Desegregating science and the public - p375

doi:10.1038/ng0408-375

Explaining research through playful analogies can enliven discussion with nonspecialists. The limits of these analogies can be used to explore the limits of explanatory scope intrinsic to scientific hypotheses.

Abstract - | Full Text - Desegregating science and the public | PDF (111 KB) - Desegregating science and the public

Salome Gluecksohn-Waelsch 1907–2007 - p376

Lee Silver

doi:10.1038/ng0408-376

Full Text - Salome Gluecksohn-Waelsch 1907–2007 | PDF (100 KB) - Salome Gluecksohn-Waelsch 1907–2007

A cultural historian's history of biology - p377

Lynn K. Nyhart reviews A Guinea Pig's History of Biology by Jim Endersby

doi:10.1038/ng0408-377

Full Text - A cultural historian's history of biology | PDF (104 KB) - A cultural historian's history of biology

Re-examining the role of cytochrome c in cell death - pp379 - 380

Eric Solary, Fabrizio Giordanetto & Guido Kroemer

doi:10.1038/ng0408-379

When cytochrome c is released from mitochondria, it interacts with Apaf-1 to activate death-promoting caspases. Now, a gain-of-function mutation affecting cytochrome c with enhanced caspase-stimulatory activity is shown to have no other consequences for human health than a subclinical thrombocytopenia, showing that, in most settings, enhanced cytochrome c activity per se is not sufficient to disturb normal tissue homeostasis.

Abstract - | Full Text - Re-examining the role of cytochrome c in cell death | PDF (334 KB) - Re-examining the role of cytochrome c in cell death

See also: Brief Communication by Morison et al.

Adding pathogens by genomic subtraction - pp380 - 382

Laura MacConaill & Matthew Meyerson

doi:10.1038/ng0408-380

Two studies report the application of high-throughput sequencing technologies to discover infectious agents associated with diseased human tissues. These findings herald a breakthrough in the field of pathogen discovery.

Abstract - | Full Text - Adding pathogens by genomic subtraction | PDF (1,473 KB) - Adding pathogens by genomic subtraction

HIV-1 positive feedback and lytic fate - pp382 - 383

Iftach Nachman & Sharad Ramanathan

doi:10.1038/ng0408-382

The HIV viral lifecycle includes infection of a host cell, followed by a critical decision between latency and lysis. A new study suggests that positive feedback in the HIV-1 promoter, involving Tat protein and gene expression, has a role in this critical choice of fate.

Abstract - | Full Text - HIV-1 positive feedback and lytic fate | PDF (947 KB) - HIV-1 positive feedback and lytic fate

See also: Letter by Weinberger et al.

Delivery codes for fly transgenics - pp383 - 384

Thomas C Tubon, Jr & Jerry C-P Yin

doi:10.1038/ng0408-383

Chromosomal position effects influence the transcription of exogenously introduced transgenes. A new study identifies molecular tools that exploit these properties to fine-tune transgenic gene expression through the use of site-specific integration and the gypsy insulator element.

Abstract - | Full Text - Delivery codes for fly transgenics | PDF (212 KB) - Delivery codes for fly transgenics

See also: Technical Report by Markstein et al.

Research highlights - p385

doi:10.1038/ng0408-385

Full Text - Research highlights | PDF (88 KB) - Research highlights

A mutation of human cytochrome c enhances the intrinsic apoptotic pathway but causes only thrombocytopenia - pp387 - 389

Ian M Morison, Elisabeth M Cramer Bordé, Emma J Cheesman, Pak Leng Cheong, Andrew J Holyoake, Serge Fichelson, Robert J Weeks, Alexandra Lo, Stefan M K Davies, Sigurd M Wilbanks, Robert D Fagerlund, Mathew W Ludgate, Fernanda M da Silva Tatley, Melanie S A Coker, Nicholas A Bockett, Gillian Hughes, Diana A Pippig, Mark P Smith, Claude Capron & Elizabeth C Ledgerwood

doi:10.1038/ng.103

Abstract - | Full Text - A mutation of human cytochrome c enhances the intrinsic apoptotic pathway but causes only thrombocytopenia | PDF (308 KB) - A mutation of human cytochrome c enhances the intrinsic apoptotic pathway but causes only thrombocytopenia | Supplementary information

See also: News and Views by Solary et al.

Evolutionary plasticity of genetic interaction networks - pp390 - 391

Julia Tischler, Ben Lehner & Andrew G Fraser

doi:10.1038/ng.114

Abstract - | Full Text - Evolutionary plasticity of genetic interaction networks | PDF (151 KB) - Evolutionary plasticity of genetic interaction networks | Supplementary information

DNA deletions and clonal mutations drive premature aging in mitochondrial mutator mice - pp392 - 394

Marc Vermulst, Jonathan Wanagat, Gregory C Kujoth, Jason H Bielas, Peter S Rabinovitch, Tomas A Prolla & Lawrence A Loeb

doi:10.1038/ng.95

Abstract - | Full Text - DNA deletions and clonal mutations drive premature aging in mitochondrial mutator mice | PDF (334 KB) - DNA deletions and clonal mutations drive premature aging in mitochondrial mutator mice | Supplementary information

Newly identified genetic risk variants for celiac disease related to the immune response - pp395 - 402

Karen A Hunt, Alexandra Zhernakova, Graham Turner, Graham A R Heap, Lude Franke, Marcel Bruinenberg, Jihane Romanos, Lotte C Dinesen, Anthony W Ryan, Davinder Panesar, Rhian Gwilliam, Fumihiko Takeuchi, William M McLaren, Geoffrey K T Holmes, Peter D Howdle, Julian R F Walters, David S Sanders, Raymond J Playford, Gosia Trynka, Chris J J Mulder, M Luisa Mearin, Wieke H M Verbeek, Valerie Trimble, Fiona M Stevens, Colm O'Morain, Nicholas P Kennedy, Dermot Kelleher, Daniel J Pennington, David P Strachan, Wendy L McArdle, Charles A Mein, Martin C Wapenaar, Panos Deloukas, Ralph McGinnis, Ross McManus, Cisca Wijmenga & David A van Heel

doi:10.1038/ng.102

Abstract - | Full Text - Newly identified genetic risk variants for celiac disease related to the immune response | PDF (469 KB) - Newly identified genetic risk variants for celiac disease related to the immune response | Supplementary information

THM1 negatively modulates mouse sonic hedgehog signal transduction and affects retrograde intraflagellar transport in cilia - pp403 - 410

Pamela V Tran, Courtney J Haycraft, Tatiana Y Besschetnova, Annick Turbe-Doan, Rolf W Stottmann, Bruce J Herron, Allyson L Chesebro, Haiyan Qiu, Paul J Scherz, Jagesh V Shah, Bradley K Yoder & David R Beier

doi:10.1038/ng.105

Abstract - | Full Text - THM1 negatively modulates mouse sonic hedgehog signal transduction and affects retrograde intraflagellar transport in cilia | PDF (798 KB) - THM1 negatively modulates mouse sonic hedgehog signal transduction and affects retrograde intraflagellar transport in cilia | Supplementary information

PRC1 and Suv39h specify parental asymmetry at constitutive heterochromatin in early mouse embryos - pp411 - 420

Mareike Puschendorf, Rémi Terranova, Erwin Boutsma, Xiaohong Mao, Kyo-ichi Isono, Urszula Brykczynska, Carolin Kolb, Arie P Otte, Haruhiko Koseki, Stuart H Orkin, Maarten van Lohuizen & Antoine H F M Peters

doi:10.1038/ng.99

Abstract - | Full Text - PRC1 and Suv39h specify parental asymmetry at constitutive heterochromatin in early mouse embryos | PDF (1,215 KB) - PRC1 and Suv39h specify parental asymmetry at constitutive heterochromatin in early mouse embryos | Supplementary information

Fine mapping of regulatory loci for mammalian gene expression using radiation hybrids - pp421 - 429

Christopher C Park, Sangtae Ahn, Joshua S Bloom, Andy Lin, Richard T Wang, Tongtong Wu, Aswin Sekar, Arshad H Khan, Christine J Farr, Aldons J Lusis, Richard M Leahy, Kenneth Lange & Desmond J Smith

doi:10.1038/ng.113

Abstract - | Full Text - Fine mapping of regulatory loci for mammalian gene expression using radiation hybrids | PDF (3,797 KB) - Fine mapping of regulatory loci for mammalian gene expression using radiation hybrids | Supplementary information

SLC2A9 influences uric acid concentrations with pronounced sex-specific effects - pp430 - 436

Angela Döring, Christian Gieger, Divya Mehta, Henning Gohlke, Holger Prokisch, Stefan Coassin, Guido Fischer, Kathleen Henke, Norman Klopp, Florian Kronenberg, Bernhard Paulweber, Arne Pfeufer, Dieter Rosskopf, Henry Völzke, Thomas Illig, Thomas Meitinger, H-Erich Wichmann & Christa Meisinger

doi:10.1038/ng.107

First Paragraph - | Full Text - SLC2A9 influences uric acid concentrations with pronounced sex-specific effects | PDF (1,753 KB) - SLC2A9 influences uric acid concentrations with pronounced sex-specific effects | Supplementary information

SLC2A9 is a newly identified urate transporter influencing serum urate concentration, urate excretion and gout - pp437 - 442

Veronique Vitart, Igor Rudan, Caroline Hayward, Nicola K Gray, James Floyd, Colin NA Palmer, Sara A Knott, Ivana Kolcic, Ozren Polasek, Juergen Graessler, James F Wilson, Anthony Marinaki, Philip L Riches, Xinhua Shu, Branka Janicijevic, Nina Smolej-Narancic, Barbara Gorgoni, Joanne Morgan, Susan Campbell, Zrinka Biloglav, Lovorka Barac-Lauc, Marijana Pericic, Irena Martinovic Klaric, Lina Zgaga, Tatjana Skaric-Juric, Sarah H Wild, William A Richardson, Peter Hohenstein, Charley H Kimber, Albert Tenesa, Louise A Donnelly, Lynette D Fairbanks, Martin Aringer, Paul M McKeigue, Stuart H Ralston, Andrew D Morris, Pavao Rudan, Nicholas D Hastie, Harry Campbell & Alan F Wright

doi:10.1038/ng.106

First Paragraph - | Full Text - SLC2A9 is a newly identified urate transporter influencing serum urate concentration, urate excretion and gout | PDF (465 KB) - SLC2A9 is a newly identified urate transporter influencing serum urate concentration, urate excretion and gout | Supplementary information

Hypomorphic mutations in syndromic encephalocele genes are associated with Bardet-Biedl syndrome - pp443 - 448

Carmen C Leitch, Norann A Zaghloul, Erica E Davis, Corinne Stoetzel, Anna Diaz-Font, Suzanne Rix, Majid Alfadhel, Richard Alan Lewis, Wafaa Eyaid, Eyal Banin, Helene Dollfus, Philip L Beales, Jose L Badano & Nicholas Katsanis

doi:10.1038/ng.97

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Hypomorphic mutations in syndromic encephalocele genes are associated with Bardet-Biedl syndrome | PDF (548 KB) - Hypomorphic mutations in syndromic encephalocele genes are associated with Bardet-Biedl syndrome | Supplementary information

Highly effective SNP-based association mapping and management of recessive defects in livestock - pp449 - 454

Carole Charlier, Wouter Coppieters, Frédéric Rollin, Daniel Desmecht, Jorgen S Agerholm, Nadine Cambisano, Eloisa Carta, Sabrina Dardano, Marc Dive, Corinne Fasquelle, Jean-Claude Frennet, Roger Hanset, Xavier Hubin, Claus Jorgensen, Latifa Karim, Matthew Kent, Kirsten Harvey, Brian R Pearce, Patricia Simon, Nico Tama, Haisheng Nie, Sébastien Vandeputte, Sigbjorn Lien, Maria Longeri, Merete Fredholm, Robert J Harvey & Michel Georges

doi:10.1038/ng.96

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Highly effective SNP-based association mapping and management of recessive defects in livestock | PDF (1,787 KB) - Highly effective SNP-based association mapping and management of recessive defects in livestock | Supplementary information

LKB1 signaling in mesenchymal cells required for suppression of gastrointestinal polyposis - pp455 - 459

Pekka Katajisto, Kari Vaahtomeri, Niklas Ekman, Eeva Ventelä, Ari Ristimäki, Nabeel Bardeesy, Robert Feil, Ronald A DePinho & Tomi P Mäkelä

doi:10.1038/ng.98

First Paragraph - | Full Text - LKB1 signaling in mesenchymal cells required for suppression of gastrointestinal polyposis | PDF (830 KB) - LKB1 signaling in mesenchymal cells required for suppression of gastrointestinal polyposis | Supplementary information

Newly identified prion linked to the chromatin-remodeling factor Swi1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae - pp460 - 465

Zhiqiang Du, Kyung-Won Park, Haijing Yu, Qing Fan & Liming Li

doi:10.1038/ng.112

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Newly identified prion linked to the chromatin-remodeling factor Swi1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae | PDF (689 KB) - Newly identified prion linked to the chromatin-remodeling factor Swi1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae | Supplementary information

Transient-mediated fate determination in a transcriptional circuit of HIV - pp466 - 470

Leor S Weinberger, Roy D Dar & Michael L Simpson

doi:10.1038/ng.116

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Transient-mediated fate determination in a transcriptional circuit of HIV | PDF (463 KB) - Transient-mediated fate determination in a transcriptional circuit of HIV | Supplementary information

See also: News and Views by Nachman & Ramanathan

Stochastic switching as a survival strategy in fluctuating environments - pp471 - 475

Murat Acar, Jerome T Mettetal & Alexander van Oudenaarden

doi:10.1038/ng.110

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Stochastic switching as a survival strategy in fluctuating environments | PDF (359 KB) - Stochastic switching as a survival strategy in fluctuating environments | Supplementary information

Exploiting position effects and the gypsy retrovirus insulator to engineer precisely expressed transgenes - pp476 - 483

Michele Markstein, Chrysoula Pitsouli, Christians Villalta, Susan E Celniker & Norbert Perrimon

doi:10.1038/ng.101

Abstract - | Full Text - Exploiting position effects and the gypsy retrovirus insulator to engineer precisely expressed transgenes | PDF (481 KB) - Exploiting position effects and the gypsy retrovirus insulator to engineer precisely expressed transgenes | Supplementary information

See also: News and Views by Tubon & Yin

Corrigendum: Functional variants in the B-cell gene BANK1 are associated with systemic lupus erythematosus - p484

Sergey V Kozyrev, Anna-Karin Abelson, Jerome Wojcik, Ammar Zaghlool, MV Prasad Linga Reddy, Elena Sanchez, Iva Gunnarsson, Elisabet Svenungsson, Gunnar Sturfelt, Andreas Jönsen, Lennart Truedsson, Bernardo A Pons-Estel, Torsten Witte, Sandra D'Alfonso, Nadia Barrizzone, Maria Giovanna Danieli, Carmen Gutierrez, Ana Suarez, Peter Junker, Helle Laustrup, Maria Francisca González-Escribano, Javier Martin, Hadi Abderrahim & Marta E Alarcón-Riquelme

doi:10.1038/ng0408-484

Full Text - Corrigendum: Functional variants in the B-cell gene BANK1 are associated with systemic lupus erythematosus | PDF (60 KB) - Corrigendum: Functional variants in the B-cell gene BANK1 are associated with systemic lupus erythematosus