Discovery of sugar-coated RNA molecules opens up new area of cell biology

Cells in our body bristle with sugars known as glycans that other cells can recognize via specialized receptors. By attaching to and modifying proteins and fats, glycans influence how proteins fold, how cues are sent between cells, and other cell-to-cell interactions. As just one example of glycans’ importance, our blood...

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Odds of stem cell transplant restoring fertility are as random as a coin toss — until now

The chances of restoring fertility through sperm stem cell transplant are as random as a coin toss. But a team of scientists developed a new strategy that serves as a 'weighted coin' that can favorably rig the odds to achieve outcomes where fertility is successfully restored. (more…)

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‘Rejuvenating’ the Alzheimer’s brain

Alzheimer's disease is the main cause of dementia and current therapeutic strategies cannot prevent, slow down or cure the pathology. The disease is characterized by memory loss, caused by the degeneration and death of neuronal cells in several regions of the brain, including the hippocampus. Researchers have identified a small...

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Sleeper cells: Newly discovered stem cell resting phase could put brain tumors to sleep

Biomedical engineering researchers developed a new cell classifier tool that takes a higher-resolution look at the life cycle of neuroepithelial stem cells, which led to the discovery and exploration of a new resting phase called Neural G0. This knowledge could help scientists to better understand glioma brain tumors and develop...

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Stem cells can use same method as plants and insects to protect against viruses

Researchers have found a vital mechanism, previously thought to have disappeared as mammals evolved, that helps protect mammalian stem cells from RNA viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and Zika virus. The scientists suggest this could one day be exploited in the development of new antiviral treatments. (more…)

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Stem cell scientists make big progress in building mini-kidneys

Researchers have created what could be a key building block for assembling a synthetic kidney. They describe how they generate rudimentary kidney structures, known as organoids, that resemble the collecting duct system that helps maintain the body's fluid and pH balance by concentrating and transporting urine. The organoids provide a...

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