Trends Biotech Feb 2006

Trends Biotech Feb 2006

• Davies KG,J Wolf-Phillips. Scientific Citizenship and good governance: implications for biotechnology. Trends in Biotechnology 2006, 24 (2): 57-61
  Yes. Science does not have boundary, and the scientists do have citizenships. But this scientific citizenship is different. It was proposed to "restore public trust and bridge the gap between science and the society that it serves".
• Devlin RH, LF Sundstrom,WM Muir. Interface of biotechnology and ecology for environmental risk assessments of transgenic fish. Trends in Biotechnology 2006, 24 (2): 89-97
  Honestly, I still do not really get what the authors suggest in order to better use transgenic fish.
• Nilsson M, F Dahl, C Larsson, M Gullberg,J Stenberg. Analyzing genes using closing and replicating circles. Trends in Biotechnology 2006, 24 (2): 83-88
  A review on analytical DNA circularization reactions, a good approach for high-throughout biological applications. Different models were discusssed in detail, including padlock probes and molecular inversion probes, selector-guided circularization of genomic sequences, circle-to-circle amplification, and Padlock probes in situ.
• Palmer DH, LS Young,V Mautner. Cancer gene-therapy: clinical trials. Trends in Biotechnology 2006, 24 (2): 76-82
  This review discussed approaches used for cancer gene therapy, including immunotherapy, mutant gene correction, pro-drug activation, oncolytic virus therapy, apoptosis pathyway manipulation and more.
• Pissuwan D, SM Valenzuela,MB Cortie. Therapeutic possibilities of plasmonically heated gold nanoparticles. Trends in Biotechnology 2006, 24 (2): 62-67
  Ok. We've another weapon against cancer.
  

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Nat Genet Feb 2006

Nat Genet Feb 2006

• Evidence for an instructive mechanism of de novo methylation in cancer cells. Nature Genetics 38, 149 - 153 (2006) by Howard Cedar Group.

  we have adopted a new approach for detecting CpG island DNA methylation that can be used together with microarray technology. Genome-wide analysis by this technique demonstrated that tumor-specific methylated genes belong to distinct functional categories, have common sequence motifs in their promoters and are found in clusters on chromosomes.
  Their approach was to employ methyl-DNA immunoprecipitation (mDIP) assay, that used antibodies specific for 5-methyl–cytosine residues. They verified this approach by comparing tumor cell lines and normal cells. Then, they carried out genome-wide mDIP on DNA from the colon cancer cell line Caco-2. A set of 135 gene promoters that were specifically methylated in the cancer cell line

  The most interesting finding was the set of genes methylated differently in tumor cells. They also further verified the expression levels of those genes in colon cancer. This paper worthy of a further look.
  
• MKS1, encoding a component of the flagellar apparatus basal body proteome, is mutated in Meckel syndrome. Nature Genetics 38, 141 - 143 (2006)
  
• The transmembrane protein meckelin (MKS3) is mutated in Meckel-Gruber syndrome and the wpk rat. Nature Genetics 38, 191 - 196 (2006)
  
• The role of microRNA-1 and microRNA-133 in skeletal muscle proliferation and differentiation. Nature Genetics 38, 228 - 233 (2005) by Da-zhi Wang at UNC.
  They showed miR-1 and miR-133 had distinct roles in modulating skeletal muscle proliferation and differentiation in cultured myoblasts in vitro and in Xenopus laevis embryos in vivo. Downsream pathways were also identified for those 2 miRNAs, including histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) and serum response factor (SRF) respectively.
  
• Cooperative and antagonistic interactions between Sall4 and Tbx5 pattern the mouse limb and heart. Nature Genetics 38, 175 - 183 (2005) Published online: 25 December 2005; by Benoit G Bruneau group at The Hospital for Sick Children/U Toronto.
  TBX5, a gene encoding a T-box transcription factor, and SALL4, a gene encoding a zinc-finger transcription factor both are critical in limb formation. They found Tbx5 regulated Sall4 expression in the developing mouse forelimb and heart.
  
• Physiogenomic resources for rat models of heart, lung and blood disorders. Nature Genetics 38, 234 - 239 (2006). By Norman H Lee at TREX Inst Genomic Res.
  

  The TIGR rodent expression web-based resource (TREX) contains over 2,200 microarray hybridizations, involving over 800 animals from 18 different rat strains.

  Interesting concept. It would become fairly useful for physiological research. Thanks to our progress in bioinformatics.
  

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HiSCR 1.02

Updated journals

• Nat Neurosci Feb 2006
• EMBO J Feb 2006
• Blood Epub
• Oncogene 25 (4)
• Dev 133 (4)
• Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 7 (2)
• Current Biol 16 (2)

Stem Cells

• Cao R, Bjorndahl MA, Gallego MI, et al. Hepatocyte growth factor is a novel lymphangiogenic factor with an indirect mechamism of action. Blood 2006, PubMed ID: 16424394
  




• Luschnig S, Batz T, Armbruster K, et al. serpentine and vermiform Encode Matrix Proteins with Chitin Binding and Deacetylation Domains that Limit Tracheal Tube Length in Drosophila. Curr Biol 2006, 16 (2): 186-94. PubMed ID: 16431371
  
• Wang S, Jayaram SA, Hemphala J, et al. Septate-junction-dependent luminal deposition of chitin deacetylases restricts tube elongation in the Drosophila trachea. Curr Biol 2006, 16 (2): 180-5. PubMed ID: 16431370
  
• Ma C, Benink HA, Cheng D, et al. Cdc42 activation couples spindle positioning to first polar body formation in oocyte maturation. Curr Biol 2006, 16 (2): 214-20. PubMed ID: 16431375
  
• Cayuso J, Ulloa F, Cox B, et al. The Sonic hedgehog pathway independently controls the patterning, proliferation and survival of neuroepithelial cells by regulating Gli activity. Development 2006, 133 (3): 517-28. PubMed ID: 16410413
  
• Hoch RV and Soriano P. Context-specific requirements for Fgfr1 signaling through Frs2 and Frs3 during mouse development. Development 2006, 133 (4): 663-73. PubMed ID: 16421190
  
• Kele J, Simplicio N, Ferri AL, et al. Neurogenin 2 is required for the development of ventral midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Development 2006, 133 (3): 495-505. PubMed ID: 16410412
  
• Liu H, Strauss TJ, Potts MB, et al. Direct regulation of egl-1 and of programmed cell death by the Hox protein MAB-5 and by CEH-20, a C. elegans homolog of Pbx1. Development 2006, 133 (4): 641-50. PubMed ID: 16421192
  
• Mishra SK, Braun N, Shukla V, et al. Extracellular nucleotide signaling in adult neural stem cells: synergism with growth factor-mediated cellular proliferation. Development 2006, 133 (4): 675-84. PubMed ID: 16436623
  
• Narbonne P and Roy R. Inhibition of germline proliferation during C. elegans dauer development requires PTEN, LKB1 and AMPK signalling. Development 2006, 133 (4): 611-9. PubMed ID: 16407400
  
• Provot S, Kempf H, Murtaugh LC, et al. Nkx3.2/Bapx1 acts as a negative regulator of chondrocyte maturation. Development 2006, 133 (4): 651-62. PubMed ID: 16421188
  
• Wu S, Wu Y and Capecchi MR. Motoneurons and oligodendrocytes are sequentially generated from neural stem cells but do not appear to share common lineage-restricted progenitors in vivo. Development 2006, 133 (4): 581-90. PubMed ID: 16407399
  
• Chen JC, Hottes AK, McAdams HH, et al. Cytokinesis signals truncation of the PodJ polarity factor by a cell cycle-regulated protease. Embo J 2006, 25 (2): 377-86. PubMed ID: 16395329
  
• Garcia Z, Kumar A, Marques M, et al. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase controls early and late events in mammalian cell division. Embo J 2006, PubMed ID: 16437156
  
• Guenette S, Chang Y, Hiesberger T, et al. Essential roles for the FE65 amyloid precursor protein-interacting proteins in brain development. Embo J 2006, 25 (2): 420-31. PubMed ID: 16407979
  
• Zheng X, Zugates CT, Lu Z, et al. Baboon/dSmad2 TGF-beta signaling is required during late larval stage for development of adult-specific neurons. Embo J 2006, PubMed ID: 16437159
  
• Kessaris N, Fogarty M, Iannarelli P, et al. Competing waves of oligodendrocytes in the forebrain and postnatal elimination of an embryonic lineage. Nat Neurosci 2005, PubMed ID: 16388308
  
• Ziv Y, Ron N, Butovsky O, et al. Immune cells contribute to the maintenance of neurogenesis and spatial learning abilities in adulthood. Nat Neurosci 2006, PubMed ID: 16415867
  
• Li X, Deng W, Nail CD, et al. Snail induction is an early response to Gli1 that determines the efficiency of epithelial transformation. Oncogene 2006, 25 (4): 609-21. PubMed ID: 16158046
  
• Zou GM, Chen JJ and Ni J. LIGHT induces differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells associated with activation of ERK5. Oncogene 2006, 25 (3): 463-9. PubMed ID: 16247486

General Readings

• Critical nodes in signalling pathways: insights into insulin action. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 7, 85-96
• Complex networks orchestrate epithelial–mesenchymal transitions. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 7, 131-142
• Not so divided: the common basis of plant and animal cell division. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 7, 147-152
• Mapping normal and cancer cell signalling networks: towards single-cell proteomics Nature Reviews Cancer 6, 146-155 The author argues the possible use of SINGLE cell proteomics to dissection singal pathways invovled in the cancer development and/or progression. The drug-resistant cell was their target, that may be just functional cancer stem cells. With the recent progress in singel cell isolation of breast cancer stem cells, it becomes possible. Question become how one could examine the cell's phenotype in vivo while ananlyze its proteome?
• Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: a model for the pharmacogenomics of cancer therapy Nature Reviews Cancer 6, 117-129
  
• Bacher U, Haferlach T, Schoch C, et al. NRAS mutations in AML: biology, cytogenetics, and prognosis - a study on 2502 patients. Blood 2006, PubMed ID: 16434492
  
• Levine RL, Belisle C, Wadleigh M, et al. X-inactivation based clonality analysis and quantitative JAK2V617F assessment reveals a strong association between clonality and JAK2V617F in PV but not ET/MMM, and identifies a subset of JAK2V617F negative ET and MMM patients with clonal hematopoiesis. Blood 2006, PubMed ID: 16434490
  
• Kobayashi S, Isotani A, Mise N, et al. Comparison of gene expression in male and female mouse blastocysts revealed imprinting of the x-linked gene, rhox5/pem, at preimplantation stages. Curr Biol 2006, 16 (2): 166-72. PubMed ID: 16431368
  
• Nie Z, Hirsch DS, Luo R, et al. A BAR Domain in the N Terminus of the Arf GAP ASAP1 Affects Membrane Structure and Trafficking of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor. Curr Biol 2006, 16 (2): 130-9. PubMed ID: 16431365
  
• Smits VA, Reaper PM and Jackson SP. Rapid PIKK-Dependent Release of Chk1 from Chromatin Promotes the DNA-Damage Checkpoint Response. Curr Biol 2006, 16 (2): 150-9. PubMed ID: 16360315
  
• Armant DR, Kilburn BA, Petkova A, et al. Human trophoblast survival at low oxygen concentrations requires metalloproteinase-mediated shedding of heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor. Development 2006, 133 (4): 751-9. PubMed ID: 16407398
  
• Knapp JR, Davie JK, Myer A, et al. Loss of myogenin in postnatal life leads to normal skeletal muscle but reduced body size. Development 2006, 133 (4): 601-10. PubMed ID: 16407395
  
• Liu H, Strauss TJ, Potts MB, et al. Direct regulation of egl-1 and of programmed cell death by the Hox protein MAB-5 and by CEH-20, a C. elegans homolog of Pbx1. Development 2006, 133 (4): 641-50. PubMed ID: 16421192
  
• Seth A, Culverwell J, Walkowicz M, et al. belladonna/(lhx2) is required for neural patterning and midline axon guidance in the zebrafish forebrain. Development 2006, 133 (4): 725-35. PubMed ID: 16436624
  
• Erber R, Eichelsbacher U, Powajbo V, et al. EphB4 controls blood vascular morphogenesis during postnatal angiogenesis. Embo J 2006, PubMed ID: 16424904
  
• Goardon N, Lambert JA, Rodriguez P, et al. ETO2 coordinates cellular proliferation and differentiation during erythropoiesis. Embo J 2006, 25 (2): 357-66. PubMed ID: 16407974
  
• Kharkovets T, Dedek K, Maier H, et al. Mice with altered KCNQ4 K(+) channels implicate sensory outer hair cells in human progressive deafness. Embo J 2006, PubMed ID: 16437162
  
• Miserey-Lenkei S, Couedel-Courteille A, Del Nery E, et al. A role for the Rab6A' GTPase in the inactivation of the Mad2-spindle checkpoint. Embo J 2006, 25 (2): 278-89. PubMed ID: 16395330
  
• He W, Lam TK, Obici S, et al. Molecular disruption of hypothalamic nutrient sensing induces obesity. Nat Neurosci 2006, PubMed ID: 16415870
  
• Marmigere F, Montelius A, Wegner M, et al. The Runx1/AML1 transcription factor selectively regulates development and survival of TrkA nociceptive sensory neurons. Nat Neurosci 2006, PubMed ID: 16429136
  
• Gaestel M. MAPKAP kinases - MKs - two's company, three's a crowd. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2006, PubMed ID: 16421520
  
• Kobayashi Y, Ohtsuki M, Murakami T, et al. Histone deacetylase inhibitor FK228 suppresses the Ras-MAP kinase signaling pathway by upregulating Rap1 and induces apoptosis in malignant melanoma. Oncogene 2006, 25 (4): 512-24. PubMed ID: 16186804
  
• Li X, Luwor R, Lu Y, et al. Enhancement of antitumor activity of the anti-EGF receptor monoclonal antibody cetuximab/C225 by perifosine in PTEN-deficient cancer cells. Oncogene 2006, 25 (4): 525-35. PubMed ID: 16170346

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Data manipulation? or not.

Recently, prestigious NEJM expressed their concerns about two of those articles from Dr. Jon Sudbø at Radiumhospitalet in Oslo, Norway. Concerns have been forwarded to the director of that institution. An investigation was expected.

This, along with other incidents on Lancet and Science, has severely hurt the reputation of science! The integrity of science should always be kept as our highest priority, and no excuse would be granted to hurt it. While the indivisuals are blamed, I also believe there may be a system problem of our current scientific community. Do we chase for the data too urgently? Why can not we do science like 20 years ago, with the drive to discover Veritas rather than to publish?

It was a pity.

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Stem cell genes linked to Male Germ Cell Tumors

Cancer Research reported:
12p Gene Cluster Projects Male GCT Stem-Cell Phenotype
Adult male germ cell tumors (GCT) show 12p gain in ~100% of cases, but the target genes are not clearly defined. In the January 15 issue of Cancer Research, Korkola et al. report results from _expression profiling that identified differentially expressed 12p genes within 101 GCT specimens. Genes in a 200kb cluster on 12p13.31, which included the stem-cell markers NANOG, GDF3, and STELLAR, were over-expressed in embryonal carcinoma and seminoma specimens but not in other GCT subtypes. To learn more, click here.

So are those the genes invovled in the development of cancer stem cells, at least in male germ tumors? It would also be interesting to look into the role of those new discovered stem cell-related genes in regulation of stem cell behaviors.

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Letter to scienceblogs

Dear staff,

My blogs are http://zhanglab.blogspot.com/ and http://drslk.blogspot.com

The Zhang Lab was dedicated into stem cell research, also covering recent biomedical literatures of general interest, for stem cell biologists. It includes highlights in stem cell research (HiSCR), journal club and general readings (GR). HiSCR was a collection of recent publications with immediate interest to stem cell biologists. I generally browse and pick up papers from Impact Factor more than 10 or so, therefore, the data in the paper would be more solid or less likely a fraud. In weekly journal club, I would discuss significance, perspective and problems/arguments about 1 or 2 recent interesting papers. Hopefully, JC would stimulate more serious thinking about such subject. GR is for brain storm, in my view. This collective reading list may help broarden our science thinking in certain way. These 3 parts would fit into general biologist or experienced stem cell biologist, as I propose
The later Dr. SLK was for clinical medicine with focus on pathology, which would become my clinical training specialty. I would comment on recent progress in medical fields, including general health news and publication in medical journals such as JAMA, NEJM, BMJ, Lancet, etc.

I have tried to find a place/site where many good scientists share their blogs of serious scientific thinking. With a link from Nat Genetics Blog, I found you site, and thought it would fit my blog perfectly.

Thank you very much for your consideration.

Lanjing Zhang, MD
PS, you may find my CV at http://myprofile.cos.com/ljzhang

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lift spam ban

Finally, the staff at blogger lift the ban on me. Free of those verification image!!

Thanks guys.

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Hightlights in stem cell research 2006-1

Jan 15-Jan 22, 2006

Updated Jounals
--Blood Read more
--Cancer Research Read more
--OncogeneRead more
--Nat Rev Genet Read more
--PNAS Read more
--Molecular cell Read more

Stem cell
--Prognostic significance of NOD2/CARD15 variants in HLA-identical sibling hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Effect on long term outcome is confirmed in 2 independent cohorts and may be modulated by the type of gastrointestinal decontamination. Blood published 19 January 2006
--Hepatocyte growth factor is a novel lymphangiogenic factor with an indirect mechamism of action. Blood published 19 January 2006
--Host factors that impact the biodistribution and persistence of multipotent adult progenitor cells. Blood. 2006 Jan 12
--Down-Regulation of Stem Cell Genes, Including Those in a 200-kb Gene Cluster at 12p13.31, Is Associated with In vivo Differentiation of Human Male Germ Cell Tumors. Cancer Res. 2006 Jan 15;66(2):820-7.
--LIGHT induces differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells associated with activation of ERK5. Oncogene. 2006 Jan 19;25(3):463-9.
--ES cells derived from cloned and fertilized blastocysts are transcriptionally and functionally indistinguishable PNAS published January 17, 2006
--A virus-specific CD8+ T cell immunodominance hierarchy determined by antigen dose and precursor frequencies PNAS published January 17, 2006
--Distribution of histone H3.3 in hematopoietic cell lineages PNAS 2006 103: 574-579; published online before print January 5 2006
--Stat5a/b are essential for normal lymphoid development and differentiation PNAS published January 17, 2006
--Xbves is a regulator of epithelial movement during early Xenopus laevis development PNAS 2006 103: 614-619; published online before print January 9 2006
--Germ-line induction of the Caenorhabditis elegans vulva PNAS 2006 103: 620-625; published online before print January 5 2006
--Antagonistic effect of CCAAT enhancer-binding protein- and Pax5 in myeloid or lymphoid lineage choice in common lymphoid progenitors PNAS 2006 103: 672-677; published online before print January 9 2006
--Mitochondrial DNA mutations are established in human colonic stem cells, and mutated clones expand by crypt fission PNAS 2006 103: 714-719; published online before print January 6 2006
--Natural variation and genetic covariance in adult hippocampal neurogenesis
PNAS 2006 103: 780-785; published online before print January 9 2006
--Calnexin is essential for rhodopsin maturation, ca(2+) regulation, and photoreceptor cell survival. Neuron. 2006 Jan 19;49(2):229-41

General Readings
--Rapamycin Disrupts Cyclin/Cyclin-Dependent Kinase/p21/Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen Complexes and Cyclin D1 Reverses Rapamycin Action by Stabilizing These Complexes. Cancer Res. 2006 Jan 15;66(2):1070-80.
--Antitumor Activity of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Related Protein Is Mediated by Inactivation of ErbB Receptors and Nuclear Factor-{kappa}B in Pancreatic Cancer. Cancer Res. 2006 Jan 15;66(2):1025-32.
--Restoring e-cadherin expression increases sensitivity to epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors in lung cancer cell lines. Cancer Res. 2006 Jan 15;66(2):944-50
--Angiopoietin 2 Induces Glioma Cell Invasion by Stimulating Matrix Metalloprotease 2 Expression through the vß1 Integrin and Focal Adhesion Kinase Signaling Pathway Cancer Res 2006 66: 775-783
--PTEN Autoregulates Its Expression by Stabilization of p53 in a Phosphatase-Independent Manner. Cancer Res 2006 66: 736-742
--Repression of the MSP/MST-1 gene contributes to the antiapoptotic gain of function of mutant p53.Oncogene 25: 359-369; advance online publication, September 19, 2005;
--E2F1 stability is regulated by a novel-PKC/p38beta MAP kinase signaling pathway during keratinocyte differentiation. Oncogene. 2006 Jan 19;25(3):430-7.
--REVIEW Towards multidimensional genome annotation. Nat Rev Genet. 2006 Feb;7(2):130-41.
--REVIEW Structural variation in the human genome. Nat Rev Genet. 2006 Feb;7(2):85-97.
--TAF7: A possible transcription initiation check-point regulator PNAS 2006 103: 602-607; published online before print January 9 2006
--A landscape effect in tenosynovial giant-cell tumor from activation of CSF1 expression by a translocation in a minority of tumor cells PNAS 2006 103: 690-695; published online before print January 6 2006
--Leptin: A potential novel antidepressant PNAS published January 19, 2006
--Analysis of P53 mutations and their expression in 56 colorectal cancer cell lines PNAS published January 17, 2006

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Blogs

• Stem Cell Research Progress Blog
  
• The Stem Cell Blog
  
• The scientist
  
• Nature blog on science and technology
  
• Nature neuroscience blog
  
• Nature Genetics blog
  
• Scienceblogs
  
• Colorado Life Science Deal Flow
  
• Wonder of Jieqi
  

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Journal Club 06

• Nat Biotech 24 (3) Mar 2006. Stem cell growth factors.
  

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Meeting with Kun-Liang

My proposal for the blog,
1, It has 2 main parts, Jounral club and selected papers. The JC will include abstracts of 2 selected papers and my brief comments on significance and questions. Selected papers will include a list of ones for general stem cell biologists.
2, It was planned to invite the author of paper in JC to input on my comments. The author may have an account in this blog, that gives the right to post original article/message on this blog. S/he may choose not to respond at all.
3, It was also planned to invite external reviewer/contributor. They may input interesting paper/abstracts, and their comments.

Need to addess the following questions,
1, Does it need external reviewer/contributors?
2, Is it appropriate to invite the author?

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Centers

California State
Case Western Reserve University
Harvard University
International Stem Cell Forum
NIH Stem Cell
Stanford University
University of California at San Francisco
University of Cambridge
University of Edinburgh
University of Michigan
University of Minnesota
University of Pittsburgh
University of Sheffield
University of Wisconsin

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Meetings 2006

--March 12-17, 2006 Harbortown Ventura, CA Gordon-Fibroblast Growth Factors In Development & Disease More info

--March 20 - 23, 2006, University of York, United Kingdom British Society of Developmental Biology Spring Symposium More info

--March 27 - April 1, 2006 Whistler, British Columbia, Canada Keystone symposium- Stem Cells (G4) More info
Scholarship Deadline: Nov 28, 2005
Abstract Deadline: Nov 28, 2005
Late Abstract Deadline: Dec 19, 2005
Early Registration Deadline: Jan 27, 2006

--Apr 7 - 12, 2006 Snowbird, Utah, USA Keystone symposium-Wnt and beta-Catenin Signaling in Development and Disease (E1) More info
Scholarship Deadline: Dec 7, 2005
Abstract Deadline: Dec 7, 2005
Late Abstract Deadline: Dec 30, 2005
Early Registration Deadline: Feb 7, 2006

--June 11-16, 2006 Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Hong Kong, China Gordon-Molecular & Cellular Neurobiology More info

--June 17 - 21, 2006, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 65th SDB Annual Meeting More info
2. Online Abstract Submission - Deadline February 20, 2006
3. Online Meeting Registration - Deadline for early registration May 1, 2006
4. Boot Camp for New Faulty Application - Deadline April 3, 2006
5. Awards Application Form (PDF) - May 1,
--June 17, 2006, Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI The Physiology of Developmental Polarity More info

--June 18-23, 2006 Connecticut College, New London, CT, USA Gordon-Mammalian Gametogenesis & Embryogenesis More info

--June 29-July 1, 2006 Toronto, Ontario, Canada 4th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research More info
Important Dates
Abstract Submission Opens November 27, 2005
Abstract Submission Deadline February 7, 2006
Exhibit Space Contracts Due
(E-mail dpederson@isscr.org) May 19, 2006
Annual Meeting Support Contracts Due
(E-mail hgagnon@isscr.org) May 19, 2006
Hotel Reservation Discount Deadline May 26, 2006
Online Registration Opens January 2006

--July 15-18, 2006 Boston, Massachusetts, USA American Society for Cell Biology-Stem Cell Niches More info
Deadlines:
Abstract: 5/12/06
Travel Award: 5/19/2006
Registration: 5/31/06

--July 16-21, 2006 Connecticut College, New London, CT, USA Gordon-Growth Factor Signalling More info

--August 20-25, 2006 Salve Regina University, Newport, RI, Gordon-Neural Development More info

--October 27 - 29, 2006, Houston, Texas Stem Cells in Cancer and Regenerative Medicine More info

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Societies

American Association of Cancer Research
Abstract of ISSR
American Diabetes Association meeting
American Pancreatic Association
American Society for Cell Biology
American Society of Clinical Pathology
American Society of Investigative Pathology
British Society for Cell Biology
British Society for Developmental Biolgy
Cold Spring Harbor Lab meetings
Gordon Conferences
International meeting of Center for Organogenesis
International Stem Cell Forum
International Society for Stem Cell Ressearch
Keystone Symposia
Society for Developmental Biology

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Journals

Wed JAMA
Thu NEJM
Thu Nat
Sun BMJ
SciDirect
Fri SCI
Free Medical Journals

33.3 Nat Rev Cancer
30-28 Nat Med
26.7-27 Cell
26.5 Physiol Rev
26.4-26.7 Nat Genet
26 NAT REV MCB
22.8 Ann Rev Cell Dev Biol
21.7 Nature Rev Genet
21 Lancet
20.2-18.28 Nat Cell Biol
19.8 TiCB
19.0 Curr Opin Cell Biol
17.9-12.8 Nat Biotech
17.0-18.7 GeneDev
16.8-16.4 MOL CELL
15.8-11.5 DEV CELL
15.8 JEM
14.5 JNCI
14.39 TiBS
14 JCI
13.8 PLoS Biology
13.6 Neuron
13.6 NAT REV CA
13.3 Trends in Pharm Sci
13.2 Trends in Genet
13.0 PLoS Med
12.5 JCB
12.11 Curr Opin Gen Dev
11.9-8 Curr Biol
10.3-10.69 EMBO J
10.2-10.7 PNAS
10.0-09.63 Blood
08.80 MCB
08.31 Cancer Res
08.25 Diabetes
08.19 Cell Death Diff
07.8 Development
07.5 MBC
07.5 Lancet Oncol
07.2 FASEB J
06.95 JCS
06.75 Am J Path
06.69 JBC
06.3 Oncogene
05.6 Clin Cancer Res
05.3 J Path
05.22 J Cell Physiol
05.1 Dev Biol
04.8 Cell Mol Life Sci
04.6 AJSP
04.48 Differentiation
03.94 AJP-Cell Phyiol
03.8 Febs letters
03.8 Cell Growth Diff
03.7 Lab Investigation
03.6 Mod Path
03.3 Hum Path
03.26 Mech Dev
03.23 Front Biosci
02.87 Dev Dynam

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Reading of the week

Science
--Retraction of Hwang et al., Science 308 (5729) 1777-1783. Retraction of Hwang et al., Science 303 (5664) 1669-1674. Science 311, 335Interestingly, the first 2004 paper still has 7 authors refused to admit frauds. Maybe, the dog was real.
--Chromosomes Can Congress to the Metaphase Plate Before Biorientation
See Science 20 January 2006, 311, 388 - 391 and commentary. New wine in old bottle. Mitosis was further elucidated with the combination of live imaging system, molecular biology and chemical biology. Not my expertise, so no further comments.
--Sampling the Antibiotic Resistome Science 20 January 2006: 311, 374 - 377 A new some-ome. With the completion of Human Genome Project, Wright GD established a new one, namely antibiotic resistome. This paper gave us an early warning of antibioltic resistance. Out of 480 sampled microbes, very one of them was found resistant to 6-8 different antibiotics and some to as many as 20. See also perspective.

Nature
--New publishing rule on Cloning Nature 439, 243 (19 January 2006)
1.Mitochondrial DNA fingerprint comparison should be submitted to Nature, in addition to nuclear DNA FP.
2.If new ESC was established, one must compare its nuclear DNA fingerprint with existing ESC lines.
3.No independent verification is required, but be ready! Maybe Nature will ask for it in RARE cases.
4.To deposit to ATCC? Nature is weighing this reqirement.
--Sea of change. Nature 439, 256-260 (19 January 2006)
--Blue faculty Nature 439, 254 (19 January 2006).
AAMC new study suggests faculty members in med schools of US have as many as 1 of 5 depression symptoms. Young members and physicians have more chances.
--Scientific publishing: Peer review, unmasked. Nature 416, 258-260 (21 March 2002)
Open access peer review? Some new journals are experimenting this new way of paper evaluation. Given the competitiveness of biomedical fields, no big journals plan to adapt this open access peer review system.
--Cancer biology: Signatures guide drug choice. Nature 439, 274-275 (19 January 2006)
---Oncogenic pathway signatures in human cancers as a guide to targeted therapies. Nature 439, 353-357 (19 January 2006)
Joseph R. Nevins group at Duke showed deregulated oncogenic pathways differed in tumor types and correlated with clinical outcomes.
--- BRAF mutation predicts sensitivity to MEK inhibition Nature 439, 358-362 (19 January 2006) by Neal Rosen group at MSKCC.
They compared the sensitivities to ERK inhibitors in cancer cell lines with mutations of BRAF and RAS, both in vitro and in vivo. Addiontal mechanism was edemonstrated including loss of D-cylcin expression, Rb physphorylation, and G1 arrest induced by ERK inhibitor.
--A brain-specific microRNA regulates dendritic spine development Nature 439, 283-289 (19 January 2006) by Michael Greenberg group.

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My 3 blogs

It will be good to have one's own lab, but if not, one still can run for preparing for it. The Zhang Lab blog is my way of doing so. Now I'm serious about.

The main purposes of this site were
1, Pick recent papers of my special interest, if not significance;
2, Record my own experience about maturing to become an independent investigator;
3, Collect papers, and articles about sciencetific community.

Also, I am running this Dr SLK site, that was meant for my node site. Now it's been switched to the site of interesting health news. I plan to comment on those news a little bit, if possible.

The last one is my Chinese sina blog, that was meant for translation work on NEJM, and other leading medical journals. After running it for a while, I found I was not able to catch up with all 4-5 journals, including NEJM, JAMA, BMJ, Lancet, AIM, etc. It was of no choices but stopping translating all of those journals. Though I should and plan to continue reading them periodicaly.

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HiSCR 2006

Highlights in Stem Cell Research 2006

1. Reading of the week-1
   
2. HiSCR-1
   
3. HiSCR 1.02 For Chinese New Year of the DOG.

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About me, Lanjing Zhang

I am interested in stem cell biology, focusing on normal and cancerous pancreatic stem cells. I dream to have my own lab some day, hopefully, amongst those top stem cell and/or pancreatic cancer labs.

Currently, I am pursuing residency training in anatomic and clinical pathology at Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York City, that would provide me wonderful opportunities to explore the cellular and molecular mechanism of diabetes and pancreatic cancer. It is also one of the main reasons why I picked up Pathology as my medical specialty. And the other is my love of diagnosing diseases through slides.

Here is my profile on COS.

--In the middle of my primary prep culture.

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General Readings 2006

1, Jan 20, 2006

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Career Dev 06

1. Nature Job
   
2. Find more suitable faculty position
   
3. How to get funded
   
4. Discuss NIH fundings
   
5. USC builds new stem cell center
   
6. Best places for postdoc
   

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Free Books and Journals

Dev Biolby Scott F. Gilbert,
List of free resources from NLM, NIH,
Free Books from NLM,NIH,
BMC free journal list,
Directory of open access journals.

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Nature Jobs-1 Meetings

Just came cross a very impressive website about a career in science, nature jobs. Actually, more than just a career in science. Many pieces of advice were given regarding how to start your own lab, how to meet up peers in a meeting, etc. Well organized.
It's nature jobs

First article of my interest is the one about how to meet up with peers in a meeting. It is always rough to join the meeting, like a lost chicken as one of them said. The article is Nature 438, 1187 (December 2005) | doi:10.1038/nj7071-1187a , including two out linked articles Small conferences pay their way Nature 438, 264-265 (17 November 2005) and Meeting up Nature 436, 1060-1061 (August 2005). The Editor Paul Smaglik argues meetings would provide new collaborations and insights.

Recommended meetings
FASEB
Keystone
Gordon

On stem cells
ISSCR
ASCB
SDB
BSDB

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