Nanosensors target enzymes to monitor and study cancer

By analyzing enzyme activity at the organism, tissue, and cellular scales, new sensors could provide new tools to clinicians and cancer researchers.

Bendta Schroeder | Erika Reinfeld | Koch Institute • mit
Nov. 2, 2022 ~8 min

A “door” into the mitochondrial membrane

Study finds the protein MTCH2 is responsible for shuttling various other proteins into the membrane of mitochondria. The finding could have implications for cancer treatments and MTCH2-linked conditions.

Eva Frederick | Whitehead Institute • mit
Oct. 25, 2022 ~7 min


Neurodegenerative disease can progress in newly identified patterns

A machine-learning method finds patterns of health decline in ALS, informing future clinical trial designs and mechanism discovery. The technique also extends to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Lauren Hinkel | MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab • mit
Sept. 27, 2022 ~10 min

Biologists glean insight into repetitive protein sequences

A computational analysis reveals that many repetitive sequences are shared across proteins and are similar in species from bacteria to humans.

Anne Trafton | MIT News Office • mit
Sept. 13, 2022 ~7 min

Using machine learning to identify undiagnosable cancers

A new model that maps developmental pathways to tumor cells may unlock the identity of cancers of unknown primary.

Bendta Schroeder | Koch Institute • mit
Sept. 1, 2022 ~8 min

New model helps identify mutations that drive cancer

The system rapidly scans the genome of cancer cells, could help researchers find targets for new drugs.

Anne Trafton | MIT News Office • mit
June 20, 2022 ~8 min

New CRISPR-based map ties every human gene to its function

Jonathan Weissman and collaborators used their single-cell sequencing tool Perturb-seq on every expressed gene in the human genome, linking each to its job in the cell.

Eva Frederick | Whitehead Institute • mit
June 9, 2022 ~9 min

Tracing a cancer’s family tree to its roots reveals how tumors grow

Family trees of lung cancer cells reveal how cancer evolves from its earliest stages to an aggressive form capable of spreading throughout the body.

Greta Friar | Whitehead Institute • mit
May 5, 2022 ~9 min


Using plant biology to address climate change

A Climate Grand Challenges flagship project aims to reduce agriculture-driven emissions while making food crop plants heartier and more nutritious.

Merrill Meadow | Whitehead Institute • mit
April 19, 2022 ~9 min

Structures considered key to gene expression are surprisingly fleeting

Study finds genome loops don’t last long in cells; theories of how loops control gene expression may need to be revised.

Anne Trafton | MIT News Office • mit
April 14, 2022 ~7 min

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