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.....»»
New insights in the regulation of genetic information exchange
Within every cell in our body, our DNA is tightly bundled with proteins to form structures known as chromosomes. The commonly known shape of a chromosome relates to an X-shaped appearance in many organisms. The formation of the X-shaped chromosome re.....»»
AI tool predicts function of unknown proteins
A new artificial intelligence (AI) tool that draws logical inferences about the function of unknown proteins promises to help scientists unravel the inner workings of the cell......»»
Researchers use mussel-derived proteins to develop customized underwater bio-adhesive patches
The field of adhesives is diverse, catering to a wide range of applications from everyday uses like paper and fabric to specialized ones like woodwork. In the medical area, adhesives play a crucial role, from suturing internal wounds to attaching sen.....»»
Is there a new deep-sea fishery on the horizon?
The world's oceans contain huge volumes of unexploited resource species living at depths between 200 and 1,000 meters in the so-called mesopelagic zone. They have the potential to provide humans with valuable resources such as oils and proteins, and.....»»
New research with implications for drug discovery makes it possible to visualize the smallest protein clusters
Penn Engineers have pioneered a new way to visualize the smallest protein clusters, skirting the physical limitations of light-powered microscopes and opening new avenues for detecting the proteins implicated in diseases like Alzheimer's and testing.....»»
Could protecting our proteins help us prevent aging?
Existing theories on the chemistry of aging are being turned on their head, thanks in particular to a small, ultra-resistant bacterium capable of "coming back to life" after extremely harmful attacks......»»
Probing proton pumping: New findings on protein folding in bacteriorhodopsin
When it comes to drug development, membrane proteins play a crucial role, with about 50% of drugs targeting these molecules. Understanding the function of these membrane proteins, which connect to the membranes of cells, is important for designing th.....»»
Q&A: Research visualizes a precise mechanism for how cells sort their trash
For decades it has been an open question in the ubiquitin research field how proteins are labeled as being defective or unneeded. In a recent study Brenda Schulman, Director at the Max Planck Institute (MPI) of Biochemistry, and Gary Kleiger, Chair o.....»»
Replacing animal-based foods with alternative proteins would unlock land for carbon removal, say researchers
Researchers report that replacing 50% of animal products with alternative proteins by 2050 could free up enough agricultural land to generate renewable energy equivalent in volume to today's coal-generated power while simultaneously removing substant.....»»
Decoding the molecular networks of early human development
New international research shines a light on the role of transcription factors during early embryonic development. Transcription factors are proteins that are critical for gene regulation. The study unveiled more than 1,000 protein–protein interact.....»»
Manipulating host defenses: Unveiling the role of a powdery mildew effector in grapevine infection
Powdery mildew, caused by Erysiphe necator, is a significant threat to grapevine health, utilizing secreted effector proteins (CSEPs) to suppress plant defenses. Despite knowledge of plant immune mechanisms, the specific roles of E. necator's CSEPs i.....»»
Preclinical study uncovers two proteins" crucial role in causing cancer cell growth
Scientists at City of Hope, one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States, have discovered a new cellular mechanism that plays an important role in cancer cells' ability to cause disease. The study is published i.....»»
Researchers use supercomputer to determine whether "molecules of life" can be formed naturally in right conditions
Basic biology textbooks will tell you that all life on Earth is built from four types of molecules: proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. And each group is vital for every living organism......»»
Scientists successfully simulate protein complex that initiates fertilization
Researchers at ETH Zurich recently developed highly realistic simulations of the proteins on sperm and egg cells coupling together before they fuse. These findings enabled the research team to solve several mysteries of fertilization at once, which c.....»»
Researchers develop method to map interactions of specific RNA regions in live cells
The interplay between ribonucleic acid (RNA) and proteins is not only important for maintaining cellular homeostasis but is also at the center of the tug-of-war between virus and host. Until now, there has been no method to globally map direct intera.....»»
New research brings order to disordered proteins
Protein molecules lie at the heart of biology. Our typical understanding of proteins states that each type of protein has a specific three-dimensional shape that enables it to perform its function. This dogma is challenged by intrinsically disordered.....»»
Computer-designed proteins allow for tunable hydrogels that can form both inside and outside of cells
When researchers want to study how COVID makes us sick, or what diseases such as Alzheimer's do to the body, one approach is to look at what's happening inside individual cells. Researchers sometimes grow the cells in a 3D scaffold called a "hydrogel.....»»
Team develops a non-allergenic wheat protein for growing better cultivated meat
As the world's population increases, cultivated or lab-grown meat—animal muscle and fat cells grown in laboratory conditions—has emerged as a potential way to satisfy future protein needs. And edible, inexpensive plant proteins could be used to g.....»»
New AI model designs proteins to deliver gene therapy
Researchers at the University of Toronto have used an artificial intelligence framework to redesign a crucial protein involved in the delivery of gene therapy......»»
New simulation tool advances molecular modeling of biomolecular condensates
A University of Massachusetts Amherst team has made a major advance toward modeling and understanding how intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) undergo spontaneous phase separation, an important mechanism of subcellular organization that underlies.....»»