The completion of the genome sequences of both humans and mice challenges biologists to determine gene function on a vast, whole-organism scale. Both phenotype-based ('forward') and gene-based ('reverse') strategies are being developed to approach this issue. Forward-genetic approaches, however, provide the unique ability of assigning function to genes in an unbiased, global manner that is independent of previous assumptions about gene function. In this article, we compare various genetic technologies for their potential role in dissecting immune-system development and function, with particular emphasis on the worldwide efforts that use chemical mutagenesis as a forward-genetic strategy.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nri1109 | DOI Listing |
Syst Biol Reprod Med
December 2025
Department of Biosciences and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have acquired an increased recognition to unravel the complex molecular mechanisms underlying Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR), one of the main responsible for infertility. To investigate the impact of miRNA profiles in granulosa cells and follicular fluid, crucial players in follicle development, this study employed a computational network theory approach to reconstruct potential pathways regulated by miRNAs in granulosa cells and follicular fluid of women suffering from DOR. Available data from published research were collected to create the FGC_MiRNome_MC, a representation of miRNA target genes and their interactions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Biosci (Landmark Ed)
January 2025
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 330006 Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
Background: It has been reported the therapeutic effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on hearing loss. This study explored the therapeutic effects of growth differentiation factor 6 (GDF6) overexpression-induced MSCs (MSCs-GDF6) on age-related hearing loss (ARHL) and its underlying mechanisms.
Methods: Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting were used to evaluate gene expression.
Front Biosci (Landmark Ed)
January 2025
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Jiangyin Hospital of Nantong University, 214400 Jiangyin, Jiangsu, China.
Background: This study investigates the role of small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-specific peptidase 5 (SENP5), a key regulator of SUMOylation, in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), a lethal disease, and its underlying molecular mechanisms.
Methods: Differentially expressed genes between ESCC mouse oesophageal cancer tissues and normal tissues were analysed via RNA-seq; among them, SENP5 expression was upregulated, and this gene was selected for further analysis. Immunohistochemistry and western blotting were then used to validate the increased protein level of SENP5 in both mouse and human ESCC samples.
Front Biosci (Landmark Ed)
January 2025
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI 49401, USA.
Background: Diabetes mellitus is associated with morphological and functional impairment of the heart primarily due to lipid toxicity caused by increased fatty acid metabolism. Extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) have been implicated in the metabolism of fatty acids in the liver and skeletal muscles. However, their role in the heart in diabetes remains unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Biosci (Landmark Ed)
January 2025
Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.
Background: The inheritance of the short allele, encoding the serotonin transporter (SERT) in humans, increases susceptibility to neuropsychiatric and metabolic disorders, with aging and female sex further exacerbating these conditions. Both central and peripheral mechanisms of the compromised serotonin (5-HT) system play crucial roles in this context. Previous studies on SERT-deficient (Sert) mice, which model human SERT deficiency, have demonstrated emotional and metabolic disturbances, exacerbated by exposure to a high-fat Western diet (WD).
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