Archaeal enzyme that produces membrane lipids is spectacularly promiscuous
Cells of all life forms are surrounded by a membrane that is made of phospholipids. One of these are the cardiolipins, which form a separate class due to their unique structure. When studying the enzyme that is responsible for producing cardiolipins.....»»
Discovery of the first fractal molecule in nature
An international team of researchers led by groups from the Max Planck Institute in Marburg and the Philipps University in Marburg has stumbled upon the first regular molecular fractal in nature. They discovered a microbial enzyme—citrate synthase.....»»
Ghanaians love rice—how smallholder farmers could harvest more of it with the help of machines
Rice has become a big part of Ghanaians' daily diet. The country consumes about 1.45 million tons a year—but produces only 987,000 tons, approximately 68% of that......»»
Polysaccharide-based membranes with high wet mechanical properties for bone repair
Currently, membrane materials play an important role in tissue repair, especially polysaccharide-based membranes, attracting much attention due to their excellent biological properties. However, poor mechanical properties of polysaccharide-based memb.....»»
Researchers map structure of mitochondria at different life stages
Mitochondria, organelles with an inner and outer membrane, are responsible for creating the energy that cells use to survive, and their morphology is key to accomplishing this task. The inner mitochondrial membrane contains folds, called cristae, tha.....»»
New signaling pathway decoded in the decomposition of damaged lysosomes
Lysosomes are surrounded by a lipid bilayer that separates the acidic environment and the digestive enzymes of the organelle from the cytoplasm. Damage to this layer—lysosomal membrane permeabilization, or LMP for short—can trigger inflammation a.....»»
Cutting-edge enzyme research fights back against plastic pollution
Since the 1950s, the surge in global plastic production has paralleled a concerning rise in plastic waste. In the United States alone, a staggering 35 million tons of plastic waste were generated in 2017, with only a fraction being recycled or combus.....»»
Food scientists show rice malt has potential to play a bigger role in beer
Rice is showing potential to play a more prominent role in beer brewing, and it helps that Arkansas produces a lot of it......»»
Lipids with potential health benefits in herbal teas identified
Herbal teas are enjoyed worldwide, not only for their taste and refreshment but also for a wide range of reputed health benefits. But the potential significance of a category of compounds called lipids in the teas has been relatively unexplored......»»
Researchers reveal structure and assembly mechanism of unique module in cellulosome
Cellulosomes are multi-enzyme complexes known for their efficient lignocellulose degradation, which is valuable in bioenergy technique development. The diverse composition and intricate assembly of cellulosomes give them exceptional substrate degrada.....»»
Rice husk can be used as a promising sustainable packaging material
Rice husk, the hard-protective layer that envelopes the inner grain of rice, constitutes approximately 20%–25% of the entire rice structure and produces a considerable amount of by-products. In a study published in the journal, Journal of Bioresour.....»»
Explaining why your keyboard feels so darn good—or way too mushy
Ars Technica's guide to keyboards: Mechanical, membrane, buckling springs Enlarge (credit: Aurich Lawson) Your keyboard is the thread that connects you to your computer. The way a keyboard feels—from the sensations of.....»»
The Ars Technica guide to keyboards: Mechanical, membrane, and buckling springs
Explaining the mushy and the magnificent. Enlarge (credit: Aurich Lawson) Your keyboard is the thread that connects you to your computer. The way a keyboard feels—from the sensations of each key pressing down and rese.....»»
Research team introduces superaerophobic three-dimensional nickel catalysts for accelerated water electrolysis
Water electrolysis process is a system that produces hydrogen by electrolyzing water. It is an eco-friendly technology that can produce hydrogen fuel, a future energy source, without emitting environmental pollutants, but its limitations include low.....»»
Research reveals new starting points for the rapid and targeted development of future drugs
Many important medicines, such as antibiotics and anticancer drugs, are derived from natural products of bacteria. The enzyme complexes that produce these active ingredients have a modular design that makes them ideal tools for synthetic biology. By.....»»
Generative AI illuminates enzyme secrets using sequences evolved in nature
Enzymes, nature's remarkable biocatalysts, play an integral role in various aspects of daily life. Consider the awe-inspiring sight of fireflies lighting up a summer night. Their captivating glow serves not just to enchant observers but also plays a.....»»
Researchers develop novel "super-tetragonal" sacrificial layer for freestanding oxide membranes
Researchers have developed a new water-soluble sacrificial layer, "super-tectragonal" Sr4Al2O7 (SAOT), with broad tunability in lattice constants, which can be used to prepare high-quality freestanding oxide membrane. Their work is published in Scien.....»»
In vivo production of CAR-T cells using virus-mimetic fusogenic nanovesicles
Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) are synthesized membrane proteins that enable lymphocytes to recognize and respond to the specific antigens of target cells. Despite the impressive efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy in treating B-cell lymphoma or leukem.....»»
Research uncovers specific protein interactions needed for cells to break down and remove damaged mitochondria
Autophagy is a process used by cells as a recycling system to transport and break down organelles and other cytosolic components, which become enveloped in a membrane called the autophagosome. When this involves the removal of damaged mitochondria, i.....»»
New computational strategy boosts the ability of drug designers to target proteins inside the membrane
Hitting targets embedded within the cell membrane has long been difficult for drug developers due to the membrane's challenging biochemical properties. Now, Scripps Research chemists have demonstrated new custom-designed proteins that can efficiently.....»»
Team makes progress with fluorescent dyes to better visualize lipid membrane order in live cells
A new solvatochromic probe could help shed light on the relationship between lipid membrane fluidity and various cellular functions, report scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology and Kyushu University. Thanks to an innovative design, the propose.....»»