Multifunctional tool CRUP makes enhancer prediction quick and easy

21-Nov-2019

It is the the dream of every molecular geneticist: an easy-to-use program that compares data sets from different cellular conditions, identifies enhancer regions and then assigns them to their target genes. A research team led by Professor Martin Vingron at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular ...

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11-Nov-2019

Quality of induced pluripotent stem cells is dramatically enhanced by omitting what was thought to be the most crucial reprogramming factor. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine in Münster showed that Oct4, a factor most commonly used for reprogramming, is detrimental ...

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Cancer patients with more different HLA genes respond better to treatment

11-Nov-2019

The constant battle against infectious pathogens has had a decisive influence on the human immune system over the course of our evolution. A key role in our adaptation to pathogens is played by HLA molecules. These proteins activate the immune system by presenting it with fragments of pathogens ...

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Researchers slow the growth of pancreatic tumour cells

08-Nov-2019

Mitochondria burn oxygen and provide energy for the body. Cells lacking oxygen or nutrients have to change their energy supply quickly in order to keep growing. In a study published in Nature, scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing have now shown that mitochondria are ...

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07-Nov-2019

Our organs are specialized compartments, each with its own milieu and function. To seal our organs, the cells in the tissue must form a barrier which is tight even down to the level of molecules. This barrier is formed by a protein complex that “sticks” all the cells together without any gaps. ...

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A marine pathogenic bacterium forms specialized cells for dissemination

29-Oct-2019

Vibrio parahaemolyticus can be found in the tidal zones in estuarine areas. The marine bacterium causes acute gastroenteritis in humans and is the leading cause for seafood borne illnesses in the world. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for terrestrial Microbiology in Marburg, Germany, ...

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Reduced food intake in old mice can no longer improve health

24-Oct-2019

Reduced food intake helps both animals and humans to improve health in old age and can prolong life. But when do you have to change your diet to achieve this benefit in old age? Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, the Excellence Cluster for Ageing Research at the ...

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Max Planck scientists describe mechanism of partial phagocytosis

23-Oct-2019

Cells can cut up rough: They will sometimes even gnaw at a partner in order to get rid of it as quickly as possible. This mechanism, known as trogocytosis (Greek: trogo, to gnaw), is important for cell sorting, and plays a role in processes as diverse as embryonic development and the interaction ...

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Immune cells can be the body's defenders and foes at the same time

21-Oct-2019

Malaria is one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases: a small mosquito bite delivers numerous malaria parasites into the bloodstream. The human body defends itself valiantly against the parasite, which usually results in periodic flu-like symptoms and severe fever. Severe cases of the ...

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Scientists use mass spectrometry to determine the absolute copy number of nuclear proteins and histone marks

21-Oct-2019

Currently, most if not all of the proteins that are required for constructing a multicellular organism are known. However, it is largely unclear how many copies of each protein species are present and needed to permit an animal to develop into a complete organism. Researchers at the Max Planck ...

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