SciBX: Science-Business eXchange Contents: January 26 2012, Volume 5 / Issue 4

TABLE OF CONTENTS January 26 2012, Volume 5 / Issue 4 Analysis Cover Story Targets and Mechanisms Tools The Distillery: Therapeutics Infectious disease Inflammation Neurology Ophthalmic disease Cancer Cardiovascular disease Endocrine/metabolic disease Hematology The Distillery: Techniques Chemistry Drug platforms Imaging Markers Advertisement SciBX: Science-Business eXchange Recommend SciBX to your library today SciBx is a weekly publication that identifies and analyzes the most important translational research articles from over 40 journals. Find out which papers have real scientific and commercial potential, and why. Subscribe to SciBX and you won't miss the next big thing. For more information visit: www.nature.com/scibx.   Trade Secrets A Nature Network blog by BIOENTREPRENEUR Brought to you by Nature Biotechnology Access the insights, advice and commentary from scientists and entrepreneurs building biotech sectors around the world. Join the global dialogue on life science entrepreneurship: http://blogs.nature.com/trade_secrets   Analysis Cover Story Top Macrocycles by the trillions Joanne Kotz doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.87 Japanese researchers have developed a method for creating large libraries of N-methylated peptide macrocycles. PeptiDream Inc. has exclusively licensed the technology and set up collaborations with six pharmas. Full Text | PDF Targets and Mechanisms Top Visum sees the light Chris Cain doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.88 Case Western researchers have identified 16 approved drugs that could help treat Stargardt's disease and dry age-related macular degeneration by preventing the toxic buildup of visual cycle byproducts. Visum has licensed the findings and has variants of the drugs in preclinical development. Full Text | PDF Unleashing NK cells Lev Osherovich doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.89 A French-led team has found that antagonizing an NK cell surface protein increases the innate immune cells' response to viruses and tumors. Innate Pharma is collaborating with the team to explore therapeutic applications. Full Text | PDF Tools Top Stemming the tide of HeLa cells Tim Fulmer doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.90 Max Planck cell biologists are challenging the research community to abandon the HeLa cell line in favor of stem cell lines. Although the latter may provide better in vitro disease models, technical and economic considerations may slow their adoption as research tools. Full Text | PDF Distillery: Therapeutics Cancer Top Not applicable doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.91 Genomewide association studies suggest it may be possible to repurpose therapies for myeloid leukemias to treat early T cell precursor ALL. Full Text | PDF N-Methylpurine-DNA glycosylase (MPG; APNG) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.92 A study in cells and in patient tissue suggests inhibiting the DNA repair enzyme APNG may help treat Temodal-resistant glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Full Text | PDF Smoothened (SMO) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.93 In vitro studies identified an oxysterol-binding site on SMO that could guide development of new drugs targeting the hedgehog pathway. Full Text | PDF CD27; CD70 (CD27L) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.94 Cell culture and mouse studies suggest blocking CD27-CD70 interactions could help treat CML. Full Text | PDF Cardiovascular disease Top Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 1 (ACSL1) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.95 Studies in mice and in patient samples suggest inhibiting ACSL1 could help prevent diabetes-associated atherosclerosis. Full Text | PDF Netrin 1 (NTN1) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.96 Studies in mice and in human samples suggest blocking NTN1 could help treat atherosclerosis. Full Text | PDF Endocrine/metabolic disease Top Fibronectin type III domain containing 5 (FNDC5; irisin) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.97 A study in mice and in patient serum identified irisin as a hormone that may help treat obesity and type 2 diabetes. Full Text | PDF Hematology Top Golgi integral membrane protein 4 (GOLIM4; GPP130) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.98 In vitro and mouse studies suggest GPP130 inhibitors or Mn2+ could help prevent Shiga toxin–induced hemolytic uremic syndrome. Full Text | PDF Infectious disease Top Natural cytotoxicity triggering receptor 1 (NCR1; NKP46; CD335) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.99 Studies in mice suggest antagonizing NCR1 could help treat CMV. Full Text | PDF Viral type I interferon binding protein doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.100 Mouse studies suggest antibodies against viral type I interferon (IFN) binding protein could help treat diseases caused by orthopoxviruses such as smallpox. Full Text | PDF Inflammation Top IL-33 (NF-HEV) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.101 In vitro and mouse studies suggest inhibiting the cleavage products of IL-33 could help treat inflammatory diseases. Full Text | PDF Neurology Top β-Amyloid (Aβ); β-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.102 Mouse studies identified tannic acid as a BACE1 inhibitor that could help treat and prevent AD. Full Text | PDF Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.103 A study in mice identified aryloxanyl pyrazolone derivatives that inhibit mutant SOD1 and could help treat ALS. Full Text | PDF μ-Opioid receptor (OPRM1; MOR); corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1 (CRHR1; CRFR1) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.104 Studies in mice suggest antagonizing OPRM1 and/or CRHR1 could help treat a form of ASD caused by duplication of the methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2; RTT) gene. Full Text | PDF Not applicable doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.105 Mouse studies suggest bone marrow transplantation could help treat HD. Full Text | PDF μ-Opioid receptor (OPRM1; MOR) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.106 Rat studies suggest brief high-dose delivery of OPRM1 agonists could help treat some forms of pain. Full Text | PDF Sodium channels doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.107 Patient and mouse studies suggest inhibiting sodium channels could help prevent lethal cardiac arrhythmias in patients with Rett syndrome. Full Text | PDF Ophthalmic disease Top All-trans-retinal production doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.108 Studies in mice identified amine-containing FDA-approved compounds that could help treat dry AMD. Full Text | PDF Distillery: Techniques Chemistry Top Production of N-methylated macrocyclic peptide libraries doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.109 A method for producing libraries of N-methylated macrocyclic peptides displayed on mRNA could be used to identify compounds targeting protein-protein interactions. Full Text | PDF Drug platforms Top Chimpanzee adenovirus vectors for vaccine development doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.110 Human, primate and mouse studies suggest chimpanzee adenovirus vectors could be used in vaccines. Full Text | PDF Next-generation prime-boost HIV vaccine doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.111 A study in monkeys identified a prime and boost regimen that could be useful for vaccination against HIV infection. Full Text | PDF Imaging Top MRI detection of 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) to diagnosis and monitor isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1)-mutant gliomal tumors doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.112 Human and primary tumor studies suggest MRI could help diagnose and monitor treatment responses of IDH1-mutant gliomal tumors. Full Text | PDF Markers Top Hyperpolarized 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to predict tumors that will respond to anti-VEGF therapy doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.113 Mouse studies suggest hyperpolarized 13C MRS could help detect early tumor response to anti-VEGF therapy. Full Text | PDF You have been sent this Table of Contents Alert because you have opted in to receive it. You can change or discontinue your e-mail alerts at any time, by modifying your preferences on your nature.com account at: www.nature.com/myaccount (You will need to log in to be recognised as a nature.com registrant) For further technical assistance, please contact our registration department For print subscription enquiries, please contact our subscription department For other enquiries, please contact our customer feedback department Nature Publishing Group | 75 Varick Street, 9th Floor | New York | NY 10013-1917 | USA Nature Publishing Group's worldwide offices: London - Paris - Munich - New Delhi - Tokyo - Melbourne San Diego - San Francisco - Washington - New York - Boston Macmillan Publishers Limited is a company incorporated in England and Wales under company number 785998 and whose registered office is located at Brunel Road, Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS. © 2012 Nature Publishing Group, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited. All Rights Reserved.