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.....»»
Study finds degree of asexual reproduction in liverwort plants is hormonally controlled
Asexual, or vegetative, reproduction in plants is controlled by environmental conditions, but the molecular signaling pathways that control this process are poorly understood. Recent research suggests that the KAI2-ligand (KL) hormone is responsible.....»»
"Cold stream" of molecular gas outside a galaxy observed, confirming theories of star formation
An international team of space scientists has observed a "cold stream" of molecular gas outside of a galaxy, confirming theories of star formation within galaxies. In their study, published in the journal Science, the group used the array of radio te.....»»
Researchers reveal structural basis of plp2-mediated cytoskeletal protein folding by TRiC/CCT
In a study published in Science Advances, Dr. Cong Yao's team from the Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, reported a complete picture of TRiC-assist.....»»
"Taffy Galaxies" collide, leave behind bridge of star-forming material
Galaxy collisions are transformative events, largely responsible for driving the evolution of the universe. The mixing and mingling of stellar material is an incredibly dynamic process that can lead to the formation of molecular clouds populated with.....»»
Understanding how cohesin makes DNA loops in the human genome and its role in Cornelia de Lange syndrome
Cohesin is a ring-shaped protein that surrounds and moves around the DNA molecule, forming the loops. It is a crucial process for the cell. Understanding how cohesin works has been one of the challenges of molecular biology in recent decades. A study.....»»
Advancing drug discovery through multitask learning techniques
A team of researchers from the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, the University of Vienna, and Sirius University of Science and Technology has published a study in the Journal of Computer-Aided Molecular Design that presents guidelines fo.....»»
Scientists develop model for more efficient simulations of protein interactions linked to cancer
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory scientists have developed a theoretical model for more efficient molecular-level simulations of cell membranes and their lipid-protein interactions, part of a multi-institutional effort to better understand the.....»»
Scientists use serial crystallography to enhance "molecular movies" and shed light on antibiotic resistance
Eadweard Muybridge's electrifying photos of a galloping horse set the world on fire when he created the precursor to what became motion pictures. For today's scientists, a new upgrade to one of the world's most powerful hard X-ray light sources could.....»»
Molecular scale structure and kinetics of layer-by-layer peptide self-organization at atomically flat solid surfaces
In a study recently published in the journal ACS Nano, researchers from Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan, collaborating with University of Washington, Seattle, U.S., used frequency modulated atomic force microscopy to reveal the molecular archite.....»»
RNA vaccination in rabbit mothers confers benefits to offspring in the womb, shows study
Newly developed mRNA vaccines against Zika virus and HIV-1 produced strong antibody responses that transferred from pregnant rabbits to their offspring, researchers report in the journal Molecular Therapy. As noted by the authors, the results support.....»»
Exploring the molecular secrets of medicinal cannabis
Chronic pain, nausea or vomiting due to chemotherapy. If you suffer from such ailments, medicinal cannabis can be a godsend. Though a downside is that it can make patients high. Therefore, Leiden researchers from the Oncode Institute are investigatin.....»»
Researchers develop portable color-changing food spoilage sensor
When foods like fish, meat, and cheese decompose, they release a variety of low molecular weight organic nitrogen compounds known as biogenic amines (BAs). While the body uses BAs in small amounts in processes like hormone synthesis, ingesting large.....»»
Breaking bonds: Double-helix unzipping reveals DNA physics
Accurately reconstructing how the parts of a complex molecular are held together knowing only how the molecule distorts and breaks up—this was the challenge taken on by a research team led by SISSA's Cristian Micheletti and recently published on Ph.....»»
Self-poisoning for self-preservation—examining the function of Streptomyces nano-syringes
A novel role for molecular nano-syringes found in the antibiotic-producing bacteria Streptomyces has been revealed......»»
Filming proteins in motion to understand their functions
Proteins are the heavy-lifters of biochemistry. These beefy molecules act as building blocks, receptors, processors, couriers and catalysts. "Proteins are the molecular machines that power all life on Earth," explained Mark Sherwin, a physics profess.....»»
New platform allows researchers to listen in on cell-cell crosstalk
Inflammatory neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), can arise when cell-to-cell communication between cells in the central nervous system (CNS) goes awry. But exactly how this cellular crosstalk leads to the molecular changes that dr.....»»
A super-resolution microscopy method for rapid differentiation of molecular structures in 3D
Super-resolution microscopy methods are essential for uncovering the structures of cells and the dynamics of molecules. Since researchers overcame the resolution limit of around 250 nanometers (while winning the 2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for thei.....»»
Researchers reveal molecular mechanism of pannexin 2 as ATP membrane pore channel
A research team led by Prof. Yuan Shuguang from Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Prof. Zhang Huawei from the South University of Science and Technology has revealed the molecular mechanism of pannexin 2.....»»
Tireless microbial killers in new nanocomposites
They kill with a molecular sting or oxidative shock and don't know the meaning of fatigue. The latest biocidal nanocomposites, designed and synthesized by scientists at the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IPJ PAN) in K.....»»
Tunable hybrid zeolites prepared by partial interconversion to create superior catalysts
The Laboratory of Molecular Nanotechnology (NANOMOL) of the University of Alicante (UA) has developed a new family of materials as a state-of-the-art opportunity for the chemical industry, renewables, and the reduction of pollutants. The finding, pub.....»»