How hydrophobicity shapes protein assemblies
Through a nuanced balance of electrical and hydrophobic forces, biological molecules self-assemble into the large functional structures that maintain life's vital functions. Understanding how proteins self-assemble requires knowledge of both forces......»»
6 Deaf Children Can Now Hear After a Single Injection
Several gene therapies aim to restore a protein necessary for transmitting sound signals from the ear to the brain......»»
Team unravels activation mechanism of a protein that combats bacteria
The human immune system is constantly fending off a wide range of invaders—a feat that requires a diverse array of cellular troops and molecular weaponry. Although a great deal is already known about immune defense cells and the strategies they emp.....»»
Team expands research of water droplet interfaces that offer the secret ingredient for building life
R. Graham Cooks, the Henry B. Hass Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, and his postdoctoral researcher Lingqi Qiu have experimental evidence that the key step in protein formation can occur in droplets of pure water, and have recently published the.....»»
Protein from mosquitoes could help control dengue virus infection
NUS scientists have revealed the structure and function of a pupal cuticle protein found in the exoskeleton—a hard covering that supports and protects the bodies of some types of invertebrate animals, especially arthropods—of Aedes aegypti mosqui.....»»
Study shows RNAs do work outside of cells to guide the immune system
Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) are the ultimate cellular insiders. They perform several critical jobs, such as ferrying genetic instructions from a living organism's DNA to its protein-making machinery (a process key to cellular processes) and controlling.....»»
Scientists unravel key steps in the road to DNA repair
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have been studying DNA repair by homologous recombination, where the RecA protein repairs breaks in double-stranded DNA by incorporating a dangling single-strand end into intact double strands, and repai.....»»
Scientists make COVID receptor protein in mouse cells
A team of scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory and Columbia University has demonstrated a way to produce large quantities of the receptor that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, binds to on the s.....»»
Nanopores and deep learning aid in disease diagnostics
EPFL scientists have unveiled a method using biological nanopores and deep learning to detect protein modifications, offering new avenues in disease diagnostics......»»
Researchers observe how the flexibility of a protein hinge is crucial to the transfer of cell proteins
Ubiquitination—the addition of the protein ubiquitin—is a key stage in many cell processes, such as protein degradation, DNA repairs, and signal transduction. Using high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) and molecular modeling, researchers l.....»»
Chromatin modifier-centered pathway points to higher crop yield
A team led by Prof. Song Xianjun from the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, while researching a ternary protein complex in rice nuclei that affects grain size, has shown that the transcription factor bZIP23—a protein that regu.....»»
Making faba beans a better source of protein
Faba beans pack a high-protein punch, making them rich with promise as an alternative to meat and dairy sources. But the legume also has less desirable qualities, like compounds that cause flatulence and interfere with the body's nutrient absorption......»»
From black hole entropy to the complexity of plant leaves: An intriguing linkage
Complexity of biological forms has fascinated humankind over the years. Different species of plants have different leaf shapes. Have you ever wondered why it is so? Why does this shape diversity exist? Plants can change their leaf shapes over time an.....»»
Shape-shifting protein study could advance new drug development
Proteins do the heavy lifting of performing biochemical functions in our bodies by binding to metabolites or other proteins to complete tasks. To do this successfully, protein molecules often shape-shift to allow specific binding interactions that ar.....»»
New equations will better estimate protein utilization by beef cattle, benefit producers
Knowing exactly how beef cattle utilize protein is important to answering many nutrition questions producers and industry nutritionists pose to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialists like Jason Smith, Ph.D., Amarillo......»»
Scientists tame chaotic protein fueling 75% of cancers
MYC is the shapeless protein responsible for making the majority of human cancer cases worse. UC Riverside researchers have found a way to rein it in, offering hope for a new era of treatments......»»
Research team reports observing vibrational spectra of a single protein with infrared nanospectroscopy
An interdisciplinary research team, led by Assistant Prof. Jun Nishida and Associate Prof. Takashi Kumagai at the Institute for Molecular Science, has successfully observed vibrational spectra of single proteins, consisting of approximately 500 amino.....»»
From embryo to evolution: Insights from the head of lizards and snakes
The evolution of animal heads is a remarkable example of how various anatomical features co-evolved to adapt to different ecological niches, behaviors and functions. But the intricate details of why vertebrate head shapes vary so greatly have remaine.....»»
Researchers discover important membrane transport mechanism in pathogenic bacteria
Some bacterial membrane transporters work almost like freight elevators to transport substances through the cell membrane into the interior of the cell. The transporter itself spans the bacterial membrane. Like a forklift, a soluble protein outside t.....»»
Protein structures signal fresh targets for anticancer drugs
Cell replication in our bodies is triggered by a cascade of molecular signals transmitted between proteins. Compounds that block these signals when they run amok show potential as cancer drugs......»»
Scientists reveal the inner workings of an essential protein trafficking complex
Like mail carriers who manage to deliver their parcels through snow, rain, heat and gloom, a critical group of mammalian proteins helps cells function properly even under less-than-ideal conditions......»»