SciBX: Science-Business eXchange Contents: March 15 2012, Volume 5 / Issue 11

TABLE OF CONTENTS March 15 2012, Volume 5 / Issue 11 Analysis Cover Story Translational Notes Targets and Mechanisms The Distillery: Therapeutics Autoimmune disease Cancer Endocrine/metabolic disease Infectious disease Inflammation Neurology Various The Distillery: Techniques Assays and screens Chemistry Disease models Drug platforms 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 Keeping up with the nanopores Tracey Baas doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.271 Speed and cost are the potential selling points for nanopore sequencing, but thus far speed has come at the cost of accuracy. Now, a team at UC Santa Cruz has discovered a way to improve the accuracy of nanopore sequencing while retaining its speed, and it has licensed the technology to Oxford Nanopore. Full Text | PDF Translational Notes Top One gap, two approaches Steve Edelson doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.272 Whereas most academic institutes tackle the translational gap by pushing their assets further along in hopes of attracting an industry partner, University Hospitals is taking the opposite approach by forming a company that will in-license projects. Full Text | PDF Targets and Mechanisms Top Antibodies not needed Lev Osherovich doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.273 Italian and American researchers have mouse data showing that the most important function of B cells in fighting some viral infections is not making antibodies but rather stimulating an innate immune response led by macrophages. The findings could point to new vaccine adjuvant strategies for rabies, West Nile and other viruses, assuming the mouse data translate into humans. Full Text | PDF Halofuginone target ID Joanne Kotz doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.274 A U.S.–South Korean team has identified the molecular target of the antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory small molecule halofuginone. The findings could help guide the design of next-generation analogs with improved pharmacological profiles and help select specific indications to pursue. Full Text | PDF Distillery: Therapeutics Autoimmune disease Top CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4; CD194) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.275 Mouse studies suggest inhibiting CCR4 on dendritic cells could help treat MS. Full Text | PDF Phosphodiesterase-7 (PDE-7) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.276 In vitro and mouse studies identified furan-derived compounds that could help treat MS. Full Text | PDF Cancer Top RAR-related orphan receptor A (RORA); semaphorin 3F (SEMA3F) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.277 Mouse and patient sample studies suggest increasing RORA signaling through SEMA3F could treat breast cancer. Full Text | PDF Not applicable doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.278 In vitro and mouse studies showed antiangiogenic compounds had the undesirable side effect of increasing proliferation of cancer stem cells (CSCs), suggesting antiangiogenic compounds should be combined with CSC-targeting molecules. Full Text | PDF Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3B); NF-κB; nuclear factor of κ light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells 2 p49/p100 (NFKB2; p52) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.279 In vitro and mouse studies suggest inhibiting GSK3B could help treat a subset of MM with constitutively active NF-κB signaling. Full Text | PDF Endocrine/metabolic disease Top Acetyl–coenzyme A carboxylase-β (ACACB; ACC2) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.280 Mouse studies suggest inhibiting ACC2 could help treat or prevent metabolic diseases. Full Text | PDF Cannabinoid CB1 receptor (CNR1) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.281 In vitro and rodent studies identified peripherally restricted CNR1 antagonists that could help treat metabolic diseases. Full Text | PDF Infectious disease Top Lymphotoxin-α (LTA); LTB (p33) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.282 Mouse studies suggest lymphotoxin could be used to stimulate the innate immune response against neurotropic viruses. Full Text | PDF Inflammation Top Integrin αvβ8 doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.283 Studies in mice suggest inhibiting integrin αvβ8 could help treat asthma. Full Text | PDF Neurology Top Not applicable doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.284 Studies in mice suggest compounds from Withania somnifera could help treat AD. Full Text | PDF AMPA 1 glutamate receptor (GRIA1; GLUR1); NMDA receptor NR1 subtype (GRIN1; NR1); proteasome doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.285 Rat studies suggest blocking glutamate receptor degradation could help prevent stress-induced cognitive impairment. Full Text | PDF CXC chemokine receptor 6 (CXCR6); chemokine CXC motif ligand 16 (CXCL16) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.286 Cell culture studies suggest agonizing CXCR6 could help prevent neuronal cell death. Full Text | PDF Purinergic receptor P2X ligand-gated ion channel 4 (P2RX4; P2X4) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.287 Mouse studies suggest inhibiting P2X4 could help improve recovery following SCI. Full Text | PDF Various Top IL-22 doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.288 Mouse studies suggest IL-22 could help improve thymic recovery following infection or immunodepletion. Full Text | PDF Distillery: Techniques Assays and screens Top Ex vivo microfluidic measurement of blood conductance to determine disease severity in patients with sickle cell disease doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.289 A microfluidic device that simulates vaso-occlusive events could help determine disease severity in patients with sickle cell disease, monitor disease progression and guide treatment. Full Text | PDF High throughput sequencing platform for small molecule cancer drug discovery doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.290 A high throughput sequencing platform could help discover small molecule cancer therapeutics. Full Text | PDF Probes for measuring the activity of multiple cancer-associated kinases in tissue lysates doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.291 Probes that can measure the activity of multiple kinases in tissue lysates could be used to identify new biomarkers and guide treatment in cancer. Full Text | PDF Single-cell, whole-genome sequencing of patient tumor samples doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.292 A protocol for whole-genome, single-cell sequencing could help identify new cancer markers and therapeutic targets. Full Text | PDF Chemistry Top Catalyst-based, site-selective oxidation of methyl carbons in hydroxy-γ-methyl or keto-γ-methyl structures for natural product synthesis doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.293 A catalyst specific for an oxygen-methyl structure could help streamline the synthesis of therapeutic saponins and other natural products. Full Text | PDF Disease models Top Mouse model of corticosterone-induced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.294 A mouse model of corticosterone-induced PTSD could guide the development of new therapies for the disorder. Full Text | PDF Drug platforms Top Crystal structure of dihydropteroate synthase bound to sulfonamide antibiotics doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.295 The crystal structure of dihydropteroate synthase bound to sulfonamide antibiotics could aid the discovery of new antibiotics that overcome known resistance mutations. Full Text | PDF Using sonic hedgehog homolog (SHH)-treated engineered blood vessels to improve bone formation doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.296 Mouse and in vitro studies suggest treating engineered blood vessels with SHH could help improve bone graft outcomes. Full Text | PDF Markers Top Methylation of ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) as a marker for breast cancer risk doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.297 Measuring DNA methylation of ATM in peripheral blood samples could help predict breast cancer risk. Full Text | PDF You have been sent this Table of Contents Alert because you have opted in to receive it. 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