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Research Publications

Stories about recent journal articles featuring work by MCB faculty and students.

RNA binding protein implicated in brain development, fear memory

Researchers from the University of Illinois have identified an RNA binding protein called MOV10 as a critical factor in memory formation and learning. Their findings, published this month in BMC Biology, will...

New study sheds light on liver maturation, specialization

Researchers from the University of Illinois have identified a key process coordinating liver maturation and polyploidization, a state in which cells carry more than two sets of chromosomes. Their findings, published in Genes and Development,...

MCB researchers investigate ways to weaponize bacterial viruses to combat superbugs

Researchers from the University of Illinois have reported complementary discoveries that will improve scientists’ understanding of immune systems in bacteria and equip clinicians with more effective options for treating antibiotic-resistant infections. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria known as...

Can bacteria handle stress? Study reveals how combined stressors overwhelm harmful bacteria

The human body is a stressful place for bacteria to live. They must defend against many chemical and physical stressors, in addition to the immune system. One major physical stressor is fluid flow, which constantly circulates in the bloodstream, urinary tract, and lungs. Research has...

Illuminating signal transduction mechanisms in Cys-loop receptors

Researchers from the University of Illinois have discovered a key factor responsible for facilitating signal transduction in Cys-loop receptors, providing insight into a longstanding question in the field of ion-channel physiology and contributing to rational drug design. Their findings appear in...

Mouse model reveals liver involvement in muscular dystrophy

 A new mouse model mimicking the liver symptoms of myotonic dystrophy type 1 — the most prevalent form of adult-onset muscular dystrophy — provides insight into why patients develop fatty liver disease and display hypersensitivity to medications, making treatment difficult. The new model opens...

Gut microbiome research sheds light on oligosaccharide breakdown, prebiotics

The human gut is a diverse and densely populated environment filled with bacteria and other microbes in fierce competition for resources. One major colonizer in the human colon is Bacteroides, a genus of bacteria that can break down a wide variety of complex carbohydrates indigestible by...

Asking “Big questions”: UI researchers illuminate on transcriptional interplay among RNA polymerase enzymes

Investigators from the University of Illinois have created a whole-genome map that charts the occupancies of RNA polymerase enzymes in humans, discovering unexpected patterns in the process. Their findings appear in ...

The importance of sex as a biological variable in preclinical studies: Q&A with Catherine Christian-Hinman

Preclinical research is an important step of the drug and treatment development process that ensures the safety of a potential treatment modality for human testing. But until recently, most preclinical research studies in animals were only conducted on one sex: typically, male. This tendency to...

Team discovers naturally occurring DNA-protein hybrids

Thanks to a serendipitous discovery and a lot of painstaking work, scientists can now build biohybrid molecules that combine the homing powers of DNA with the broad functional repertoire of proteins — without having to synthesize them one by one, researchers report in a new study. Using a naturally...