New proteins "out of nothing"
Proteins are the key component in all modern forms of life. Hemoglobin, for example, transports the oxygen in our blood; photosynthesis proteins in the leaves of plants convert sunlight into energy; and fungal enzymes help us to brew beer and bake br.....»»
Not the usual suspects: Research reveals novel genetic basis of pest resistance to biotech crops
If left unchecked, insect pests can devastate crops. To minimize damage and reduce the need for insecticide sprays, crops have been genetically engineered to produce bacterial proteins that kill key pests but are not harmful to people or wildlife. Ho.....»»
Study highlights microalgae as sustainable ingredients for food and pharmaceutical applications
Microalgae are gaining recognition as sustainable, nutrient-rich sources of bioactive compounds, including proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, which are essential for various food and health-related applications......»»
Scientists found a new way to make cancer cells self-destruct
Scientists have created a new compound that can self-destruct cancer cells. The compound is made up of two proteins, which researchers “glued” together. They describe … The post Scientists found a new way to make cancer cells self-destruct.....»»
Mathematical model decodes protein interactions to show how condensates form
Biological cells are incredibly complex mixes of proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and carbohydrates. A model developed by two RIKEN researchers helps explain why components of the same type sometimes do and sometimes don't spontaneously come together.....»»
Glycans can regulate their own biosynthesis by modifying enzyme activity
Glycans are chains of sugars that attach to cells through proteins or lipids, changing their chemical characteristics. Glycans can be incredibly complex and branched in structure, contributing to the stability of the extracellular domain of cells and.....»»
Scientists create a molecular switch that can control cell division on demand outside of a living system
A living cell is a bustling metropolis, with countless molecules and proteins navigating crowded spaces in every direction. Cell division is a grand event which completely transforms the landscape. The cell starts behaving like the host of an interna.....»»
An elegant switch regulates production of protein variants during cell division
Our cells contain thousands of proteins that have gone largely undetected and unstudied until recent years: these are variants of known proteins, which cells can make when their protein-building machinery interacts differently with the same stretch o.....»»
Enhancing recombinant protein expression in lettuce
Recombinant proteins are crucial in pharmaceutical and other industries. A production method uses plants as hosts in transient protein expression systems. Researchers at the University of Tsukuba developed a technique to increase recombinant protein.....»»
Researcher finds special proteins are key when antibiotic resistance spreads
Antibiotic resistance is a growing public health problem globally. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that some bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics have the ability to spread that resistance to other bacteria via secretion systems......»»
DNA-binding C2H2 zinc finger proteins also regulate RNA processing, researchers discover
Researchers at the University of Toronto have shown that an important class of DNA-binding factors can also bind to RNA, regulating gene expression through various mechanisms. The study significantly expands our understanding of these proteins' funct.....»»
Brazilian study identifies potential targets for treatment of visceral leishmaniasis
Researchers at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) and the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil have characterized for the first time a class of proteins present in the parasite Leishmania in.....»»
Glowing proteins enable real-time, 3-D study of essential enzymes
Working in organoid models, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have developed a new tool to study protein-kinase C (PKC) enzymes, which play a critical role in cell growth, differentiation and survival. Malfunction o.....»»
Machine learning cracked the protein-folding problem and won the 2024 Nobel Prize in chemistry
The 2024 Nobel Prize in chemistry recognized Demis Hassabis, John Jumper and David Baker for using machine learning to tackle one of biology's biggest challenges: predicting the 3D shape of proteins and designing them from scratch......»»
Study proposes that proteins can compartmentalize and form droplets inside cells
In physics, a system composed of two substances can be modeled in accordance with classical mixture theory, which considers the fraction corresponding to each constituent and the interactions among constituents. Examples include the coexistence of hi.....»»
High-resolution structural data shows how a supercomplex links mRNA translation and decay
Messenger RNA (mRNA) serves as a blueprint for proteins. When mRNA is no longer needed, it must be degraded. Director Elena Conti and her team at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried near Munich have now been able to show that the.....»»
Nobel chemistry winner sees engineered proteins solving tough problems
Whether it's battling tumors or breaking down plastic, American scientist David Baker, co-recipient of this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry, has an answer: engineering proteins that don't naturally exist—a concept once dismissed as "crazy.".....»»
Nobel Prize in chemistry awarded to 3 scientists for work on proteins, building blocks of life
The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded Wednesday to three scientists for their breakthrough work predicting and even designing the structure of proteins, the building blocks of life......»»
Nobel Prize in chemistry awarded for work on proteins
The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded Wednesday to scientists David Baker, Demis Hassabis and John Jumper for their work with proteins......»»
Nanopore technique shows transport mechanism of chaperone proteins at the single-molecule level
Proteins control most of the body's functions, and their malfunction can have severe consequences, such as neurodegenerative diseases or cancer. Therefore, cells have mechanisms in place to control protein quality......»»
AI and quantum mechanics team up to accelerate drug discovery
Drug discovery is much like working a jigsaw puzzle. The chemical compounds behind drug molecules must be shaped to fit with the proteins in our bodies to produce therapeutic effects. That requirement for a meticulous fit means the creation of new dr.....»»