MicroRNAs involved in the formation of motile cilia Dysfunction of multiciliated cells lining the surface of certain types of tissue is associated with serious diseases such as cystic fibrosis and asthma. While the mechanisms involved in the formation of these cells remain poorly understood, a group of scientists has shown that a family of microRNAs specifically expressed by multiciliated cells plays a role Multiciliated cells: the cilia are shown in the development of these cilia. This opens new perspectives for the in green. treatment of certain respiratory diseases. Nature Cell Biology May 2011 The kiss: a new form of gene regulation While studying the function of chromosomal proteins that regulate a large number of genes during the development of the fruit fly (Drosophila), geneticists observed that two of these genes, although very far apart on the chromosome, were regularly in contact in cells where they were not expressed. Their work showed that it is this chromosomal ‘kiss’ that keeps the two genes inactive. The researchers now hope to find out whether this phenomenon is universally involved in gene regulation. Cell January 2011 Atomic structure of the eukaryotic ribosome of yeast. The small sub-unit is shown in blue, while the large sub-unit is in yellow. Proximity of genes could confer evolutionary advantage Atomic-scale views of the ribosome It is well known that spatial proximity between a gene that initiates transcription and its target gene promotes the expression of the target By improving various aspects of their experimental method based on X-ray diffraction crystallography, researchers have gene. While it was thought that such proximity was essentially due succeeded in imaging the structure of the eukaryotic ribosome to molecular interactions, bioinformaticians have provided another explanation for the phenomenon. Using a simplified mathematical at unprecedented resolution. The image obtained shows in detail and for the first time the complex arrangement of the 79 model, they showed that when the distance separating the genes is small enough, the target gene is expressed according to a threshold proteins and 5,600 nucleotides that make up the ribosome. This work could serve as a basis for the pharmaceutical effect, independently of any local affinity of a biochemical nature. The industry to develop new drugs. proximity of genes programmed to cooperate could therefore be an advantage for the cells concerned. Science November 2011 Journal of Mathematical Biology February 2011 13 2011 A year at CNRS
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