Decoding the cell signals between young proteins and their "chaperones"
Of the 25,000 different proteins in the human body, insulin, antibodies, and collagen are among the few that perform their biological jobs by literally folding into 3D shapes......»»
Study reveals how a sugar-sensing protein acts as a "machine" to switch plant growth—and oil production—on and off
Proteins are molecular machines, with flexible pieces and moving parts. Understanding how these parts move helps scientists unravel the function a protein plays in living things—and potentially how to change its effects. Biochemists at the U.S. Dep.....»»
Bacterial proteins shed light on antiviral immunity
A unique collaboration between two UT Southwestern Medical Center labs—one that studies bacteria and another that studies viruses—has identified two immune proteins that appear key to fighting infections. The findings, published in PLOS Pathogens.....»»
New sensor gives unprecedented look at changes in ATP levels inside a cell
Just as the US economy runs on the dollar, the cellular economy runs on adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The energy-carrying molecule fuels nearly all processes inside the cell, making ATP critical for cellular life......»»
Heating proteins to body temperature reveals new drug targets
Some proteins shift their shape when exposed to different temperatures, revealing previously unknown binding sites for medications, new research has found......»»
Input from young and aspiring technicians wanted for survey
TechForce Foundation is soliciting feedback from new technicians and high school and post-secondary students enrolled in automotive training programs for its inaugural Techs Talk survey......»»
Young whale"s journey highlights threats facing ocean animals
A young whale's journey across the Mediterranean highlights the many threats facing ocean animals, researchers say......»»
Researchers develop increasingly sustainable methods for dissolving gold, silver and copper from recycled materials
Waste from computers and cell phones, solar panels and other discarded electronics are becoming an important source of noble metals alongside mining. Researchers at the University of Helsinki have developed sustainable dissolution methods for noble m.....»»
Researchers uncover mechanism for short-distance vesicle movements
Researchers at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have thrown new light on the mechanism for how vesicles move short distances within specific parts of the cell, an area not understood by scientists......»»
Research shows that "softer" proteins can cross into the nucleus quicker
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and King's College London have discovered that how soft or rigid proteins are in certain regions can dictate how fast or slow they enter the nucleus......»»
Research holds promise for liver regeneration
A new study titled "Biomimetic hepatic lobules from three-dimensional imprinted cell sheets" has been led by Prof. Yuanjin Zhao of the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Hepatobiliary Institute, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School, of Nanji.....»»
Researchers reveal new cellular mechanical transducer
A research team has uncovered a novel regulator governing how cells respond to mechanical cues. Their findings appear in Nature Cell Biology......»»
Saturated soils could impact survival of young trees planted to address climate change
The saturated soil conditions predicted to result from increased rainfall in the UK's upland regions could have a knock-on effect on the ambition to create more woodland in the fight against climate change, a new study has found......»»
Genes spatially organize for efficient mRNA splicing, study shows
The nucleus of each of your cells contains all the genetic information (the genome) necessary to build every type of cell and protein in your entire body. Like a complex library in a tiny space 50 times smaller than the width of a human hair, genes a.....»»
Team develops an epigenome editing toolkit to dissect the mechanisms of gene regulation
Understanding how genes are regulated at the molecular level is a central challenge in modern biology. This complex mechanism is mainly driven by the interaction between proteins called transcription factors, DNA regulatory regions, and epigenetic mo.....»»
Shaping up how red blood cell deformability is assessed—researchers develop new approach
Red blood cells (RBCs) transport oxygen throughout the body and are able to pass through a complex of narrow capillaries due to their ability to deform. "The deformability of RBCs is an important indicator of their health and functionality, and chang.....»»
Researchers discover new function of oncoproteins
Researchers at the University of Würzburg have discovered a new function of the oncoprotein MYCN: It not only helps cancer cells to grow stronger, but also makes them more resistant to drugs. The study is published in Molecular Cell......»»
New technology changes how proteins in individual cells are studied
Researchers from Karolinska Institutet, together with Pixelgen Technologies, have developed and applied a technique that makes it possible to map proteins in individual cells in a completely new way. Not only is it now possible to measure the amount.....»»
U.S. Government Needs to ‘Get It Right’ on Artificial Intelligence
“We can't afford to get this wrong—again,” Shalanda Young, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, tells TIME. Artificial intelligence has been a tricky subject in Washington. Most lawmakers agree that it poses.....»»
Researchers study the intricacies of homologous recombination and abnormal chromosome bridges
Keeping the genetic information stored in genomic DNA intact during the cell division cycle is crucial for almost all lifeforms. Extensive DNA damage invariably causes various adverse genomic rearrangements, which can lead to cell death in the best c.....»»
Researchers reveal how molecular roadblocks slow the breakdown of cellulose for biofuels
Cellulose, which helps give plant cell walls their rigid structure, holds promise as a renewable raw material for biofuels—if researchers can accelerate the production process. Compared to the breakdown of other biofuel materials like corn, breakin.....»»