DNA :: Where broken DNA is repaired

Ionizing radiation, toxic chemicals, and other agents continually damage the body’s DNA, threatening life and health: unrepaired DNA can lead to mutations, which in turn can lead to diseases like cancer. Intricate DNA repair mechanisms in the cells’ nuclei are constantly working to fix what’s broken, but whether the repair work happens “on the road” ? right where the damage occurs ? or “in the shop” ? at specific regions of the nucleus ? is an unanswered question.

Asthma :: ESRF lightsource helps tailoring new treatments against asthma

Asthma affects 300 million people worldwide and, according to World Health Organization, it killed 255 000 people in 2005. Asthma attacks are caused by an acute inflammatory reaction in the airways, a reaction that is largely due to actions of LTC4 synthase (an enzyme which catalyzes a synthesis process). For this reason asthma medicines often aim to block the downstream effects of LTC4 synthase.

Gene :: Live broadcasts

A new receptor gene has been discovered that could help scientists learn more about events taking place in situations that are usually subjected to barriers, such as fetal development or those occurring within the central nervous system.