Mapping In Silico Genetic Networks of the KMT2D Tumour Suppressor Gene to Uncover Novel Functional Associations and Cancer Cell Vulnerabilities

Academic Background and Problem Statement Loss-of-Function (LOF) mutations in Tumor Suppressor Genes (TSGs) are prevalent in cancer. However, therapeutic strategies directly targeting these mutations are challenging due to the loss or reduction of encoded protein function, which in normal states plays a role in inhibiting aberrant cell proliferatio...

Ubiquitin Regulatory X (UBX) Domain-Containing Protein 6 is Essential for Autophagy Induction and Inflammation Control in Macrophages

Critical Role of UBXN6 in Autophagy Induction and Inflammation Control in Macrophages Background The innate immune system serves as the first line of defense against pathogen invasion and inflammatory responses. Monocytes and macrophages, as key cell types in the innate immune system, play critical roles during infection and inflammation. However, ...

Alternative mRNA Polyadenylation Regulates Macrophage Hyperactivation via the Autophagy Pathway

NUDT21 Regulates Macrophage Hyperactivation via the Autophagy Pathway Academic Background The inflammatory response is a critical component of the body’s immune defense, facilitating pathogen clearance and tissue repair. However, dysregulation of the inflammatory response can lead to chronic inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease ...

Integrated Single-Cell Analysis Reveals Distinct Epigenetic-Regulated Cancer Cell States and a Heterogeneity-Guided Core Signature in Tamoxifen-Resistant Breast Cancer

Integrated Single-Cell Analysis Reveals Distinct Epigenetic-Regulated Cancer Cell States and a Heterogeneity-Guided Core Signature in Tamoxifen-Resistant Breast Cancer Academic Background Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women, and endocrine therapy (e.g., tamoxifen) is the standard treatment for estrogen receptor α (ER)-positive ...

Century-Old Herbarium Specimen Provides Insights into Pierce’s Disease of Grapevines Emergence in the Americas

Summary of the Academic Paper Report on “Century-Old Herbarium Specimen Provides Insights Into Pierce’s Disease of Grapevines Emergence in the Americas” Introduction Pierce’s Disease (PD) of grapevines, caused by the bacterial subspecies Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa (Xff), poses a severe threat to the viticulture industry. However, its geog...

Modularity Buffers the Spread of Spatial Perturbations in Macroalgal Networks

Report on Research Paper: Modularity Buffers the Spread of Spatial Perturbations in Macroalgal Networks Background In the field of ecology, a critical challenge is understanding how to preserve ecosystem stability amidst increasing natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Modular network structures have garnered significant attention for their abili...

Days-Old Zebrafish Rapidly Learn to Recognize Threatening Agents Through Noradrenergic and Forebrain Circuits

This study explores the necessity of quickly recognizing and avoiding predators in the natural environment, which is crucial for juvenile animals due to their increased vulnerability to predators. However, it remains unclear whether neonatal vertebrates can rapidly acquire such skills and the underlying neural mechanisms. Zebrafish, a widely used m...

PITX2 Expression and Neanderthal Introgression in HS3ST3A1 Contribute to Variation in Tooth Dimensions in Modern Humans

“PITX2 Expression and Neanderthal Introgression in HS3ST3A1 Contribute to Variation in Tooth Dimensions in Modern Humans” Source of the Research This paper was authored by Qing Li, Pierre Faux, Emma Wentworth Winchester, and others, and published on January 6, 2025, in the journal Current Biology. The authors come from various research institutions...

Layer-Specific Anatomical and Physiological Features of the Retina’s Neurovascular Unit

Academic Report on the Study of Layer-Specific Anatomical and Physiological Characteristics of the Retinal Neurovascular Unit Background and Problem Statement Retinal processing, similar to all neural computations, is metabolically expensive and involves the dynamic regulation of blood flow, known as neurovascular coupling (NVC). The retina is supp...

Separate Sites of Action for Cry1 and Phot1 Blue-Light Receptors in the Arabidopsis Hypocotyl

Report on the Paper “Separate Sites of Action for Cry1 and Phot1 Blue-Light Receptors in the Arabidopsis Hypocotyl” Background and Motivation Plants rely on the rapid elongation of the hypocotyl to overcome the resistance of the soil surface and access light environments for establishing autotrophic photosynthesis. Upon exposure to blue light, the ...