Biochemistry News and Research

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New database provides extensive information on kinase-associated neural protein phosphorylation

Biological functions rely on accurate cellular communication involving different molecules. Most major signaling pathways involved in such communication, called signal transduction, often involve a family of kinases—enzymes catalyzing the transfer of phosphates between specific substrate molecules.

17 Mar 2022

Macrophages show altered inflammatory, metabolic expression months after mild COVID-19

There is a lack of understanding as to why some people suffer from long-lasting symptoms after COVID-19 infection.

15 Mar 2022

Researchers uncover the genetic variant link to fatal esophageal disease in dogs

Researchers from Clemson University have found a genetic variation linked to a potentially fatal esophageal disease common in German shepherd dogs.

14 Mar 2022

New tools for measuring the biological ages of various organ systems

It's common to say that someone looks either younger or older than their chronological age, but aging is more than skin deep.

9 Mar 2022

Research points to a common thread linking diverse neurodegenerative diseases

Take a cell-deep tour of a brain afflicted with Alzheimer's disease, and you will find minuscule clumps of protein that seem suspicious. Ever since the 1980s, when neuroscientists began identifying these protein tangles, researchers have discovered that other brain diseases have their own tangled-protein signatures.

7 Mar 2022

New technique controls gene activity without altering the DNA sequence of the genome

By combining CRISPR technology with a protein designed with artificial intelligence, it is possible to awaken individual dormant genes by disabling the chemical "off switches" that silence them.

7 Mar 2022

Researchers identify universal patterns in the chemistry of life

The only references we have for "life" are the forms we know on Earth. Astrobiologists suspect that the search for alien life, and even for the origins of life on Earth, may require a broader scope.

1 Mar 2022

Study reveals the power of ketone bodies

The immune system has its cells all around the body, and they are constantly doing their work even if the body is in great shape.

22 Feb 2022

Researchers engineer strains of nitrogen-fixing soil bacterium to produce ammonia

Researchers from Washington State University have engineered strains of the ubiquitous, nitrogen-fixing soil bacterium Azotobacter vinelandii to produce ammonia and excrete it at high concentrations, transferring it into crop plants in lieu of conventional chemical fertilizers.

18 Feb 2022

Cryo-electron microscopy reveals structures of a muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor

New research co-led by a University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine professor is shedding light on some of the mysterious dynamics that define the interplay between nerves and muscle.

17 Feb 2022

Legionella bacteria ancestors infected eukaryotic cells as early as two billion years ago

Researchers at Uppsala University have discovered that the ancestors of legionella bacteria infected eukaryotic cells as early as two billion years ago.

17 Feb 2022

Programming DNA Robots to Prod Cell Membranes

In this interview, we speak to Dr. Matthew Baker about his latest research that led to the programming of DNA 'robots' that are able to prod cell membranes.

From The University of New South Wales (UNSW) 14 Feb 2022

Researchers identify cellular mechanism that protects proteins from breaking down

Plants are tied to one location and need to adjust to their environment, including adverse conditions. Adaptive responses include synthesizing new proteins and breaking down those that are no longer needed.

11 Feb 2022

Researchers decipher the genome of Steller’s sea cow from fossil bones

During the Ice Age, giant mammals such as mammoths, sabre-toothed cats and woolly rhinoceroses once roamed Northern Europe and America.

9 Feb 2022

Study suggests Cx43 hemichannels as potential new target for osteoporosis treatments

Channels on the surface of bone cells called osteocytes help build stronger bones in response to mechanical stress, shows a study published today in eLife.

9 Feb 2022

San Antonio researchers report a new mechanistic target for leukemia drug development

Scientists at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio believe it may be possible to prevent DNA changes driven by two proteins highly active in leukemia and other cancers.

7 Feb 2022

Study reveals how the body controls inflammation during removal of damaged cells

A research team from Cologne and Osnabrück has investigated in detail how messenger substances signal inflammation during the removal of damaged cells in the body.

7 Feb 2022

Study provides insight into the mechanism of action of DNA topoisomerase VI at the molecular level

The enzyme DNA topoisomerase VI (topo VI) plays a vital role in eliminating chromosome tangles that arise in the cell nucleus of plants.

4 Feb 2022

Researchers discover a sustainable approach for drug development

Although several people think of medicines as purely synthetic compounds, nature is an important element of most of the medications humans depend on.