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When Water Temperatures Change, the Molecular Motors of Cephalopods Do Too

RNA recoding is widespread in some animals, though not humans; UC San Diego researchers report squid employ it to dynamically alter key proteins to work better in colder water

A New Map Reveals the Complicated World in Which Cells Seek to Repair Damaged DNA

A diverse team of scientists, led by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, have produced a novel map that depicts the human body’s enormously complicated and highly evolved system for addressing and repairing DNA damage — a cause and consequence of many diseases.

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The Acute Problem of Chronic Disease

In a wide-ranging paper, a UC San Diego physician-scientist explains why all chronic diseases are linked by the underlying failure of cells and the body to heal completely

T Cells Can Activate Themselves to Fight Tumors

UC San Diego scientists find an auto-signaling mechanism driving the T cell anti-tumor response

Air Pollution May Increase Risk of Dementia, Complicated by Genetics

Study finds ambient air pollution associated with specific aspects of dementia, such as worse verbal fluency; having one version of a specific gene appears to boost and complicate the risk

Too Much Insulin Can Be as Dangerous as Too Little

Researchers identify a key player that helps prevent “insulin shock” and may lead to a therapeutic alternative to the hormone used by millions of persons with diabetes

How a Virus Causes Chromosomal Breakage, Leading to Cancer

The ubiquitous Epstein-Barr virus targets “fragile DNA,” triggering dysfunction that is associated with a variety of cancers

DNA Treatment Could Delay Paralysis That Strikes Nearly All Patients with ALS

In both mouse and human motor neuron studies, a DNA designer drug restored levels of a protein necessary to keep motor neurons functioning, returning activity impaired in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; findings could lead to clinical trials.

A Potential New Target for Head and Neck Cancer Immunotherapy

UC San Diego scientists link high levels of a gene product, abundantly produced by many types of cancer, with an elevated immune response and improved outcomes in the most common form of head and neck cancer.

Splicing Deregulation Detected and Targeted in Type of Childhood Leukemia

In some children, pediatric acute myeloid leukemia can become resistant to treatment; UC San Diego researchers think they now know why.

Small Molecule Drug Reverses ADAR1-induced Cancer Stem Cell Cloning Capacity

In cancer stem cell and animal models, rebecsinib reversed overactive protein splicing of ADAR1 protein that drives cloning capacity and immune evasion by many malignancies.

Host-Cell Factors Involved in COVID-19 Infections May Augur Improved Treatments

By addressing molecules governing how host cells respond to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, researchers hope they’ve found a new therapeutic target less vulnerable to potential drug resistance and emerging variants of concern

How Pancreatic Cancer Defies Treatment

UC San Diego researchers describe how pancreatic cancer stem cells leverage a protein in a family of proteins that normally suppress tumors to instead do the opposite, boosting their resistance to conventional treatments and spurring growth

In the Wake of a Wildfire, Embers of Change in Cognition and Brain Function Linger

UC San Diego scientists found that persons exposed to the deadly Camp Fire in 2018 displayed altered cognitive function months later; it’s new evidence of a growing phenomenon known as “climate trauma”

Study Identifies Cause for Excessive Folding of Gyri in Human Cerebral Cortex

Brain’s characteristic wrinkled surface is generally an indicator of higher cognitive function, but too much folding can produce the opposite effect

Study Identifies Cause for Mysterious Cases of Epilepsy in Children

International collaboration uncovers mosaicism, a condition in which cells within the same person have a different genetic makeup, as a cause for pediatric seizures

Marine Plankton Tell the Long Story of Ocean Health, and Maybe Human Too

Tapping an almost century-long survey, UC San Diego researchers say these microscopic organisms may offer way to monitor historical marine pollution trends; and perhaps be used to predict trends in childhood and adult chronic illnesses

New Computer Program ‘Learns’ to Identify Mosaic Mutations That Cause Disease

Inspired by the human brain, an artificial neural network was trained to spot tiny mutations in genetic sequences better and faster than human eyes

Looking for an Early Sign of LATE

Limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE) mimics Alzheimer’s, but it’s a different disease and very hard to differentiate; new findings suggest a possible clue

CRISPR Technology Improves Huntington’s Disease Symptoms in Models

By directly targeting RNA, UC San Diego researchers were able to eliminate toxic protein buildup that causes the progressive neurodegenerative condition while not significantly disrupting other human genes