Modifications to amino acids in sperm could be behind infertility
Sperm play a critical role in the creation of new life, delivering essentially half of the genetic material required......»»
Mammalian cells may consume bacteria-killing viruses to promote cellular health
Bacteriophages, also called phages, are viruses that infect and kill bacteria, their natural hosts. But from a macromolecular viewpoint, phages can be viewed as nutritionally enriched packets of nucleotides wrapped in an amino acid shell......»»
Gene integral to initiating, sustaining sperm cell development identified
With male infertility a mounting global concern impacting approximately 12% of men, according to the National Institutes of Health, a Penn State research team has discovered a gene that plays a key role in initiating and sustaining spermatogenesis. T.....»»
Solid-phase reversible immobilization beads for rDNA high-throughput sequencing library construction
Solid-phase reversible immobilization (SPRI) beads are widely used for high-throughput sequencing library construction to purify and recover nucleic acids. A new study published in Zoonoses has investigated the effects of SPRI bead ratio, incubation.....»»
Metal-loving microbes offer a green way to refine rare earth elements
Rare earth elements are essential components of electric cars, wind turbines and smartphones. Retrieving these metals from raw ore requires processing with acids and solvents......»»
Metaphors for human fertilization are evolving, study shows
In a common metaphor used to describe human fertilization, sperm cells are competitors racing to penetrate a passive egg. But as critics have noted, the description is also a "fairy tale," rooted in cultural beliefs about masculinity and femininity......»»
Scientists ratchet up key amino acid in corn
Experimental lines of field corn developed by a team of Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and university scientists will usher in new commercial hybrids offering high-methionine grain......»»
New post-translational modification of the glycolytic enzyme enolase
Proteins are subject to post-translational chemical modifications that result in functional diversity. Methylation is one such modification that is generally believed to occur on lysine and arginine residues. Recently, this modification has been show.....»»
Sperm swimming is caused by the same patterns that are believed to dictate zebra stripes
Patterns of chemical interactions are thought to create patterns in nature such as stripes and spots. A new study shows that the mathematical basis of these patterns also governs how sperm tail moves......»»
Unlocking the secrets of tuatara sperm in an effort to improve the survival chances of this at-risk reptile
The study, published in Conservation Physiology, found tuatara sperm are fast moving and a whopping three times longer than human sperm......»»
Mature sperm lack intact mitochondrial DNA, study finds
New research provides insight about the bedrock scientific principle that mitochondrial DNA—the distinct genetic code embedded in the organelle that serves as the powerplant of every cell in the body—is exclusively passed down by the mother......»»
smdh: New Unicode 15.1 emoji include nodding/shaking heads, “edible mushroom”
New emoji are technically all modifications of existing designs. Enlarge / Examples of new and modified emoji in Unicode 15.1. (credit: Emojipedia) The Unicode Consortium has finalized version 15.1 of the Unicode standa.....»»
Scientists create anti-bacterial gel that is significantly more effective than other silver-based drugs
Russian scientists have developed an anti-bacterial gel based on silver and sulfur-containing amino acids. It is a hundred times more effective than other silver-based counterparts that also fights bacteria causing nosocomial infections......»»
Sorghum bran packs bigger punch than whole grain, nutritional study shows
Sorghum bran has much higher levels of some essential amino acids and minerals needed for human health and development than a whole grain or dehulled sorghum flour, researchers from the University of Johannesburg have found......»»
Why S-linked glycosylation cannot adequately mimic the role of natural O-glycosylation
Protein glycosylation is one of the most important post-translational modifications that can be exploited to improve various aspects of therapeutic proteins and industrial enzymes. Different types of glycosylation have a variety of effects on protein.....»»
RNA modification: Mechanisms and therapeutic targets
RNA modifications are dynamic and reversible chemical modifications on substrate RNA that regulate mRNA stability, translation, and localization. This review is designed by Dr. Junhong Han and written by his postdoctoral researcher Dr. Lei Qiu and P.....»»
How AI may be a powerful tool in treating male infertility
Fertility experts are now using artificial intelligence to help find sperm in medical samples......»»
Biochemist unravels the secrets of a novel DNA enzyme linked to infertility and certain cancers
Scientific research requires patience. The rewards are not always immediate, and the technology needed does not always exist. Michael A. Trakselis, Ph.D., professor and director of graduate affairs for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at.....»»
Producing carboxylic acids using an environmentally friendly technique
Polyamides are present in many different products, such as ropes for mountaineering, parachutes of nylon, and materials for 3D printing. Dicarboxylic acids are used as chemical building blocks for these polyamides. However, their production has been.....»»
Sediment movement during Hurricane Harvey could negatively impact future flooding, prove costly to Houston
Enormous amounts of sediment, or sand and mud, flowed through Houston waterways during Hurricane Harvey in 2017, due in part to modifications made by humans to bayous, rivers and streams over the past century, that could seriously impact future flood.....»»
The "weird" male Y chromosome has finally been fully sequenced. Can we now understand how it works, how it evolved?
The Y chromosome is a never-ending source of fascination (particularly to men) because it bears genes that determine maleness and make sperm. It's also small and seriously weird; it carries few genes and is full of junk DNA that makes it horrendous t.....»»