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.....»»
Patchwork of Wnt signaling ligands and receptors pattern the wings of butterflies, researchers discover
Wnt signaling is a well-known mode of cell-to-cell communication in multicellular biological organisms. It involves the secretion of small Wnt glycoproteins, by signaling cells, that bind to receptor proteins in the membrane of receiving cells. This.....»»
Blue light: An on-off switch for enzymes
Light affects living organisms in many different ways, for example, plants orient their growth direction towards the sun, while circadian rhythms in humans are controlled by daylight. These processes always involve photoreceptors, which are proteins.....»»
Biological origami at molecular level: Cytosolic interactome protects against protein unfolding
Human cells are protecting their proteins from unfolding and aggregating. That's what biophysicist Alireza Mashaghi and his team discovered after seven years of in-depth research into the folding mechanisms of proteins. With an unprecedented approach.....»»
New "protein nano-switch" method promises rapid and reliable development of diagnostic tests
QUT researchers have developed a new approach for designing molecular ON-OFF switches based on proteins which can be used in a multitude of biotechnological, biomedical and bioengineering applications......»»
Your genetic code has lots of "words" for the same thing—information theory may help explain the redundancies
Nearly all life, from bacteria to humans, uses the same genetic code. This code acts as a dictionary, translating genes into the amino acids used to build proteins. The universality of the genetic code indicates a common ancestry among all living org.....»»
Researchers investigate how the cellular environment affects protein conformational dynamics
Protein dynamics through motions of loops, linkers, and hinges can generate distinctive conformations that are important for protein function. Most proteins perform their functions in cells. However, how the complex cellular environment affects the c.....»»
Breakthrough in solid-state storage innovates how biological materials are stored and handled
Scientists have developed a novel method for storing biological materials such as RNA and proteins in a solid-state. The storage in solid-state resembles the form of a pill or a tablet, which dissolves in water for on-demand use. The innovation provi.....»»
AMG-1/SLRP-1 is required for spermatogenesis in C. elegans: Study
The mechanisms of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs)-mediated post-transcriptional regulation of pre-existing mRNAs, which is essential for spermatogenesis, remain poorly understood......»»
Red algae proteins grafted into tobacco double plant growth
A Cornell researcher and her colleagues have solved one key piece of the molecular puzzle needed to dramatically improve plant productivity and increase carbon sequestration: They have successfully transferred key regions of a highly efficient red al.....»»
Biophysicists reveal how three proteins interact to fine-tune cellular movement
A single human cell teems with as many 100,000 different proteins. Actin is one of the most abundant and essential of them all. This protein forms into filaments that help make up the skeleton of cells, giving them shape. And as the actin filaments e.....»»
New method expertly evaluates protein folding stability on a large scale
You may be familiar with the art of origami, in which paper is intricately folded to create shapes. But did you know that proteins in the human body also undergo an intricate folding process that is essential to their structure and function? Recently.....»»
Broken-down soy proteins can stop damage from excessive ice build-up and freezer burn
Almost everyone has a bag of veggies shoved into the dark recesses of their freezer that's now essentially an unrecognizable block of ice crystals. And when thawed, foods damaged by excessive ice lose their texture and become mushy......»»
Scientists develop revolutionary new approach to designing catalysts for chemical reactions
Chemists at King's College London have made a breakthrough in the way they develop artificial helix shapes for the amino acids that constitute proteins. These new synthetic shapes have the potential to transform processes such as chemical reactions t.....»»
Unraveling the mystery of semi-extractable RNAs from human cell lines
Membraneless organelles (MLOs), also known as "biomolecular condensates," are formed by the biological process of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). MLOs are highly dynamic bodies containing proteins and nucleic acids......»»
Probe expands understanding of oral cavity homeostasis
Your mouth is a crucial interface between the outside world and the inside of your body. Everything you breathe, chew, or drink interacts with your oral cavity—the proteins and the microbes, including microbes that can harm us. When things go awry,.....»»
A new perspective in protein research focuses on disordered areas
The ordered areas of proteins are readily studied. Consequently, a great deal is known about the role of these areas in the biological function of the respective proteins. However, an international research team led by biochemist Prof. Dr. Ute Hellmi.....»»
Biologists publish new guidelines to facilitate data sharing of research on disordered proteins
For decades, structural biologists have been working on cracking the molecular 3D structures of proteins to understand their function. But what if a protein doesn't have a fixed structure? For molecules that keep changing their shape all the time, bo.....»»
Breaking into tears with microrheology to design custom eye drops
Compared to artificial tears, or eye drops, human tears are significantly more complex liquids, with a wide range of components including lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, water, and salt. It is this complex mixture that gives tears the perfect thickn.....»»
Study presents new database linking RNA editing and blood cell differentiation
The process of converting DNA to proteins through an RNA is far from straightforward. Of the several types of RNA involved in the process of protein synthesis, a few may be edited mid-way. In mammals, RNA editing mostly involves converting adenosine.....»»
Fluorescent tags allow live monitoring of growth factor signaling proteins inside living cells
Synthetic biologists from Rice University and Princeton University have demonstrated "live reporter" technology that can reveal the workings of networks of signaling proteins in living cells with far greater precision than current methods. The first-.....»»