Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Archives

DNA untangled: Topoisomerase enzymes remove our genetic knots

Written by

Topoisomerases are enzymes that are abundantly present in our cells and can temporarily cut and rejoin our DNA to remove knots and tangles that form during important biological processes. If they fail to do their job, cells may die. Some anti-cancer and anti-bacterial drugs alter this natural process to eliminate unwanted cells. Dr Neil Osheroff, professor of Biochemistry and Medicine […]

Blood, skin and bone: the complex control of blood pressure

Written by

It is well-known that excessive salt intake can be a risk factor for high blood pressure. But how this effect is mediated – and why some people are more susceptible than others – remains up for debate. Collaborators Professor Raymond Harris and Professor Ming-Zhi Zhang, at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, have uncovered a novel role for immune cells derived […]