Molecular breeding can make better bitter olives
Olives, well-known for their characteristic bitter taste, are in high demand owing to the popularity of the oil they produce. The health benefits of olive oil are well known, ranging from antiviral, anti-cancer, to even anti-hypertensive effects. The.....»»
Melon flavor decoded: The genetic keys to aromatic diversity
Melon aroma greatly influences consumer preference and fruit quality. Climacteric melons produce more esters, while non-climacteric melons have more aldehydes. Understanding these genetic differences is crucial for breeding better melons. Although ge.....»»
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.....»»
Machine learning and AI aid in predicting molecular selectivity of chemical reactions
There are few problems now that AI and machine learning cannot help overcome. Researchers from the Yokohama National University are using this modern advantage to resolve what conventional methods cannot......»»
Researchers breed tomato plants that contain the complete genetic material of both parent plants
In a new study published in Nature Genetics, led by Charles Underwood from the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne, Germany, scientists established a system to generate clonal sex cells in tomato plants and used them to design.....»»
Nature"s 3D printer: Bristle worms form bristles piece by piece
A new interdisciplinary study led by molecular biologist Florian Raible from the Max Perutz Labs at the University of Vienna provides exciting insights into the bristles of the marine annelid worm Platynereis dumerilii. Specialized cells, called chae.....»»
Protein assembly research shows molecular roll of the dice delivers winning combinations
Australian researchers have shed light on the shape-shifting capabilities of protein assemblies, with results that could revolutionize fields from biomanufacturing to vaccine development......»»
Scientists unlock key to breeding "carbon gobbling" plants with a major appetite
The discovery of how a critical enzyme "hidden in nature's blueprint" works sheds new light on how cells control key processes in carbon fixation, a process fundamental for life on Earth......»»
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.....»»
A multi-stream network for retrosynthesis prediction
Retrosynthesis aims to predict a set of reactants for producing given molecules, which plays a significant part in the biochemistry field, such as molecular pathway design and drug discovery. Most existing methods only benefit from one kind of inform.....»»
MATE transporter facilitates bitter saponin transport from cytoplasm to vacuole
Domestic soybeans serve as an important source of healthy edible plant oil and high-quality plant protein in our food culture. In addition to the well-known components of oil (approximately 20%), protein (approximately 40%), and carbohydrates (approx.....»»
Strictly no dancing: Researchers discover "new molecular design rules"
Since the discovery of quantum mechanics more than a hundred years ago, it has been known that electrons in molecules can be coupled to the motion of the atoms that make up the molecules. Often referred to as molecular vibrations, the motion of atoms.....»»
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......»»
Researchers develop nanotechnology for creating wafer-scale nanoparticle monolayers in seconds
Nanoscale materials present us with astonishing chemical and physical properties that help materialize applications such as single molecular sensing and minimally invasive photothermal therapy—which were once just theories—into reality......»»
Study reveals flaw in long-accepted approximation used in water simulations
Computational scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have published a study in the Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation that questions a long-accepted factor in simulating the molecular dynamics of water: the 2-f.....»»
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.....»»
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.....»»
Attosecond core-level spectroscopy reveals real-time molecular dynamics
Chemical reactions are complex mechanisms. Many different dynamic processes are involved, affecting both the electrons and the nucleus of the present atoms. Very often, the strongly coupled electron and nuclear dynamics induce radiation-less relaxati.....»»
First steps toward a whole-body map of molecular responses to exercise
Research definitively confirms that muscle-moving, calorie-burning activity slows the advance of disease, improves cognitive function, boosts the immune system, and reduces rates of mortality from all causes......»»
Researchers detect toxic chemicals in aquatic organisms with new AI method
Swedish researchers at Chalmers University of Technology and the University of Gothenburg have developed an AI method that improves the identification of toxic chemicals—based solely on knowledge of the molecular structure......»»
Tracking the dynamics of biomolecules with optofluidic antennas
In order to better understand fundamental processes in life science at the molecular level, the precise observation of single molecule dynamics is of utmost interest. However, current techniques based on fluorescence measurements in aqueous solutions.....»»