MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a newly discovered class of endogenous post-transcriptional gene regulators that are typically 20-22 nucleotides in length that do not code for proteins. MiRNAs regulate gene expression by either ...

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a lung disease characterized by surfactant accumulation in the alveolar spaces and alveolar macrophages. Although PAP is rare, surfactant abnormalities occur in many lung diseases ...

The maintenance of skeletal muscle mass is vital for life, and elucidation of the molecular mechanisms that control this process is a critical first step towards the development of pharmaceutical treatments for muscle ...

The Gram-negative Bacteroides fragilis is the most frequently isolated bacterium from anaerobic infections. Native to the human intestinal tract, it serves a symbiotic role breaking down complex polysaccharides and ...

Over the past two decades, studies on the cellular response to very low dose radiation have been revolutionizing historically-held paradigms of cellular radioresponse. Indeed, a host of seemingly contradictory events have ...

Glycogen synthase kinase- 3beta (GSK-3beta) is well documented to participate in a complex array of critical cellular processes. This versatile protein is involved in numerous signaling pathways that influence metabolism, ...

Plant growth and development depends on the activity of meristems, pools of stem cells that generate leaves and other organs. Maize (corn) produces two inflorescences, the tassel and ear, which are patterned by a series ...

Extensive studies have implicated a myriad of functional roles for prolactin (PRL) and prolactin receptor (PRLR) across a variety of adult vertebrate species. However, much less is known about the physiological role(s) of ...

The transmembrane protein with epidermal growth factor and two follistatin motifs 2 (TMEFF2) is an evolutionarily conserved type I transmembrane protein expressed in the embryo and limited adult tissues, mainly the brain ...

Tobacco smoking is a worldwide epidemic that is responsible for diseases and death rates that surpass those attributed to a combination of other causes (e.g. cancer, HIV, accidents). A major mediator of tobacco-smoke related ...