Here are summaries of a selection of the papers published by GCB faculty in December 2020:
DISEASE
Doug Marchuk part of a team that investigated the effect of propranolol on the embryonic zebrafish multi-cavernous malformation and on lesion burden and hemorrhage in two murine chronic cerebral cavernous malformation models. Read more
Greg Wray part of a team that identified a pathogenic variant that may serve as a basis for the identification of previously unknown mechanisms of long QT syndrome with broader implications for cardiac electrophysiology. Read more
Sandeep dave part of a team reporting on results of a phase 1 dose-escalation study of belinostat and bortezomib in adult patients with acute leukemia or MDS or CML with blast crisis. Read more
GUT-BRAIN AXIS
John Rawls and team discovered that the bacteria Edwardsiella tarda activate enteroendocrine cells through the receptor transient receptor potential ankyrin A1 and increase intestinal motility. These results establish a molecular pathway by which enteroendocrine cells regulate enteric and vagal neuronal pathways in response to microbial signals. Read more
NEW METHODS
Greg Crawford and Tim Reddy were part of an international team that generated transcriptome, epigenome, open chromatin and chromatin interaction annotations of cells that play critical roles in promoting successful pregnancy, interfacing with fetal cells throughout pregnancy, and the timing of birth. The team then built a computational framework integrating these annotations with the results of a large GWAS of gestational duration to facilitate discovery of preterm birth genes. Read more
Charlie Gersbach, Tim Reddy and team created a new way to turn stem cells into a desired cell type by mastering the language of gene regulatory networks. Their work focused on creating mature neuronal cells, but the method can be used on any cell type. Read more
Ashley Chi was part of team that developed a method for culturing fusion positive rhabdomyosarcoma cells as rhabdospheres. This method provides a novel, practical tool to support research into fustion positive rhabdomyosarcoma stemness and chemoresistance signaling mechanisms. Read more
REVIEWS
In a review published in Genetics, Ryan Baugh, along with Patrick Hu of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, provide a comprehensive overview of starvation responses throughout the C. elegans life cycle. Read more