NIGMS

A brain-builder called “Shh”

New findings demonstrate a previously unappreciated role of Shh signaling activity in the proliferation of CGNPs — the presumed cell-of-origin for a subset of the malignant pediatric brain tumor medulloblastoma.

Investigators find that bile acids reduce cocaine reward

Bile acids — gut compounds that aid in the digestion of dietary fats — reduce the desire for cocaine, according to a new study by researchers at Vanderbilt and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Predictive models for gene regulation

Using new computational approaches to understand the behavior of cells should aid efforts to predict how mutations affect cell function and how diseases respond to drug combinations.

Repairs in the basement membrane

Studies in fruit flies have shed light on how the basement membrane — a sheet-like scaffold that wraps around most animal tissues — is repaired after being damaged.

Genetic balancing act

New findings about proteins involved in DNA repair are important for understanding why some cancers are more or less resistant to certain therapies.

How asters form

New findings shed light on the formation of microtubule structures that support cellular processes ranging from cell division to intracellular transport.

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