How HIV smuggles its genetic material into the cell nucleus
Each year, about 1 million individuals worldwide become infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. To replicate and spread the infection, the virus must smuggle its genetic material into the cell nucleus and integrate it into a chromosome......»»
Team develops efficient host-vector system for a model archaeon by solving CRISPR-based host-plasmid conflict
A research group has constructed versatile genetic tools for Saccharolobus islandicus REY15A, one of the very few archaeal models for archaea biology and CRISPR biology research......»»
Transforming common soft magnets into next-generation thermoelectric conversion materials with 3-minute heat treatment
A research team from NIMS and Nagoya University has demonstrated that an iron-based amorphous alloy, widely used as a soft magnetic material in transformers and motors, can be transformed into a "transverse" thermoelectric conversion material that co.....»»
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......»»
Researchers find unprecedented deep oxidative desulfurization with precisely designed Ti sites
In a study published in the journal National Science Review, a material synthesized by Dr. Shen Yu was used to introduce hydroperoxide into the synthesis system of titanium silicates......»»
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.....»»
Researchers discover optimal conditions for mass production of ultraviolet holograms
Researchers have delved into the composition of nanocomposites for ultraviolet metasurface fabrication and determined the ideal printing material for crafting them. Their findings are featured in the journal Microsystems & Nanoengineering on April 22.....»»
Genetic study finds early summer fishing can have an evolutionary impact, resulting in smaller salmon
Atlantic salmon are caught by fisheries when the fish are migrating to spawn. A new study led by the University of Helsinki explored how salmon caught at different times during their spawning migration differ from each other genetically. The study on.....»»
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.....»»
Computer models suggest modern plate tectonics are due to blobs left behind by cosmic collision
A small team of geologists and seismologists at the California Institute of Technology has found evidence via computer modeling that suggest giant blobs of material near the Earth's core, believed to have been created by a cosmic collision 4.5 billio.....»»
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......»»
Study underscores new strategies to fight drug-resistant bacteria
Several billion years ago, a genetic arms race began between bacteria and their viral killers. This seemingly eternal struggle continues today, with implications for diseases killing tens of thousands of people around the world each year......»»
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.....»»
Researchers "unzip" 2D materials with lasers
In a new paper published on May 1 in the journal Science Advances, researchers at Columbia Engineering used commercially available tabletop lasers to create tiny, atomically sharp nanostructures, or nanopatterns, in samples of a layered 2D material c.....»»
Study reveals differences in DNA folding between neurons and other brain cells, links them to cell functions
Researchers from Skoltech and their colleagues have investigated nerve cell regulation. Mounting knowledge of regulation mechanisms could enable a better understanding of how the healthy brain operates and what goes wrong in developmental and oncolog.....»»
Study sheds light on cancer cell "tug-of-war"
Understanding how cancerous cells spread from a primary tumor is important for any number of reasons, including determining the aggressiveness of the disease itself. The movement of cells into the extracellular matrix (ECM) of neighboring tissue is a.....»»
How a "conductor" makes sense of chaos in early mouse embryos
Early embryonic development is tumultuous. It involves a rapid sequence of events, including cell division, differentiation, and lots of compartments moving around within each cell. Like an orchestra performance where each member of the band must sta.....»»
Microbiome studies help explore treatments for genetic disorders
A collaboration has led to the identification, in a bacterium of the intestine, of new CRISPR-Cas9 molecules that could have a clinical potential to treat genetic diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, through sub-retinal injections. Anna Cereseto an.....»»
Laboratory and natural strains of intestinal bacterium turn out to have similar mutational profiles
Understanding mutational processes in a cell offers clues to the evolution of a genome. Most actively, mutation processes are studied in human cancer cells, while other genomes are often neglected......»»
Rich molecular language guides tiny liquid droplet formation in cells
Peering into a biological cell reveals a bustling microscopic world. The workhorses within this realm are specialized structures called organelles that perform vital cellular functions. Curiously, some organelles defy accepted convention: Instead of.....»»