Unfolding the blindness proteins through fly eyes
Every 6 minutes someone is told they're going blind. One of the major causes of human blindness is a disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), which causes progressive degeneration of the retina and vision loss. Approximately one-tenth of Retinitis.....»»
Location, location, location: Research reveals the hidden power of intracellular neighborhoods
New findings published in Molecular Cell provide details about the hidden organization of the cytoplasm—the soup of liquid, organelles, proteins, and other molecules inside a cell. The research shows it makes a big difference where in that cellular.....»»
Using molecular "cookie cutters" to view membrane protein organization
The membrane that encases a biological cell is not simply a barrier; it is chock full of proteins involved in all sorts of critical biological functions. To really understand what membrane proteins are doing and how, researchers need to know how they.....»»
Thianthrenium chemistry allows reactivity switch of a nucleophilic amino acid into a versatile intermediate
Chemical diversification of proteins is an important concept in the study of biological processes and the complex structures of the proteins themselves. Researchers from the Max Planck Society have now published their fascinating findings concerning.....»»
Researchers discover how cysteine activates a key regulator of cell growth in yeast
Amino acids are the building blocks of life. We obtain them from the food we eat, and the body uses them to make proteins, which in turn are used for growth, development, and a multitude of other functions. However, before the body can build with the.....»»
Researchers develop self-assembling, self-illuminating therapeutic proteins
When it comes to delivering drugs to the body, a major challenge is ensuring that they remain in the area they're treating and continuing to deliver their payload accurately. While major strides have been made in delivering drugs, monitoring them is.....»»
New possibilities for the medical use of botulinun toxin A1
PSI researchers have discovered a surprising trick that could expand the possibilities for medical use of botulinun toxin A1, better known under the name Botox, as an active agent. They have developed antibody-like proteins that speed up the enzyme's.....»»
AI generates proteins with exceptional binding strengths
A new study in Nature reports an AI-driven advance in biotechnology with implications for drug development, disease detection, and environmental monitoring. Scientists at the Institute for Protein Design at the University of Washington School of Medi.....»»
Facial symmetry doesn"t explain "beer goggles" phenomenon, research shows
If you thought blurry eyes were to blame for the "beer goggles" phenomenon, think again......»»
New study eyes nutrition-rich chia seed for potential to improve human health
Oregon State University scientists have sequenced the chia genome and in doing so provided a blueprint for future research that capitalizes on the nutritional and human health benefits of the plant......»»
COP28: countries have pledged to cut emissions from cooling—here"s how to make it happen
Cast your eyes over the statistics in a new report I helped author on staying cool in a warming climate and the urgency becomes clear: 1 billion people, mostly in Africa and Asia, are at high risk from extreme heat because they lack access to cooling.....»»
Could the "central dogma" of biology be misleading bioengineers?
Today, medicines based on antibodies—proteins that fight infection and disease—are prescribed for everything from cancer to COVID-19 to high cholesterol. The antibody drugs are supplied by genetically-engineered cells that function as tiny protei.....»»
Researchers discover new way to force pathogenic proteins into degradation
Most diseases are caused by proteins that have spun out of control. Unfortunately, so far, conventional drugs have been able to stop only a fraction of these troublemakers. A new class of drugs known as PROTACs holds great promise in pharmaceutical r.....»»
A graphical user interface for analysis and design of protein–peptide interactions
Proteins function through interactions with other proteins or peptides, a complex process that is still not fully understood. Current research focuses on how amino acid residues interact in protein-protein or protein-peptide interactions to establish.....»»
Worm’s rear end develops its own head, wanders off to mate
The butt even grows its own eyes, antennae, and brain. Enlarge / From left to right, the head of an actual worm, and the stolon of a male and female. (credit: Nakamura et. al.) Some do it horizontally, some do it vertica.....»»
Nanoparticle flu vaccine design shows promise in early tests
Existing flu vaccines provide only limited, seasonal protection because they target highly changeable proteins on the virus. Scripps Research scientists have now designed a vaccine that should work broadly against influenza A strains—one of the two.....»»
Novel insights into antibody aggregation expected to open up new avenues for research and therapeutic applications
Antibodies (immunoglobulins) are Y-shaped proteins that recognize and neutralize specific pathogens. Their ability to target specific molecules or cells has made them promising candidates for future drug development. However, their light chains—par.....»»
Review: PROTACs targeting epigenetic proteins
The field of epigenetics focuses on alterations in gene function that are inherited without changes in the DNA sequence, including histone modifications, post-translational modifications of amino acids, and covalent modifications of DNA bases. These.....»»
Researchers crack the cellular code on protein folding, offering hope for many new therapeutic avenues
While we often think of diseases as caused by foreign bodies—bacteria or viruses—there are hundreds of diseases affecting humans that result from errors in cellular production of proteins......»»
Researchers characterize translation inhibition in CRISPR-Cas antiviral defense system
A recent study in Science uses bioinformatic analysis as well as biochemical and structural studies to characterize a novel family of effector proteins, named Cami1. The research shows that when a virus attacks a bacterium, CRISPR-Cas10 signaling mol.....»»
Nature inspires a new wave of biotechnology
Biological molecules called peptides play a key role in many biological activities, including the transport of oxygen and electrons. Peptides consist of short chains of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. They are also the inspiration for n.....»»