Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte from the Salk Institute discussed aging and regenerative medicine at the KAUST 2019 Winter Enrichment Program. His team is combining gene editing and stem cell technologies to grow rat organs in mice and human cells in pig and cattle embryos. The Salk team is collaborating with KAUST to rejuvenate organs using noncoding RNAs and small metabolites. Why it matters: This research collaboration between KAUST and the Salk Institute explores innovative approaches to address age-related diseases and organ regeneration, with potential long-term impacts on healthcare in the region.
KAUST researchers, in collaboration with the Salk Institute and Altos Labs, have identified a class of RNA (LINE-1) that, when compromised, leads to accelerated aging, as seen in progeria. They devised an antisense RNA strategy to block the aberrant function of L1 RNA, reversing the disease in mice and patient-derived cells. Published in Science Translational Medicine, the research suggests that targeting LINE-1 RNA could treat progeroid syndromes and other age-related diseases. Why it matters: This RNA-based approach provides a potential therapeutic avenue for treating premature aging diseases and extending human health span in the region and globally.
KAUST's Laboratory of Stem Cells and Diseases, led by Assistant Professor Antonio Adamo, uses induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to model diseases like diabetes. The lab employs a reprogramming technique to revert patient fibroblasts into iPSCs, enabling the study of disease progression in vitro. Adamo's research focuses on enzymes and disregulated transcriptional/epigenetic mechanisms to understand disease onset. Why it matters: This research contributes to regenerative medicine and offers insights into metabolic diseases relevant to the GCC region.
KAUST researchers have determined the atomic 3D structure of a key protein involved in plant stress signaling using X-ray crystallography at the SOLEIL synchrotron in France. Postdoctoral fellow Umar Farook Shahul Hameed optimized a tiny crystal of the plant enzyme for over six months. The team used the EIGER 9M detector to capture the weak diffraction pattern from the crystal. Why it matters: Understanding the interactions between proteins that communicate plant stress could lead to engineering more stress-tolerant crops, enhancing food security.
KAUST held an international research conference on environmental epigenetics in 2017. The conference included presentations by Professor Paolo Sassone-Corsi from the University of California, Irvine. Participants also included KAUST Professor Valerio Orlando, Emiliana Borrelli, Ueli Grossniklaus and Juan Carlos Belmonte. Why it matters: KAUST is positioning itself as a research hub for advanced bioscience.
Sahika Inal is an assistant professor of bioscience at KAUST's Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division. She is a faculty member at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's ongoing investment in attracting research talent in bioscience.
KAUST professors Samir Hamdan and Nina Fedoroff collaborated on research published in Nucleic Acids Research focusing on microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis in plants. The study examined miRNA production in Arabidopsis thaliana and found that the protein SERRATE (SE) is integral to the processing of pri-miRNA by DCL1. They characterized the interactions of SE with RNA and DCL1, elucidating the mechanism by which SE promotes DCL1 activity. Why it matters: Understanding miRNA biogenesis could help modify crop plants to better tolerate stressful conditions, potentially increasing crop yields and productivity in the region.
KAUST researchers are contributing new information about desert and mangrove plants to support Saudi Arabia's Green Initiative. They are creating a soil atlas for Saudi Arabia, studying soil profiles and microbial populations in hyperarid regions. The team has also compiled the world’s largest biobank of desert microbes, sequencing each microbe's genome. Why it matters: This research is crucial for ensuring the success and sustainability of large-scale greening efforts in arid environments like Saudi Arabia.