Phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE3) inhibitors are clinically approved drugs used for treating thrombosis, heart diseases, and asthma. Now, however, scientists have found that PDE3 inhibitors can also stimulate key signaling pathways that trigger Ca2+ influx into bone cells, promoting extracellular matrix production and bone growth. This new therapeutic potential of PDE3 inhibitors was demonstrated using both in vivo and ex vivo approaches, suggesting that existing PDE3 inhibitors could be repositioned as therapies for skeletal disorders. 

There is more movement in our genome than we think. Almost half of the human genome consists of transposons – short DNA sequences capable of relocating within the genome. They “jump” from one place to another, not uniformly distributing across the genome, but often grouping together in clusters. Researchers at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have now discovered how this clustering occurs. This is made possible by a physical effect that results in local unfolding of the genome. The results were published in the Biophysical Journal. (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2025.03.038)

Diego Di Bernardo of the Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM) has received a €2.5 million ERC Advanced Grant for DIMERCIRCUITS, a project that combines synthetic biology, artificial intelligence, and systems biology to create programmable genetic circuits. These tools aim to precisely and reversibly control gene expression, paving the way for safer, more personalized gene therapies. Using rare diseases like Friedreich’s ataxia as testbeds, the project could unlock new treatment strategies for a broad range of genetic conditions..