Zhang Lab

TJMCOAA BBS

2007-01-10T11:30:00.000-08:00

The BBS (forum) of Tongji Medical College Oversea Alumni Association (TJMCOAA) has been establish.

The link is bbs.tongjioversea.org

CANCER STEM CELLS 12/10/06

2006-12-10T11:52:00.000-08:00

Piccirillo SG, Reynolds BA, Zanetti N, Lamorte G, Binda E, Broggi G, Brem H, Olivi A, Dimeco F, Vescovi AL.
Bone morphogenetic proteins inhibit the tumorigenic potential of human brain tumour-initiating cells. [ABSTRACT]
Nature. 2006 Dec 7;444(7120):761-765.

Dirks PB.
Cancer: Stem cells and brain tumours. [ABSTRACT]
Nature. 2006 Dec 7;444(7120):687-688. No abstract available.

Alcaraz WA, Gold DA, Raponi E, Gent PM, Concepcion D, Hamilton BA.
Zfp423 controls proliferation and differentiation of neural precursors in cerebellar vermis formation. [ABSTRACT]
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Dec 6; [Epub ahead of print]

Chaichana K, Zamora-Berridi G, Camara-Quintana J, Quinones-Hinojosa A.
Neurosphere assays: growth factors and hormone differences in tumor and nontumor studies. [ABSTRACT]
Stem Cells. 2006 Dec;24(12):2851-7. Epub 2006 Aug 31.

Menendez P, Bueno C, Wang L.
Human embryonic stem cells: a journey beyond cell replacement therapies. [ABSTRACT]
Cytotherapy. 2006;8(6):530-41.

Chebotaev D, Yemelyanov A, Zhu L, Lavker RM, Budunova I.
The tumor suppressor effect of the glucocorticoid receptor in skin is mediated via its effect on follicular epithelial stem cells. [ABSTRACT]
Oncogene. 2006 Dec 4; [Epub ahead of print]

Choudhury AR, Ju Z, Djojosubroto MW, Schienke A, Lechel A, Schaetzlein S, Jiang H, Stepczynska A, Wang C, Buer J, Lee HW, von Zglinicki T, Ganser A, Schirmacher P, Nakauchi H, Rudolph KL.
Cdkn1a deletion improves stem cell function and lifespan of mice with dysfunctional telomeres without accelerating cancer formation. [ABSTRACT]
Nat Genet. 2006 Dec 3; [Epub ahead of print]

Klein WM, Wu BP, Zhao S, Wu H, Klein-Szanto AJ, Tahan SR.
Increased expression of stem cell markers in malignant melanoma. [ABSTRACT]
Mod Pathol. 2006 Nov 24; [Epub ahead of print]

Rao MS, Reddy JK.
Pancreatic stem cells: differentiation options. [ABSTRACT]
Stem Cell Rev. 2005 Sep;1(3):265-72.

Shupe T, Petersen BE.
Evidence regarding a stem cell origin of hepatocellular carcinoma. [ABSTRACT]
Stem Cell Rev. 2005 Sep;1(3):261-4.

Alison MR.
Liver stem cells: implications for hepatocarcinogenesis. [ABSTRACT]
Stem Cell Rev. 2005 Sep;1(3):253-60.

Gostjeva EV, Thilly WG.
Stem cell stages and the origins of colon cancer: a multidisciplinary perspective. [ABSTRACT]
Stem Cell Rev. 2005 Sep;1(3):243-52.

Smith GH.
Stem cells and mammary cancer in mice. [ABSTRACT]
Stem Cell Rev. 2005 Sep;1(3):215-24.

Passegue E, Weisman IL.
Leukemic stem cells: where do they come from? [ABSTRACT]
Stem Cell Rev. 2005 Sep;1(3):181-8.

Liu G, Yuan X, Zeng Z, Tunici P, Ng H, Abdulkadir IR, Lu L, Irvin D, Black KL, Yu JS.
Analysis of gene expression and chemoresistance of CD133+ cancer stem cells in glioblastoma. [ABSTRACT]
Mol Cancer. 2006 Dec 2;5(1):67 [Epub ahead of print]

PANCREATIC CANCER 12/10/06

2006-12-10T11:49:00.000-08:00

Lee EJ, Gusev Y, Jiang J, Nuovo GJ, Lerner MR, Frankel WL, Morgan DL, Postier RG, Brackett J, Schmittgen TD. [ABSTRACT]
Expression profiling identifies microRNA signature in pancreatic cancer. Int J Cancer. 2006 Dec 5; [Epub ahead of print]

Dragovich T, Huberman M, Von Hoff DD, Rowinsky EK, Nadler P, Wood D, Hamilton M, Hage G, Wolf J, Patnaik A. [ABSTRACT]
Erlotinib plus gemcitabine in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer and other solid tumors: phase IB trial.
Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2006 Dec 6; [Epub ahead of print]

Mudali SV, Fu B, Lakkur SS, Luo M, Embuscado EE, Iacobuzio-Donahue CA.[ABSTRACT]
Patterns of EphA2 protein expression in primary and metastatic pancreatic carcinoma and correlation with genetic status.
Clin Exp Metastasis. 2006 Dec 5; [Epub ahead of print]

Bianco C, Giovannetti E, Ciardiello F, Mey V, Nannizzi S, Tortora G, Troiani T, Pasqualetti F, Eckhardt G, de Liguoro M, Ricciardi S, Del Tacca M, Raben D, Cionini L, Danesi R.[ABSTRACT]
Synergistic Antitumor Activity of ZD6474, An Inhibitor of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Signaling, with Gemcitabine and Ionizing Radiation against Pancreatic Cancer.
Clin Cancer Res. 2006 Dec 1;12(23):7099-107.

Rao MS, Reddy JK. [ABSTRACT]
Pancreatic stem cells: differentiation options.
Stem Cell Rev. 2005 Sep;1(3):265-72.

Chu CS, Xue B, Tu C, Feng ZH, Shi YH, Miao Y, Wen CJ.[ABSTRACT]
NRAGE suppresses metastasis of melanoma and pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo.
Cancer Lett. 2006 Nov 29; [Epub ahead of print]

JCP 08 2006

2006-08-03T16:18:00.000-07:00

CONTENT

REVIEW
Best practice in primary care pathology: review 3
W S A Smellie, J Forth, D Bareford, P Twomey, M J Galloway, E C M Logan, S R S Smart, T M Reynolds, and C WaineJ Clin Pathol 2006; 59: 781-789. [Abstract]

Immunohistochemical markers of prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer: a review and proposal for a multiphase approach to marker evaluation
C-Q Zhu, W Shih, C-H Ling, and M-S TsaoJ Clin Pathol 2006; 59: 790-800. doi:10.1136/jcp.2005.031351 [Abstract]

MY APPROACH
My approach to the interpretation of endometrial biopsies and curettings
W G McCluggageJ Clin Pathol 2006; 59: 801-812. [Abstract]

Lymphoproliferative lesions of the skin
L CerroniJ Clin Pathol 2006; 59: 813-826. [Abstract]

PAPER
The Warwick system of prospective workload allocation in cellular pathology—an aid to subspecialisation: a comparison with the Royal College of Pathologists’ system
R A Carr, D S A Sanders, O P Stores, F A Smew, M E Parkes, V Ross-Gilbertson, N Chachlani, and J SimonJ Clin Pathol 2006; 59: 835-839. [Abstract]

Nat Biotech Jun 06

2006-06-19T19:23:00.000-07:00

CONTENT

COMMENTRARY
Sense about stem cells p623 Charles G Jenningsdoi:10.1038/nbt0606-623 [Full text]

The patentability of human embryonic stem cells in Europe pp653 - 655 Gerard Porter, Chris Denning, Aurora Plomer, John Sinden & Paul Torremansdoi:10.1038/nbt0606-653 [Abstract] [Full text]

Single-cell genomics pp657 - 658 Clyde A Hutchison III & J Craig Venterdoi:10.1038/nbt0606-657 [Abstract] [Full text]

The germ of pluripotency pp663 - 664 Mito Kanatsu-Shinohara & Takashi Shinoharadoi:10.1038/nbt0606-663 [Abstract] [Full text]

PAPERS
Sequencing genomes from single cells by polymerase cloning pp680 - 686 Kun Zhang, Adam C Martiny, Nikos B Reppas, Kerrie W Barry, Joel Malek, Sallie W Chisholm & George M ChurchPublished online: 28 May 2006 doi:10.1038/nbt1214 [Abstract] [Full text]

Hematopoietic stem cell gene transfer in a tumor-prone mouse model uncovers low genotoxicity of lentiviral vector integration pp687 - 696 Eugenio Montini, Daniela Cesana, Manfred Schmidt, Francesca Sanvito, Maurilio Ponzoni, Cynthia Bartholomae, Lucia Sergi Sergi, Fabrizio Benedicenti, Alessandro Ambrosi, Clelia Di Serio, Claudio Doglioni, Christof von Kalle & Luigi NaldiniPublished online: 28 May 2006 doi:10.1038/nbt1216 [Abstract] [Full text]

Am J Path jun 06

2006-06-01T08:24:00.000-07:00

CONTENT
COMMENTRARY
Eric P. Hoffman and Diana Escolar
Translating Mighty Mice into Neuromuscular Therapeutics: Is Bigger Muscle Better? Am J Pathol 2006 168: 1775-1778. [Full Text]

PAPERS
Hong Yu, Dong Fang, Suresh M. Kumar, Ling Li, Thiennga K. Nguyen, Geza Acs, Meenhard Herlyn, and Xiaowei Xu
Isolation of a Novel Population of Multipotent Adult Stem Cells from Human Hair Follicles Am J Pathol 2006 168: 1879-1888. [Abstract]

Tianhong Li, Federica Sotgia, Magalis A. Vuolo, Maomi Li, Wan Cai Yang, Richard G. Pestell, Joseph A. Sparano, and Michael P. Lisanti
Caveolin-1 Mutations in Human Breast Cancer: Functional Association with Estrogen Receptor -Positive Status Am J Pathol 2006 168: 1998-2013. [Abstract]

Easwar Natarajan, John D. Omobono, II, Zongyou Guo, Susan Hopkinson, Alexander J.F. Lazar, Thomas Brenn, Jonathan C. Jones, and James G. Rheinwald
A Keratinocyte Hypermotility/Growth-Arrest Response Involving Laminin 5 and p16INK4A Activated in Wound Healing and Senescence Am J Pathol 2006 168: 1821-1837. [Abstract]

Joseph John Bianco, Stephen John McPherson, Hong Wang, Gail S. Prins, and Gail Petuna Risbridger
Transient Neonatal Estrogen Exposure to Estrogen-Deficient Mice (Aromatase Knockout) Reduces Prostate Weight and Induces Inflammation in Late Life Am J Pathol 2006 168: 1869-1878. [Abstract]

Mod Path jun 06

2006-05-29T08:35:00.000-07:00

CONTENT

PAPERS
Telomere length variation in biliary tract metaplasia, dysplasia, and carcinoma
Donna E Hansel, Alan K Meeker, Jessica Hicks, Angelo M De Marzo, Keith D Lillemoe, Richard Schulick, Ralph H Hruban, Anirban Maitra & Pedram ArganiMod Pathol 2006; 19 6: 772-779doi:10.1038/modpathol.3800591 Abstract

Potential crosstalk between insulin-like growth factor receptor type 1 and epidermal growth factor receptor in progression and metastasis of pancreatic cancer
Shigeto Ueda, Kazuo Hatsuse, Hitoshi Tsuda, Sho Ogata, Nobuaki Kawarabayashi, Toshimichi Takigawa, Takahiro Einama, Daisaku Morita, Kazuhiko Fukatsu, Yoshiaki Sugiura, Osamu Matsubara & Hidetaka MochizukiMod Pathol 2006; 19 6: 788-796doi:10.1038/modpathol.3800582Abstract

Cellular retinol binding protein-1 expression in endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma: diagnostic and possible therapeutic implications
Augusto Orlandi, Amedeo Ferlosio, Alessandro Ciucci, Arianna Francesconi, Beatriz Lifschitz-Mercer, Giulio Gabbiani, Luigi G Spagnoli & Bernard CzernobilskyMod Pathol 2006; 19 6: 797-803doi:10.1038/modpathol.3800586Abstract

The usefulness of cytogenetic analysis in fine needle aspirates for the histologic subtyping of sarcomas
Scott E Kilpatrick, Simon Bergman, Mark J Pettenati & Margaret L GulleyMod Pathol 2006; 19 6: 815-819doi:10.1038/modpathol.3800598Abstract

Stem cells: Good, bad and reformable

2006-05-25T20:25:00.000-07:00

Viktor Janzen and David T. Scadden
Nature 441, 418-419 (25 May 2006) doi:10.1038/441418b; Published online 24 May 2006
Yilmaz et al. (page 475) and Zhang et al. (page 518)

The ability of stem cells to continuously supply vast numbers of cells is magnificent, but it can be devastating if it runs amok, as in some tumours. So what makes a normal stem cell turn bad, and can it be redeemed?

The stem cell is a bit like the griffin of mythology — half lion, half eagle; grand and powerful, but potentially monstrous in effect. These essentially unspecialized cells can renew their own population while supplying cells that mature (differentiate) into the specialized cells necessary for all tissues. Although this ability to reproduce and self-renew is sublime when functioning properly, its disorder creates masses of dysfunctional replicating cells. Indeed, stem-cell-like cells have been found in a range of human tumours. Not all cancer is due to a stem cell gone bad, but some cancer-initiating cells are probably stem cells, and the rest acquire the stem-cell feature of self-renewal. This raises the troubling spectre that normal stem cells and cancer stem cells might share the molecular features essential to their nature. So attempting to treat cancer by disrupting the functions of the cancer stem cells might also disturb normal stem cells — potentially fatally.

J Path 209-2

2006-05-24T17:56:00.000-07:00

CONTENT

REVIEW
Trypsin in colorectal cancer: molecular biological mechanisms of proliferation, invasion, and metastasis (p 147-156) K Soreide, EA Janssen, H Körner, JPA Baak Published Online: 11 May 2006 DOI: 10.1002/path.1999 [Abstract]

PAPERS
Cardiac myxoma cells exhibit embryonic endocardial stem cell features (p 231-239) A Orlandi, A Ciucci, A Ferlosio, R Genta, LG Spagnoli, G Gabbiani Published Online: 28 Feb 2006 DOI: 10.1002/path.1959 [Abstract]

PTEN gene loss, but not mutation, in benign and malignant phaeochromocytomas (p 274-280) FH van Nederveen, A Perren, H Dannenberg, B-J Petri, WNM Dinjens, P Komminoth, RR de Krijger Published Online: 14 Mar 2006 DOI: 10.1002/path.1968 [Abstract]

Expression and regulation of human -defensin-2 in osteoarthritic cartilage (p 166-173) D Varoga, FP Paulsen, S Kohrs, S Grohmann, S Lippross, R Mentlein, BN Tillmann, MB Goldring, L Besch, T Pufe Published Online: 19 Apr 2006 DOI: 10.1002/path.1974 [Abstract]

Altered bone morphogenetic protein signalling in the Helicobacter pylori-infected stomach (p 190-197) SA Bleuming, LL Kodach, MJ Garcia Leon, DJ Richel, MP Peppelenbosch, PH Reitsma, JC Hardwick, GR van den Brink Published Online: 21 Mar 2006 DOI: 10.1002/path.1976 [Abstract]

Expression of drug pathway proteins is independent of tumour type (p 213-219) W Zhang, WD Shannon, J Duncan, GL Scheffer, RJ Scheper, HL McLeod Published Online: 28 Feb 2006 DOI: 10.1002/path.1955 [Abstract]

JNCI 98-10

2006-05-23T12:43:00.000-07:00

CONTENT

REVIEW/ED
Pack up Your Breast Tumor—and Grow! J Natl Cancer Inst 2006; 98: 657-659. V. Craig JordanPak [Extract]

Caring for Older Women With Breast Cancer: Can Observational Research Fill the Clinical Trial Gap? J Natl Cancer Inst 2006; 98: 660-661. Bruce E. Hillner and Jeanne Mandelblatt[Extract]

PAPERS
Caroline Holm, Suresh Rayala, Karin Jirström, Olle Stål, Rakesh Kumar, and Göran Landberg Association Between Pak1 Expression and Subcellular Localization and Tamoxifen Resistance in Breast Cancer Patients J Natl Cancer Inst 2006; 98: 671-680. [Abstract]

Benjamin D. Smith, Cary P. Gross, Grace L. Smith, Deron H. Galusha, Justin E. Bekelman, and Bruce G. Haffty Effectiveness of Radiation Therapy for Older Women With Early Breast Cancer J Natl Cancer Inst 2006; 98: 681-690. [Abstract]

Michael J. Thun, S. Jane Henley, David Burns, Ahmedin Jemal, Thomas G. Shanks, and Eugenia E. Calle Lung Cancer Death Rates in Lifelong Nonsmokers J Natl Cancer Inst 2006; 98: 691-699. [Abstract]

Jane A. Cauley, Anne McTiernan, Rebecca J. Rodabough, Andrea LaCroix, Douglas C. Bauer, Karen L. Margolis, Electra D. Paskett, Mara Z. Vitolins, Curt D. Furberg, and Rowan T. Chlebowski Statin Use and Breast Cancer: Prospective Results From the Women's Health Initiative J Natl Cancer Inst 2006; 98: 700-707. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]OPEN ACCESS ARTICLE

Cell may 2006

2006-05-23T12:39:00.000-07:00

CONTENT

Only one review of my interest.
The Exosome and the Proteasome: Nano-Compartments for Degradation
Esben Lorentzen and Elena Conti[Summary]

Cancer Cell May 2006

2006-05-17T17:09:00.000-07:00

Cancer Cell May 2006 CONTENT

REVIEW
The challenges of gene expression microarrays for the study of human cancer Anna V. Tinker, Alex Boussioutas, and David D.L. Bowtell[Summary]

PAPERS
Ewing's sarcoma: General insights from a rare model Sean Davis and Paul S. Meltzer[Summary]
See also
Expression profiling of EWS/FLI identifies NKX2.2 as a critical target gene in Ewing's sarcoma Richard Smith, Leah A. Owen, Deborah J. Trem, Jenny S. Wong, Jennifer S. Whangbo, Todd R. Golub, and Stephen L. Lessnick[Summary]

PTENs
NKX3.1 stabilizes p53, inhibits AKT activation, and blocks prostate cancer initiation caused by PTEN loss Qunying Lei, Jing Jiao, Li Xin, Chun-Ju Chang, Shunyou Wang, Jing Gao, Martin E. Gleave, Owen N. Witte, Xin Liu, and Hong Wu[Summary]
The PTEN and INK4A/ARF tumor suppressors maintain myelolymphoid homeostasis and cooperate to constrain histiocytic sarcoma development in humans Daniel R. Carrasco, Tim Fenton, Kumar Sukhdeo, Marina Protopopova, Miriam Enos, Mingjian J. You, Dolores Divicio, Cristina Nogueira, Jayne Stommel, Geraldine S. Pinkus, Christopher Fletcher, Jason L. Hornick, Webster K. Cavenee, Frank B. Furnari, and Ronald A. DePinho[Summary]

First Atkins Professor at Univ of Mich

2006-05-17T17:07:00.000-07:00

University of Michigan Medical School obesity researcher named as U-M’s first Atkins Professor

$2 million gift from Atkins Foundation will fund metabolism research
U-M one of only seven universities receiving Atkins chairs

For more information, please visit University of Michigan News Releases.

Am J Path May 2006

2006-05-08T09:30:00.000-07:00

CONTENT

REVIEW
Cancer Interaction with the Bone Microenvironment: A Workshop of the National Institutes of Health Tumor Microenvironment Study Section Michael L. Cher, Dwight A. Towler, Shahin Rafii, David Rowley, Henry J. Donahue, Evan Keller, Meenhard Herlyn, Eun Ah Cho, and Leland W.K. Chung Am J Pathol 2006;168 1405-1412 [abstract]

PAPER
Glen Roseborough, Daqing Gao, Lei Chen, Michael A. Trush, Shaoyu Zhou, G. Melville Williams, and Chiming Wei The Mitochondrial K-ATP Channel Opener, Diazoxide, Prevents Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in the Rabbit Spinal Cord Am J Pathol 2006 168: 1443-1451. [Abstract]

Jing-Lin Xia, Chunsun Dai, George K. Michalopoulos, and Youhua Liu Hepatocyte Growth Factor Attenuates Liver Fibrosis Induced by Bile Duct Ligation Am J Pathol 2006 168: 1500-1512. [Abstract]

Monika Kasprzycka, Miroslaw Majewski, Zhi-Jong Wang, Andrzej Ptasznik, Maria Wysocka, Qian Zhang, Michal Marzec, Phyllis Gimotty, Mark R. Crompton, and Mariusz A. Wasik Expression and Oncogenic Role of Brk (PTK6/Sik) Protein Tyrosine Kinase in LymphocytesAm J Pathol 2006 168: 1631-1641. [Abstract]

Mariana Rodríguez Zubieta, David Furman, Marcela Barrio, Alicia Inés Bravo, Enzo Domenichini, and José Mordoh Galectin-3 Expression Correlates with Apoptosis of Tumor-Associated Lymphocytes in Human Melanoma Biopsies Am J Pathol 2006 168: 1666-1675. [Abstract]

CA Stem cell inst gets OK

2006-04-28T17:06:00.000-07:00

The $3 billion California initiative for funding stem cell research got ok from California court. But the plaintiffs plan to appeal, another year wait may be necessary. The executives and scientists are extremely happy for the new anyway.

See more news coverage at Science, and MediacalNewsToday.

BW undergrad B-school ranking 2006

2006-04-28T17:00:00.000-07:00

Businessweek just cooked out their inaugural ranking list of Best undergrad B-schools. Interestingly, I found no Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Brown, or Dartmouth in the list. My guess would be that those Ivy League schools do not have a so-called undergrad business degree for undergrads, rather just a major in business. At Michigan, only select sophomores could grasp a BBA degree beared big M through 2 year study at Ross B School.

Cell Apr 21 2006

2006-04-21T07:04:00.000-07:00

Cell Apr 21, 2006

Pten, Tumorigenesis, and Stem Cell Self-Renewal Derrick J. Rossi and Irving L. Weissman 229

Searching Chromatin for Stem Cell Identity. Michael Buszczak and Allan C. Spradling REVIEW 233

Control of Developmental Regulators by Polycomb in Human Embryonic Stem Cells Tong Ihn Lee, Richard G. Jenner, Laurie A. Boyer, Matthew G. Guenther, Stuart S. Levine, Roshan M. Kumar, Brett Chevalier, Sarah E. Johnstone, Megan F. Cole, Kyo-ichi Isono, Haruhiko Koseki, Takuya Fuchikami, Kuniya Abe, Heather L. Murray, Jacob P. Zucker, Bingbing Yuan, George W. Bell, Elizabeth Herbolsheimer, Nancy M. Hannett, Kaiming Sun, Duncan T. Odom, Arie P. Otte, Thomas L. Volkert, David P. Bartel, Douglas A. Melton, David K. Gifford, Rudolf Jaenisch, and Richard A. Young 301

A Bivalent Chromatin Structure Marks Key Developmental Genes in Embryonic Stem Cells Bradley E. Bernstein, Tarjei S. Mikkelsen, Xiaohui Xie, Michael Kamal, Dana J. Huebert, James Cuff, Ben Fry, Alex Meissner, Marius Wernig, Kathrin Plath, Rudolf Jaenisch, Alexandre Wagschal, Robert Feil, Stuart L. Schreiber, and Eric S. Lander 315

Cancer Research

2006-04-17T19:36:00.000-07:00

Cancer Research
Vol 66, issue 8 , Apr 2006

Meeting Report: Antiangiogenesis and Drug Delivery to Tumors: Bench to Bedside and Back Dan G. Duda Cancer Res 2006 66: 3967-3970

KRAS Mutation Status Is Predictive of Response to Cetuximab Therapy in Colorectal Cancer Astrid Lièvre, Jean-Baptiste Bachet, Delphine Le Corre, Valérie Boige, Bruno Landi, Jean-François Emile, Jean-François Côté, Gorana Tomasic, Christophe Penna, Michel Ducreux, Philippe Rougier, Frédérique Penault-Llorca, and Pierre Laurent-Puig Cancer Res 2006 66: 3992-3995

Id1 Transcription Inhibitor–Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 Axis Enhances Invasiveness of the Breakpoint Cluster Region/Abelson Tyrosine Kinase–Transformed Leukemia CellsMargaret Nieborowska-Skorska, Grazyna Hoser, Lori Rink, Maciej Malecki, Plamen Kossev, Mariusz A. Wasik, and Tomasz Skorski Cancer Res 2006 66: 4108-4116

Multiple Adaptive Mechanisms to Chronic Liver Disease Revealed at Early Stages of Liver Carcinogenesis in the Mdr2-Knockout Mice Mark Katzenellenbogen, Orit Pappo, Hila Barash, Naama Klopstock, Lina Mizrahi, Devorah Olam, Jasmine Jacob-Hirsch, Ninette Amariglio, Gidi Rechavi, Leslie Ann Mitchell, Ron Kohen, Eytan Domany, Eithan Galun, and Daniel Goldenberg Cancer Res 2006 66: 4001-4010

Two-Dimensional Transcriptome Profiling: Identification of Messenger RNA Isoform Signatures in Prostate Cancer from Archived Paraffin-Embedded Cancer Specimens Hai-Ri Li, Jessica Wang-Rodriguez, T. Murlidharan Nair, Joanne M. Yeakley, Young-Soo Kwon, Marina Bibikova, Christina Zheng, Lixin Zhou, Kui Zhang, Tracy Downs, Xiang-Dong Fu, and Jian-Bing Fan Cancer Res 2006 66: 4079-4088.

Targeting Oncogenes to Improve Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Laura A. Christensen, Rick A. Finch, Adam J. Booker, and Karen M. Vasquez Cancer Res 2006 66: 4089-4094.

The Kinase Mirk/Dyrk1B Mediates Cell Survival in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Xiaobing Deng, Daina Z. Ewton, Sheena Li, Asghar Naqvi, Stephen E. Mercer, Steve Landas, and Eileen Friedman Cancer Res 2006 66: 4149-4158.

Development of Real-time Subcellular Dynamic Multicolor Imaging of Cancer-Cell Trafficking in Live Mice with a Variable-Magnification Whole-Mouse Imaging System Kensuke Yamauchi, Meng Yang, Ping Jiang, Mingxu Xu, Norio Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Tsuchiya, Katsuro Tomita, Abdool R. Moossa, Michael Bouvet, and Robert M. Hoffman Cancer Res 2006 66: 4208-4214.

Tumor Imaging Using a Picomolar Affinity HER2 Binding Affibody Molecule Anna Orlova, Mikaela Magnusson, Tove L.J. Eriksson, Martin Nilsson, Barbro Larsson, Ingmarie Höidén-Guthenberg, Charles Widström, Jörgen Carlsson, Vladimir Tolmachev, Stefan Ståhl, and Fredrik Y. Nilsson Cancer Res 2006 66: 4339-4348.

Characterization of a Novel Human Tumor Antigen Interleukin-13 Receptor 2 Chain Koji Kawakami, Masaki Terabe, Mariko Kawakami, Jay A. Berzofsky, and Raj K. Puri Cancer Res 2006 66: 4434-4442.

Technology transfer office

2006-04-12T19:33:00.000-07:00

More than the money Top of pageAbstractTechnology-transfer offices are learning from their mistakes. So should the academics that they serve. Nature 440, 845-846 (13 April 2006) | doi:10.1038/440845b

University challenge. Cambridge is revamping its approach to technology transfer — but will it work? Colin Macilwain reports. Nature 440, 867 (13 April 2006) doi:10.1038/440867a

Development May 2006

2006-04-12T19:23:00.000-07:00

CONTENT

Wellington V. Cardoso and Jining Lü. Regulation of early lung morphogenesis: questions, facts and controversies Development 2006 133: 1611-1624. REVIEW

Marie A. Breau, Thomas Pietri, Olivier Eder, Martine Blanche, Cord Brakebusch, Reinhardt Fässler, Jean P. Thiery, and Sylvie Dufour. Lack of ß1 integrins in enteric neural crest cells leads to a Hirschsprung-like phenotype . Development 2006 133: 1725-1734.

Elaine E. Storm, Sonia Garel, Ugo Borello, Jean M. Hebert, Salvador Martinez, Susan K. McConnell, Gail R. Martin, and John L. R. Rubenstein. Dose-dependent functions of Fgf8 in regulating telencephalic patterning centers Development 2006 133: 1831-1844.

Reversal of Diabetes in Non-Obese Diabetic Mice

2006-04-07T10:05:00.000-07:00

Recently, a series of papers showed Reversal of Diabetes in Non-Obese Diabetic Mice without beta cell regeneration derived from spleen-cell or hematopoietic cells.

Chong AS, Shen J, Tao J, Yin D, Kuznetsov A, Hara M, Philipson LH. Reversal of diabetes in non-obese diabetic mice without spleen cell-derived beta cell regeneration. Science. 2006 Mar 24;311(5768):1774-5.
PMID: 16556844 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Nishio J, Gaglia JL, Turvey SE, Campbell C, Benoist C, Mathis D. Islet recovery and reversal of murine type 1 diabetes in the absence of any infused spleen cell contribution. Science. 2006 Mar 24;311(5768):1775-8.
PMID: 16556845 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Suri A, Calderon B, Esparza TJ, Frederick K, Bittner P, Unanue ER. Immunological reversal of autoimmune diabetes without hematopoietic replacement of beta cells. Science. 2006 Mar 24;311(5768):1778-80.
PMID: 16556846 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Kodama S, Kuhtreiber W, Fujimura S, Dale EA, Faustman DL. Islet regeneration during the reversal of autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice.Science. 2003 Nov 14;302(5648):1223-7.
PMID: 14615542 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Stem cell update

2006-03-31T19:53:00.000-08:00

Chromatin signatures of pluripotent cell lines.Azuara V, Perry P, Sauer S, Spivakov M, Jorgensen HF, John RM, Gouti M, Casanova M, Warnes G, Merkenschlager M, Fisher AG. Nat Cell Biol. 2006 Mar 29; [Epub ahead of print]

Enhanced purification of fetal liver hematopoietic stem cells using SLAM family receptors. Kim I, He S, Yilmaz OH, Kiel MJ, Morrison SJ. Blood. 2006 Mar 28; [Epub ahead of print]
As low as 1 HSC of fetal liver was transplanted. One out of 7.7 transplants (13%), CD48-Sca1+Lin-Mac1+ (SLM) fetal live cells gave rise to long-term multilineage reconstitution in irradiated mice, while 1 out of every 8.9 (11%) CD48-Thy(low)Sca-1(+)lineage-Mac-1(+) fetal liver cells do so. With addition of CD150, CD150+CD48-SLM cells give rise to long-term multilineage reconstitution at frequency of 30-42%. Fetal liver HSC were also found in CD41- and CD244- population. SLAM family receptors CD150, CD244, and CD48 are therefore shown enrichment markers for fetal liver HSC. The authors also emphasized the role of SLAM family receptors in distinguishing "progenitors at different stages of the hematopoiesis hierarchy and enhance the purification of definitive HSCs from diverse contexts".
Interestingly, they were not detectably expressed by stem cells in the fetal or adult nervous system.
Reactive oxygen species act through p38 MAPK to limit the lifespan of hematopoietic stem cells. Ito K, Hirao A, Arai F, Takubo K, Matsuoka S, Miyamoto K, Ohmura M, Naka K, Hosokawa K, Ikeda Y, Suda T. Nat Med. 2006 Mar 26; [Epub ahead of print]
In vitro germline potential of stem cells derived from fetal porcine skin. Dyce PW, Wen L, Li J. Nat Cell Biol. 2006 Mar 26; [Epub ahead of print]

Pay too much tax?

2006-03-29T17:03:00.000-08:00

It's been known that postdoc awardee of National Research Service Awards (NRSAs) receive their payments as fellowship, subject to tax exempt. However, many universities erroneously collect social security tax on them. So take a closer look at your W2! Do you overpay your tax?

Nature career has more story about it.

Nat Genet Jun

2006-03-29T09:48:00.000-08:00

Content

Adler AS, M Lin, H Horlings, DSA Nuyten, MJ van de Vijver, HY Chang. (2006) Genetic regulators of large-scale transcriptional signatures in cancer. Nat Genet 38 (4): 421-430
By Chang group

Kissler S, P Stern, K Takahashi, K Hunter, LB Peterson, LS Wicker. (2006) In vivo RNA interference demonstrates a role for Nramp1 in modifying susceptibility to type 1 diabetes. Nat Genet 38 (4): 479-483
By Kissler group

Loh Y-H, Q Wu, J-L Chew, VB Vega, W Zhang, X Chen, G Bourque, J George, B Leong, J Liu, K-Y Wong, KW Sung, CWH Lee, X-D Zhao, K-P Chiu, L Lipovich, VA Kuznetsov, P Robson, LW Stanton, C-L Wei, Y Ruan, B Lim, H-H Ng. (2006) The Oct4 and Nanog transcription network regulates pluripotency in mouse embryonic stem cells. Nat Genet 38 (4): 431-440
By Ruan and Ng groups

Wei CL, Q Wu, VB Vega, KP Chiu, P Ng, T Zhang, A Shahab, HC Yong, Y Fu, Z Weng, J Liu, XD Zhao, JL Chew, YL Lee, VA Kuznetsov, WK Sung, LD Miller, B Lim, ET Liu, Q Yu, HH Ng, Y Ruan. (2006) A global map of p53 transcription-factor binding sites in the human genome. Cell 124 (1): 207-19
By Ng and Ruan groups

Stem cells in CELL

2006-03-28T21:17:00.000-08:00

Stem cells and cancer: two faces of eve. Clarke MF, Fuller M.Cell. 2006 Mar 24;124(6):1111-5. PMID: 16564000 [PubMed - in process]
The first publication since Mike Clarke moved to Stanford.
Connecting cancer to the asymmetric division of stem cells. Wodarz A, Gonzalez C. Cell. 2006 Mar 24;124(6):1121-3. PMID: 16564003 [PubMed - in process]
Asymmetric segregation of the tumor suppressor brat regulates self-renewal in Drosophila neural stem cells.Betschinger J, Mechtler K, Knoblich JA.
Cell. 2006 Mar 24;124(6):1241-53. PMID: 16564014 [PubMed - in process]
Stem cell research in Brazil: a difficult launch. Leite M. Cell. 2006 Mar 24;124(6):1107-9. PMID: 16563999 [PubMed - in process]

Stem Cell in Adult Mouse Testes

2006-03-26T07:50:00.000-08:00

Recently, Nature news featured a report on stem cell in adult mouse testes. The researchers used mice with GFP labeled stem cells, and isolated the 0.3% stem cells from testes. Those cells are of stem cell properties. Further work on human and corpses was planned and is being carried out.

Pluripotency of spermatogonial stem cells from adult mouse testis. Kaomei Guan, Karim Nayernia, Lars S. Maier, Stefan Wagner, Ralf Dressel3, Jae Ho Lee, Jessica Nolte, Frieder Wolf, Manyu Li, Wolfgang Engel and Gerd Hasenfuss. Nature advance online publication 24 March 2006 | doi:10.1038/nature04697; Received 21 November 2005; ; Accepted 7 March 2006.

JC Nat Biotech 24 (3)

2006-03-13T08:51:00.000-08:00

Nat Biotech 24 (3) March 2006 content

Pyle AD, LF Lock, PJ Donovan. (2006) Neurotrophins mediate human embryonic stem cell survival. Nat Biotech 24 (3): 344-350

Many growth factors promote growth or self-renewal of human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESC), including FGF2, BMP antagonist Noggins, and ones involved in Wnt/ -catenin and activin/TGF . Micro-array and SAGE data/screening suggest tropomyosin-related kinase (TRK) receptors present in hESC, and may contribute to the growth or self-renewal of hESC.

Peter Donovan group found TRK receptors were indeed expressed and functional in hESC. The ligands of those receptors, namely neurotrophins, promote colonal survival of hESC and also retain the pluri/multi-potency of hESC. While inhibition of those receptors function results in hESC apoptosis. Signal transduction analyses suggest neutrophins induce phosphorylation of TRK receptors through PI3K, but not MAPK pathway. The findings may help high throughput screening for important factors of hESC growth and differentiation, under influence of neutrophins.

Interestingly, PTEN of PI3K pathway has been proved important in maintenance of stem cell renewal ability, and may be involved in various tumorigenesis processes.
Paper of interest:

Chao MV. (2003) Neurotrophins and their receptors: a convergence point for many signalling pathways. Nat Rev Neurosci 4 (4): 299-309
Patapoutian A, LF Reichardt. (2001) Trk receptors: mediators of neurotrophin action. Curr Opin Neurobiol 11 (3): 272-80
Richards M, SP Tan, JH Tan, WK Chan, A Bongso. (2004) The transcriptome profile of human embryonic stem cells as defined by SAGE. Stem Cells 22 (1): 51-64
Sato N, IM Sanjuan, M Heke, M Uchida, F Naef, AH Brivanlou. (2003) Molecular signature of human embryonic stem cells and its comparison with the mouse. Dev Biol 260 (2): 404-13

Herszfeld D, E Wolvetang, E Langton-Bunker, T-L Chung, AA Filipczyk, S Houssami, P Jamshidi, K Koh, AL Laslett, A Michalska, L Nguyen, BE Reubinoff, I Tellis, JM Auerbach, CJ Ording, LHJ Looijenga, MF Pera. (2006) CD30 is a survival factor and a biomarker for transformed human pluripotent stem cells. Nat Biotech 24 (3): 351-357

Genetic instabilities or cytogenetic abnormalities in hESC are acquired during in vitro propagation, and may contribute to the tumorigenesis in human. Cytogenetics was almost the only method used for the examination of those abnormalities. Martin Pera group recently identified CD30, a member of TNF receptor superfamily, presented in transformed hESC, but not normal ones. Expression of CD30 protects hESC from apoptosis.

The scientist 20(3)

2006-03-09T07:11:00.000-08:00

The scientist 20(3) content

First off, thanks to KS Powell, Susan Linquist of MIT and Whitehead answered questions on how to communicate science. One of her secrets is to write for laypersons,like first-year gaduate students, not just to absolute experts.

The best places for postdoc (the scientist magazine) just came out. Thirty-five top institutions in North America (NA) and outside of NA for postdoc were listed. Important factors for choose postdoc places were analized, both the most important and the least important. They also featured 15 top institutions in and outside of NA in detail.

Of note, Gladstone Inst/UCSF topped 2006 list, jumping from No. 22 of last year. Several fed inst or centers were ranked high, including NIDDK, USDA ARS, and NCI. Cancer research centers were also recognized by the postdoc, including Fred Hutchingson and Fox Chase.

Top 15 institutions /best places for postdoc in NA

The J. David Gladstones Institutes, San Francisco
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle
US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC
Emory University,Atlanta, GA
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC
Fox Chase Cancer Center,Philadelphia
National Institute of Diabetes &Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD
Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY
Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
USDA Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA
Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Ithaca, NY
National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis, MO
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
Cornell University,Ithaca, NY
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH
University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Phoenix, AZ
University of California, Davis
Duke University, Durham, NC
Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
University of Illinois, Urbana
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
Rockefeller University,New York
Washington University,Saint Louis, MO
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center,Houston
National Institutes of Health,Bethesda, MD
University of California,San Francisco
University of Iowa,Iowa City
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
North Dakota State University, Fargo
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Spotlight on China Nat Med 12(3)

2006-03-08T07:36:00.000-08:00

Nat Med 12(3) Mar 2006 published a series of news features about Chinese scholars.

The government plans to increase its annual investment in research and development to 900 billion yuan (US$112 billion) by 2020, a massive increase over the current numbers

Hongyuan Huang, Chaoyang Hospital, Beijing
He collect nasal cells, potentially neural stem cells, from aborted fetuses and injects them into people's spines. He clained his treament could be used for spinal cord injuries or diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson disease and multiple sclerosis. Despite the life quality improvement described by individual patients, the effects of his treamtent protocol needs to rule out placebo effect. Studies including good control groups are desired.
See also Nat news report.

Yongzhang Luo, Tsinghua University, Beijing
PhD from UC, Berkeley in 1993, Postdoc at harvard and standford from 1994-1998. He's been actively published on JBC, Biochemistry since his return in 1999. He is working on affordable medications for Chinese. Did I say drug discovery?
See more on his webiste at Tsinghua Univ.
See more on Nature news.

Hongkai Deng, Peking University, Beijing
PhD at UCLA, and postdoc at NYU. He won $1.9 million for a proposal to use stem cells to create mouse models for testing HIV and hepatitis C vaccines. Another project is to differenitate embryonic stem cell into insulin-secreting cell--Doug Melton has a new competitor in China. He also coauthored on the Chinese SARS paper on Nat 2006

Unfortunately, the Nat Med missed a star scholar in China, Xuetao Cao. Cao is a newly elected member of Chinese Academy of Engineering, and a professor of immunology at the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai and Zhejiang University at Hangzhou.

Nat Neurosci 9(3) mar 2006

2006-03-04T16:49:00.000-08:00

Full content of Nat Neurosci 9(3)

Ramirez-Castillejo C, F Sanchez-Sanchez, C Andreu-Agullo, SR Ferron, JD Aroca-Aguilar, P Sanchez, H Mira, J Escribano, I Farinas. (2006) Pigment epithelium-derived factor is a niche signal for neural stem cell renewal. Nat Neurosci 9 (3): 331-339
Isabel Fariñas group reported Pigment epithelium–derived factor (PEDF) was secreted by components of the murine SVZ, and could promote self-renewal of neural stem cells(NSC) both in vivo and in vitro. First, they show PEDF presents in ependymal and endothelial cells, but not NSC, in adults. In vitro neurosphere formation data suggest PEDF promotes self-renewal of NSC (formation frequency of neurospheres), but not proliferation (Size of neurospheres). C-ter fragment of PEDF was then found to block effects of full-length PEDF on neurosphere formation. They demonstrate PEDF regulates NSC self-renewal in vivo by infusing PEDF and its antagonist, c-ter PEDF.
I like pharmacological evidence, that provides direct potential of clinical use.
A piece of beautiful work!

Pumiglia K, S Temple. (2006) PEDF: bridging neurovascular interactions in the stem cell niche. Nat Neurosci 9 (3): 299-300
See also commentary of Kevin Pumiglia and Sally Temple

Le Bras B, M-J Barallobre, J Homman-Ludiye, A Ny, S Wyns, T Tammela, P Haiko, MJ Karkkainen, L Yuan, M-P Muriel, E Chatzopoulou, C Breant, B Zalc, P Carmeliet, K Alitalo, A Eichmann, J-L Thomas. (2006) VEGF-C is a trophic factor for neural progenitors in the vertebrate embryonic brain. Nat Neurosci 9 (3): 340-348
By using VEGF-C knockdown models of xenopus and mouse, Jean-Léon Thomas group demonstrates VEGF-C is required for neural development and induces proliferation of neural progenitor cells, especially VEGFR3+ ones. Briefly, VEGF-C and its receptor were first found present in the embryonic mouse brain. In vitro data suggest VEGF-C induces proliferation of neural progenitor cells derived from optic nerve, especially VEGFR3+ neural progenitor cells, while transgenic mouse lack of VEGF-C has significantly reduced oligodendrocyte precursor cells in optic nerve.

Nat Cell biol 8(3)

2006-03-02T08:56:00.000-08:00

Nat Cell biol 8(3) Mar 2006

Kaji K, IM Caballero, R MacLeod, J Nichols, VA Wilson, B Hendrich. (2006) The NuRD component Mbd3 is required for pluripotency of embryonic stem cells. 8 (3): 285-292
Brian Hendrich group found another gene that regulates pluripotency of Embryonic Stem Cells(ESC), which is Mbd3-a component of the nucleosome remodelling and histone deacetylation (NuRD) complex. Mbd3-deficient ESC could grow in the absence of LIF, and differentiate in embryonic bodies or chimeric embryos with loss of terminal differentiation commitment.

Sirbu IO, G Duester. (2006) Retinoic-acid signalling in node ectoderm and posterior neural plate directs left-right patterning of somitic mesoderm. 8 (3): 271-277
Ioan Ovidiu Sirbu & Gregg Duester demonstrate that retinoic-acid signalling is uniform across the left–right axis and occurs in node ectoderm but not node mesoderm. Retinoic acid rescue data show retinoic-acid signaling targets on node ectoderm and posterior neural plate during somitogenesis, but not presomitic mesoderm.

Genes & Dev 20(5)

2006-03-02T08:33:00.000-08:00

Genes & Dev 20(5) Mar 1, 2006

Covello KL, J Kehler, H Yu, JD Gordan, AM Arsham, C-J Hu, PA Labosky, MC Simon, B Keith. (2006) HIF-2{alpha} regulates Oct-4: effects of hypoxia on stem cell function, embryonic development, and tumor growth 10.1101/gad.1399906. Genes Dev. 20 (5): 557-570
M. Celeste Simon Group reports HIF-2 alpha, but not HIF1, induces Oct-4 expression and impaired embryonic development. It was also found that HIF2 alpha induced tumorigenesis may attribute to dis-regulation of stem cell function through activation of Oct-4.

Gocheva V, W Zeng, D Ke, D Klimstra, T Reinheckel, C Peters, D Hanahan, JA Joyce. (2006) Distinct roles for cysteine cathepsin genes in multistage tumorigenesis 10.1101/gad.1407406. Genes Dev. 20 (5): 543-556

Hallstrom TC, JR Nevins. (2006) Jab1 is a specificity factor for E2F1-induced apoptosis 10.1101/gad.1345006. Genes Dev. 20 (5): 613-623
By using a yeast two-hybrid screen, Joseph R. Nevins group identified Jab1 as a protein that binds the E2F1 marked box and flanking regions. Further work shows Jab1 synergizes with E2F1 to induce apoptosis, but not to promote cell cycle entry.

Valencia-Sanchez MA, J Liu, GJ Hannon, R Parker. (2006) Control of translation and mRNA degradation by miRNAs and siRNAs
10.1101/gad.1399806. Genes Dev. 20 (5): 515-524
Good Review for mRNA regulation

Wu X, F Quondamatteo, T Lefever, A Czuchra, H Meyer, A Chrostek, R Paus, L Langbein, C Brakebusch. (2006) Cdc42 controls progenitor cell differentiation and beta-catenin turnover in skin
10.1101/gad.361406. Genes Dev. 20 (5): 571-585
Cord Brakebusch group found absence of small GTPase Cdc42 increased degradation of beta-catenin through decreased phosphorylation of GSK3 at Ser 9 and increased phosphorylation of axin, and involved in differentiation of hair follicle progenitor cells in vivo.

Michael Goran named Atkins Chair in Childhood Obesity and Diabetes

2006-02-27T10:06:00.000-08:00

This is an old news. But due to my research interest in diabetes, it is included.

Goran accepted the $2million chair, and will use the gift to "go a long way to relieving the epidemics of childhood obesity and diabetes. Childhood obesity has tremendous implications for our future, and change will have to come from great coalitions of people working together. This chair will help that happen. "

Gorareceiveve his BS and PhD from Univ of Manchester, UK, in 1982 and 1989 respectively. Following postdoctoral fellowship at UTMB Gavelston and Univ of Vermont, he was an assistant professor at Vermont, then Associate and full professor at UAB. He came to USC as full profesor in 1999. Three RO1 were awarded at least, with 1 undergoing.

His homepage is here and labpage is here.

USC news release.

USC to build stem cell center

2006-02-27T09:41:00.000-08:00

The University of Southern California has received a $25 million donation to build a stem cell research center from Philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad. The facility was schedule to open in 2008, and will become the largest stem cell research center in California. Another 18 basic and clinical investigators will be recuited, in addition to new 18 members of the Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine.

For USC Med School news report.
Martin Pera became director of Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM) at USC.
USC Children's hospital Stem cell project.

Intereseing sites

2006-02-24T09:00:00.000-08:00

Citations of a paper would provide important information about its contribution to human knowledge, though its use should be of caution. Here, I recommend two sites of ISI (tm), Incites and ESI topics. The 2 sites feature interviews with highly-cited scholars, and an introduction to their paper. It provides good insights of these scientists in their specialty.

Incites focuses on overall citation of a paper/author , which shows the popularity of the paper and also its long-term significance. A brief discipline categorization was used.

ESI topics, as its name, is organizzed by topics, such as prostate cancer, angiogenesis, and apoptosis, etc.

Last piece of note, both sites are fairly easy to browse. You will enjoy it, as I do!

Cell 124(4) Feb 2006

2006-02-24T08:15:00.000-08:00

Current issue of CELL focuses on pathogen, host and immunity. No research articles were published in this issue.

Akira S, S Uematsu, O Takeuchi. (2006) Pathogen Recognition and Innate Immunity. Cell 124 (4): 783-801

Cowman AF, BS Crabb. (2006) Invasion of Red Blood Cells by Malaria Parasites. Cell 124 (4): 755-766

Fauci AS. (2006) Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases: Influenza as a Prototype of the Host-Pathogen Balancing Act. Cell 124 (4): 665-670

Greber UF, M Way. (2006) A Superhighway to Virus Infection. Cell 124 (4): 741-754

Heymann DL. (2006) Resistance to Anti-Infective Drugs and the Threat to Public Health. Cell 124 (4): 671-675

Karin M, T Lawrence, V Nizet. (2006) Innate Immunity Gone Awry: Linking Microbial Infections to Chronic Inflammation and Cancer. Cell 124 (4): 823-835

Ley RE, DA Peterson, JI Gordon. (2006) Ecological and Evolutionary Forces Shaping Microbial Diversity in the Human Intestine. Cell 124 (4): 837-848

Marsh M, A Helenius. (2006) Virus Entry: Open Sesame. Cell 124 (4): 729-740

Pizarro-Cerda J, P Cossart. (2006) Bacterial Adhesion and Entry into Host Cells. Cell 124 (4): 715-727

Pulendran B, R Ahmed. (2006) Translating Innate Immunity into Immunological Memory: Implications for Vaccine Development. Cell 124 (4): 849-863

Raskin DM, R Seshadri, SU Pukatzki, JJ Mekalanos. (2006) Bacterial Genomics and Pathogen Evolution. Cell 124 (4): 703-714

JCS 119(5) Mar 2006

2006-02-23T08:03:00.000-08:00

Content of JCS 119(5)

Park K-S, SH Jeon, S-E Kim, Y-Y Bahk, SL Holmen, BO Williams, K-C Chung, Y-J Surh, K-Y Choi. (2006) APC inhibits ERK pathway activation and cellular proliferation induced by RAS 10.1242/jcs.02779. J Cell Sci 119 (5): 819-827
Knock-out data suggest APC inhibits ERK by acting on beta-catenin, with evidence that co-expression of APC reduces activation of Raf1, MEK and ERK kinases by {beta}-catenin. Also, APC over-expression decreases mutated RAS, another upstream regulator of ERK. Thus, APC may activate both RAS and beta-catenin in its regulation of cell processes.

Anitei M, M Ifrim, M-A Ewart, AE Cowan, JH Carson, R Bansal, SE Pfeiffer. (2006) A role for Sec8 in oligodendrocyte morphological differentiation 10.1242/jcs.02785. J Cell Sci 119 (5): 807-818
Over-expression and knock-down data show excyst component Sec8 promotes oligodendrocyte morphological differentiation and myelin-like membrane formation. Sec 8 was also found to directly interact with the major myelin protein OSP/Claudin11 and CASK, which may implicate its role in the diff of oligodendrocyte.

Baudry A, Z-Z Yang, BA Hemmings. (2006) PKB{alpha} is required for adipose differentiation of mouse embryonic fibroblasts 10.1242/jcs.02792. J Cell Sci 119 (5): 889-897
Knock-out mouse model and restoration data suggest PKB(alpha) is essential for adipose differentiation. Kruppel-like transcription factor 15 may play an role in PKB alpha induced adipogenesis, while several related genes were also identified.

Goping IS, T Sawchuk, DA Underhill, RC Bleackley. (2006) Identification of {alpha}-tubulin as a granzyme B substrate during CTL-mediated apoptosis 10.1242/jcs.02791. J Cell Sci 119 (5): 858-865
Granzyme B is critical in CTL-mediated apoptosis. Alpha-bubulin was identified as a novel substrate of granzyme B, by using proteomic approach and confirmed by mutation data.

Kottke MD, E Delva, AP Kowalczyk. (2006) The desmosome: cell science lessons from human diseases 10.1242/jcs.02888. J Cell Sci 119 (5): 797-806

Carteron C, A Ferrer-Montiel, H Cabedo. (2006) Characterization of a neural-specific splicing form of the human neuregulin 3 gene involved in oligodendrocyte survival 10.1242/jcs.02799. J Cell Sci 119 (5): 898-909

Chadborn NH, AI Ahmed, MR Holt, R Prinjha, GA Dunn, GE Jones, BJ Eickholt. (2006) PTEN couples Sema3A signalling to growth cone collapse 10.1242/jcs.02801. J Cell Sci 119 (5): 951-957

Chera S, R de Rosa, M Miljkovic-Licina, K Dobretz, L Ghila, K Kaloulis, B Galliot. (2006) Silencing of the hydra serine protease inhibitor Kazal1 gene mimics the human SPINK1 pancreatic phenotype 10.1242/jcs.02807. J Cell Sci 119 (5): 846-857

Current Biology 16 (4)

2006-02-21T12:53:00.000-08:00

Beiter K, F Wartha, B Albiger, S Normark, A Zychlinsky, B Henriques-Normark. (2006) An Endonuclease Allows Streptococcus pneumoniae to Escape from Neutrophil Extracellular Traps. Current Biology 16 (4): 401-407

Buchanan JT, AJ Simpson, RK Aziz, GY Liu, SA Kristian, M Kotb, J Feramisco, V Nizet. (2006) DNase Expression Allows the Pathogen Group A Streptococcus to Escape Killing in Neutrophil Extracellular Traps. Current Biology 16 (4): 396-400
The concurrent findings would provide a good news for the recent pandemic of Group A Step Necrotizing Fasciitis in Colorado. Hopefully, it would really supply us a real target for invasive GAP infection, as authors hypothesized.

Dewing P, CWK Chiang, K Sinchak, H Sim, P-O Fernagut, S Kelly, M-F Chesselet, PE Micevych, KH Albrecht, VR Harley, E Vilain. (2006) Direct Regulation of Adult Brain Function by the Male-Specific Factor SRY. Current Biology 16 (4): 415-420
The sexual dimorphism was joined by another player, SRY. Interestingly, no sexual hormone was invovled in this dimorphic brain function difference. Sry plays a solo, seemly.

Tassy O, F Daian, C Hudson, V Bertrand, P Lemaire. (2006) A Quantitative Approach to the Study of Cell Shapes and Interactions during Early Chordate Embryogenesis. Current Biology 16 (4): 345-358
Thanks to the newly developed generic software, 3D Vitual Embryo, it becomes possible to characterize the development of embryo at a single cell level. As a result, they reported the variability of blastosmeres' shapes, novel asymmetrical cell division, and selective neural induction, for the first time.

Adam Rubenstein and His Blog

2006-02-19T15:56:00.000-08:00

I was delighted to receive a letter from Adam Rubenstein. He read my blog and was interested in blog-roll exchange.

It was my pleasure visiting his website/blog and knowing him personally. The blog focuses on up-to-date info regarding new biotech or pharmaceutical companies, highlights pharmaceutical and biotech news and provides biomedical news in Colorado area, such as recent outbreak of Necrotizing Fasciitis. Several interesting sites were listed including Biotech BioBoom, IP, News and BioPeer. He has a good use Del.icio.us, a popular web sorting/tagging site. More to be discovered. In short, a good site for biomedical entrepreneur.

Adam graduated from Syracuse University, a snowy place as UM, and received his MBA from Regis University. According to his blog, his mentor was Dr. Mike Klymkowsky at Univ of Colorado Boulder. Interestingly, Dr. Klymkowsky has collaboration with Jack Parent at UM! On Stem Cell! Apparently, Adam has strong interest in biology besides his business pursuit. He is working for Fitszmons Biobusiness Incubator(FBBI), an ideal organization in promoting local biotech/pharm business. In fact, such an organization or institution is badly needed for start-ups in my view. For pure biomedical scientists, it is rather difficult to find recourses for Venture Capital(VC), good advice, and infrastructure due to their limited business experience and networking. I'd like to see more companies to come up, as MBC Pharma Inc.

Curr Biol 16(3) Feb 7, 2006

2006-02-17T13:55:00.000-08:00

Callaway E. Lawrence Katz (1956-2005). Current Biology 2006 2006/2/7, 16 (3): R75-R76
In Memoriam - Lawrence C. Katz, Ph.D. - 1956-2005
See also Duke Univeristy page
HHMI Obituary

Greenstein D, LA Lee. Oocyte-to-Embryo Transition: Kinase Cabal Plots Regime Change. Current Biology 2006 2006/2/7, 16 (3): R93-R95

Hombria JC-G, S Sotillos. JAK/STAT Signalling: STAT Cannot Play with Ken and Barbie. Current Biology 2006 2006/2/7, 16 (3): R98-R100

Lam N, MA Chesney, J Kimble. Wnt Signaling and CEH-22/tinman/Nkx2.5 Specify a Stem Cell Niche in C. elegans. Current Biology 2006 2006/2/7, 16 (3): 287-295

Schubiger G. Gerold Schubiger. Current Biology 2006 2006/2/7, 16 (3): R72-R73
Q&A interesting.

discuss NIH funding

2006-02-17T10:22:00.000-08:00

杠杆

All you have talked about below is the general rules for writing a grant. However, the real question we need to ask now is how to cope with the NIH funding crisis. New PIs will have difficulty to obtain grants, and old PIs will face the risk of losing grants. What should you do to increase your chances to survive in the biomedical research career? First, you need to read the NIH roadmap carefully to find out what exactly the government wants the NIH to do with the limited amount of money. By the way, that stupid roadmap, although some people (in China) praise it as a reflection of the wisdom of the US scientific community, will lead the US science to the valley.

(1). Translational research. Since 911, the government began to cut spending. NIH is inevitably one of the targets. The Congress complained that the NIH had not delivered products, for the past two decades, to improve public health. In response to the cry of the politicians, the NIH created the roadmap to focus on translational research. They have already revised the rules and criteria for xxxxuating research proposals, to include translational and clinic relevance. Every PI in our school has been advised to use phases and sentences on the first page to explicitly indicate the importance in clinical applications or impact on public health. We also need to emphasize these points in the Significance section of the grant.

What are the strategies? First, put your Nobel questions aside and begin to work on disease-related problems. Choose the projects that look like you can develop a new therapeutic method, discover a new drug, or treat the disease in three years. For PhDs, you have to begin to collaborate with MDs, although you think they are dumb in research. The two letters-MD do have an impact on your grant applications.

(2) Collaboration. The NIH has no money to support all the promising scientists, but they don’t want to kick them out of the research circle, either. So, they encourage PIs to work together so that one R01 can keep 2-3 labs for 4-5 years. They wish that when the spring comes, they would be able to feed all the PIs with enough fertilizer. They have decided, for the first time in the NIH history, to offer some multi-PI grants.

Good luck everybody.

Anyone wants to collaborate with me?
-------------------------------------------
NIH review board is better than AHA
by 职业
The key is well-written proposal. Then one should spend more time to socialize in the community and to publish more high-impact papers. A good mentor would promote your significantly.

Say good things about people. For example, I've read your paper years ago, and was thinking of meeting with you. ...

Another key is the topic/field. If it is not hot, it's going to be hard, no matter who writes the proposal.

How to get funded[zt]

2006-02-14T19:02:00.000-08:00

by KboringAs you all must read the President's 2007 budget proposal already, it is clear that federal funding is dropping in all areas except homeland security will continue the same trend until this government finishes its job. I am sure that most of you must be very busy in writing new grants or competitive renewal. However, do we have any tricks to share in addition to simply write more grants?

Under explored funding resource?
New programs?
Study section atmosphere?
How to write a "convincing" grant?
Rebattal for grants?
Hiring or laying off

et al....

plantcell wrote
I believe it is time to help each others.

In order to get grants> here are serveral suggestions:

1. good sciences:
2. grant-ship: discuss with PI's have a high successful rate to get grants, grant reviewer's , etc.
3. Estabilish personal network: attending conferences, communicating with the leaders in your field, inviting them to your institutes, etc.

送交者: yipin 2006年2月14日14:42:42 于 [教育与学术]http://www.bbsland.com

I have shared this story with many friends. My postdoc. advisor was a very famous guy. One of his glorious records was that all his grant proposals were fully funded since he was a postdoc.

Caltech "bought" him from MIT with multi-million lab funding and equipped him with a very experienced secretary. One early morning I walked into the lab, the secretary was so excited: "...You know what, I have been on this job for more than 20 years and typed many grant proposals. For the first time I know what you researchers are doing! I typed this proposal this morning and I understood every part of it!"

I thought that was one reason why he was so successful in getting grants. His proposals always use short sentences and simple words, and express ideas in the most.

送交者: kboring 2006年2月14日12:31:59

In my own experience, current study sections are very resistant to give the funding to new investigators. In fact, three NIH study sections, which are under my radar screen, have 0-5% funding rate for them, while average payline is still more than 10%! I don't know how those guys could even survive.

In a small group discussion, I heard such comments: Well, it is tough time, so why don't we kill them now and they will be killed later anyhow.

Slk wrote
Networking is absolutely first priority, but it takes time to build up. As a young faculty, what can you do in the grant?

1, Preliminary data. Critical. If you dont have enough evidence to demonstrate the feasibility of your proposal, who is going to believe it?
2, Paper. How could you demonstrate your productivity, independence, and matched background for the grant?
3, Previous funding. You need funding to get your senior authorship, and qualified credential.
4, Good writing. No one will pay (deserved) attention to a bad-written proposal. Keep in mind, you will get hundreds of thousands dollars just for those fewer than 100 pieces paper. Why not pay more attention to the detail?

How to find a more suitable faculty job[zt]

2006-02-13T10:28:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned previously, a problem for Chinese faculties is lack of marketing. As a result, these faculties, even those who are doing very well in their fields, stay in the same institution for a long time, if not life time. It is not necessarily bad to stay in the same place, as long as you are happy. However, I don't think that you will find everything goes the way you want in a place. For example, you are doing well by getting a lot of grants. As a consequence, you will need more space; you will need less teaching load et al. However, when you bring these issues to your Chair, he or she may not have resources for you, either he or she does not really have them or he or she has other priorities. Now you suffer from your success! I also find that many faculties, who stay in one place for too long, do not really know what their values are. In a broad sense, they also suffer in a different way. We all want to do better in what we chose to do. Sometimes, these issues could bring you uncomfortable feeling or even anger. All these problems, however, could be easily solved by simply showing your market value.

There are various ways to market yourself. When you become reasonably well-known in your area, you will be invited to give talks, including speeches in meetings, seminars or lectures in extramural institutions. This is an excellent opportunity for marketing yourself. I find that the invitations to give seminars in other schools are the best opportunities because you can have one-to-one opportunity to talk with your colleagues. In addition to knowing their sciences, you will also know them as a person. When you are doing well, you will also need to be open-mined to collaborate with others. You will make a lot of friends by doing this, share the joys of discovery, and they will obviously remember you. In these occasions, you can openly discuss with your colleagues your problems, your space issue, your teaching load, even your anger on your chair, et al. In my own experience, this is the best way to let others knowing you and deliver a message “I am available” rather than looking for advertisement in the back of Nature or Science and sending your letters. If you seriously consider leaving, you can discuss with your colleagues about how bad your chair is, how stressful you are in current place, how bad the weather is in your city, how much your wife or husband dislike the environment et al. Remember, we are all humans and you and your colleagues have a lot experiences to share, either good or bad. I have found that human beings, does not matter where they come from, share amazing similarities in interests, especially those in similar age.

This is also the best time to know the place you visit. They will obviously tell you all about their campuses, systems, people et al. I like to emphasize here that you should not discriminate your colleagues based on their locations (famous vs. infamous places), achievement, et al. Remember, people changes all the time, just like you. I got to know a colleague when I visited him in the University of Texas at Houston and started to know more of him later due to a small collaborative project. The project did not go anywhere and communication stopped too. A couple years later, he took a Chair job at Yale and offered me a position in the first week of his arrival! I did make a trip but thing did not work out eventually. Nevertheless, Now you will have the first hand inxxxxation about other universities, their locations, their problems, good and bad things et al. These are much more real and valuable inxxxxation than those you can see from a book!

Everybody has their preferences for a job and life. You may want a good scientific environment, better salary, specific equipments you can access, good weather, fun for kids et al. How do you know a place you will be happy and fit? You will need to do your ground work. When you get invited to give a talk, you are paid to do your groundwork! What a great thing! Remember, a suitable place for you is relative. There is always something you like and dislike in a given place. The key is to find a place you are happy with most of things. Such a place could only be found by comparison among different places. I heard many Chinese faculties told me that they are too busy on science, when they decided to leave; they interviewed many places and it made them tired. Well, I can see you do have problems. You did not do your ground work well. If you did your groundwork, when you decide to leave, you may get a couple of offers but you will only focus on very few places to interview because you already know that you don’t want to go some places during your groundwork. In my own experience, when you get invitation for a job interview, you will be much better off if you do have a colleague you know reasonably well. He or she will tell you a lot of sensitive issues which others will not tell you. For example, you don’t know how to tell your Chairman how much salary you deserve because you don’t know salary structure in that place. The person you know in that university will tell you that. As you all probably know, when you stay in a place for long enough, you will know your colleagues’ salary figures through different ways, such as writing grant together, gossips among secretaries et al. In a best situation, you don’t even have to bargain your salary, your friend will do it for you and this will avoid some potentially embarrassing situation and there will not anger involved.

Let’s say that now you are very happy with your job and you think that this is the best job in the world for you. However, you may have some issues coming up during your job. You will need some extra twists from your department chair. If you are showing that you are on the market with a good value, he or she may create resources for or turn priority to you. As a Chairman, he or she will need to think this way: If I don’t give this guy these things, the risk is that I will lose this person. Should I take this risk? See, you get the priority in their mind already. Of course, thing you are asking has to be reasonable and you also want to also make sure that he or she could handle your request. In fact, if you ask a very unreasonable deal, you give Chairman a clear signal that you are leaving.

Regarding recommendation letters, that is a small issue. In many cases, you don’t need recommendation letters to do all these I have said. If you have colleagues working for you, you can get a job offer in oral or in written xxxx without any recommendation letters (I did!). You will need recommendation letters only the promotion committee is going to officially appoint you. In this case, you are guaranteed by your colleagues. You will be amazed how the system works with a trust on you. For negotiation of a good deal with your Chair when you don’t want to leave, an oral offer is more than sufficient.

I apologize for such long message and I don’t have time to polish my essay but I hope you will find something useful.
=======================================
Comments
1) Treat your university/department as your own bussiness
2) doubly pay back what you get
3) maintain the highest degree of integrity and honesty
4) maintian positive attitudes and avoid negative people
5) always consider what other want and how you can meet their wants creatively
6) Move from independence to interdependnce
7) Be a light, not a judge; be a model, not a critic; be part of a solution, not part of a problem.

Also
4) maintian positive attitudes and be friendly with negative people
or at least treat them with your smile.
5) develop interdependence but maintain your independence.

Journal Club 1-4

2006-02-03T12:53:00.000-08:00

Shackleton M, F Vaillant, KJ Simpson, J Stingl, GK Smyth, ML Asselin-Labat, L Wu, GJ Lindeman, JE Visvader. Generation of a functional mammary gland from a single stem cell. Nature 2006 Jan 5, 439 (7072): 84-8
Enriched mammary repopulation unit (MRU) was found in CD24+CD29hiLin- (CD45-,Ter119-,CD31-), where CD29 is integrin Beta1. CD49, aka integrin alpha-6, population was enriched in those population. Interestingly, Clarke group used CD24-/lo CD44+ as markers for human MaSC, that was verified by serial xenograft experiments. It was also a surpise that CD24+CD29hiLin- cells are not side population, nor Sca1+, though Wicha group identified human MaSC by using side population. Transplant data show the repopulation/differentiation potential of those cells.
Only few CD24+CD49hiLin- cells were not found expression of Keratin 18 or Keratin 14. In vitro metrigal experiment further confirmed increased progenitor capaticty of those cells.
With a refined protocol of double sorting, viability confirmation, outgrowth rate incresed from 1/590 to 1/64. LacZ labeled single cell transplantation data show those cells are able to repopulate mammary fat pad (MFP) without supporting cells at rate of 8 outgrowths out of 68. The authors argue it would be unlikely outgrowth was derived from multiple progenitor cells. However, it would need barcode system, that individually label each cell. Further mixing experiment data demonstrate about total 70 cells of mixed LacZ and WT mice could repopulate MFP at a rate of 97/112, in which 95 out 97 of the MFP were from either WT or LacZ. The tertiary transplant data suggest selfrenewal of those cells. Interestingly, tranplanted MFP has higher percentage of CD24+CD49hi population.
In the mice prone to tumor development, CD24+CD49hiLin- subpopulation was found expanded in MMTV-Wnt premalignant tissue, but not in MMTV-neu mice that develp luminal epithelial tumor.
Stingl J, P Eirew, I Ricketson, M Shackleton, F Vaillant, D Choi, HI Li, CJ Eaves. Purification and unique properties of mammary epithelial stem cells. Nature 2006 Jan 4,
Mixing experiment with CFP and GFP mice shows single progenitor/stem cell is able to generate MFP, that was further cofirmed by Serial diluation data with 75 cells to 20 cells transplantation. CD49f instead of CD29 was used as marker, while the Lin- and CD24+ were shared with previous report. CD24highCD49flow (Ma-CFC-enriched), CD24medCD49fhigh (MRU-enriched), CD24lowCD49flow (MYO) were identified as subpopulations of special lineage potential. Dye efflux and cell cyle properties were elucidated in those cels.
Al-Hajj M, MS Wicha, A Benito-Hernandez, SJ Morrison, MF Clarke. Prospective identification of tumorigenic breast cancer cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2003 Apr 1, 100 (7): 3983-8
Dontu G, WM Abdallah, JM Foley, KW Jackson, MF Clarke, MJ Kawamura, MS Wicha. In vitro propagation and transcriptional profiling of human mammary stem/progenitor cells. Genes Dev 2003 May 15, 17 (10): 1253-70

Genes Dev 20 (3) Feb 2, 2006

2006-02-02T13:17:00.000-08:00

Genes Dev 20 (3) Feb 2, 2006

Abaza I, O Coll, S Patalano, F Gebauer. Drosophila UNR is required for translational repression of male-specific lethal 2 mRNA during regulation of X-chromosome dosage compensation
10.1101/gad.1363206. Genes Dev. 2006, 20 (3): 380-389
Duncan K, M Grskovic, C Strein, K Beckmann, R Niggeweg, I Abaza, F Gebauer, M Wilm, MW Hentze. Sex-lethal imparts a sex-specific function to UNR by recruiting it to the msl-2 mRNA 3' UTR: translational repression for dosage compensation
10.1101/gad.1363206. Genes Dev. 2006, 20 (3): 368-379
Huntzicker EG, IS Estay, H Zhen, LA Lokteva, PK Jackson, AE Oro. Dual degradation signals control Gli protein stability and tumor formation
10.1101/gad.1363206. Genes Dev. 2006, 20 (3): 276-281
By Anthony E. Oro group at Stanford. They showed early onset basal cell carcinoma in Keratin 5 promotor driven Gli1 and Gli2 transgenic mice. Then they rule out Gli1 degradation is mediated by lysosomal degradation by using E64 and chloroquine, therefore ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) was proposed. They also show DSGVEM motif (Gli1DC) mediates Gli1 degradation through bTrCP-ubiquitin ligase complex and degron DN mediates a unique Sufu- and degron DC-independent pathway. Further genetic data show removal of two destruction signals rapidly accelerates tumor induction.
Jain S, M Encinas, EM Johnson, Jr., J Milbrandt. Critical and distinct roles for key RET tyrosine docking sites in renal development
10.1101/gad.1363206. Genes Dev. 2006, 20 (3): 321-333
Levine AJ, Z Feng, TW Mak, H You, S Jin. Coordination and communication between the p53 and IGF-1-AKT-TOR signal transduction pathways
10.1101/gad.1363206. Genes Dev. 2006, 20 (3): 267-275
REVIEW. p53 IGF, AKT, and TOR are important in many cell procesess, including cell proliferation, differentiation, DNA repair.
Savitsky M, D Kwon, P Georgiev, A Kalmykova, V Gvozdev. Telomere elongation is under the control of the RNAi-based mechanism in the Drosophila germline
10.1101/gad.1363206. Genes Dev. 2006, 20 (3): 345-354
1-6

Trends Biotech Feb 2006

2006-01-31T08:12:00.000-08:00

Trends Biotech Feb 2006

Davies KG,J Wolf-Phillips. Scientific Citizenship and good governance: implications for biotechnology. Trends in Biotechnology 2006, 24 (2): 57-61
Yes. Science does not have boundary, and the scientists do have citizenships. But this scientific citizenship is different. It was proposed to "restore public trust and bridge the gap between science and the society that it serves".
Devlin RH, LF Sundstrom,WM Muir. Interface of biotechnology and ecology for environmental risk assessments of transgenic fish. Trends in Biotechnology 2006, 24 (2): 89-97
Honestly, I still do not really get what the authors suggest in order to better use transgenic fish.
Nilsson M, F Dahl, C Larsson, M Gullberg,J Stenberg. Analyzing genes using closing and replicating circles. Trends in Biotechnology 2006, 24 (2): 83-88
A review on analytical DNA circularization reactions, a good approach for high-throughout biological applications. Different models were discusssed in detail, including padlock probes and molecular inversion probes, selector-guided circularization of genomic sequences, circle-to-circle amplification, and Padlock probes in situ.
Palmer DH, LS Young,V Mautner. Cancer gene-therapy: clinical trials. Trends in Biotechnology 2006, 24 (2): 76-82
This review discussed approaches used for cancer gene therapy, including immunotherapy, mutant gene correction, pro-drug activation, oncolytic virus therapy, apoptosis pathyway manipulation and more.
Pissuwan D, SM Valenzuela,MB Cortie. Therapeutic possibilities of plasmonically heated gold nanoparticles. Trends in Biotechnology 2006, 24 (2): 62-67
Ok. We've another weapon against cancer.

Nat Genet Feb 2006

2006-01-30T08:57:00.000-08:00

Feb 2006

Evidence for an instructive mechanism of de novo methylation in cancer cells. Nature Genetics 38, 149 - 153 (2006) by Howard Cedar Group.
we have adopted a new approach for detecting CpG island DNA methylation that can be used together with microarray technology. Genome-wide analysis by this technique demonstrated that tumor-specific methylated genes belong to distinct functional categories, have common sequence motifs in their promoters and are found in clusters on chromosomes.
Their approach was to employ methyl-DNA immunoprecipitation (mDIP) assay, that used antibodies specific for 5-methyl–cytosine residues. They verified this approach by comparing tumor cell lines and normal cells. Then, they carried out genome-wide mDIP on DNA from the colon cancer cell line Caco-2. A set of 135 gene promoters that were specifically methylated in the cancer cell line
The most interesting finding was the set of genes methylated differently in tumor cells. They also further verified the expression levels of those genes in colon cancer. This paper worthy of a further look.
MKS1, encoding a component of the flagellar apparatus basal body proteome, is mutated in Meckel syndrome. Nature Genetics 38, 141 - 143 (2006)
The transmembrane protein meckelin (MKS3) is mutated in Meckel-Gruber syndrome and the wpk rat. Nature Genetics 38, 191 - 196 (2006)
The role of microRNA-1 and microRNA-133 in skeletal muscle proliferation and differentiation. Nature Genetics 38, 228 - 233 (2005) by Da-zhi Wang at UNC.
They showed miR-1 and miR-133 had distinct roles in modulating skeletal muscle proliferation and differentiation in cultured myoblasts in vitro and in Xenopus laevis embryos in vivo. Downsream pathways were also identified for those 2 miRNAs, including histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) and serum response factor (SRF) respectively.
Cooperative and antagonistic interactions between Sall4 and Tbx5 pattern the mouse limb and heart. Nature Genetics 38, 175 - 183 (2005) Published online: 25 December 2005; by Benoit G Bruneau group at The Hospital for Sick Children/U Toronto.
TBX5, a gene encoding a T-box transcription factor, and SALL4, a gene encoding a zinc-finger transcription factor both are critical in limb formation. They found Tbx5 regulated Sall4 expression in the developing mouse forelimb and heart.
Physiogenomic resources for rat models of heart, lung and blood disorders. Nature Genetics 38, 234 - 239 (2006). By Norman H Lee at TREX Inst Genomic Res.
The TIGR rodent expression web-based resource (TREX) contains over 2,200 microarray hybridizations, involving over 800 animals from 18 different rat strains.
Interesting concept. It would become fairly useful for physiological research. Thanks to our progress in bioinformatics.

HiSCR 1.02

2006-01-27T10:57:00.000-08:00

Updated journals

Nat Neurosci Feb 2006
EMBO J Feb 2006
Blood Epub
Oncogene 25 (4)
Dev 133 (4)
Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 7 (2)
Current Biol 16 (2)

Stem Cells

Cao R, Bjorndahl MA, Gallego MI, et al. Hepatocyte growth factor is a novel lymphangiogenic factor with an indirect mechamism of action. Blood 2006, PubMed ID: 16424394

Luschnig S, Batz T, Armbruster K, et al. serpentine and vermiform Encode Matrix Proteins with Chitin Binding and Deacetylation Domains that Limit Tracheal Tube Length in Drosophila. Curr Biol 2006, 16 (2): 186-94. PubMed ID: 16431371

Wang S, Jayaram SA, Hemphala J, et al. Septate-junction-dependent luminal deposition of chitin deacetylases restricts tube elongation in the Drosophila trachea. Curr Biol 2006, 16 (2): 180-5. PubMed ID: 16431370

Ma C, Benink HA, Cheng D, et al. Cdc42 activation couples spindle positioning to first polar body formation in oocyte maturation. Curr Biol 2006, 16 (2): 214-20. PubMed ID: 16431375

Cayuso J, Ulloa F, Cox B, et al. The Sonic hedgehog pathway independently controls the patterning, proliferation and survival of neuroepithelial cells by regulating Gli activity. Development 2006, 133 (3): 517-28. PubMed ID: 16410413

Hoch RV and Soriano P. Context-specific requirements for Fgfr1 signaling through Frs2 and Frs3 during mouse development. Development 2006, 133 (4): 663-73. PubMed ID: 16421190

Kele J, Simplicio N, Ferri AL, et al. Neurogenin 2 is required for the development of ventral midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Development 2006, 133 (3): 495-505. PubMed ID: 16410412

Liu H, Strauss TJ, Potts MB, et al. Direct regulation of egl-1 and of programmed cell death by the Hox protein MAB-5 and by CEH-20, a C. elegans homolog of Pbx1. Development 2006, 133 (4): 641-50. PubMed ID: 16421192

Mishra SK, Braun N, Shukla V, et al. Extracellular nucleotide signaling in adult neural stem cells: synergism with growth factor-mediated cellular proliferation. Development 2006, 133 (4): 675-84. PubMed ID: 16436623

Narbonne P and Roy R. Inhibition of germline proliferation during C. elegans dauer development requires PTEN, LKB1 and AMPK signalling. Development 2006, 133 (4): 611-9. PubMed ID: 16407400

Provot S, Kempf H, Murtaugh LC, et al. Nkx3.2/Bapx1 acts as a negative regulator of chondrocyte maturation. Development 2006, 133 (4): 651-62. PubMed ID: 16421188

Wu S, Wu Y and Capecchi MR. Motoneurons and oligodendrocytes are sequentially generated from neural stem cells but do not appear to share common lineage-restricted progenitors in vivo. Development 2006, 133 (4): 581-90. PubMed ID: 16407399

Chen JC, Hottes AK, McAdams HH, et al. Cytokinesis signals truncation of the PodJ polarity factor by a cell cycle-regulated protease. Embo J 2006, 25 (2): 377-86. PubMed ID: 16395329

Garcia Z, Kumar A, Marques M, et al. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase controls early and late events in mammalian cell division. Embo J 2006, PubMed ID: 16437156

Guenette S, Chang Y, Hiesberger T, et al. Essential roles for the FE65 amyloid precursor protein-interacting proteins in brain development. Embo J 2006, 25 (2): 420-31. PubMed ID: 16407979

Zheng X, Zugates CT, Lu Z, et al. Baboon/dSmad2 TGF-beta signaling is required during late larval stage for development of adult-specific neurons. Embo J 2006, PubMed ID: 16437159

Kessaris N, Fogarty M, Iannarelli P, et al. Competing waves of oligodendrocytes in the forebrain and postnatal elimination of an embryonic lineage. Nat Neurosci 2005, PubMed ID: 16388308

Ziv Y, Ron N, Butovsky O, et al. Immune cells contribute to the maintenance of neurogenesis and spatial learning abilities in adulthood. Nat Neurosci 2006, PubMed ID: 16415867

Li X, Deng W, Nail CD, et al. Snail induction is an early response to Gli1 that determines the efficiency of epithelial transformation. Oncogene 2006, 25 (4): 609-21. PubMed ID: 16158046

Zou GM, Chen JJ and Ni J. LIGHT induces differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells associated with activation of ERK5. Oncogene 2006, 25 (3): 463-9. PubMed ID: 16247486

General Readings

Critical nodes in signalling pathways: insights into insulin action. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 7, 85-96
Complex networks orchestrate epithelial–mesenchymal transitions. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 7, 131-142
Not so divided: the common basis of plant and animal cell division. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 7, 147-152
Mapping normal and cancer cell signalling networks: towards single-cell proteomics Nature Reviews Cancer 6, 146-155 The author argues the possible use of SINGLE cell proteomics to dissection singal pathways invovled in the cancer development and/or progression. The drug-resistant cell was their target, that may be just functional cancer stem cells. With the recent progress in singel cell isolation of breast cancer stem cells, it becomes possible. Question become how one could examine the cell's phenotype in vivo while ananlyze its proteome?
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: a model for the pharmacogenomics of cancer therapy Nature Reviews Cancer 6, 117-129
Bacher U, Haferlach T, Schoch C, et al. NRAS mutations in AML: biology, cytogenetics, and prognosis - a study on 2502 patients. Blood 2006, PubMed ID: 16434492
Levine RL, Belisle C, Wadleigh M, et al. X-inactivation based clonality analysis and quantitative JAK2V617F assessment reveals a strong association between clonality and JAK2V617F in PV but not ET/MMM, and identifies a subset of JAK2V617F negative ET and MMM patients with clonal hematopoiesis. Blood 2006, PubMed ID: 16434490
Kobayashi S, Isotani A, Mise N, et al. Comparison of gene expression in male and female mouse blastocysts revealed imprinting of the x-linked gene, rhox5/pem, at preimplantation stages. Curr Biol 2006, 16 (2): 166-72. PubMed ID: 16431368
Nie Z, Hirsch DS, Luo R, et al. A BAR Domain in the N Terminus of the Arf GAP ASAP1 Affects Membrane Structure and Trafficking of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor. Curr Biol 2006, 16 (2): 130-9. PubMed ID: 16431365
Smits VA, Reaper PM and Jackson SP. Rapid PIKK-Dependent Release of Chk1 from Chromatin Promotes the DNA-Damage Checkpoint Response. Curr Biol 2006, 16 (2): 150-9. PubMed ID: 16360315
Armant DR, Kilburn BA, Petkova A, et al. Human trophoblast survival at low oxygen concentrations requires metalloproteinase-mediated shedding of heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor. Development 2006, 133 (4): 751-9. PubMed ID: 16407398
Knapp JR, Davie JK, Myer A, et al. Loss of myogenin in postnatal life leads to normal skeletal muscle but reduced body size. Development 2006, 133 (4): 601-10. PubMed ID: 16407395
Liu H, Strauss TJ, Potts MB, et al. Direct regulation of egl-1 and of programmed cell death by the Hox protein MAB-5 and by CEH-20, a C. elegans homolog of Pbx1. Development 2006, 133 (4): 641-50. PubMed ID: 16421192
Seth A, Culverwell J, Walkowicz M, et al. belladonna/(lhx2) is required for neural patterning and midline axon guidance in the zebrafish forebrain. Development 2006, 133 (4): 725-35. PubMed ID: 16436624
Erber R, Eichelsbacher U, Powajbo V, et al. EphB4 controls blood vascular morphogenesis during postnatal angiogenesis. Embo J 2006, PubMed ID: 16424904
Goardon N, Lambert JA, Rodriguez P, et al. ETO2 coordinates cellular proliferation and differentiation during erythropoiesis. Embo J 2006, 25 (2): 357-66. PubMed ID: 16407974
Kharkovets T, Dedek K, Maier H, et al. Mice with altered KCNQ4 K(+) channels implicate sensory outer hair cells in human progressive deafness. Embo J 2006, PubMed ID: 16437162
Miserey-Lenkei S, Couedel-Courteille A, Del Nery E, et al. A role for the Rab6A' GTPase in the inactivation of the Mad2-spindle checkpoint. Embo J 2006, 25 (2): 278-89. PubMed ID: 16395330
He W, Lam TK, Obici S, et al. Molecular disruption of hypothalamic nutrient sensing induces obesity. Nat Neurosci 2006, PubMed ID: 16415870
Marmigere F, Montelius A, Wegner M, et al. The Runx1/AML1 transcription factor selectively regulates development and survival of TrkA nociceptive sensory neurons. Nat Neurosci 2006, PubMed ID: 16429136
Gaestel M. MAPKAP kinases - MKs - two's company, three's a crowd. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2006, PubMed ID: 16421520
Kobayashi Y, Ohtsuki M, Murakami T, et al. Histone deacetylase inhibitor FK228 suppresses the Ras-MAP kinase signaling pathway by upregulating Rap1 and induces apoptosis in malignant melanoma. Oncogene 2006, 25 (4): 512-24. PubMed ID: 16186804
Li X, Luwor R, Lu Y, et al. Enhancement of antitumor activity of the anti-EGF receptor monoclonal antibody cetuximab/C225 by perifosine in PTEN-deficient cancer cells. Oncogene 2006, 25 (4): 525-35. PubMed ID: 16170346

Data manipulation? or not.

2006-01-26T13:26:00.000-08:00

Recently, prestigious NEJM expressed their concerns about two of those articles from Dr. Jon Sudbø at Radiumhospitalet in Oslo, Norway. Concerns have been forwarded to the director of that institution. An investigation was expected.

This, along with other incidents on Lancet and Science, has severely hurt the reputation of science! The integrity of science should always be kept as our highest priority, and no excuse would be granted to hurt it. While the indivisuals are blamed, I also believe there may be a system problem of our current scientific community. Do we chase for the data too urgently? Why can not we do science like 20 years ago, with the drive to discover Veritas rather than to publish?

It was a pity.

Stem cell genes linked to Male Germ Cell Tumors

2006-01-26T07:45:00.000-08:00

Cancer Research reported:
12p Gene Cluster Projects Male GCT Stem-Cell Phenotype
Adult male germ cell tumors (GCT) show 12p gain in ~100% of cases, but the target genes are not clearly defined. In the January 15 issue of Cancer Research, Korkola et al. report results from _expression profiling that identified differentially expressed 12p genes within 101 GCT specimens. Genes in a 200kb cluster on 12p13.31, which included the stem-cell markers NANOG, GDF3, and STELLAR, were over-expressed in embryonal carcinoma and seminoma specimens but not in other GCT subtypes. To learn more, click here.

So are those the genes invovled in the development of cancer stem cells, at least in male germ tumors? It would also be interesting to look into the role of those new discovered stem cell-related genes in regulation of stem cell behaviors.

Letter to scienceblogs

2006-01-25T19:14:00.000-08:00

Dear staff,

My blogs are http://zhanglab.blogspot.com/ and http://drslk.blogspot.com

The Zhang Lab was dedicated into stem cell research, also covering recent biomedical literatures of general interest, for stem cell biologists. It includes highlights in stem cell research (HiSCR), journal club and general readings (GR). HiSCR was a collection of recent publications with immediate interest to stem cell biologists. I generally browse and pick up papers from Impact Factor more than 10 or so, therefore, the data in the paper would be more solid or less likely a fraud. In weekly journal club, I would discuss significance, perspective and problems/arguments about 1 or 2 recent interesting papers. Hopefully, JC would stimulate more serious thinking about such subject. GR is for brain storm, in my view. This collective reading list may help broarden our science thinking in certain way. These 3 parts would fit into general biologist or experienced stem cell biologist, as I propose
The later Dr. SLK was for clinical medicine with focus on pathology, which would become my clinical training specialty. I would comment on recent progress in medical fields, including general health news and publication in medical journals such as JAMA, NEJM, BMJ, Lancet, etc.

I have tried to find a place/site where many good scientists share their blogs of serious scientific thinking. With a link from Nat Genetics Blog, I found you site, and thought it would fit my blog perfectly.

Thank you very much for your consideration.

Lanjing Zhang, MD
PS, you may find my CV at http://myprofile.cos.com/ljzhang

lift spam ban

2006-01-25T11:40:00.000-08:00

Finally, the staff at blogger lift the ban on me. Free of those verification image!!

Thanks guys.

Hightlights in stem cell research 2006-1

2006-01-21T10:45:00.000-08:00

Jan 15-Jan 22, 2006

Updated Jounals
--Blood Read more
--Cancer Research Read more
--OncogeneRead more
--Nat Rev Genet Read more
--PNAS Read more
--Molecular cell Read more

Stem cell
--Prognostic significance of NOD2/CARD15 variants in HLA-identical sibling hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Effect on long term outcome is confirmed in 2 independent cohorts and may be modulated by the type of gastrointestinal decontamination. Blood published 19 January 2006
--Hepatocyte growth factor is a novel lymphangiogenic factor with an indirect mechamism of action. Blood published 19 January 2006
--Host factors that impact the biodistribution and persistence of multipotent adult progenitor cells. Blood. 2006 Jan 12
--Down-Regulation of Stem Cell Genes, Including Those in a 200-kb Gene Cluster at 12p13.31, Is Associated with In vivo Differentiation of Human Male Germ Cell Tumors. Cancer Res. 2006 Jan 15;66(2):820-7.
--LIGHT induces differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells associated with activation of ERK5. Oncogene. 2006 Jan 19;25(3):463-9.
--ES cells derived from cloned and fertilized blastocysts are transcriptionally and functionally indistinguishable PNAS published January 17, 2006
--A virus-specific CD8+ T cell immunodominance hierarchy determined by antigen dose and precursor frequencies PNAS published January 17, 2006
--Distribution of histone H3.3 in hematopoietic cell lineages PNAS 2006 103: 574-579; published online before print January 5 2006
--Stat5a/b are essential for normal lymphoid development and differentiation PNAS published January 17, 2006
--Xbves is a regulator of epithelial movement during early Xenopus laevis development PNAS 2006 103: 614-619; published online before print January 9 2006
--Germ-line induction of the Caenorhabditis elegans vulva PNAS 2006 103: 620-625; published online before print January 5 2006
--Antagonistic effect of CCAAT enhancer-binding protein- and Pax5 in myeloid or lymphoid lineage choice in common lymphoid progenitors PNAS 2006 103: 672-677; published online before print January 9 2006
--Mitochondrial DNA mutations are established in human colonic stem cells, and mutated clones expand by crypt fission PNAS 2006 103: 714-719; published online before print January 6 2006
--Natural variation and genetic covariance in adult hippocampal neurogenesis
PNAS 2006 103: 780-785; published online before print January 9 2006
--Calnexin is essential for rhodopsin maturation, ca(2+) regulation, and photoreceptor cell survival. Neuron. 2006 Jan 19;49(2):229-41

General Readings
--Rapamycin Disrupts Cyclin/Cyclin-Dependent Kinase/p21/Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen Complexes and Cyclin D1 Reverses Rapamycin Action by Stabilizing These Complexes. Cancer Res. 2006 Jan 15;66(2):1070-80.
--Antitumor Activity of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Related Protein Is Mediated by Inactivation of ErbB Receptors and Nuclear Factor-{kappa}B in Pancreatic Cancer. Cancer Res. 2006 Jan 15;66(2):1025-32.
--Restoring e-cadherin expression increases sensitivity to epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors in lung cancer cell lines. Cancer Res. 2006 Jan 15;66(2):944-50
--Angiopoietin 2 Induces Glioma Cell Invasion by Stimulating Matrix Metalloprotease 2 Expression through the vß1 Integrin and Focal Adhesion Kinase Signaling Pathway Cancer Res 2006 66: 775-783
--PTEN Autoregulates Its Expression by Stabilization of p53 in a Phosphatase-Independent Manner. Cancer Res 2006 66: 736-742
--Repression of the MSP/MST-1 gene contributes to the antiapoptotic gain of function of mutant p53.Oncogene 25: 359-369; advance online publication, September 19, 2005;
--E2F1 stability is regulated by a novel-PKC/p38beta MAP kinase signaling pathway during keratinocyte differentiation. Oncogene. 2006 Jan 19;25(3):430-7.
--REVIEW Towards multidimensional genome annotation. Nat Rev Genet. 2006 Feb;7(2):130-41.
--REVIEW Structural variation in the human genome. Nat Rev Genet. 2006 Feb;7(2):85-97.
--TAF7: A possible transcription initiation check-point regulator PNAS 2006 103: 602-607; published online before print January 9 2006
--A landscape effect in tenosynovial giant-cell tumor from activation of CSF1 expression by a translocation in a minority of tumor cells PNAS 2006 103: 690-695; published online before print January 6 2006
--Leptin: A potential novel antidepressant PNAS published January 19, 2006
--Analysis of P53 mutations and their expression in 56 colorectal cancer cell lines PNAS published January 17, 2006

Blogs

2006-01-21T10:07:00.000-08:00

Journal Club 06

2006-01-21T09:49:00.000-08:00

Nat Biotech 24 (3) Mar 2006. Stem cell growth factors.

Meeting with Kun-Liang

2006-01-20T09:40:00.000-08:00

My proposal for the blog,
1, It has 2 main parts, Jounral club and selected papers. The JC will include abstracts of 2 selected papers and my brief comments on significance and questions. Selected papers will include a list of ones for general stem cell biologists.
2, It was planned to invite the author of paper in JC to input on my comments. The author may have an account in this blog, that gives the right to post original article/message on this blog. S/he may choose not to respond at all.
3, It was also planned to invite external reviewer/contributor. They may input interesting paper/abstracts, and their comments.

Need to addess the following questions,
1, Does it need external reviewer/contributors?
2, Is it appropriate to invite the author?

Centers

2006-01-20T09:37:00.001-08:00

California State
Case Western Reserve University
Harvard University
International Stem Cell Forum
NIH Stem Cell
Stanford University
University of California at San Francisco
University of Cambridge
University of Edinburgh
University of Michigan
University of Minnesota
University of Pittsburgh
University of Sheffield
University of Wisconsin

Meetings 2006

2006-01-20T09:37:00.000-08:00

--March 12-17, 2006 Harbortown Ventura, CA Gordon-Fibroblast Growth Factors In Development & Disease More info

--March 20 - 23, 2006, University of York, United Kingdom British Society of Developmental Biology Spring Symposium More info

--March 27 - April 1, 2006 Whistler, British Columbia, Canada Keystone symposium- Stem Cells (G4) More info
Scholarship Deadline: Nov 28, 2005
Abstract Deadline: Nov 28, 2005
Late Abstract Deadline: Dec 19, 2005
Early Registration Deadline: Jan 27, 2006

--Apr 7 - 12, 2006 Snowbird, Utah, USA Keystone symposium-Wnt and beta-Catenin Signaling in Development and Disease (E1) More info
Scholarship Deadline: Dec 7, 2005
Abstract Deadline: Dec 7, 2005
Late Abstract Deadline: Dec 30, 2005
Early Registration Deadline: Feb 7, 2006

--June 11-16, 2006 Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Hong Kong, China Gordon-Molecular & Cellular Neurobiology More info

--June 17 - 21, 2006, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 65th SDB Annual Meeting More info
2. Online Abstract Submission - Deadline February 20, 2006
3. Online Meeting Registration - Deadline for early registration May 1, 2006
4. Boot Camp for New Faulty Application - Deadline April 3, 2006
5. Awards Application Form (PDF) - May 1,
--June 17, 2006, Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI The Physiology of Developmental Polarity More info

--June 18-23, 2006 Connecticut College, New London, CT, USA Gordon-Mammalian Gametogenesis & Embryogenesis More info

--June 29-July 1, 2006 Toronto, Ontario, Canada 4th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research More info
Important Dates
Abstract Submission Opens November 27, 2005
Abstract Submission Deadline February 7, 2006
Exhibit Space Contracts Due
(E-mail dpederson@isscr.org) May 19, 2006
Annual Meeting Support Contracts Due
(E-mail hgagnon@isscr.org) May 19, 2006
Hotel Reservation Discount Deadline May 26, 2006
Online Registration Opens January 2006

--July 15-18, 2006 Boston, Massachusetts, USA American Society for Cell Biology-Stem Cell Niches More info
Deadlines:
Abstract: 5/12/06
Travel Award: 5/19/2006
Registration: 5/31/06

--July 16-21, 2006 Connecticut College, New London, CT, USA Gordon-Growth Factor Signalling More info

--August 20-25, 2006 Salve Regina University, Newport, RI, Gordon-Neural Development More info

--October 27 - 29, 2006, Houston, Texas Stem Cells in Cancer and Regenerative Medicine More info

Societies

2006-01-20T09:35:00.001-08:00

American Association of Cancer Research
Abstract of ISSR
American Diabetes Association meeting
American Pancreatic Association
American Society for Cell Biology
American Society of Clinical Pathology
American Society of Investigative Pathology
British Society for Cell Biology
British Society for Developmental Biolgy
Cold Spring Harbor Lab meetings
Gordon Conferences
International meeting of Center for Organogenesis
International Stem Cell Forum
International Society for Stem Cell Ressearch
Keystone Symposia
Society for Developmental Biology

Journals

2006-01-20T09:35:00.000-08:00

Wed JAMA
Thu NEJM
Thu Nat
Sun BMJ
SciDirect
Fri SCI
Free Medical Journals

33.3 Nat Rev Cancer
30-28 Nat Med
26.7-27 Cell
26.5 Physiol Rev
26.4-26.7 Nat Genet
26 NAT REV MCB
22.8 Ann Rev Cell Dev Biol
21.7 Nature Rev Genet
21 Lancet
20.2-18.28 Nat Cell Biol
19.8 TiCB
19.0 Curr Opin Cell Biol
17.9-12.8 Nat Biotech
17.0-18.7 GeneDev
16.8-16.4 MOL CELL
15.8-11.5 DEV CELL
15.8 JEM
14.5 JNCI
14.39 TiBS
14 JCI
13.8 PLoS Biology
13.6 Neuron
13.6 NAT REV CA
13.3 Trends in Pharm Sci
13.2 Trends in Genet
13.0 PLoS Med
12.5 JCB
12.11 Curr Opin Gen Dev
11.9-8 Curr Biol
10.3-10.69 EMBO J
10.2-10.7 PNAS
10.0-09.63 Blood
08.80 MCB
08.31 Cancer Res
08.25 Diabetes
08.19 Cell Death Diff
07.8 Development
07.5 MBC
07.5 Lancet Oncol
07.2 FASEB J
06.95 JCS
06.75 Am J Path
06.69 JBC
06.3 Oncogene
05.6 Clin Cancer Res
05.3 J Path
05.22 J Cell Physiol
05.1 Dev Biol
04.8 Cell Mol Life Sci
04.6 AJSP
04.48 Differentiation
03.94 AJP-Cell Phyiol
03.8 Febs letters
03.8 Cell Growth Diff
03.7 Lab Investigation
03.6 Mod Path
03.3 Hum Path
03.26 Mech Dev
03.23 Front Biosci
02.87 Dev Dynam

Reading of the week

2006-01-20T07:29:00.000-08:00

Science
--Retraction of Hwang et al., Science 308 (5729) 1777-1783. Retraction of Hwang et al., Science 303 (5664) 1669-1674. Science 311, 335Interestingly, the first 2004 paper still has 7 authors refused to admit frauds. Maybe, the dog was real.
--Chromosomes Can Congress to the Metaphase Plate Before Biorientation
See Science 20 January 2006, 311, 388 - 391 and commentary. New wine in old bottle. Mitosis was further elucidated with the combination of live imaging system, molecular biology and chemical biology. Not my expertise, so no further comments.
--Sampling the Antibiotic Resistome Science 20 January 2006: 311, 374 - 377 A new some-ome. With the completion of Human Genome Project, Wright GD established a new one, namely antibiotic resistome. This paper gave us an early warning of antibioltic resistance. Out of 480 sampled microbes, very one of them was found resistant to 6-8 different antibiotics and some to as many as 20. See also perspective.

Nature
--New publishing rule on Cloning Nature 439, 243 (19 January 2006)
1.Mitochondrial DNA fingerprint comparison should be submitted to Nature, in addition to nuclear DNA FP.
2.If new ESC was established, one must compare its nuclear DNA fingerprint with existing ESC lines.
3.No independent verification is required, but be ready! Maybe Nature will ask for it in RARE cases.
4.To deposit to ATCC? Nature is weighing this reqirement.
--Sea of change. Nature 439, 256-260 (19 January 2006)
--Blue faculty Nature 439, 254 (19 January 2006).
AAMC new study suggests faculty members in med schools of US have as many as 1 of 5 depression symptoms. Young members and physicians have more chances.
--Scientific publishing: Peer review, unmasked. Nature 416, 258-260 (21 March 2002)
Open access peer review? Some new journals are experimenting this new way of paper evaluation. Given the competitiveness of biomedical fields, no big journals plan to adapt this open access peer review system.
--Cancer biology: Signatures guide drug choice. Nature 439, 274-275 (19 January 2006)
---Oncogenic pathway signatures in human cancers as a guide to targeted therapies. Nature 439, 353-357 (19 January 2006)
Joseph R. Nevins group at Duke showed deregulated oncogenic pathways differed in tumor types and correlated with clinical outcomes.
--- BRAF mutation predicts sensitivity to MEK inhibition Nature 439, 358-362 (19 January 2006) by Neal Rosen group at MSKCC.
They compared the sensitivities to ERK inhibitors in cancer cell lines with mutations of BRAF and RAS, both in vitro and in vivo. Addiontal mechanism was edemonstrated including loss of D-cylcin expression, Rb physphorylation, and G1 arrest induced by ERK inhibitor.
--A brain-specific microRNA regulates dendritic spine development Nature 439, 283-289 (19 January 2006) by Michael Greenberg group.

My 3 blogs

2006-01-19T13:08:00.000-08:00

It will be good to have one's own lab, but if not, one still can run for preparing for it. The Zhang Lab blog is my way of doing so. Now I'm serious about.

The main purposes of this site were
1, Pick recent papers of my special interest, if not significance;
2, Record my own experience about maturing to become an independent investigator;
3, Collect papers, and articles about sciencetific community.

Also, I am running this Dr SLK site, that was meant for my node site. Now it's been switched to the site of interesting health news. I plan to comment on those news a little bit, if possible.

The last one is my Chinese sina blog, that was meant for translation work on NEJM, and other leading medical journals. After running it for a while, I found I was not able to catch up with all 4-5 journals, including NEJM, JAMA, BMJ, Lancet, AIM, etc. It was of no choices but stopping translating all of those journals. Though I should and plan to continue reading them periodicaly.

HiSCR 2006

2006-01-19T11:16:00.000-08:00

Highlights in Stem Cell Research 2006

Reading of the week-1
HiSCR-1
HiSCR 1.02 For Chinese New Year of the DOG.

About me, Lanjing Zhang

2006-01-19T09:45:00.000-08:00

I am interested in stem cell biology, focusing on normal and cancerous pancreatic stem cells. I dream to have my own lab some day, hopefully, amongst those top stem cell and/or pancreatic cancer labs.

Currently, I am pursuing residency training in anatomic and clinical pathology at Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York City, that would provide me wonderful opportunities to explore the cellular and molecular mechanism of diabetes and pancreatic cancer. It is also one of the main reasons why I picked up Pathology as my medical specialty. And the other is my love of diagnosing diseases through slides.

Here is my profile on COS.

--In the middle of my primary prep culture.

General Readings 2006

2006-01-18T13:27:00.000-08:00

1, Jan 20, 2006

Career Dev 06

2006-01-18T13:22:00.000-08:00

Free Books and Journals

2006-01-17T19:39:00.000-08:00

Dev Biolby Scott F. Gilbert,
List of free resources from NLM, NIH,
Free Books from NLM,NIH,
BMC free journal list,
Directory of open access journals.

Nature Jobs-1 Meetings

2006-01-17T19:05:00.000-08:00

Just came cross a very impressive website about a career in science, nature jobs. Actually, more than just a career in science. Many pieces of advice were given regarding how to start your own lab, how to meet up peers in a meeting, etc. Well organized.
It's nature jobs

First article of my interest is the one about how to meet up with peers in a meeting. It is always rough to join the meeting, like a lost chicken as one of them said. The article is Nature 438, 1187 (December 2005) | doi:10.1038/nj7071-1187a , including two out linked articles Small conferences pay their way Nature 438, 264-265 (17 November 2005) and Meeting up Nature 436, 1060-1061 (August 2005). The Editor Paul Smaglik argues meetings would provide new collaborations and insights.

Recommended meetings
FASEB
Keystone
Gordon

On stem cells
ISSCR
ASCB
SDB
BSDB

Introduction

2005-12-30T11:07:00.000-08:00

This is the website for the coming Zhang Lab. My current research interest focuses on stem cell and pancreatic cancer. More links and posts will be added on a weekly basis.

Wish you find this site useful in stem cell or pancreatic cancer research.

Leave a comment if you have any question or suggestion.

美国社会与文化，观察与思考（47）

2005-12-13T10:42:00.000-08:00

美国社会与文化，观察与思考（47）——让人头疼脑袋大的美国educator们，以及liberal们

上一篇里，破解了美国现代教育之迷，说出了国内知识精英们不敢说出来，或是太笨蛋看不出来的美国现代教育是如何成功地服务于美国社会的秘密。这一篇里具体说说领导着美国教育的教育官僚们。这两篇文章的目的是同一个：使大家对美国的现代教育有一个到底是怎么一回事的实事求是的认识，好的、值得我们学习的、并且实际学得来的，咱们就努力学习、拿来应用；对那些学不来、没有用、瞎胡闹的东西，就大可不必五体投地、顶礼膜拜了。

Educator，中文一般翻译为教育工作者。这篇文章里我不说国内的教育工作者，因为我对他们没有直接的感性认识，所以不能胡说八道。但是我估计，他们也正在努力向着代表着现代化教育发展方向的美国的educator们看齐。在美国，当人们说起educator时，一般不是指从事具体教学工作的教师们，而是专指各级教育局的官僚们，或是大学教育系里擅长夸夸其谈的教育专家教授们。所以把educator 翻译为教育官僚、教育专家，那是极为恰当形象的。教育官僚和教育专家们理所当然地指引着美国教育的发展方向，制定着规定着各级教育方针各类教学大纲，想当然地指导着各级教师们使用什么样的教学方法，如何从事具体教学工作。这是一群让人头疼脑袋大的，实在不懂教育、又不愿意做具体工作，但是非常精通大话空谈、做官之道的教育官僚们，或是极为精通教育理论、善于夸夸其谈、基本不懂教学实践的教育专家们。

美国的各级教育官僚们是很有权利的，这是因为教育官僚们手里有钱——他们有着如何安排使用每年数目相当不少的教育经费的全部权力。市和县一级的教育局长是全民选举出来的（警察局长也是全民选举出来的），这就是说，当教育局长或是警察局长并不需要懂得教育或是法律治安，但是需要具有政治手腕，并且是有背景和来头的。美国的地方选举完全没有什么民主可言，基本是家族、地头蛇们之间的政治游戏而已。

我们这个县，人口近两万，有一所公立中学和三所公立小学。这些学校的校长和主要行政人员的任命、以及拨给教育经费的多少的决定大权基本掌握在以教育局长为头儿的教育委员会的手里。教育委员会的成员，有的地方是由这个县的全民选举产生，有的地方是教育局长提名，县政府通过。美国地方行政的规则形式是有些不大相同的。从新闻上听说，去年十一月的大选，宾西法尼亚州一个县的老百姓一不高兴，就把县里教育委员会的八个成员都给选了下去。

我们这个县不大，但是教育局的驾势可不小。教育局不在县政府的办公楼里，而是单独具有自己的一所建筑。教育委员会有权决定，我们县三所小学和一所中学行政教学人员的任命，教材的基本内容的增删，教学进度，建议教学方法和程序。例如，当前公立学校教育的一个争论热点是：生物课是否应该教授进化论，或是基督教的上帝创造论，或是二论都教授。我们县的学校是进化论、创造论并教的。

美国中学生们的平均学习成绩是世界出名的，总是倒数第几名。这与美国先进的教学设施、头等的教师配备、大量的教育资金，正好形成反比例。这当然很让美国的教育官僚们和教育专家教授们非常的难堪、下不来台。教育官僚们和教育专家们可不全是笨蛋饭桶，人家的脑袋瓜也很好使，不断地琢磨出新花招、新技巧、蹦出新路数来，企图修正提高美国学生们的学习成绩，或者至少说明教育官僚和专家们也在大卖力气、大动脑筋地努力改进、创新着。

我没有在美国的中学小学里教过书，但是我在美国的大学里教了近二十年的书了，大学生们都是从小学、中学里趟过去、混出来的，小学中学的教育灌输训练了他们的必要知识和基本技能，培养造就了他们的思考方式、思想方法、学习习惯。所以学生们在大学里的各种表现，最充分不过地体现显现了美国小学教育和中学教育的伟大成果。大学教育呢，就是在此结果上更上一层楼。

教育官僚和教育专家们绝对是维护人权的标兵和先锋：他们坚决反对强迫学生们学习，尤其是反对迫使学生们做作业。我问过我的学生们：你们上小学中学时做作业吗？百分之七十以上的学生大声回答：“不做！”教师留的作业都是愿者上勾的自愿性质的。

教育专家教授们强调：兴趣、兴趣、兴趣，启发学生们的兴趣，这是学生们学习动力、动机的根本。学生们厌烦所学科目，对于所学科目不感兴趣，这里的责任全部在于任课的教师。教师的工作和本事就是要使出浑身的解数、想方设法、翻筋斗、拿大顶、耍魔术引诱学生们上钩，使他们对你所教授的内容感兴趣。

我记得差不多十年前，我们这个学校迫于形势，请来教育专家们专门讲解演示上课时如何能够提起学生们的精神，引诱学生们上钩，使他们对于教学的内容感兴趣。例如生物课讲解某类植物动物，让学生们自愿结合成为小组，分别学习这段课本内容的一部分，然后推选出代表，向全班讲解这部分内容。这教育专家演示的都是中学课程或是小学课程的教学，却要大学教师照猫画虎。我当时就提问：“对于数学课程比如微积分和线性代数，如何做这样的学生分组自学的处理呢？”专家“啊”了一声，眼珠一转，马上转了话题。我估计这教育专家一定是见了微积分和线性代数就躲着走的。

明白人都知道大学课程中能够依靠学生的兴趣来教学的，只有少数课程的部分内容有可能这样做。好在教育官僚和专家们确实是非常的忙，他们的眼睛不能老是盯着一个地方。所以这股强调教学凭借“兴趣”之风，随着时间的推移，渐渐地减弱没声了。但是最近这两年，“兴趣论”换了一个新面目，又拱了出来。

教育专家们近两年来提出一个新的教学指导方针是team learning，older students teach younger students（分组学习，高年级学生教低年级Ｄ敲唇淌Ω墒裁茨兀拷淌Υ蟾抛疃嘁簿褪腔疃镜母ǖ荚保蚴俏种刃虻木炝恕?p> 我们这大学里倒没有强调高年级学生教低年级学生上课的这类的荒唐事，但是这个分组学习（team learning）的压力很大。上面的教育官僚们对学校的头儿们施加压力，学校和系里的头儿们把他们头顶上的压力一股脑儿地推了下来，要求每个教师考虑修改自己课程的教案，放进分组学习的内容。学校和系里的头儿们比较接近教学实际，他们其实挺明白，也很讨厌教育官僚们脱离实际的那套胡说八道，但是没辙，他们还要向上汇报这个team learning的执行情况，以显示自己的执政功绩呢。

民主的一大优点就是能够提供给大批官僚们以铁饭碗金饭碗。民主吗，就需要到处制定一大堆详细得不能再详细了的规矩和规定，然后当然就得有监督执行这一大堆规矩规定的官僚们，然后是监督这些官僚们的另一些官僚们。

公平地说，建立起一定的有关一个学校经济管理和教学运作的规矩和规定是非常必要的。没有这样规矩和规定，不少学校很可能就会瞎胡来乱了套。于是，组织人定期检查这些规矩和规定的执行情况，也是必要的。但是，人类是一些很奇怪的动物：无论什么很有道理、深具理性、挺好的事情和事业，只要持续的时间稍微一长，就能变得臃肿不堪、冗长罗嗦、面目几乎全非，成为一些正事干不来、邪门歪道不少、脑袋瓜儿灵活乱转的人们趁机占便宜、混饭吃、大捞一把的招摇撞骗之地。

我们这个学校属于南方教育委员会的管辖，教育委员会们应该属于教育部。所谓受管辖，实际上就是接受定期审查：十年一大查，五年一小查（这为教育官僚们造就了大量的显示权威运用权力的大好机会和大摞的饭碗）。审查基本是两大内容：学校的经济状况和教学状况。十年的这一大查尤其厉害，各项准备工作要在两年前就开始，要准备上报的各种数字文件那可是海了去了。学校要专门雇用熟悉擅长写作官僚语言的专家和专门人才，来精心斟酌撰写这些官僚文件。听说，全部汇报文件摞在一起有好几英尺高（现在是还要烧到光盘上）。没有人相信工作组的教育官僚们会一页一页地阅读全部文件。

教育官僚的工作组下来审查，他们活动的全部经费要由被审查的学校负责，而且这个学校是一定要有专人出面，负责好吃好喝、绝对殷勤周到地招待着这群上头下来的官僚们的。有一年，来我们学校审查工作的工作组的头儿不知怎么搞的总是成心找别扭，弄得学校的头儿们左右为难。后来有本事的人拐弯抹角地探听弄明白了：原来是在工作组下车的第一天，学校负责接待的人员忘记了在教育官僚们的休息室里的大桌子上摆上一大篮精心挑选的新鲜水果。

认真观察一下美国臃肿的教育机构和这一大群教育官僚们的“繁忙”工作之后，任何有着条理性头脑的明白人都会得出同样的结论：我要是教育部长，就把这些机构和官僚们裁掉至少一半以上。但是，话说回来，把这么多的官僚们都裁掉，让他们去干什么呢？社会上没事干的闲人（尤其是知识分子）多起来，就要出乱子了。而且再说，我要真能爬到美国的教育部长的位置上的话，那我也一定是早已在大染缸里泡得从里到外变了颜色，成为一个极为熟悉官僚路数的大官僚了，而不可能是一个有着条理性头脑、还算清白、还是清醒的明白人的。

一个不是完全题外话的有关中学教师的资格的问题：在美国并不是有了大学毕业文凭、有着硕士学位、博士学位就可以在公立的中学里教书的。比如我有博士学位，可以在大学里教书，但是却不能在中学（公立）里教书。这是教育官僚们、中学教师们力图保住自己的权力和饭碗的一个绝招：要想进中学教书，就必须到大学的教育系或是教育学院，进修学习两年关于教育的课程之后，通过乱七八糟的考试，领一个合格证书。这是已经成为立了法的规定。两年四个学期的时间，近二十门课也就是教育史、教育学、心理学、教学法、教材组织法等等。说实在的，作为一个中学教师所需要的心理学、教材组织教学方法的必备知识，办一个两个星期的学习班也就足够了。把两个星期硬拉成两年，教育官僚和教育专家们用心良苦地以长时间来强调教书的专业性，实际是在成心地折磨具有独立思考头脑的正常人——除非你甘愿做一个教育官僚和教育专家们的驯服工具，接受了他们这一大套极为繁琐的教学方针教学法，你就别想当教师。我没有修过这些心理学、教学法之类的课，但是我在大学里教了近二十年的书，绝对是一个合格的优秀教师。其实绝大多数有着独立思考头脑的人都受不了这样两年长时间的精神折磨，去领取一个合格证书。于是，他们即使有着各种学位，也是抢不了中学教师的饭碗的。那么中学教育官僚们也就不会受到独立思考头脑的各种尖锐挑战了。

一个相当有些意思的现象是：美国的教育官僚和教育专家们多是liberal。Liberal的中文翻译是自由主义者、开明的人。在现代的美国，掌实权握大权的是极右保守派。美国的民主党多是liberal们，而共和党则是保守右派们。民主政治，例如美国的民主党和共和党高声辩论激烈打架、互相掐得不亦乐乎，其实是在玩“好警察坏警察”的游戏，目的是同一个：为着美国的国家利益而服务。真正理性意义上的左派（比如共产党），早就基本消失不见了，只剩下理性的环境保护主义者们那么一小撮了，这是一小群非常值得尊敬的、仍然具有理性思维能力的真正的好人，但是他们在美国人民中基本没有什么影响力。

比较于极端贪婪自私和顽固保守的美国右派，我还是要选择美国的liberal们，虽然liberal们真是让人头疼脑袋大。我一点都不怀疑：liberal的大多数是非常好心、热爱平等的人们，但是他们做起事来真是不行，因为不是从现实实际出发，多是成事不足败事有余，其结果是让人哭笑不得。

Liberal们热爱平等，讲究人权。他们中的很多人确实从心眼里相信大家都是一样的，“人人都是爱因斯坦”：只要给予大家合适的环境和公平的机会，人人都能成为爱因斯坦。那么为什么实实在在的事实是人人都不是爱因斯坦呢？这就是环境和机会的问题了。于是liberel们就毕生地为着给大家创造合适环境、争取平等机会而奋斗折腾了。这对于改变美国社会弱势阶层的恶劣被动处境，确实起了根本性的作用。例如，美国的社会福利体系，基本是liberal拼命奋斗争取来的结果（当然右派最终同意并采用了社会福利体系，是因为他们看到这样有利于美国社会的稳定，于是能够带来资本的扩大、赚取更多的利润）。又如，黑人、少数民族、妇女的权利，残疾人的权利，都是liberal们奋力争取来的。

Liberal们的毛病至少有两个，一个是只讲个人权利，不讲个人责任；另一个是闭眼不看、或是睁眼楞是看不见人与人之间的差别与不同。这正是现代liberal们成事不足败事有余的原因。

不讲个人责任，于是教师无法要求学生们认真学习、练习、做作业；不讲能力的差别，教师只好把学生们倒在大锅里一块烩一锅炖，或是拽着脖子拔高，把学生们都当作天才爱因斯坦。

但是，liberal们的这两个毛病是一定不可以批评指正的：因为那样做是政治上不正确的。政治正确性（politically correctness）是与liberal有关的，相当奇怪、极为引人深思的现代美国社会的一大景观。美国社会的这个极为有意思的“政治正确性”的强大社会舆论，需要另外专门做文章来讨论和分析，这里就不多说了。

2006-1-11

Thoughts

2005-02-19T16:36:00.000-08:00

Adam Rubenstein and his blog