By Alison McCook
Top 7 genetics papers
A snapshot of the highest-ranked articles in genetics and related areas in the past 30 days
[Published 2nd November 2010 01:40 PM GMT]
1. Mapping transcriptomes
While mapping every transcriptional start site and operon of Helicobacter pylori at single-nucleotide resolution, the authors identify novel small RNAs, reveal the widespread nature of antisense transcription, and unveil a new technique to investigate the genomic complexities of other important pathogens, such as Salmonella and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
CM Sharma et al, Nature, 464:250-5, 2010. Evaluated by N. Ahmed, Institute of Life Sciences, India; M. Hensel, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU); S. Ho Sui and F. Brinkman, Simon Fraser University; S. Vogt and T. Raivio, University of Alberta; A. Danielli and V. Scarlato, University of Bologna. Free F1000 Evaluation
2. Epigenetics in mind
The body's tendency to silence the expression of one parental allele in favor of the other -- a phenomenon known as genomic imprinting -- is much more widespread in the brain than scientists have believed, according to a new genome-wide study in mice. Surprisingly, more than 1300 genes expressed in the mouse brain appear to exhibit "parent-of-origin" epigenetic effects.
C. Gregg, et al., Science, 329:643-8, 2010. Evaluations by R. Sapolsky, Stanford University; ME Carter and L. de Lecea, Stanford University; J. Messing, Rutgers University; Y Ikeuchi and A Bonni, Harvard Medical School; D Sweatt, University of Alabama at Birmingham. Free F1000 Evaluation
3. Translation goes local
Protein synthesis is a complicated game, but for the first time researchers have shown direct interaction between a transmembrane receptor, called DCC, and the translational machinery in rodent neurons, a step that likely facilitates localized protein production.
J. Tcherkezian, et al., Cell, 141:632-44, 2010. Evaluations by K Kwan and CB Chien, University of Utah; J Heraud and M Kiebler, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Austria; W Kroeze and B Roth, University of North Carolina; L Desgroseillers, University of Montreal, Canada; L Columbus, University of Virginia. Free F1000 Evaluation
4. No RNA "dark matter"?
Most of the DNA that's transcribed into RNA in fact codes for proteins, a finding that disputes previous studies that suggested that the majority of mammalian transcripts are non-coding "dark matter."
H. van Bakel et al. PLoS Biol, May; 8(5):e1000371, 2010. A Siepel, Cornell University; S Macdonald, University of Kansas; A Sellam and A Nantel, National Research Council of Canada; D Reines, Emory University School of Medicine.
Free F1000 Evaluation
5. Super E. Coli
The mother cell of E. coli maintains a constant growth rate throughout its replicative life (hundreds of cell divisions), despite accumulating damage and an increased probability of death, suggesting that growth and aging are decoupled, unlike all other studied aging models.
P. Wang et al., Curr Biol, 2010 May 26, 20:1099?1103. Evaluated by R Kishony, Harvard University; T Meier, Max Planck Inst Biophysics; Yves Barral, ETH. Free F1000 Evaluation
6. How autophagosomes form
Under conditions of starvation, autophagosomes form to resupply the cell by bringing nutrients from the cytosol or other organelles to the lysosomes, ensuring the cell's survival. New findings reveal an essential ingredient to this mysterious process: the outer membrane of mitochondria.
DW Hailey et al. Cell, 141:656-67, 2010. Evaluated by R Gross, University of Wuerzburg, Germany; M Markaki and N Tavernarakis, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Greece; Y Xiang and Y Wang, University of Michigan, E Lau and Z Ronai, The Burnham Institute. Free F1000 evaluation
7. New tumor targets?
A scan of 1800 megabases of DNA from 441 tumors reveals more than 2500 somatic mutations, providing the mutation "spectra" for cancers, including protein kinases and G-protein-coupled receptors, some of which may serve as druggable targets.
Z. Kan et al, Nature, 466:869-73, 2010. Evaluated by T Ried, National Cancer Institute; D Nierlich, University of California, Los Angeles; S Gutkind, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Free F1000 evaluation
The F1000 Top 7 is a snapshot of the highest ranked articles from a 30-day period on Faculty of 1000 Genomics & Genetics, as calculated on October 28, 2010. Faculty Members evaluate and rate the most important papers in their field. To see the latest rankings, search the database, and read daily evaluations, visit http:/f1000.com.
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