so that they can perform specific tasks efficiently and precisely. The killswitch infiltrates the droplets and fixes them in place. In a pair of experiments, researchers found that the killswitch could reduce leukaemia cell proliferation in mice and also curtail the production of viral particles in infected cells.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09141-5?utm_source=Live+...

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