A mitochondrial self-preservation mechanism
Mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell, convert sustenance into energy, fueling the cell's activities. In addition to power, mitochondria also produce reactive oxygen species, byproduct molecules primed to help facilitate communication among the ot.....»»
Nutrients direct intestinal stem cell function and affect aging, finds study
Researchers at the University of Helsinki have discovered a new mechanism of action between the nutrient adaptation of intestinal stem cells and aging. The finding may make a difference when seeking ways to maintain the functional capacity of the agi.....»»
Q&A: Research visualizes a precise mechanism for how cells sort their trash
For decades it has been an open question in the ubiquitin research field how proteins are labeled as being defective or unneeded. In a recent study Brenda Schulman, Director at the Max Planck Institute (MPI) of Biochemistry, and Gary Kleiger, Chair o.....»»
Preclinical study uncovers two proteins" crucial role in causing cancer cell growth
Scientists at City of Hope, one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States, have discovered a new cellular mechanism that plays an important role in cancer cells' ability to cause disease. The study is published i.....»»
Team discovers mechanism that protects tissue after faulty gene expression
A study at the University of Cologne's CECAD Cluster of Excellence in Aging Research has identified a protein complex that is activated by defects in the spliceosome, the molecular scissors that process genetic information. Future research could lead.....»»
Researchers discover molecular mechanism that influences the symmetrical shape of the style
Humans are attracted to symmetry: in our buildings, our gardens, in our potential partners. For plants, the symmetrical shapes of organs are a matter of survival because the form directly impacts the function......»»
To stick or not to stick? Mixed sand columns illuminate design of better materials
Scientists from Tokyo Metropolitan University have been studying the strength and toughness of sand columns made of a mixture of sticky and non-sticky grains. They have uncovered the mechanism behind how the strength changes as grains are mixed in di.....»»
Scientists Just Discovered a New Type of Magnetism
In an atomically thin stack of semiconductors, a mechanism unseen in any natural substance causes electrons’ spins to align......»»
New simulation tool advances molecular modeling of biomolecular condensates
A University of Massachusetts Amherst team has made a major advance toward modeling and understanding how intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) undergo spontaneous phase separation, an important mechanism of subcellular organization that underlies.....»»
Ancient "relaxant-inflammatory" mechanism gets sponges moving
Did you know that sponges can move? While not exactly the champions of underwater acrobatics, sponges exhibit coordinated movements—despite not having muscles or neurons......»»
Team unravels activation mechanism of a protein that combats bacteria
The human immune system is constantly fending off a wide range of invaders—a feat that requires a diverse array of cellular troops and molecular weaponry. Although a great deal is already known about immune defense cells and the strategies they emp.....»»
Study of gigantism in whales provides clues to genomic mechanism involved in tumor suppression
The functioning of certain regions of a few genes in cetaceans (whales, porpoises and dolphins) may explain why the Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) can reach lengths of up to 30 meters—almost 10 m more than a bus—while the Bottlenose dolphin (.....»»
Salt, microbes, acid and heat in food preservation
In an era of grocery stores and home refrigerators, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that, for most of history, people have been bound by the seasonality of food. This reality has long presented humanity with a conundrum: how to keep eating after.....»»
Energy supply in human cells is subject to quality control, researchers discover
Researchers at the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG) have discovered a new quality control mechanism that regulates energy production in human cells. This process takes place in mitochondria, the power plants of the cell......»»
Chilled-out tadpoles defy climate odds
University of Queensland researchers have discovered a previously unknown mechanism that allows tadpoles in cold environments to mitigate the detrimental effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation......»»
Elucidating the biosynthetic mechanism for protoberberine alkaloids from Coptis chinensis
Protoberberine alkaloids are a group of tetracyclic isoquinoline compounds known for their well-established antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Although protoberberine alkaloids are broadly found in various plant families such as Ranuncul.....»»
Unraveling the role of supersulfides in regulating mitochondrial function and longevity
Supersulfides are gaining prominence for their occurrence as low-molecular-weight thiols or persulfidated cysteine residues, observed more frequently in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. These compounds, which are characterized by sulfur–sulfu.....»»
Climate change threatens fish supply: Tiny phytoplankton, big consequences
A research team that includes Dr. Angus Atkinson of the Plymouth Marine Laboratory and Dr. Axel Rossberg from Queen Mary University of London has discovered a hidden amplifying mechanism within the ocean's food web. Their findings, published in Natur.....»»
New research deciphers biomineralization mechanism
Many organisms can produce minerals or mineralized tissue. A well-known example is nacre, which is used in jewelry because of its iridescent colors. Chemically speaking, its formation begins with a mollusk extracting calcium and carbonate ions from w.....»»
A three-step mechanism explaining ultraviolet-induced CO desorption from CO ice
The desorption of CO ice induced by ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a phenomenon that occurs in some cold parts of the universe, which has often also been replicated in laboratory settings. While this phenomenon is now well-documented, the molecular me.....»»
Study views the city as a multi-layered system in cultural heritage management
The intense changes in our modern society and the associated challenges are constantly increasing, not least due to the meta-crisis of climate change. Yet our approach to cultural heritage is still strongly influenced by the narrative of preservation.....»»