HHMI BULLETIN | May 2Oo8 President’S Letter
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HHMI BULLETIN M AY ’08 VOL.21 • NO.02 • 6]eO`R6c HHMI BULLETIN U VSa;SRWQOZ7\abWbcbS • eeeVV[W]` U Juan Young / Zoghbi lab Young Juan 23431BA7</A7<5:353<31/CA3@3BBAG<2@=;3/@/@3<3C@= Communication :=571/:µ/CB7A;A>31B@C;¶27A=@23@B6/B23AB@=GA;=B=@ 1==@27</B7=</<21=;;C<71/B7=<A97::A=457@:AE7B67<B63 47@ABG3/@=@A==4:7437<'''6C2/H=5607723<B74732B63 Breakdown 1C:>@7B;CB/B7=<A7<B6353<31/::32;31> /<20GABC2G7<5 B6327A=@23@7<;7136/A:3/@<32B6/BB63;31> >@=B37< 5@33<7A3F>@3AA327<3D3@G;/BC@3<3C@=<7<B630@/7< /<2@35C:/B3AB63/1B7D7BG=4=B63@53<3A7B¸A<=E=<23@ A63A/GAB6/B/23431B7<B6353<3E@3/9AAC166/D=1 <=EH=5607¸A5@=C>6/A27A1=D3@32/@=:34=@;31> /B B63AG</>B711=<<31B7=<03BE33<<3C@=<A´/</@3/=B63@ /CB7A;@3A3/@163@A/@34=1CA7<5=</AE3::A33>/53 "8]\Sa0`WRUS@]OR d]Z 1VSdg1VOaS;O`gZO\R &#$%&' eeeVV[W]`U \ ] ;/97<5;/B61=C<B@SOZe]`ZR[ObV^`]PZS[a[Og[OYSabcRS\baPSbbS`PW]Z]UWaba 7<B67A7AAC3/cbWa[¸a7\dWaWPZS0O``WS`aF7\OQbWdObW]\4WRUSbW\U3\hg[Sa =0A3@D/B7=<A 3;3@57<5AB@/<53@A EVS\^agQVWOb`Wab:S]9O\\S`]PaS`dSRQVWZR`S\W\bVS'!aO\R ^cbbW\UbVS¿Uc`SaW\b]bVSW`^`]^S`a^OQSaO\RbOYW\UbVS[]cbOUOW\ '"aeV]aVO`SRQS`bOW\c\[WabOYOPZSQVO`OQbS`WabWQaVSQ]W\SR OR`]WbZgO\R_cWQYZgEVS\W\bS`TS`SReWbVVSeVW\SRW[^ObWS\bZg bVSbS`[µW\TO\bWZSOcbWa[¶4`][bVSW`SO`ZWSabROgabVSQVWZR`S\¸a 6SRWR\]b`Sa^]\Rb]PSW\UQOZZSR]`b]O\g]bVS`e]`RaORR`SaaSR PSVOdW]`VSaOgaeOaµU]dS`\SR`WUWRZgO\RQ]\aWabS\bZgPgbVS b]VW[6SeOaQ][^ZSbSZgOPa]`PSRW\eVObSdS`VSRWR6S\SdS` ^]eS`TcZRSaW`ST]`OZ]\S\SaaO\RaO[S\Saa¶ a[WZSR6Sa][SbW[SacbbS`SRW\O`bWQcZObSa]c\RaW\O[]\]b]\]ca aW\Ua]\U[O\\S`/b]\SbW[SVSUS\bZgab`]YSRVWa[]bVS`¸aZSUO\R /QQ]`RW\Ub]VWa[]bVS`I6S`PS`bKeOaµOZeOgaaZ]eO\R_cWSb¶4]` b]cQVSRWbeWbVVWaZW^a6SdS`gT`S_cS\bZgP`]cUVbPZ]QYaO\R]bVS` ObW[SVSeOaPSZWSdSRb]PSRSOTPSQOcaSµVSRWR\]b`SUWabS`O\g ]PXSQbab]VWaZW^aBVS`SeOaO\OZ[]ab^V]b]U`O^VWQZWYS\Saa]TVWa QVO\US]TSf^`SaaW]\eVS\a^]YS\b]]`eVS\W\bVS^`SaS\QS]T]bVS` PSVOdW]`Rc`W\UbVSbe]dWaWbaeWbVbVS[OW\SfQS^bW]\bVObOb"gSO`a ^S]^ZS)OZa]VS[ORS\]ObbS[^bb]a^SOY]`b]T]`[e]`Ra¶ VSaV]eSRO^^`SVS\aW]\O\RaV`O\YPOQYeVS\O[ObQVeOaZWUVbSR 6S`PS`beVS\SfO[W\SR]\VWa¿`abdWaWbIOb!gSO`a []\bVa]T eVWZSOb#gSO`aVS`SOQbSRPgXc[^W\Uc^O\RR]e\SQabObWQOZZg OUSKaV]eSRO`S[O`YOPZSW\bSZZWUS\b^VgaW]U\][gO\RU]]R[]b]` 4WdS]T]c`QVWZR`S\VOdSPg\]e`SOQVSROUSaPSbeSS\'O\R Q]]`RW\ObW]\EWbVW\QS`bOW\ZW[WbaVSRWa^ZOgSROab]c\RW\U^c`^]aS gSO`a BVSPOaWQRSaW`ST]`OZ]\S\SaaO\RaO[S\SaaVOa`S[OW\SR 26 TcZ\SaaW\bVS^c`acWb]TaSZTaSZSQbSRU]OZa/[]\UOU`]c^]TPZ]QYa SaaS\bWOZZgc\QVO\USRPcbbVS`SVOaPSS\OdO`gW\URSU`SS]TS[S` VSW\abO\bZg`SQ]U\WhSRbV]aSbVObeS`SUZcSRb]OP]O`RO\RbV]aS US\QST`][a]ZWbcRSO\OQQS^bO\QS]TObZSOaba][S^S]^ZSOaPSW\U Studying X chromosome inactivation in several cultured bVObeS`SRSbOQVOPZS6SQ]cZRPcWZROb]eS`]TPZ]QYaOaaYWZZTcZZg eWbVW\bVSQVWZR¸aa^VS`S]TQ]\aWRS`ObW]\O\ROacT¿QWS\bW\Q`SOaSW\ human embryonic stem cell lines, researchers in Jeannie Lee’s O\ROaVWUVOaO\gQVWZR]TVWaOUS]`SdS\]ZRS`6SQ]cZR\]bPS bVS\c[PS`]TSf^S`WS\QSR^ObbS`\ab]`STcbSbVSSO`ZWS`W[^`SaaW]\]T Harvard lab found that, after one X was inactivated, the cells RWdS`bSRT`][VWaaSZTQV]aS\]QQc^ObW]\a6SeOaO\\]gSRPgO\g Sfb`S[SZW[WbObW]\]TbVSQVWZR¸aWRSObW]\OZQ]\bS\b=\S[WUVb^S`VO^a in some lines stopped producing the molecule responsible W\bS`TS`S\QSaV]dW\UW\b`cRS`aOeOgeWbV]cbSdS`Z]]YW\UObbVS[ ^cbWbbVWaeOg( ]c`QVWZR`S\U`ORcOZZgQ][^`][WaSPgSfbS\RW\U for the silencing. The fi nding raises questions about the ]`aQ`SO[W\UeVS\bVSaV]dW\UVOR\]STTSQb QOcbW]caTSSZS`aW\b]Oe]`ZRW\eVWQVbVSgVOdSPSS\b]bOZab`O\US`a possibility of genes being “reawakened” in embryonic stem 6SeOaaSS\OUOW\Ob"gSO`a%[]\bVaO\ROUOW\Ob#gSO`a T`][bVSPSUW\\W\U cells after normal genetic silencing. []\bVa]TOUS6SabWZZRWR\]ba^SOY0]bVbW[SaVSS\bS`SRbVS ]T¿QSeWbV]cb^OgW\UbVSaZWUVbSabObbS\bW]\b]bVS^S]^ZS^`SaS\b 4`][bVS^O^S`µ/cbWabWQ2Wabc`PO\QSa]T/TTSQbWdS1]\bOQb¶:S] 6SeS\bOTbS`bVSASUcW\T]`[P]O`RO\RW\abO\bZgPcaWSRVW[aSZT 9O\\S`<S`d]ca1VWZR % #'"! Evah Fan Evah Susana S. Silva / Lee lab vol. 21 may ’o8 no. o2 23>/@B;3<BA >@3A723<B¸A:3BB3@ ! A Season of Change 13<B@74C53 " Men Overboard # The Sweet Smell of Exhaust $ A Baroque Biochemist C>4@=<B & Know When to Fold ’Em Freeze-Framing a Fidgety Molecule Baring HIV’s Dependencies >3@A>31B7D3A/<2=>7<7=<A !& Stuart L. Schreiber " Claudia M. Neuhauser " Q&A – How does chemistry affect the average person? 16@=<71:3 AQWS\QS3RcQObW]\ "" Cue the Crickets "$ Strategizing to Diversify Science 7\abWbcbS<Sea "% In Memoriam: Richard G. Darman "% HHMI Offers Boost to Early-Career Scientists :OP0]]Y "& Of Fish and Men "' Fixing Fragile X # A New Clarity /aYOAQWS\bWab # Do only the “long bones” of the arms and legs contain growth plates? And if so, how do all of the body’s bones stop growing at maturity? C^1Z]aS # Hearing Through the Din <]bO0S\S #" News of recent awards and other notable achievements =0A3@D/B7=<A Emerging Strangers 43/BC@3A 14 2o 26 32 Teaching Invisible Barriers Genetic Sources of Renewal Young Biologists Children with the subtlest Balancing Act As scientists learn more New Tricks form of autism suffer social Animals have evolved about how to produce and Long the science where isolation; those with more intricate ways to ensure manipulate stem cells— math mattered less, biology severe disease face a much that gene activity is amid high expectations increasingly demands tougher road. New genetic the same in males and and close scrutiny—no one powerful quantitative skills. clues put the spotlight on the females despite the is ready to choose any one Teaching students the math communication hubs of the inherent imbalance approach over another. they’ll need, though, is brain’s neurons—the synapses. of X chromosomes. more than just 1+1=2. [COVER STORY] VISIT THE BULLETIN ONLINE FOR ADDITIONAL CONTENT AND ADDED FEATURES: www.hhmi.org/bulletin COVER IMAGE: LUKE BEST contributors /TO\]TRSaS`bae`WbS`;7B16:3A:73a][SV]eS\RSRc^W\R`WhhZg>]`bZO\R=`SU]\eVS`S VSQ]dS`aQSZZPW]Z]UgO\RW[[c\]Z]UgT]`AQWS\QS[OUOhW\S0SbeSS\aSba]TbS\\WaVSVOa OZa]e`WbbS\T]`1SZZA[WbVa]\WO\O\R<SeAQWS\bWab 2Sa^WbSO\]\ZW\S_cWh\O[W\UVS`WRSOZQO`SS`OaWQSQ`SO[bOabW\UA/@/61>E7::7/;A RSQWRSRb]PSQ][SOaQWS\QSe`WbS`/U`ORcObS]TbVSaQWS\QSe`WbW\U^`]U`O[ObbVSC\WdS`aWbg ]T1OZWT]`\WOAO\bO1`chaVSVOae`WbbS\T]`AQWS\QS<=EGOZS;SRWQW\SO\RAbO\T]`R;SRWQW\S O\RWa\]eOaaWabO\bSRWb]`]TbVS66;70cZZSbW\EWZZWO[aZWdSaW\EOaVW\Ub]\21eWbVVS` 5`SOb2O\SO\ROT`SShS`eSZZab]QYSReWbVWQSQ`SO[ ! 1cb]cbPWba]T^O^S`T`OU[S\ba]TVO\RR`Oe\¿Uc`SaO\RQ]Z]`TcZ^ObbS`\aO`SXcaba][S ]TbVSSZS[S\babVOb[OYSc^bVSWZZcab`ObW]\e]`Y]T:C9303AB6WaRWdS`aS]cb^cbW\QZcRSa dWRS]O\RO\W[ObW]\eW\R]eRWa^ZOgaO`bRW`SQbW]\TOaVW]\O\RV][S[ORSa^OQSacWba0Sab ZWdSaW\:]\R]\eVS`SVSe]`YaOa^O`b]TO\O`bWabWQQ]ZZSQbWdSY\]e\Oa>SS^aV]e :3/64/AB3<aOgaaVSZ]dSabVSeOgaQWS\QSZ]]YaOR[WbbW\UbVObWb^`]POPZgQ][SaT`][ b]][cQVbW[Sa^S\bVO\UW\UO`]c\RVS`VcaPO\R¸aPW]QVS[Wab`gZOP:SOVZSTbOQO`SS`W\ OW`ZW\S¿\O\QSb]^c`acS^V]b]U`O^VgTcZZbW[SAW\QSZOc\QVW\UVS`0]ab]\abcRW]W\ !aVS " VOa^V]b]U`O^VSRaQWS\bWabaT]`bVS;OaaOQVcaSbba7\abWbcbS]TBSQV\]Z]Ug6O`dO`RC\WdS`aWbg BVSAQWS\bWabO\R;OYS[OUOhW\SO[]\U]bVS`a 66;7B@CAB33A 6 6;7=44713@AA3<7=@/2D7A=@A 8O[Sa/0OYS`7773a_ BV][Oa@1SQV>V2 / President Senior Partner / Baker & Botts 1`OWU//ZSfO\RS` / V.P. & General Counsel /[POaaOR]`1VO`ZS\S0O`aVSTaYg >SbS`80`c\a>V2 / V.P. for Grants & Special Programs Senior International Partner 2OdWR/1ZOgb]\>V2 / V.P. for Research Operations WilmerHale 8]aS^V21]ZZW\a / V.P. for Information Technology @WQVO`R52O`[O\ 8OQY32Wf]\>V2 / V.P. & Chief Scientific Officer Partner / The Carlyle Group 8]O\A:S]\O`R3a_ / Senior Counsel to the President Chairman of the Board / AES Corp. /dWQS/;SSVO\ / V.P. for Communications & Public Affairs (Through January 25, 2008) 3ReO`R8>OZ[S`W\] / V.P. for Finance & Treasurer 8]aS^V:5]ZRabSW\;2 5S`OZR;@cPW\>V2 / V.P. & Director, Janelia Farm Research Campus Regental Professor & Chairman, Department of Molecular Genetics :O\RWaHW[[S`[O\ / V.P. & Chief Investment Officer University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas 66;70C::3B7<AB/44 6O\\O65`Og>V21VOW`[O\ President Emeritus & Harry Pratt Judson ;O`g0SbV5O`RW\S` / Editor Distinguished Service Professor of History 1]`WDO\QVWS`W / Story Editor The University of Chicago 8W[9SSZSg / Science Editor 5O`\Sbb:9SWbV >Ob`WQWO4]abS` / Associate Director of Communications Chairman / SeaBridge Investment Advisors, L.L.C. for Web & Special Projects Former Vice Chairman & Chief Investment Officer AO`OV1>EWZZWO[a / Assistant Editor The Prudential Insurance Company of America 2SO\B`OQY[O\;OgO>W\Sa / Contributing Editors 8S`S[g@9\]eZSa2>VWZ /227B7=</:1=<B@70CB=@A Amory Houghton Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry 1Og0cbZS`;WQVSZZS1WaaSZZ;O`Y4O``SZZ Harvard University (Through April 3, 2008) <WQ]ZS9`SaUSAbSdS\;O`Qca6SObVS`;Q2]\OZR DA/>O`b\S`a<G1 / Concept & Design >OcZ<c`aS4@A President / The Rockefeller University 9c`b:AQV[]YS3a_ Dean / Howard University School of Law /\\S;BObZ]QY Director, Retired Chairman & CEO Fiduciary Trust Company International BSZS^V]\S! #&&##4Of! #&&$!eeeVV[W]`U %6]eO`R6cUVSa;SRWQOZ7\abWbcbS BVS]^W\W]\aPSZWSTaO\RdWSe^]W\baSf^`SaaSRPgOcbV]`aW\bVS 66;70cZZSbW\R]\]b\SQSaaO`WZg`SÀSQbbVS]^W\W]\aPSZWSTadWSe^]W\ba ]`]T¿QWOZ^]ZWQWSa]TbVS6]eO`R6cUVSa;SRWQOZ7\abWbcbS Mitch Leslie: Christie Aschwanden, Sarah Williams, Luke Best, Leah Fasten Sarah Williams, Leslie: Christie Aschwanden, Mitch HHMI BULLETIN | May 2oo8 president’s letter A Season of Change EVEN THE DAMP, GRAY DAYS SO PERVASIVE THIS SPRING CAN’T diminish the extraordinary magic with which the season unfurls outside my office here at HHMI’s headquarters in Maryland.