Sequencing and Analysis of the Hydra Genome
Chapman, Kirkness et al., Nature
An international research collaboration reports their sequencing and analysis of the Hydra magnipapillata genome, and compare it to the genomes of several other organisms. "The Hydra genome has been shaped by bursts of transposable element expansion, horizontal gene transfer, trans-splicing, and simplification of gene structure and gene content that parallel simplification of the Hydra life cycle," the authors write. They team suggests that comparisons of the Hydra genome to the reported sequences of other animals have helped them to elucidate the evolution of several of the organism's characteristics.
Healthlinx Launches OvPlex in UK, Heating Up Race to Get Ovarian Cancer Dx to Market
The launch in the UK by the Aussie firm follows a smaller launch in Australia as proteomics cancer diagnostics begin to make headway into the market after years of setback and false starts.
Kinexus to Launch Peptide Microarray Services in Coming Months for Protein Kinase Analyses
In addition, the company said it may be offering mass spec-based services for targeted analysis of phosphorylation sites.
Q&A: Team Uses Dynamic Proteomics to Study How Multi-Drug Combinations Affect Proteins
A team of researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science said its approach, which found that protein-drug dynamics in multi-drug combinations can be predicted based on the dynamics in pairs of drugs, could be a way "to bypass the combinatorial explosion problem of research on drug combinations."
Bruker Paying $37.5M for Varian's ICP-MS, Lab GC, GC-QQQ-MS Businesses
The sale of the three businesses satisfies conditions set forth by the European Commission as part of its conditional approval of Agilent Technologies’ purchase of Varian.
OriGene Raises $16M to Continue Building Antibody Collection
According to the company — whose goal is to build a monoclonal antibody collection that will cover most of the human proteome — its TrueMab monoclonal antibody collection is "far superior in quality" to small peptide-generated antibodies.
Thermo Fisher Outfits Scottish Metabolomics Facility with Four Mass Specs
According to an official with the facility, the new instruments will advance metabolomic research across Scotland.
Recent Research Papers of Note
Included is a paper describing a new isobaric tandem mass tag for quantitative proteomics; a method of stopping tissue degradation for proteomics analysis; and a high-throughput de novo sequencing approach.
Rick Burdsall, Amrit Takhar, Malcolm Padwick, Fergus Macpherson, Louise Bayne, Sean Kehoe, Dan Sawyers, Greg Kelly
Vermillion Eyeing Return to Nasdaq, Launches OVA1 Ovarian Cancer Test with Quest Dx
Also this week, Medicare said it is covering the test, and Vermillion reformed its scientific advisory board.
Agilent, Duquesne U Form Mass Spec Center of Excellence
The center will serve as a regional showcase for Agilent's mass spec technologies and ultimately could become a mass spec core facility for Duquesne.
NCI-CPTC, AACC Agreement Aims to Advance Proteomics in Clinical Labs
The alliance aims to take proteomics into the clinical chemistry lab and to encourage proteomics researchers to adopt procedures and processes that are routinely practiced in clinical chemistry labs.
Bigger not Always Better: Larial Proteomics Endures Homelessness, Proteomics Downturn, and Recession
The company's strategy that bigger isn't always better has so far enabled the shop to remain afloat even as other proteomic-service firms closed down or left the field.
