Protein News and Research

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Proteins are complex molecules that are made up of amino acids. They can be found in every cell in the body, and carry out vital processes that keep human beings alive. Mutations in proteins can lead to a multitude of diseases, the most common being cancer.

Salmonella biofilm protein can cause autoimmunity and arthritis in animals

Scientists from the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre at the University of Saskatchewan and Temple University have demonstrated that a Salmonella biofilm protein can cause autoimmune responses and arthritis in animals.

10 Jul 2020

Structural analysis of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein offers clues about the virus' evolution

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have characterized the structure of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein as well as its most similar relative in a bat coronavirus. The structures provide clues about how the spike evolved and could help inform vaccine design.

10 Jul 2020

Study shows an entirely new complexity within enzyme machinery

Proteins are the workers in a cell and, as the "basic element of life", are responsible for the most widely varying metabolic processes.

9 Jul 2020

Research uncovers how 'reubiquitination' promotes elimination of misfolded membrane proteins

Chinese researchers recently discovered a protein quality control mechanism called "reubiquitination".

9 Jul 2020

New type of molecular editor can make precise changes in mitochondrial DNA

The genome in mitochondria -- the cell's energy-producing organelles -- is involved in disease and key biological functions, and the ability to precisely alter this DNA would allow scientists to learn more about the effects of these genes and mutations.

9 Jul 2020

Researchers discover how good gut bacteria can help reduce heart disease risk

Scientists have discovered that one of the good bacteria found in the human gut has a benefit that has remained unrecognized until now: the potential to reduce the risk for heart disease.

9 Jul 2020

Super-resolution microscopy methods reveal the smallest cell structures

Theoretically, high-resolution microscopy should make it possible to capture cell structures that have a resolution of a few nanometers.

8 Jul 2020

Integrating metabolomics and genomics to improve patient diagnosis

A patient and family walk into a doctor's office. They hope that the latest tests will reveal what is causing the patient's illness and end the diagnostic odyssey they have been going through for years.

8 Jul 2020

Scientists discover role of surface diffusion in protein transport

Many of the most promising medicines under development are proteins, often antibodies, to help patients fight disease. These proteins must be purified as part of the manufacturing process -- a task that can be tricky and result in costly waste.

8 Jul 2020

Protein PRC1 acts as a 'viscous glue' during cell division, research shows

An over-abundance of the protein PRC1, which is essential to cell division, is a telltale sign in many cancer types, including prostate, ovarian, and breast cancer.

8 Jul 2020

Animal proteins more effective than plant proteins in building aging muscles

On a gram for gram basis, animal proteins are more effective than plant proteins in supporting the maintenance of skeletal muscle mass with advancing age, shows research presented this week at The Physiological Society's virtual early career conference Future Physiology 2020.

8 Jul 2020

Developing new nanotechnology to detect food fraud

A University of Central Florida researcher is developing new technology to make sure people are getting the food they think they are eating.

8 Jul 2020

Study shows how motor proteins function in their native crowded cell environments

Several diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, have been associated with the defective functioning of motor proteins involved in cell transport.

From New York University (NYU) 7 Jul 2020

Researchers design novel enzyme to study the interactions between proteins

Proteins regulate several physiological functions that are crucial for living things in vivo. More than 20,000 protein types are found in human beings.

7 Jul 2020

Understanding the role of a cyanobacterial protein in photosynthesis

Cyanobacteria, commonly referred to as blue-green algae, are the first organisms on earth that learned to extract electrons from water and convert sunlight to usable energy through photosynthesis.

7 Jul 2020

Study shows how epigenetics contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases

The human immune system is expected to guard people against the invasion of external microbes, but at times, it possibly leads to autoimmune disorders.

From Osaka University 6 Jul 2020

Combination of ExM and SIM helps observe 3D ultrastructure of synaptonemal complex

The development of egg and sperm cells in all mammals, including humans, is significantly contributed by the synaptonemal complex—a ladder-like cell structure.

6 Jul 2020

An effective strategy to increase zinc concentration in grains

Around 17.3% of people around the world are at risk of developing zinc deficiency, which means inadequate intake of zinc, which is a major health concern.

6 Jul 2020

Study reveals the role of alpha-synuclein in Parkinson’s disease

In people affected by Parkinson’s, clusters of alpha-synuclein or α-synuclein, also referred to as the “Parkinson’s protein,” are detected in the brain.

6 Jul 2020

Mineral-coated microparticles are better vehicles for promising mRNA-based therapy

University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers have developed a safer and more efficient way to deliver a promising new method for treating cancer and liver disorders and for vaccination -- including a COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna Therapeutics that has advanced to clinical trials with humans.

3 Jul 2020