Exploring molecular boundaries in DNA
It's important to be well organized. And this is especially true for the genome—the entirety of an organism's genetic information, also known as DNA. The genomic DNA is several meters long but has to fit inside the cell's nucleus, which has a diame.....»»
Dynamics of molecular rotors in bulk superfluid helium
Molecules immersed in liquid helium can probe superfluidity since their electronic, vibrational and rotational dynamics can provide valuable cues about the superfluid at the nanoscale. In a new report in Science Advances, Alexander Milner and a team.....»»
What is a relationship "boundary?" And how do I have the boundary conversation with my partner?
Text messages showing actor Jonah Hill asking his ex-girlfriend Sarah Brady to consider a dot point list of relationship "boundaries" have sparked an important conversation......»»
Walking the moral tightrope: Exploring the effect of the Trump presidency on the civil service
During his presidency, Donald Trump and members of his administration repeatedly accused federal civil servants of undermining their agenda through the "deep state." They sought to curtail career employees' workplace protections, sought to severely c.....»»
New infection mechanism in SARS-CoV-2 discovered
Researchers from Heidelberg Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University Hospital and German Cancer Research Center investigate molecular relationships that promote infection and spread of SARS-CoV-2. The results may provide a starting point for developmen.....»»
Exploring the ingenious science and science fiction of making things invisible
Greg Gbur chats about his book Invisibility: The History and Science of How Not to be Seen. Enlarge / H.G. Wells' The Invisible Man inspired a 1933 film. It's just one cultural example of the human fascination with invisibility......»»
Formamide: A versatile small molecular building block for synthesizing heavily N-doped 1D and 2D carbon
Low-dimensional carbon materials (LDCs), including graphene and carbon nanotubes, have attracted considerable attention due to their unique morphologies and intriguing electrical properties. However, these materials are typically less functionalized.....»»
Why trees outcompete shrubs to shift upward
Climatic warming is altering the structure and function of alpine ecosystems, including shifts of vegetation boundaries. The upward shift of alpine treelines, the uppermost limit of tree growth forming the boundary between montane forest and alpine c.....»»
Study discovers novel region for BRD4 transcription and potential therapeutic target
A team of investigators in the laboratory of Ali Shilatifard, Ph.D., the Robert Francis Furchgott Professor and chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, have discovered a novel protein region responsible for regulating DNA transcription elongati.....»»
Biologists publish new guidelines to facilitate data sharing of research on disordered proteins
For decades, structural biologists have been working on cracking the molecular 3D structures of proteins to understand their function. But what if a protein doesn't have a fixed structure? For molecules that keep changing their shape all the time, bo.....»»
Exploring the moral foundations of hate speech
Moral values such as purity and loyalty are often linked with hateful language, according to a study published in PNAS Nexus. Scholars in the field of natural language processing (NLP) have, in recent years, focused on improving the automated detecti.....»»
Investigating interactions at molecular junctions for novel electronic devices
The structure of a molecular junction with noncovalent interaction plays a key role in electron transport, reveals a recent study conducted by researchers at Tokyo Tech. Through simultaneous surface-enhanced Raman scattering and current–voltage mea.....»»
Molecular scissors caught in the act: Describing the function of tRNA splicing endonuclease TSEN based on its structure
In all living organisms, the biomolecule transfer RNA (tRNA) plays a fundamental role in protein production. tRNAs are generated from precursor molecules in several steps. The enzyme tRNA splicing endonuclease (TSEN), among other things, catalyzes on.....»»
The structure of a protein bound to DNA reveals how the toxicity of the cholera bacterium is activated
Understanding the molecular mechanism that triggers disease is essential for identifying new treatments. Cholera, a disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, is no exception......»»
Natural history collections shed light on bumblebees" modern struggles
A new study highlights potential causes for changing foraging habits of bumblebees. Using advanced molecular techniques called pollen metabarcoding, researchers investigated interactions between bumblebees and plants in Cuxhaven, Germany, and how the.....»»
Researchers investigate floral development of two legume plants
The legume family (Fabaceae) is one of the largest groups of flowering plants. The Fabaceae are further divided into six subfamilies based on morphological and molecular data. Despite its diversity in floral architecture and morphology, the subfamily.....»»
Scientists reveal molecular interaction of carbon/nitrogen metabolism in rice
Carbon and nitrogen are the two most abundant nutrients for all living organisms. The metabolism of carbon and nitrogen is tightly coupled and coordinated by different metabolites and signaling pathways. What are the molecular mechanisms that sense a.....»»
Light-activated molecular machines get cells "talking"
One of the main ways cells "talk" to each other to coordinate essential biological activities such as muscle contraction, hormone release, neuronal firing, digestion and immune activation is through calcium signaling......»»
Biologists identify mechanical waves involved in limb regeneration in zebrafish
A team of molecular and cellular biologists from several institutions in Taiwan and one in the Philippines has identified some of the mechanical waves involved in the regeneration of amputated tailfins in zebrafish. In their study, reported in the jo.....»»
Discovery of 100 fatty acids opens new research paths
Fatty acids are the molecular building blocks that form the lipids essential for life. While some lipids form cell membranes, others are present naturally as triglycerides in body fat and the waxes on our hair and skin......»»
Researchers decode the structure of a crucial neural transport protein
Using Cryo-EM, a powerful microscopy technique, researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and collaborators have decoded the molecular architecture of a transporter protein controlling the movement of a key neurotransmitter. Their work is.....»»