Cells use concentration gradients as a compass
Biophysicists at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munch have developed a new theory, which accounts for the observation that cells can perceive their own shapes, and use this information to direct the distribution of proteins inside the cell......»»
Researchers investigate the surface extraction of platinum catalysts in alkaline media
Platinum (Pt) electrodes are crucial for clean power technologies like hydrogen fuel cells and electrolysis. However, the surface oxidation that occurs during such processes degrades catalyst performance and stability......»»
This Bag of Cells Could Grow New Livers Inside of People
Donor livers are in short supply for transplants. A startup is attempting to grow new ones in people instead......»»
Using a cellphone compass to measure tiny concentrations of compounds important for human health
Nearly every modern cellphone has a built-in compass, or magnetometer, that detects the direction of Earth's magnetic field, providing critical information for navigation. Now a team of researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technolog.....»»
Chemists discover a key protein in how lysosomes work
Lysosomes, often reductively referred to as the "garbage disposals" of cells, play a pivotal role in our cells' digestive systems by getting rid of unwanted materials......»»
Proteins let cells remember how well their last division went
Scientists find a "mitotic stopwatch" that lets individual cells remember something. Enlarge (credit: Martin Barraud) When we talk about memories in biology, we tend to focus on the brain and the storage of information i.....»»
Study identifies protein responsible for gas vesicle clustering in bacteria
Gas vesicles are hollow structures made of protein found in the cells of certain microorganisms, and researchers at Rice University believe they can be programmed for use in biomedical applications......»»
Keeping cells together—how our body resists mechanical stress
Our body consists of ~30 trillion cells. These cells need to tightly attach to each other to maintain the integrity of our body. However, we are constantly exposed to mechanical stress, which continuously challenges the integrity of our bodies. How a.....»»
Novel role for metabolites in cellular metabolism discovered
Investigators led by Issam Ben-Sahra, Ph.D., associate professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, have discovered how cellular metabolism fluctuates in response to changes in levels of pyrimidines, metabolites used by cells to make DNA and RNA.....»»
Scientists discover a key quality-control mechanism in DNA replication
When cells in the human body divide, they must first make accurate copies of their DNA. The DNA replication exercise is one of the most important processes in all living organisms and is fraught with risks of mutation, which can lead to cell death or.....»»
Memories of mitosis: Molecular mechanism that detects defects during cell division could aid cancer treatment
Every day, our cells are hard at work multiplying. Cell division is a precise process, but sometimes this process is impaired and diseases like cancer occur. Mitosis is one of the most important phases in the cell cycle. During this phase, a cell's D.....»»
How did nervous systems, with their incredible complexity, evolve across different species?
New research supported by the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute's Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Scholars program zeroes in on the surprising observation that many genes found in brain cells and synapses—the points of communication between neurons—.....»»
GPT-4 for identifying cell types in single cells matches and sometimes outperforms expert methods
GPT-4 can accurately interpret types of cells important for the analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing—a sequencing process fundamental to interpreting cell types—with high consistency to that of time-consuming manual annotation by human experts.....»»
DNA nanotube rings: Research team develops important building block for artificial cells
During cell division, a ring forms around the cell equator, which contracts to divide the cell into two daughter cells. Together with researchers from Heidelberg, Dresden, Tübingen and Harvard, Professor Jan Kierfeld and Lukas Weise from the Departm.....»»
CATL working with Tesla on fast-charging cells, supplying Nevada
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. is working on faster charging batteries for Tesla Inc. as Elon Musk’s automaker seeks to defend its market share and roll out an electric car for under $25,000......»»
Chicago ranked 2nd for worst air pollution in 2023 among major US cities, global report says
Chicago ranked second among major U.S. cities with the worst air pollution in 2023, its average annual concentration of dangerous fine particulate matter almost three times global guidelines, according to a recent report. Even as national standards h.....»»
Scientists discover how a motor protein helps cells move
Scientists have used the latest advances in microscopy to characterize how a motor protein helps cells crawl, according to a study published in the Journal of Cell Biology......»»
Using physics principles to understand how cells self-sort in development
Erin McCarthy '23, physics summa cum laude, is a rarity among young scientists. As an undergraduate researcher in Syracuse University's College of Arts & Sciences' Department of Physics, she guided a study that appeared in March 2024 in Physical Revi.....»»
Scientists create novel technique to form human artificial chromosomes
Human artificial chromosomes (HACs) capable of working within human cells could power advanced gene therapies, including those addressing some cancers, along with many laboratory applications, though serious technical obstacles have hindered their de.....»»
Elucidating urban "ecosystems" and creating regional diversity
What is a city? What are the geographical conditions and social factors that lead to the concentration of population in an area, and how does urbanization progress? And what is needed to create urban environments that meet the diversifying lifestyles.....»»
Decoding the plant world"s complex biochemical communication networks
A Purdue University-led research team has begun translating the complex molecular language of petunias. Their grammar and vocabulary are well hidden, however, within the countless proteins and other compounds that fill floral cells......»»