Life Sciences

clock illustration

Work around the Clock

24.01.2012

Dr. Gad Asher wants to know why our bodies need clocks in every cell.

Mature oocyte, ready for fertilization; surrounding the oocyte are follicle cells

The X Factor of Ovulation

24.01.2012

Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology, Fertility

What keeps the eggs in the ovary from maturing until the time comes for ovulation?

Cells growing under normal (l) and starvation (c and r) conditions. The green spots indicate an autophagy protein that is normally diffused in the cytoplasm, but is recruited to form autophagosomes in response to stress

One Protein, Two Programs

16.01.2012

Molecular and Cell Biology

A cell’s decision to commit suicide involves an exchange of information between two suicide mechanisms

Non-polarized cell six hours after seeding onto a compliant fibronectin-coated substrate. Yellow shows paxillin, a protein associated with focal adhesions

Touching Ground

16.01.2012

Space & Physics, Molecular and Cell Biology, Chemistry

Sticky cells take their cues from the surface they adhere to

Prof. Jeffrey Gerst and Rachel Kama

Unraveling Batten Disease

05.01.2012

Brain & Behavior, Molecular and Cell Biology, Disease, Drugs & Diagnostics, Genetics

When the CLN3 gene is mutated, molecular traffic patterns are disrupted in the neurons.

(l-r) Drs. Hadas Lipid and Sagit Shushan, Prof. Noam Sobel, and Drs. Anton Plotkin and Elad Schneidman. Smelling good

Placing That Smell

04.01.2012

Brain & Behavior

The smell receptors in our nose are arranged according to the pleasantness scale.

Three-dimensional structure of the neurohypophysis in a zebrafish embryo (the nerve fibers and blood vessels are genetically tagged with fluorescent proteins). This brain area provides an interface between nerve cells (green), arteries (purple) and veins (red)

Close Encounters of the Brain and Blood

04.01.2012

Brain & Behavior, Cancer, Immunology, Evolution and Development

A surprising new function is discovered for the “hormone of love.”

Left: Natural control mechanism blocks the enzyme's zinc active site. Right: Novel antibody works as effectively as the natural control mechanism

New Antibodies Treat Autoimmune Disease in Mice

26.12.2011

Immunology, Disease, Drugs & Diagnostics, Organic Chemistry

Institute scientist “trick” the body into blocking an enzyme that abets disease processes

The adult stem cell unit: Niches are in red. Cap cells (barbed arrowhead) are tightly associated with germ-line stem cells (outlined). Germ-line stem cells carry a spherical organelle - a fusome - which is asymmetrically localized to the side of the cap cells (arrow). Once the stem cell divides, one daughter cell loses contact with the niche and differentiates (green). The fusome in a differentiating germ cell becomes branched (arrowhead)

Stem Cell Phone Home

18.12.2011

Stem Cells, Molecular and Cell Biology

Nature has an ingenious method for orchestrating stem cell development.

Electron microscope image of an effector cell inserting several appendages through endothelial cell membranes

Hide and Seek Signals

15.12.2011

Immunology, Disease, Drugs & Diagnostics

Keeping chemical signals inside the cells lining blood vessels ensures that only specially trained immune cells will find them

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Dendrites that developed in a tin battery, seen under an electronic microscope. Source: Shakked Schwartz and Ayan Maity

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Weizmann Institute of Science Moves to 100% Green Electricity

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