In Print

From Focus:
Synthetic Molecule Blocks Exit from Cell Organelle
The GTPases are a family of signal transduction molecules that play crucial roles in numerous biological processes. Though scientists have eyed these proteins as potential therapeutic targets, inhibitors have proven exceedingly difficult to develop. Tom Kirchhausen (right), Matthew Shair (left), and Henry Pelish now reveal a new class of GTPase inhibitor represented by their synthesis of secramine, a small molecule that blocks one particular GTPase that is crucial for vesicular transport and cell migration. The finding offers a new means to study protein traffic from the Golgi apparatus and offers hope that unique and specific GTPase inhibitors might one day be used to treat disease.

Upcoming

General Interest Forum:
Open House and Celebration of Student Research
Monday, Jan. 9
4:30–5:30 p.m.

• Patricia D'Amore
  Schepens Eye Research Institute
  
• Thomas Michel
  Brigham and Women’s Hospital
  
• Gordon Strewler
  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Lab Works

A multimedia site featuring Harvard Medical research.

Spotlight

Plasmid Information Database Available Online
The Dana–Farber/Harvard Cancer Center Resource Core at the Harvard Institute of Proteomics has announced the online launch of the Plasmid Information Database (PlasmID). Open to researchers at academic and nonprofit labs, PlasmID allows searching and clone requests from the institute’s plasmid repository. To learn more, select the link above and click “Request Plasmid Clones.”

Student Scene

Photo by Rachel Eastwood

Patient–Doctor III Pilot Links Policy, Patient Care
Jason Sanders describes why the Patient–Doctor III pilot at Massachusetts General Hospital offers a good grounding for issues in health care policy.

StudenTalk

Personal takes on issues inside and outside the classroom.