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.....»»
Researchers shed new light on the motor of DNA replication
DNA replication is the process whereby cells make an exact copy of their DNA before cell division. A key part of the intricate DNA replication machinery is a molecular motor called CMG, which has the vital task of separating the two strands of the DN.....»»
Study proves compatibility of two fundamental principles of quantum theory
Quantum theory, which was formulated in the first three decades of the twentieth century, describes a wide array of phenomena at the molecular, atomic and subatomic scales. Among its many technological applications, three have become ubiquitous in da.....»»
Intelligent membranes with memories for next-generation smart filters
Researchers from the National Graphene Institute (NGI) have created "intelligent" membranes whose "memory" can be used in areas like smart separation technology, wound management, drug delivery, sensors and memory devices......»»
Molecular module coordinates plant cell wall formation and adaptive growth
The plant cell walls represent the cellular basis for plant architecture and constitute the major component of plant biomass. Formation of multiple agronomic traits, e.g., plant height and mechanical force, largely depends upon orderly deposition of.....»»
Researchers defend their theory that molecular oxygen existed on Earth 2.5 billion years ago
When did molecular oxygen, the gas that all large and complex forms of life on Earth today require to function, first appear on Earth?.....»»
Using a new technique, PESI/MS/MS, to analyze the nutritional compounds in crops
Anthocyanins are compounds related to the color of plants. They also have beneficial effects on human health and are used as a supplement. Various species of anthocyanins, divided by their molecular shape, are present in plants. Therefore, simple, an.....»»
New evidence that eastern wolves evolved separately from gray wolves
A new paper in Molecular Biology and Evolution provides interesting new evidence about the evolution of North American wolves, which has been a subject of debate among conservationists and taxonomists......»»
Targeting ATP synthase with chromium (III) nutritional supplement for improved blood sugar control
A research team led by Professor Hongzhe Sun from the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Hong Kong, has published a paper titled "Mitochondrial ATP synthase as a direct molecular target of chromium(III) to ameliorate hyper.....»»
Neuron movements shown to be caused by push, pull of motor proteins
Neurons, which are responsible for producing the signals that ultimately trigger an action such as talking or moving a muscle, are built and maintained by classes of motor proteins that transport molecular cargo along elongated tracks called microtub.....»»
Developing tunable molecular switches from organic compounds
Newly synthesized organic molecules can be tuned to emit different colors depending on their molecular structures in crystal form......»»
Yellow crazy ant males have two sets of DNA
A small international team of molecular and evolutionary scientists has discovered that male yellow crazy ants (also known as long-legged ants) have two sets of DNA throughout their bodies. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group d.....»»
Predictably synthesizing a library of white-light-emitting perovskites
A steric hindrance regulation strategy was developed to predictably synthesize broadband white-light-emitting perovskites. This study was led by Prof. Jun Xing (College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Qingdao University of Science & Technolog.....»»
Discovery of ferroelectricity in an elementary substance
National University of Singapore (NUS) physicists have discovered a novel form of ferroelectricity in a single-element bismuth monolayer that can produce regular and reversible dipole moments for future applications of non-volatile memories and elect.....»»
Integrative morphological and molecular assessment reveals diversity of Gracilariaceae algae in China
Gracilariaceae are economically and ecologically important red algae found worldwide that are used to produce agar. Although Gracilariaceae diversity in China has been well described in morphological studies, molecular phylogenetic studies are rare......»»
Euchromatin is not really open in living cells, shows study
DNA and associated proteins in active regions of the genome are condensed but behave like a viscous liquid at the molecular level. This finding greatly increases our understanding of the physical nature of expressed genome regions in living human cel.....»»
How were amino acids, one of the key building blocks of life, formed before the origin of life on Earth?
Our solar system formed from a molecular cloud, which was composed of gas and dust that was emitted into the interstellar medium (ISM), a vast space between stars. On collapse of the molecular cloud, the early sun was formed, with a large disk of gas.....»»
Team proposes an archetype specimen for all dingoes
A taxidermy-prepared dingo named Cooinda has been proposed to serve as an "archetype" specimen for all dingoes. A newly published article provides detailed information on this individual, including a high-quality genome sequence, other molecular biol.....»»
Molecular precursors to life discovered in the Perseus Cloud
Susan Iglesias-Groth, of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) and Martina Marín-Dobrincicof the Polytechnic University of Cartagena have discovered the presence of numerous prebiotic molecules in the star formation region IC348 of the Per.....»»
A new model predicts the flexibility of DNA movement at the molecular scale
In both physics and chemistry, the mesoscopic scale refers to the length scale on which the properties of a material or phenomenon can be studied, without entering into a discussion about the behavior of individual atoms. In a mesoscopic model, atomi.....»»
Development of biosensor for real-time detection of the G-protein molecular switch
A research team led by Professor Byung-Chang Suh has investigated the real-time effect of the G-protein cycle, which acts as a switch in the body, on the structural changes in G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Their study is published in the journ.....»»