Charting the bureaucracy of life (263 KB)
by Mark S. Lesney
If there is to be any hope of relating genomics to drug discovery beyond a few obvious targets, we must understand the complex hierarchy that controls and regulates genes‹the bureaucracy of life. And the bureaucracy follows blueprints issued in the selfsame code as the rest of the genome. Perhaps more than finding the genes themselves, finding gene regulatory elements requires all the finesse of sequence analysis that modern bioinformatics can provide. Identifying and modeling this communications bureaucracy are a combined effort and feedback loop of research scientists and bioinformatics specialists.

MS and microbiology (233 KB)
by Catherine C. Fenselau and Kathryn Jackson
MS has become fundamental in the standard methods (MALDI and SELDI) for structural analyses of proteins, DNA, and carbohydrates, which make it possible to characterize the components of biological systems. Another application propelling the success of this technology is its use in the characterization of intact microorganisms (intact-cell MALDI-TOF [ICM]). Practically all rapid MS characterization of microorganisms falls under the umbrella of ICM.

Content in Context
You can't always get what you want (32 KB)
by James F. Ryan

From Our Readers (45 KB)
Left hanging • The eyes have it

News in Brief (96 KB)
Prognostic biomarker • Boronic -lactamase busters? • mAb fuel • Crystallize to deliver • Computer dating for GPCRs • -Amyloid binders • Nano-antidotes • Paring probes

Sites and Software
A Web of support (84 KB)
by Nancy K. McGuire
Health care sites offer access to reference material and clinical trials as well as support groups.

The Tool Box
On display (114 KB)
by Duncan McGregor and Kevin FitzGerald
New in vitro visualization methods are helping to identify new drugs.

The Business Page
Matters of money (58 KB)
by Charles W. Schmidt
U.S. citizens search far and wide for affordable prescription drugs.

New Product Notes (88 KB)

Clinical Trials Track
Gene therapy revisited (65 KB)
by Mark S. Lesney
Serious side effects have derailed one of this technique's greatest success stories.

Ready to Read
Timebomb: The Global Epidemic of Multi-Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (57 KB)
Reviewed by Mark S. Lesney

Diseases and Disorders
Urinary incontinence (51 KB)
by Mary Anne Dunkin