Scientists find a molecular clue to the complex mystery of auxin signaling in plants

Plants fine-tune the response of their cells to the potent plant hormone auxin by means of large families of proteins that either step on the gas or put on the brake in auxin’s presence. Scientists at Washington University have learned that one of these proteins, a transcription factor, has an interaction region that, like a button magnet, has a positive and negative face. Because of this domain, the protein can bind two other proteins or even chains of proteins arranged back-to-front.

Are health departments tweeting to the choir?

The use of social media to disseminate information is increasing in local health departments, but a new study, led by Jenine K. Harris, PhD, assistant professor at the Brown School finds that Twitter accounts are followed more by organizations than individuals and may not be reaching the intended audience.

Biggs Lecture in Classics features acclaimed Athenian archaeologist John Camp

World-renowned archaeologist John M. Camp will give this year’s John and Penelope Biggs Lecture in the Classics for the Assembly Series. His lecture, “Greece between Antiquity and Modernity: View of Two Early 19th Century Travelers” will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 27, in Steinberg Hall Auditorium on Washington University in St. Louis’ Danforth Campus. It is free and open to the public.

‘For the Sake of All’ project gets community feedback

Jason Q. Purnell, PhD (left), lead researcher of a landmark multidisciplinary study on African-American health and well-being in St. Louis called “For the Sake of All,” actively engaged with community members March 18 at the Forest Park Visitors Center. The yearlong study held an open house to solicit feedback on the research.

Pow Wow takes place April 5

The 24th annual Pow Wow, a festival of American Indian cultures at Washington University in St. Louis, will be held Saturday, April 5, in the Field House on the Danforth Campus. The event, hosted by the Kathryn M. Buder Center for American Indian Studies at the Brown School, is free and open to the public.

Investigational drug evaluated in newborns to treat rare disorder

Children with a rare genetic disorder that causes missing and malformed teeth, sparse hair and the inability to perspire are born without a protein thought to be key to such development. A clinical trial now underway at the School of Medicine aims to see if the void can be filled with a replacement protein. Shown are Sarah and Robert Yaroch and their son Andrew, who is participating in the trial.

STL To Do: The Mowgli’s

Indie-pop band The Mowgli’s returns to St. Louis on Friday, March 21, and Katharine Jaruzelski, Student Life’s senior Cadenza editor, says it could be one of your last chances to see them before they hit it big.
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