In light of the study showing that bacteria with a particular form of the protein DnaK can interfere with a cell’s response to DNA damage and the ability to repair such damage, I have been thinking about what kinds of cancers may have a bacterial cause or contribution. The one that the researchers studied to … Read more
In a study of infection by bacteria of the mycoplasma family, researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have discovered that the bacterial protein DnaK triggers a cascade of events that can cause infected cells and nearby uninfected cells to become cancerous. DnaK is a prokaryotic stress-induced protein (Figure 1) that is a … Read more
Changes in how the brain processes memories of pleasurable or rewarding experiences contribute to addiction and depression. A study in mice by LeGates and colleagues provides clues to how the brain processes and remembers rewards, which is key to understanding and treating these mental health disorders. They used light-activated proteins (optogenetics) to alter the strength … Read more