All wound up: A reversible molecular whirligig
Over the last few decades, researchers have built minuscule molecular machines that rotate or shuttle other molecules. However, it's difficult to determine the mechanical work and forces that these tiny contraptions produce, which is important when u.....»»
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.....»»
Research team reports observing vibrational spectra of a single protein with infrared nanospectroscopy
An interdisciplinary research team, led by Assistant Prof. Jun Nishida and Associate Prof. Takashi Kumagai at the Institute for Molecular Science, has successfully observed vibrational spectra of single proteins, consisting of approximately 500 amino.....»»
Study reveals key molecular mechanisms involved in development of tomato plant
In an article published in the journal Development, researchers at the University of São Paulo's Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (ESALQ-USP) in Brazil describe mechanisms relating to the development of the tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicum).....»»
Researchers discover molecular "barcode" used by bacteria to secrete toxins
Researchers at McMaster University have discovered a molecular "barcode" system used by disease-causing bacteria to distinguish between beneficial and toxic molecules......»»
Protein structures signal fresh targets for anticancer drugs
Cell replication in our bodies is triggered by a cascade of molecular signals transmitted between proteins. Compounds that block these signals when they run amok show potential as cancer drugs......»»
Pathogenic bacteria use molecular "shuttle services" to fill their injection apparatus with the right product
Disease-causing bacteria of the genus Salmonella or Yersinia can use tiny injection apparatuses to inject harmful proteins into host cells, much to the discomfort of the infected person. However, it is not only with a view to controlling disease that.....»»
Deciphering molecular mysteries: New insights into metabolites that control aging and disease
In a significant advancement in the field of biochemistry, scientists at the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) and Cornell University have uncovered new insights into a family of metabolites, acylspermidines, that could change how we understand aging an.....»»
New crystalline sponge method proposed for undergraduate courses
The crystal sponge technology is a revolutionary technique, which enables the direct and precise determination of the molecular structure of liquid and gas targets. The technique uses a special network complex to selectively absorb liquid or gas targ.....»»
JWST sets a new record, sees newly forming stars in the Triangulum galaxy
Our Milky Way bristles with giant molecular clouds birthing stars. Based on what we see here, astronomers assume that the process of star creation also goes on similarly in other galaxies. It makes sense since their stars have to form somehow. Now, t.....»»
Artificial design and biosynthesis of a single-domain catenated dihydrofolate reductase
This study was led by Prof. Wen-Bin Zhang (College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University & Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence) and Dr. Jing Fang (College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University). A single.....»»
Novel molecular ionization dissociation pathway induced by Interatomic Coulombic Decay
A research group led by Prof. Ma Xinwen at the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has observed a novel molecular ionization dissociation pathway triggered by Interatomic Coulombic Decay (ICD). The study, publis.....»»
Development of tissue molecular imaging technique using multiple probes at hundreds of microns
Researchers have shown it is possible to image small animal tissue clearly to several hundred micrometers using multi-probe imaging, reports a recent study in Scientific Reports......»»
GPCR structure: Research reveals molecular origins of function for a key drug target
Through an international collaboration, scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have leveraged data science, pharmacology and structural information to conduct an atomic-level investigation into how each amino acid in the receptor that bi.....»»
An advanced computational tool for understanding quantum materials
Researchers at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME), Argonne National Laboratory, and the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia have developed a new computational tool to describe how the atoms within quantum ma.....»»
Location, location, location: Research reveals the hidden power of intracellular neighborhoods
New findings published in Molecular Cell provide details about the hidden organization of the cytoplasm—the soup of liquid, organelles, proteins, and other molecules inside a cell. The research shows it makes a big difference where in that cellular.....»»
Using molecular "cookie cutters" to view membrane protein organization
The membrane that encases a biological cell is not simply a barrier; it is chock full of proteins involved in all sorts of critical biological functions. To really understand what membrane proteins are doing and how, researchers need to know how they.....»»
Examining the relationship between the rate of wound healing, the circadian rhythm and cilium length
Nearly every organism on Earth follows a natural circadian rhythm that is coded by your cell's clock genes, which do exactly as you suspect from the name: regulate your body's rhythm on a 24-hour basis......»»
"Molecular jackhammers" can rupture melanoma cells" membrane, study shows
The Beach Boys' iconic hit single "Good Vibrations" takes on a whole new layer of meaning thanks to a recent discovery by Rice University scientists and collaborators, who have uncovered a way to destroy cancer cells by using the ability of some mole.....»»
Research argues that Occam"s razor is an "essential factor that distinguishes science from superstition"
Occam's razor—the principle that when faced with competing explanations, we should choose the simplest that fits the facts—is not just a tool of science. Occam's razor is science, insists a renowned molecular geneticist from the University of Sur.....»»
Researchers use vapor deposition to make covalent organic framework films
Rice University materials scientists developed a fast, low-cost, scalable method to make covalent organic frameworks (COFs), a class of crystalline polymers whose tunable molecular structure, large surface area and porosity could be useful in energy.....»»