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.

Unlocking the Genetic Secrets Behind Human Vocal Communication

The origins of human language remain mysterious. Are we the only animals truly capable of complex speech? Are Homo sapiens the only hominids who could give detailed directions to a far-off freshwater source or describe the nuanced purples and reds of a dramatic sunset?

19 Feb 2025

New Understanding of Autophagy Could Lead to Healthy Aging Therapies

A recent breakthrough from an international collaborative research team has unveiled the mechanism by which cells activate their recycling processes and generate “garbage bags” to eliminate proteins.

19 Feb 2025

Engineered Phages Deliver Therapeutic Proteins to Intestines

Engineered phages transform gut bacteria into drug delivery systems, releasing therapeutic proteins that reduce inflammation and promote satiety in obesity.

19 Feb 2025

Engineers Turn the Body’s Goo Into New Glue

Within the animal kingdom, mussels are masters of underwater adhesion. The marine mollusks cluster atop rocks and along the bottoms of ships, and hold fast against the ocean’s waves thanks to a gluey plaque they secrete through their foot.

19 Feb 2025

Novel Antibody Platform Targets Aggregates in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's

In diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, specific proteins misfold and clump together, forming toxic aggregates that damage brain cells.

18 Feb 2025

Novel Anti-CRISPR Protein Targets Cas13b RNA Nuclease

There are numerous potential uses for the CRISPR-Cas gene scissors, ranging from antiviral treatments and diagnostics to the treatment of genetic disorders.

18 Feb 2025

New Study Uncovers Evolutionary Link in B6 Metabolism

An investigation conducted by a group of scientists at the University of Kentucky’s Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment has uncovered an unexpected biochemical link between the immune responses of plants and the neurological health of humans.

18 Feb 2025

Breakthrough Research Reveals How Anemonefish Avoid Sea Anemone Stings

The clownfish-anemone living arrangement is one of the most widely recognized examples of symbiosis.

17 Feb 2025

Researchers Discover New Role of Mitofusin 2 in Cellular Health

Researchers from Cologne, Bochum, Padova and Angers have discovered a novel connection between mitochondrial function, protein quality control and cellular health, whose failure could be the leading cause in the currently incurable neurological disease Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT).

17 Feb 2025

Scientists Uncover Mechanism Linking OPN3 to Food Intake Regulation

Scientists discovered years ago that the hypothalamus - which helps to manage body temperature, hunger, sex drive, sleep and more - includes neurons that express the protein opsin 3 (OPN3).

17 Feb 2025

Computational Modeling Streamlines Antiviral Discovery

Viruses, such as those responsible for COVID-19 and HIV, present significant challenges once they enter the human body. Antiviral therapies aim to obstruct a virus or prevent its replication.

17 Feb 2025

Could Pea-Derived Oligosaccharides Be a Faster, More Sustainable Option For Sour Beer Production?

Raffinose-family oligosaccharides from peas boost sour beer production, improving fermentation efficiency and sensory qualities in the brewing process.

17 Feb 2025

Study Reveals Mechanisms Behind Bacterial Flagellar Motor Movement

When speaking of motors, most people think of those powering vehicles and human machinery. However, biological motors have existed for millions of years in microorganisms.

14 Feb 2025

Study Reveals How Dead Bacteria Provide Nutrients to Neighbors

Darwin's theory of natural selection provides an explanation for why organisms develop traits that help them survive and reproduce.

14 Feb 2025

How Bacteriophages Build a Protein-Based Nucleus to Outsmart Bacteria

Jumbo phages utilize a complex protein import system, with Imp1 as a key gatekeeper, to transport proteins into their protective nucleus-like compartment.

14 Feb 2025

New Research Sheds Light on How Cells Manage Fat Recycling

Accumulation of fat molecules is detrimental to the cell. Researchers from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), have made a breakthrough in understanding how our cells manage to stay healthy by recycling important fat molecules.

13 Feb 2025

Understanding the Complex Architecture of the Minor Spliceosome

In human cells, only a small proportion of the information written in genes is used to produce proteins. How does the cell select this information? A large molecular machine called the spliceosome continuously separates the coding and non-coding regions of our genes – and it's doing this even as you read these lines.

13 Feb 2025

PanK4 Protein Could Be Key to Better Control of Blood Sugar and Metabolism

Physical activity is not only important for fitness, but also for health. This is confirmed by a new study conducted under the direction of Prof. Dr. Maximilian Kleinert at the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke (DIfE). His team discovered that the protein PanK4 plays a crucial role in the energy metabolism of skeletal muscles.

13 Feb 2025

Scientists Discover Hidden Role of RNA Introns in Cellular Stress Response

Scientists have discovered that some tiny segments of RNA thought to be junk instead have a functional role in suppressing production of certain messenger RNAs and appear to help cells respond to oxidative stress.

12 Feb 2025

Mismatch Repair Genes Found to be Key Drivers of Huntington's Disease

A new UCLA Health study has discovered in mouse models that genes associated with repairing mismatched DNA are critical in eliciting damages to neurons that are most vulnerable in Huntington's disease and triggering downstream pathologies and motor impairment, shedding light on disease mechanisms and potential new ways to develop therapies.

12 Feb 2025