Genetics

Izpisua Belmonte’s lab published additional work uncovering how ovaries age in nonhuman primates in unprecedented detail. This road map reveals several genes that could be used as biomarkers and could point to therapeutic targets for diagnosing and treating female infertility and age-associated ovarian diseases, such as ovarian cancer, in humans.

Research into the developing brain, led by Professor and Salk President Rusty Gage, first author Meiyan Wang and colleagues, revealed a unique pattern of DNA damage that arises in brain cells derived from individuals with a macrocephalic form of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). They found that cells from people with this type of ASD not only proliferate more, but also naturally experience more replication stress, spurring DNA damage. The observation helps explain what might go awry in the brain during cell division and development to cause the disorder.

Professor Alan Saghatelian, first author Meriç Erikci Ertunc and a collaborative team of scientists have identified two genes that can regulate levels of healthy fats called FAHFAs, in mice. Because FAHFAs decrease inflammation and increase insulin sensitivity, a better understanding of the activity of their regulatory genes may eventually lead to therapies for people with diabetes and inflammation. They found that the loss of the genes led to higher-than-normal levels of the beneficial FAHFAs, while blocking the genes’ activity with an experimental drug also increased FAHFA levels.