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Mammalian small heat-shock proteins are suspected to have a role in neuromuscular function. Two new studies provide evidence for the association of mutations in two of these proteins, HSP22 and HSP27, with human neuromuscular disorders.
The genetic composition of sex chromosomes has been deciphered, in part, through large-scale gene expression studies in different species. A new study in mice adds a missing piece of the puzzle: the composition of the X chromosome in mammals is influenced by inactivation of the sex chromosomes during male meiosis.
The transcription factor PU.1 has an essential role in hematopoiesis. New evidence shows that reducing PU.1 expression to 20% of wild-type levels results in an aggressive form of acute myeloid leukemia.
The molecular mechanisms that regulate the balance between differentiation and self-renewal in spermatogonial stem cells are elusive. Two studies now show that the transcriptional repressor Plzf is an essential regulator of spermatogonial stem cell maintenance.
A new study identifies a protective role for cellular aggregates in Huntington disease by showing that aggregates promote the clearance of mutant protein by activating autophagy through the inhibition of mTOR. This challenges the common view that they are possibly innocuous but probably harmful to the host cell.
