Tiny, striped zebrafish are helping scientists trace how a gene linked to albinism influences eye development, work that may ultimately help explain some of the vision problems experienced by people with the condition and guide the search for new treatments. In a study published in Developmental Biology, Washington State University researchers found that mutations in OCA2, a gene responsible for one of the most common forms of albinism, caused unexpected changes in pigment cells, eye formation and the activity of dozens of other genes in zebrafish embryos.

An international research team has discovered that the protein HERC4 is a key component in the signalling pathways involved in programmed cell death, which is responsible for triggering inflammatory diseases. The discovery will potentially lead the way to new therapeutic approaches for chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, rheumatism and psoriasis, as well as for inflammation-related types of cancer / Publication in ‘Nature Structural and Molecular Biology’

Marine plastic debris can persist for long periods and gradually break down into microplastics that are difficult to remove. Researchers from Ritsumeikan University used a system dynamics model to examine how reducing marine plastic inputs and varying the timing and intensity of cleanup could affect plastic accumulation by 2050. The findings show that halting plastic inputs is essential but insufficient on its own. Earlier cleanup of legacy macroplastics can reduce accumulation, but at higher costs.