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Keeping it in the family
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News & Comment
TRENDS in Biochemical Sciences Vol.26 No.9 September 2001
In Brief
Looking for mutant mice
On 17 July, the US National Center for Research Resources (NCRR, Bethesda, MD, USA) announced the official opening of a Mutant Mouse Regional Resource Centers (MMRRCs) network, which will allow the research community to have access to a centralized depository of all available strains – in excess of 3000 strains of mutant mice have so far been created by knockout or insertion of various genes. Researchers can access the network via a single entry point at the MMRRC website (www.mmrrc.org). This site currently provides information about submitting candidate strains and, later this year, will also provide detailed phenotypic and genotypic characterization. In addition, it will be possible to search the site for information about which strains are maintained, to order mice from the facilities and to register to receive strains that are being developed. S de B (http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/jul2001/ ncrr-17.htm)
One hour, one genome Using a novel sequencing method, Harvard University researchers aim to reduce the time taken to sequence a genome to a matter of hours [Wang and Branton (2001) Nat. Biotechnol. 19, 622–623]. Sequencing the genome took the public consortium more than a decade, and the Celera biotechnology company approximately nine months (with input from the public project). The novel method, developed by Daniel Branton and Jene Golovchenko of Harvard University (Cambridge, MA, USA), together with David Deamer of the University of California (CA, USA), uses a lipid bilayer to compartmentalize a dish into two separate regions. A long single strand of (negatively http://tibs.trends.com
charged) nucleotides is placed on one side of the bilayer. Application of α-hemolysin causes formation of a nanopore in the membrane, across which a voltage bias is then applied. The nucleotide chain worms its way through the channel towards the positive side of the dish, such that each nucleotide flowing through the nanopore generates a distinct current. The nucleotides can pass through the channel pore only in sequential, single-file order because the limiting diameter of the pore (~1.5 nm) can accommodate only one strand of DNA or RNA at a time. Very small changes in the distribution of charges within the channel can give rise to very large changes in the ionic flux through the channel pore. The aim is that each nucleotide will be identified, and the polynucleotide chain therefore sequenced, during this translocation. Difficulties to be overcome include slowing down the movement of the chain through the pore so that the electronic detector can record the individual bases moving past. In addition, computer algorithms that can process the volume of data resulting from scanning up to 70 000 nucleotides in a matter of minutes need to be developed. S de B (http://www.economist.com/science/tq/ displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=662230&CFID= 1206325&CFTOKEN=54743604; http://golgi.harvard.edu/branton/ nanopore.html)
Keeping it in the family On 12 July, the first seven scientists to benefit from the Brain Gain scheme were announced by Lord Sainsbury, the Science Minister. This scheme comprises a five-year £20 million drive to reverse the UK ‘brain drain’ of scientists leaving Britain and heading for more lucrative posts in the USA. The awards are jointly funded by the Wolfson Foundation and the Dept of Trade and Industry, and are administered by the Royal Society. Scientists selected for these awards receive between £45 000 and £75 000 in expenses – money for research assistants, equipment and better working conditions, which aims to boost research into key ‘frontier’ areas, including genomics, nanotechnology and bioengineering. It is anticipated that a further 30 awards will be made this year and ~35 in the second year of the scheme. S de B (http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/templates/press/ showpresspage.cfm?file=2001071200.txt& archive=true)
Budding proteomics A Yale–North Carolina State proteomics project, headed by Michael Snyder and Ralph Dean, analyzed how 5800 proteins in yeast interact with each other, with DNA and with lipids [Zhu et al. (2001) Science 10.1126/science.1062191]. ‘This project is very exciting because, up to now, we haven’t been able to look at how the proteins interact for an entire organism,’ said Dean, Professor of Plant Pathology and Director of the Fungal Genomics Laboratory at NC State University (Raleigh, NC, USA). ‘We’re now able to tell what the important proteins of an organism do’. The Fungal Genomics Laboratory was also involved in the development of a process that makes it possible to quickly analyze an organism’s ‘proteome’ or roster of proteins. This procedure separates individual yeast proteins and prepares each for analysis on matchbook-sized ‘proteome chips’. Scientists from the Fungal Genomics Laboratory also organized the vast amount of data that went into analyzing 93.5% of the 6200 proteins found in yeast, and assisted in the data analysis. Dean said this new ‘highthroughput’ procedure, which took only six months to develop for the yeast proteome, could be used to prepare 40 000 important human proteins for analysis. Additionally, it could quickly determine how chemicals, such as pharmaceuticals, interact with human proteins. ‘It’s probably the most powerful tool developed for the pharmaceutical industry to screen drugs,’ he said. The researchers chose to analyze the proteins of yeast because this genome was sequenced in 1996, and because yeast is the simplest eukaryote. Novel protein–protein and protein–gene interactions were identified, as well as biochemical activities of 69 yeast genes of previously unknown function. S de B (http://www2.ncsu.edu/ncsu/univ_relations/ news_services/press_releases/01_07/199.htm)
EU cuts drug release time On 18 July, the European Union (EU) announced their aim to increase their influence on the pharmaceutical industry by reducing the time taken for drugs to be approved in Europe. 60% of the profits from the $380 billion pharmaceutical market are generated by the USA alone. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is thus the main
0968-0004/01/$ – see front matter © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
News & Comment
TRENDS in Biochemical Sciences Vol.26 No.9 September 2001
In Brief
Looking for mutant mice
On 17 July, the US National Center for Research Resources (NCRR, Bethesda, MD, USA) announced the official opening of a Mutant Mouse Regional Resource Centers (MMRRCs) network, which will allow the research community to have access to a centralized depository of all available strains – in excess of 3000 strains of mutant mice have so far been created by knockout or insertion of various genes. Researchers can access the network via a single entry point at the MMRRC website (www.mmrrc.org). This site currently provides information about submitting candidate strains and, later this year, will also provide detailed phenotypic and genotypic characterization. In addition, it will be possible to search the site for information about which strains are maintained, to order mice from the facilities and to register to receive strains that are being developed. S de B (http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/jul2001/ ncrr-17.htm)
One hour, one genome Using a novel sequencing method, Harvard University researchers aim to reduce the time taken to sequence a genome to a matter of hours [Wang and Branton (2001) Nat. Biotechnol. 19, 622–623]. Sequencing the genome took the public consortium more than a decade, and the Celera biotechnology company approximately nine months (with input from the public project). The novel method, developed by Daniel Branton and Jene Golovchenko of Harvard University (Cambridge, MA, USA), together with David Deamer of the University of California (CA, USA), uses a lipid bilayer to compartmentalize a dish into two separate regions. A long single strand of (negatively http://tibs.trends.com
charged) nucleotides is placed on one side of the bilayer. Application of α-hemolysin causes formation of a nanopore in the membrane, across which a voltage bias is then applied. The nucleotide chain worms its way through the channel towards the positive side of the dish, such that each nucleotide flowing through the nanopore generates a distinct current. The nucleotides can pass through the channel pore only in sequential, single-file order because the limiting diameter of the pore (~1.5 nm) can accommodate only one strand of DNA or RNA at a time. Very small changes in the distribution of charges within the channel can give rise to very large changes in the ionic flux through the channel pore. The aim is that each nucleotide will be identified, and the polynucleotide chain therefore sequenced, during this translocation. Difficulties to be overcome include slowing down the movement of the chain through the pore so that the electronic detector can record the individual bases moving past. In addition, computer algorithms that can process the volume of data resulting from scanning up to 70 000 nucleotides in a matter of minutes need to be developed. S de B (http://www.economist.com/science/tq/ displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=662230&CFID= 1206325&CFTOKEN=54743604; http://golgi.harvard.edu/branton/ nanopore.html)
Keeping it in the family On 12 July, the first seven scientists to benefit from the Brain Gain scheme were announced by Lord Sainsbury, the Science Minister. This scheme comprises a five-year £20 million drive to reverse the UK ‘brain drain’ of scientists leaving Britain and heading for more lucrative posts in the USA. The awards are jointly funded by the Wolfson Foundation and the Dept of Trade and Industry, and are administered by the Royal Society. Scientists selected for these awards receive between £45 000 and £75 000 in expenses – money for research assistants, equipment and better working conditions, which aims to boost research into key ‘frontier’ areas, including genomics, nanotechnology and bioengineering. It is anticipated that a further 30 awards will be made this year and ~35 in the second year of the scheme. S de B (http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/templates/press/ showpresspage.cfm?file=2001071200.txt& archive=true)
Budding proteomics A Yale–North Carolina State proteomics project, headed by Michael Snyder and Ralph Dean, analyzed how 5800 proteins in yeast interact with each other, with DNA and with lipids [Zhu et al. (2001) Science 10.1126/science.1062191]. ‘This project is very exciting because, up to now, we haven’t been able to look at how the proteins interact for an entire organism,’ said Dean, Professor of Plant Pathology and Director of the Fungal Genomics Laboratory at NC State University (Raleigh, NC, USA). ‘We’re now able to tell what the important proteins of an organism do’. The Fungal Genomics Laboratory was also involved in the development of a process that makes it possible to quickly analyze an organism’s ‘proteome’ or roster of proteins. This procedure separates individual yeast proteins and prepares each for analysis on matchbook-sized ‘proteome chips’. Scientists from the Fungal Genomics Laboratory also organized the vast amount of data that went into analyzing 93.5% of the 6200 proteins found in yeast, and assisted in the data analysis. Dean said this new ‘highthroughput’ procedure, which took only six months to develop for the yeast proteome, could be used to prepare 40 000 important human proteins for analysis. Additionally, it could quickly determine how chemicals, such as pharmaceuticals, interact with human proteins. ‘It’s probably the most powerful tool developed for the pharmaceutical industry to screen drugs,’ he said. The researchers chose to analyze the proteins of yeast because this genome was sequenced in 1996, and because yeast is the simplest eukaryote. Novel protein–protein and protein–gene interactions were identified, as well as biochemical activities of 69 yeast genes of previously unknown function. S de B (http://www2.ncsu.edu/ncsu/univ_relations/ news_services/press_releases/01_07/199.htm)
EU cuts drug release time On 18 July, the European Union (EU) announced their aim to increase their influence on the pharmaceutical industry by reducing the time taken for drugs to be approved in Europe. 60% of the profits from the $380 billion pharmaceutical market are generated by the USA alone. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is thus the main
0968-0004/01/$ – see front matter © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.