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04-22-2016, 07:31 AM
How cancer fighting chemicals cause a cowlick: Hair sported by Brad Pitt and others found to be due to tumour suppressing protein
Polarity genes control polarized patterns, like cowlick, feathers, and scales
In cells this controls front and rear orientation to allow for specific function
Study found these genes regulated by retinoblastoma tumor suppressor
Suggests protein plays role in cell migration, which is disrupted by cancer
By CHEYENNE MACDONALD FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 16:54 EST, 23 March 2016 | UPDATED: 18:18 EST, 23 March 2016
Both Brad Pitt and the Drosophila fruit fly owe their signature hairstyles to the work of 'polarity genes,' researchers have found.
These cause the the pattern known as a cowlick, in which some hairs grow in the opposite direction from the rest, often hanging down on the forehead.
In a study led by Michigan State University, researchers discovered that these genes are regulated by a tumor suppressor protein that plays an important role in fighting cancer, suggesting it may also control cell migration.
A study led by Michigan State University has discovered that the 'polarity genes' which create cowlicks are regulated by a tumor suppressor protein. Polarity determines the front and rear end of a cell, and this type of organization can be seen in most cells in the body
WHAT THE STUDY FOUND
In fruit flies, the researchers found the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein regulates the migration of polarity genes.
When the protein was lost in the flies, they developed an 'unkempt' appearances, with irregular orientation of the hairs on their wings.
Migration becomes out of control during mestasis, the process by which cancer cells move throughout the body, making the disease difficult to treat.
Fruit flies share a high degree of genetic similarities with humans, indicating it may also contribute to cancer mestasis in humans.
Polarized patterns like a cowlick, or feather and scale patterns, are regulated by a cancer protein called the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein, the researchers found.
These types of proteins are responsible for the cell's cancer-fighting defences, controlling cell division DNA repair, and 'cellular suicide signals.'
Polarity determines the front and rear end of a cell, and this type of organization can be seen in most cells in the body.
This allows cells to carry out their functions, whether it be transporting nutrients across the cells of the gut, or creating large scale hair patterns like a cowlick.
In their recent work, researchers from MSU and the University of Toronto discovered that the retinoblastoma controls the polarity genes in the fruit fly Drosophila.
Fruit flies share a high degree of genetic similarities with humans, and the researchers say it's likely this protein plays a similar role in our cells.
'We know that the retinoblastoma protein controls cell division, policing the activity of oncogenes, genes that can potentially cause cancer, but our study suggests that this protein also may control cell migration, which is thrown out of whack by diseases such as cancer,' said Sandhya Payankaulam, lead author and MSU research assistant professor.
Migration becomes out of control during mestasis, the process by which cancer cells move throughout the body, making the disease difficult to treat.
In fruit flies, the researchers found the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein regulates the migration of polarity genes, indicating it may also contribute to cancer mestasis in humans. When the protein was lost in the flies, they developed an 'unkempt' appearances, with irregular orientation of the hairs on their wings
+1
In fruit flies, the researchers found the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein regulates the migration of polarity genes, indicating it may also contribute to cancer mestasis in humans. When the protein was lost in the flies, they developed an 'unkempt' appearances, with irregular orientation of the hairs on their wings
In fruit flies, the researchers found the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein regulates the migration of polarity genes, indicating it may also contribute to cancer mestasis in humans.
When the protein was lost in the flies, they developed an 'unkempt' appearances, with irregular orientation of the hairs on their wings.
'A great deal of research on cell polarity is directed toward understanding how polarity proteins interact with each other in cells,' said David Arnosti of MSU.
'Until now, people neglected the regulation of polarity genes, thinking them to be regulated in a rather humdrum manner similar to 'housekeeping' genes that are devoted to basic cellular functions.
'Our work challenges this view and raises an important question relevant to development of new cancer diagnosis and therapies.'
The researchers also found these polarity defects in other tissues, supporting the idea that the retinoblastoma protein regulates this function.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3506695/How-cancer-chemicals-cause-cowlick-Hair-sported-Brad-Pitt-tumour-suppressing-protein.html#ixzz46XQfo0Lx
Polarity genes control polarized patterns, like cowlick, feathers, and scales
In cells this controls front and rear orientation to allow for specific function
Study found these genes regulated by retinoblastoma tumor suppressor
Suggests protein plays role in cell migration, which is disrupted by cancer
By CHEYENNE MACDONALD FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 16:54 EST, 23 March 2016 | UPDATED: 18:18 EST, 23 March 2016
Both Brad Pitt and the Drosophila fruit fly owe their signature hairstyles to the work of 'polarity genes,' researchers have found.
These cause the the pattern known as a cowlick, in which some hairs grow in the opposite direction from the rest, often hanging down on the forehead.
In a study led by Michigan State University, researchers discovered that these genes are regulated by a tumor suppressor protein that plays an important role in fighting cancer, suggesting it may also control cell migration.
A study led by Michigan State University has discovered that the 'polarity genes' which create cowlicks are regulated by a tumor suppressor protein. Polarity determines the front and rear end of a cell, and this type of organization can be seen in most cells in the body
WHAT THE STUDY FOUND
In fruit flies, the researchers found the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein regulates the migration of polarity genes.
When the protein was lost in the flies, they developed an 'unkempt' appearances, with irregular orientation of the hairs on their wings.
Migration becomes out of control during mestasis, the process by which cancer cells move throughout the body, making the disease difficult to treat.
Fruit flies share a high degree of genetic similarities with humans, indicating it may also contribute to cancer mestasis in humans.
Polarized patterns like a cowlick, or feather and scale patterns, are regulated by a cancer protein called the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein, the researchers found.
These types of proteins are responsible for the cell's cancer-fighting defences, controlling cell division DNA repair, and 'cellular suicide signals.'
Polarity determines the front and rear end of a cell, and this type of organization can be seen in most cells in the body.
This allows cells to carry out their functions, whether it be transporting nutrients across the cells of the gut, or creating large scale hair patterns like a cowlick.
In their recent work, researchers from MSU and the University of Toronto discovered that the retinoblastoma controls the polarity genes in the fruit fly Drosophila.
Fruit flies share a high degree of genetic similarities with humans, and the researchers say it's likely this protein plays a similar role in our cells.
'We know that the retinoblastoma protein controls cell division, policing the activity of oncogenes, genes that can potentially cause cancer, but our study suggests that this protein also may control cell migration, which is thrown out of whack by diseases such as cancer,' said Sandhya Payankaulam, lead author and MSU research assistant professor.
Migration becomes out of control during mestasis, the process by which cancer cells move throughout the body, making the disease difficult to treat.
In fruit flies, the researchers found the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein regulates the migration of polarity genes, indicating it may also contribute to cancer mestasis in humans. When the protein was lost in the flies, they developed an 'unkempt' appearances, with irregular orientation of the hairs on their wings
+1
In fruit flies, the researchers found the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein regulates the migration of polarity genes, indicating it may also contribute to cancer mestasis in humans. When the protein was lost in the flies, they developed an 'unkempt' appearances, with irregular orientation of the hairs on their wings
In fruit flies, the researchers found the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein regulates the migration of polarity genes, indicating it may also contribute to cancer mestasis in humans.
When the protein was lost in the flies, they developed an 'unkempt' appearances, with irregular orientation of the hairs on their wings.
'A great deal of research on cell polarity is directed toward understanding how polarity proteins interact with each other in cells,' said David Arnosti of MSU.
'Until now, people neglected the regulation of polarity genes, thinking them to be regulated in a rather humdrum manner similar to 'housekeeping' genes that are devoted to basic cellular functions.
'Our work challenges this view and raises an important question relevant to development of new cancer diagnosis and therapies.'
The researchers also found these polarity defects in other tissues, supporting the idea that the retinoblastoma protein regulates this function.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3506695/How-cancer-chemicals-cause-cowlick-Hair-sported-Brad-Pitt-tumour-suppressing-protein.html#ixzz46XQfo0Lx