SciBX: Science-Business eXchange Contents: October 20 2011, Volume 4 / Issue 41

TABLE OF CONTENTS October 20 2011, Volume 4 / Issue 41 Analysis Cover Story Translational Notes Targets and Mechanisms Tools The Distillery: Therapeutics Autoimmune disease Cancer Cardiovascular disease Endocrine/metabolic disease Infectious disease Inflammation Musculoskeletal disease Neurology Ophthalmic disease Transplantation Various The Distillery: Techniques Assays and screens Chemistry Computational models Disease models Drug delivery Drug platforms Markers Recommend to your library Web feed Available online only Subscribe 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 Focusing siRNA on the spleen Tracey Baas doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1134 Academic teams working with Alnylam have figured out how to target siRNAs to immune cells in the spleen. The therapeutics prevent the cells from migrating to tissues where they could cause immunopathologies such as myocardial infarction and atherosclerosis. Full Text | PDF Translational Notes Top Outside the box in Quebec Michael J. Haas doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1135 The pharma-led Quebec Consortium for Drug Discovery is providing C$1.2 million in funding for a quartet of projects that it hopes will apply unconventional, out-of-the-box thinking and lead to breakthrough research tools for the consortium's members. Full Text | PDF Targets and Mechanisms Top Factor H complements AMD Kai-Jye Lou doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1136 EU and U.S. researchers have revealed what could be the mechanistic underpinnings of the increased risk for age-related macular degeneration in individuals with a common polymorphism in the gene for complement factor H. Full Text | PDF Tools Top Mouse models of autism Lev Osherovich doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1137 U.S. researchers have engineered mice that model the mechanisms of three relatively common genetic causes of autism spectrum disorder, making it possible to undertake phenotypic screening for therapeutics. Behavioral and neurophysiological assays now are needed to relate the animal abnormalities to clinical disease. Full Text | PDF Distillery: Therapeutics Autoimmune disease Top TSC22 domain family member 3 (TSC22D3; GILZ); v-rel reticuloendotheliosis viral oncogene homolog A (RELA; p65) doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1138 Mouse studies identified a p65-binding, GILZ-derived peptide that could aid the development of new treatments for MS. Full Text | PDF Cancer Top Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR); kynurenine; tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO2; TDO) doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1139 Mouse and cell culture studies suggest blocking kynurenine signaling through AHR could help treat cancer. Full Text | PDF Apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like 3G (APOBEC3G) doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1140 Mouse and cell culture studies suggest inhibiting APOBEC3G could help prevent liver metastasis in colorectal cancer. Full Text | PDF Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF); hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF1) doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1141 Patient sample and mouse studies suggest inhibiting prolyl hydroxylases could help treat metastatic melanoma. Full Text | PDF Cardiovascular disease Top Cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (CAMP; LL37) doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1142 Mouse studies suggest LL37-coated stents could promote vascular healing after atherosclerosis therapy. Full Text | PDF Endonuclease G (ENDOG) doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1143 A study in mice suggests agonizing ENDOG could help prevent heart failure. Full Text | PDF Endocrine/metabolic disease Top Galectin-12 (LGALS12; GAL12) doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1144 Mouse studies suggest antagonizing LGALS12 could help treat type 2 diabetes. Full Text | PDF Syntaxin binding protein 5 like (STXBP5L) doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1145 Mouse and in vitro studies suggest STXBP5L could contribute to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Full Text | PDF Infectious disease Top Chlamydia protease-like activity factor (cpaf) doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1146 In vitro studies suggest inhibiting cpaf could help treat Chlamydia infections. Full Text | PDF Influenza A virus neuraminidase (NA) doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1147 In vitro studies identified two phosphonate-based compounds that could help treat drug-resistant influenza virus infections. Full Text | PDF Inflammation Top CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2; CD192) doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1148 Mouse studies suggest nanoparticles loaded with CCR2-targeting small interfering RNA could help treat diseases associated with inflammation. Full Text | PDF Musculoskeletal disease Top FYVE, RhoGEF and PH domain containing 1 (FGD1); mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 11 (MAP3K11; MLK3) doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1149 Studies in mice and in patient samples suggest modulating MLK3 could help treat skeletal defects in Aarskog-Scott syndrome, an X-linked genetic disorder caused by mutations in FGD1. Full Text | PDF Neurology Top Chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9ORF72) doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1150 Genetic studies identified a repeat expansion in C9ORF72 that is associated with familial frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and ALS, and could help predict risk for the diseases. Full Text | PDF Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1; VR1) doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1151 In vitro studies identified a class of TRPV1 antagonists that could help treat pain. Full Text | PDF Adrenergic receptors; CD1D doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1152 A study in mice suggests antagonizing adrenergic receptors could reduce bacterial infection after stroke. Full Text | PDF Prostaglandin E2 receptor EP4 subtype (prostanoid EP4 receptor; PTGER4) doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1153 Mouse studies suggest agonizing PTGER4 could improve recovery after stroke. Full Text | PDF Ophthalmic disease Top Complement factor H (CFH); malondialdehyde (MDA) doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1154 Mouse and in vitro studies suggest increasing CFH binding to MDA could help treat and prevent AMD. Full Text | PDF Transplantation Top Not applicable doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1155 Studies in mice suggest characterizing circadian clock function in organs and tissues for transplant could help improve grafting outcomes. Full Text | PDF Various Top Casein kinase 1δ (CSNK1D; CKI-δ) doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1156 A small molecule inhibitor of CKI-δ that prolongs circadian rhythms could help guide drug development for diseases driven by circadian disruption. Full Text | PDF Distillery: Techniques Assays and screens Top Proteomic method to identify heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90)-interacting proteins as new therapeutic targets doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1157 A proteomic method for identifying proteins that interact with Hsp90 in cancer cells could help identify new therapeutic targets. Full Text | PDF Chemistry Top Fluoro hexitol nucleic acid–modified antisense oligonucleotide therapeutics doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1158 Mouse studies suggest oligonucleotides modified with 3′-fluoro hexitol nucleic acid (FHNA) could have less hepatotoxicity than locked nucleic acid (LNA)-based therapeutics. Full Text | PDF Computational models Top Population-specific expression analysis (PSEA) for biomarker identification doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1159 An algorithm to analyze cell population–specific gene expression could enable the discovery of biomarkers and targets. Full Text | PDF Disease models Top Mouse model for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1160 A transgenic mouse model of ASD cases caused by deletion of the 16p11.2 chromosomal region could be useful for studying the disorder and evaluating potential therapies. Full Text | PDF Mouse model for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1161 Cntnap2 (contactin associated protein-like 2) knockout mice could be useful models for ASD. Full Text | PDF Drug delivery Top Lipid nanoparticle formulations for spleen-specific delivery of small interfering RNA to macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1162 Mouse studies suggest large lipid nanoparticles could be used for spleen-specific delivery of siRNA to macrophages and DCs. Full Text | PDF Drug platforms Top Engineered biosynthesis of new kanamycin analogs and intermediates doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1163 Genetically engineered fungi that synthesize kanamycin could aid the discovery of new antibiotics. Full Text | PDF Markers Top Truncated neurokinin 1 substance P receptor (TACR1) as a marker for colorectal cancer doi:10.1038/scibx.2011.1164 A study in patient samples suggests a truncated form of TACR1 could be a biomarker for colorectal cancer. Full Text | PDF You have been sent this Table of Contents Alert because you have opted in to receive it. 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