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.

Simple Blood Test Uncovers Gene Expression Secrets

The brain is the most protected organ in the body, sheathed in a complex and nearly impenetrable barrier of specialized blood vessels.

12 Jan 2024

Unlocking Precise DNA Modifications With Cas12a Innovations

Caixia Gao’s group at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology has created a number of new prime editors based on the Cas12a protein, broadening the applications and targeting range of precision genome editing, as reported in a study published in Nature Biotechnology.

12 Jan 2024

Tracking Genes in the Brain Via Non-Invasive Methods

With its intricate network of specialized blood arteries forming a nearly impenetrable barrier, the brain is the most protected organ in the body.

11 Jan 2024

Unmasking the "Fingerprint" of a Single Protein with Light

Singular protein infrared vibrational spectrum is seen by use of sophisticated measurement methods based on near-field optical microscopy.

10 Jan 2024

Uncovering How Tomatoes Fight Off Notorious Blight

Recently, The Plant Journal’s cover highlighted an innovative study that has garnered attention in the interesting field of plant biology.

10 Jan 2024

Exploring the Dual Role of Phosphorylated α-Synuclein in Healthy Neural Function

It has been found by researchers that phosphorylated α-synuclein, a protein linked to a number of neurodegenerative illnesses, including Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia, is also engaged in the regular processes of neuronal communication in a healthy brain.

10 Jan 2024

Bacterial "Freight Elevator" Transports Camouflage Molecule for Immune Evasion

Some bacterial membrane transporters work almost like freight elevators to transport substances through the cell membrane into the interior of the cell. The transporter itself spans the bacterial membrane.

9 Jan 2024

Bacterial “Barcode” Deciphers the Fate of Proteins, Impacting Pathogen Behavior

Researchers at McMaster University have found a molecular “barcode” system that pathogenic bacteria use to identify harmful from beneficial molecules.

9 Jan 2024

Computational Creation of Complex Protein All-α Structures

Based on their amino acid sequences, proteins fold into distinct three-dimensional structures that determine their function. While de novo protein design has advanced significantly, complex all-αproteins, in which α-helices are not stacked in a parallel fashion within three-dimensional structures, have not been as easily designed.

8 Jan 2024

Novel Peptides from South American Bushmaster and Pit Viper

The venom of the South American bushmaster, a resident of tropical rainforests, and the pit viper Cotiara, which lives in southern Brazil, both contain fragments of hemorrhagic toxins that may be used to treat high blood pressure.

8 Jan 2024

New Method Reveals Bacteria's Protein Targeting System

Disease-causing bacteria of the genus Salmonella or Yersinia can use tiny injection apparatuses to inject harmful proteins into host cells, much to the discomfort of the infected person.

5 Jan 2024

Mechanism of Pathogenic Fungus Aspergillus fumigatus Unveiled

An international team of researchers, led by Professor Gustavo Goldman of the University of São Paulo and Maynooth University's Dr Özgür Bayram, has unveiled ground-breaking findings on Aspergillus fumigatus, which can cause deadly disease in humans.

5 Jan 2024

Research Reveals Unforeseen Functions for Autophagy Genes in Neuronal Health and Aging

Autophagy, which declines with age, may hold more mysteries than researchers previously suspected. In the January 4th issue of Nature Aging, it was noted that scientists from the Buck Institute, Sanford Burnham Prebys and Rutgers University have uncovered possible novel functions

5 Jan 2024

A Pair of Force-Activated Gene Regulating Proteins Guide Fetal Bone Development

A pair of proteins, YAP and TAZ, has been identified as conductors of bone development in the womb and could provide insight into genetic diseases such as osteogenesis imperfecta, known commonly as "brittle bone disease."

5 Jan 2024

New Method Designs Proteins With Complex Shapes

A team of researchers has developed an innovative method to design complicated all-α proteins, characterized by their non-uniformly arranged α-helices as seen in hemoglobin.

5 Jan 2024

Unraveling the Mysteries of COPII-Mediated Protein Transport

Similar to postal workers who deliver packages in inclement weather, such as snow, rain, or heat waves, a vital set of proteins found in mammals enables cells to operate normally, even in less-than-ideal circumstances.

4 Jan 2024

Zipping Up Chromosomes: The Synaptonemal Complex Revealed

We have two copies of each chromosome in every cell in our bodies except in our reproductive cells. Sperm and egg cells contain a single copy of each chromosome with a unique mix of genes from our parents, an evolutionary trick to give our offspring genetic variability.

4 Jan 2024