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.....»»
AI-powered atlas reveals how proteins behave inside cells
Scientists at the University of Cambridge have developed an atlas of proteins describing how the proteins behave inside human cells. This tool could be used to search for the origins of diseases related to proteins misbehaving, such as dementia and m.....»»
Egg cell maintenance: Long-lived proteins may be essential for fertility
Female mammals—including humans—are born with all of their egg cells. Of a woman's one to two million egg cells, about 400 mature before menopause and can be fertilized. Some egg cells therefore survive for several decades—and need to remain fu.....»»
AI approach optimizes development of antibody drugs
Proteins have evolved to excel at everything from contracting muscles to digesting food to recognizing viruses. To engineer better proteins, including antibodies, scientists often iteratively mutate the amino acids—the units that are arranged in a.....»»
Energy landscape theory sheds light on evolution of foldable proteins
A new study led by Rice University's Peter Wolynes offers new insights into the evolution of foldable proteins. The research was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences......»»
New mRNA technology turns cells into long-lasting drug factories
A team of researchers has established a ribonucleic acid (RNA)-based method that drives cells in the body to produce therapeutic proteins and secrete them into the bloodstream. The approach could potentially extend the lifespan of drugs in the body,.....»»
Mutations in a non-coding gene associated with intellectual disability
A gene that only makes an RNA is linked to neurodevelopmental problems. Enlarge / The spliceosome is a large complex of proteins and RNAs. (credit: NCBI) Almost 1,500 genes have been implicated in intellectual disabiliti.....»»
Novel method for mass production of recombinant proteins uses mono-sodium glutamate
Mass production of recombinant proteins using yeast cell "factories" needs methanol, a compound that requires safe handling, carries the risk of catching fire, and sometimes produces harmful byproducts. Researchers at the Department of Biochemistry (.....»»
Understanding how zwitterionic polymers can lead to safer drugs and disease prevention
Proteins are vital biomolecules responsible for performing various functions in the human body and are thus regarded as the workhorses of a cell. The primary structure of a protein is composed of different amino acids coming together. The structure s.....»»
New approach uses "cloaked" proteins to deliver cancer-killing therapeutics into cells
An interdisciplinary collaboration has designed a way to "cloak" proteins so that they can be captured by lipid nanoparticles, which are akin to tiny bubbles of fat. These bubbles are small enough to sneak their hidden cargo into living cells, where.....»»
How the agri-food industry tried to influence revamp of Canada"s Food Guide
In 2019, Health Canada published an updated version of Canada's Food Guide. Its recommendations include drinking more water, eating more plant-based proteins, limiting the intake of highly processed foods, and cooking more meals at home......»»
Researchers reveal dynamic structure of FLVCR proteins and their function in nutrient transport
It is known that malfunctions of the proteins FLVCR1 and FLVCR2 lead to rare hereditary diseases in humans that cause motor, sensory and neurological disorders. However, the biochemical mechanisms behind this and the physiological functions of the FL.....»»
Scientists develop novel approach to interrogate tissue-specific protein–protein interactions
Multicellular organisms, like animals and plants, have complex cells with diverse functions. This complexity arises from the need for cells to produce distinct proteins that interact with each other. This interaction is crucial for cells to carry out.....»»
Proteins modified in lungs offer clues to biological functions of bromine
Researchers at the Center for Research on Redox Processes in Biomedicine (Redoxome) in Brazil have identified extracellular matrix proteins modified by the action of hypobromous acid in normal and fibrotic lung tissues, suggesting a possible physiolo.....»»
Math discovery provides new method to study cell activity, aging
New mathematical tools revealing how quickly cell proteins break down are poised to uncover deeper insights into how we age, according to a recently published paper co-authored by a Mississippi State researcher and his colleagues from Harvard Medical.....»»
Using hybrid nanotubes to enhance cancer treatment with intracellular protein delivery
The intracellular delivery of proteins is an important technique for unveiling the cellular functions, protein complex structure, and therapeutics. However, conventional delivery methods have several limitations......»»
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.....»»
Bacterial proteins shed light on antiviral immunity
A unique collaboration between two UT Southwestern Medical Center labs—one that studies bacteria and another that studies viruses—has identified two immune proteins that appear key to fighting infections. The findings, published in PLOS Pathogens.....»»
Heating proteins to body temperature reveals new drug targets
Some proteins shift their shape when exposed to different temperatures, revealing previously unknown binding sites for medications, new research has found......»»
Research shows that "softer" proteins can cross into the nucleus quicker
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and King's College London have discovered that how soft or rigid proteins are in certain regions can dictate how fast or slow they enter the nucleus......»»
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.....»»