Sony Acquires Champaign based iCyt Mission Technologies

Sony Corporation (Sony) announced today that it has acquired iCyt Mission Technology, Inc. (iCyt), a leading producer of high-performance cell sorters used for stem cell and disease research, through its U.S. subsidiary, Sony Corporation of America (SCA). With this acquisition, Sony is using its expertise and technologies to enter the flow cytometry business in life science field. iCyt, founded in 1995 and headquartered in Champaign, Illinois, designs, manufactures and sells flow cytometers, associated reagents and services.

Founder Gary Durak is expected to remain with the company and continue to build and run the operations from their location in Champaign.

Synthetic protein mimics structure, function of metalloprotein in nature

Scientists have designed a synthetic protein that is both a structural model and a functional model of a native protein, nitric-oxide reductase.

The designed protein “provides an excellent model system for studying nitric-oxide reductase, and for creating biocatalysts for biotechnological, environmental and pharmaceutical applications,” said University of Illinois chemistry professor Yi Lu, who directed the work. Read more

Technique finds gene regulatory sites without knowledge of regulators

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – A new statistical technique developed by researchers at the University of Illinois allows scientists to scan a genome for specific gene-regulatory regions without requiring prior knowledge of the relevant transcription factors. The technique has been experimentally validated in both the mouse genome and the fruit fly genome. Read more

Researchers discover a new pathway that regulates inflammation

Inflammation, the body’s earliest response to damage or infection, can aid the healing process and trigger an immune response against invading pathogens. But inflammation gone awry can also undermine health, as in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or asthma. Read more

Cow genome sequenced

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A new study reveals that – contrary to decades of evolutionary thought – chromosome regions that are prone to breakage when new species are formed are a rich source of genetic variation.

The functions of genes found in these “breakpoint regions” differ significantly from those occurring elsewhere in the chromosomes. This suggests that chromosomal organization plays an important evolutionary role, the researchers report. Read more

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