Daily Protein Science: Generation

New Delhi, (IANS): Scientists have identified a key gene essential for vitamin D absorption, which may also boost treatments for cancer and autoimmune diseases.

The gene, called SDR42E1, is crucial for taking up vitamin D from the gut and further metabolising it -- a discovery with many possible applications in precision medicine, including cancer therapy.

"Here we show that blocking or inhibiting SDR42E1 may selectively stop the growth of cancer cells,” said Dr Georges Nemer, Professor at the University of College of Health and Life Sciences at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar.

Previous research showed that a specific mutation in the SDR42E1 gene on chromosome 16 is associated with vitamin D deficiency.

The mutation caused the protein to be cut short, rendering it inactive.

In the study, published in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology, the researchers used CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to transform the active form of SDR42E1 in a line of cells from a patient with colorectal cancer, called HCT116, into its inactive form.

In HCT116 cells, the expression of SDR42E1 is usually abundant, suggesting that the protein is essential for their survival.

Once the faulty SDR42E1 copy had been introduced, the viability of the cancer cells plummeted by 53 per cent, the researchers explained.

The results suggest that inhibiting the gene can selectively kill cancer cells, while leaving neighbouring cells unharmed.

“Our results open new potential avenues in precision oncology, though clinical translation still requires considerable validation and long-term development," said Dr Nagham Nafiz Hendi, Professor at Middle East University in Amman, Jordan.

“Because SDR42E1 is involved in vitamin D metabolism, we could also target it in any of the many diseases where vitamin D plays a regulatory role,” said Nemer.However, as long-term effects of SDR42E1 on vitamin D balance remain to be fully understood, the researchers stressed the need for further studies. Gene essential for vitamin D absorption may boost cancer treatment | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........→August 13, 2025 Categories: Generation,Health,Research

A baby has been born following a form of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) largely carried out by a machine, in what researchers say is a world first.

The development could signal a major shift in how fertility treatments are performed, The Express Tribune reported.

The machine, developed by New York-based biotech firm Conceivable Life Sciences, was used to complete 23 critical steps of a procedure known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). A human operator supervised the process remotely via livestream, initiating each step with the press of a button.

"This level of automation could reduce the chance of human error and fatigue affecting the outcomes," said Jacques Cohen, co-founder of the company and an expert in assisted reproduction.

In ICSI, a single sperm is injected directly into an egg, a technique often used when male infertility is involved. However, the manual nature of the process requires extreme precision and concentration, making it prone to errors.

To test the automated system, researchers recruited a couple struggling with infertility. The male partner's sperm had limited motility, and the female partner received donor eggs due to ovulatory issues.

Of the eight donor eggs, five were fertilised using the automated system, and three through conventional manual ICSI. All eight developed into embryos. An AI model then evaluated the embryos, selecting two deemed most viable—both from the automated process.

One embryo failed to implant, but the other resulted in the successful birth.

Joyce Harper, a reproductive science professor at University College London, described the result as an "exciting proof-of-concept" but noted that larger, controlled trials would be needed to determine if the system is more effective than manual IVF.

The system incorporates artificial intelligence to choose optimal sperm based on visual cues and uses a laser to immobilise them before injection.Though not immediately expected to become widespread due to cost, Cohen believes the expense will decrease with further development and standardisation. custom title: Source Article