Electron Microscopy News and Research

RSS

Super-Cooled Brain Cell Molecules Shed Light on Epilepsy Drug Action

By super cooling a molecule on the surface of brain cells down to about minus 180 degrees Celsius -; nearly twice as cold as the coldest places in Antarctica -; scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine say they have determined how a widely-used epilepsy drug works to dampen the excitability of brain cells and help to control, although not cure, seizures.

11 Jun 2024

Structural Insights into a Novel Gene-Editing Tool

Yutaro Shuto, Ryoya Nakagawa, and Osamu Nureki of the University of Tokyo conducted collaborative research to ascertain the spatial organization of different processes within a unique gene-editing instrument known as “prime editor.”

30 May 2024

LoCoHD: A Novel Method for Comparative Protein Structure Analysis

In a paper recently published in Nature Communications, the HUN-REN-ELTE Protein Modeling Research Group (Institute of Chemistry) has laid the foundations for a mathematical method, allowing the computer-assisted comparison of the three-dimensional structures of proteins.

30 May 2024

Unmasking XPD’s Mechanism in DNA Damage Detection and Repair

The way the protein XPD recognizes severe DNA damage and regulates its repair was uncovered by researchers at the University of Würzburg, under the direction of Caroline Kisker and Claudia Höbartner.

29 May 2024

Cryo-EM Reveals Structural Insights Into ADAM17/iRhom2 Complex

Efficient communication between cells is vital for many biological processes, such as recruiting immune cells to combat disease.

24 May 2024

Cryo-EM Study Reveals Cas7-11-CRISPR Complex Regulation Mechanisms

In a recent study published in Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, Chinese researchers studied the cryo-electron microscopy structures of the CRISPR-Cas7-11 nuclease, both alone and in complex with the regulatory protein tetratricopeptide repeat fused with Cas/(human enhancer of filamentation 1) HEF1-associated signal transducer (TPR-CHAT).

24 May 2024

Exploring the Evolution of Mitosis: Lessons from Close Relatives of Fungi and Animals

Cell division is one of the most fundamental processes of life. From bacteria to blue whales, every living being on Earth relies on cell division for growth, reproduction, and species survival.

23 May 2024

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes carrying vincristine sulfate are effective in killing cancer stem cells

Whether loading vincristine sulfate into mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes could improve the targeted delivery of the drug specifically to cancer stem cells.

21 May 2024

Bristle Biogenesis of Platynereis dumerilii: Microvilli as Nature's 3D Printers

A new interdisciplinary study led by molecular biologist Florian Raible from the Max Perutz Labs at the University of Vienna provides exciting insights into the bristles of the marine annelid worm Platynereis dumerilii.

14 May 2024

AI Deciphers the Complex Wiring of the Human Brain

Though it may not seem like much, one cubic mm of brain tissue exists. That small square, however, holds 230 mm of blood vessels, 150 million synapses, and 57,000 cells, totaling 1,400 terabytes of data. That is why researchers from Google and Harvard have just achieved something truly amazing.

10 May 2024

Study Reveals Molecular Assembly of One of the Most Common Anti-Phage Systems

One of the many secrets to bacteria's success is their ability to defend themselves from viruses, called phages, that infect bacteria and use their cellular machinery to make copies of themselves.

29 Apr 2024

Soil Bacteria Use Umbrella Toxins to Fight Back

Scientists have found that soil bacteria called Streptomyces secrete toxic protein particles in the shape of umbrellas that are meant to suppress competitors, particularly those that belong to their species.

18 Apr 2024

Study Reveals How Cells Recycle Proteins in Response to Nutrient Starvation

A new study details how nutrient-starved cells divert protein transport stations to cellular recycling centers to be broken down, highlighting a novel approach cells use to deal with stressful conditions.

15 Apr 2024

Unraveling the Key to Suppressing Protein Misfolding in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Proteins known as oligomeric chaperones help suppress the formation of misshaped proteins that cause a variety of degenerative and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's, and Parkinson's.

13 Apr 2024

Unveiling Mechanisms to Block Tau Aggregation

The buildup of aberrant, misfolded tau proteins in the brain is the cause of a variety of neurodegenerative illnesses, such as Fronto Temporal Dementia (FTD), Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), and Cortico Basal Degeneration (CBD).

4 Apr 2024

Researchers Identify Protein Regulating Gas Vesicle Patterning in Bacteria

Gas vesicles are hollow structures made of protein found in the cells of certain microorganisms, and researchers at Rice University believe they can be programmed for use in biomedical applications.

30 Mar 2024

Cryo-EM Imaging Unveils Similar Protein Structures in Alzheimer's and Down Syndrome

More than 90% of people with Down syndrome, the most common chromosomal disorder in humans and the most frequent genetic cause of intellectual disability, are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease by ages 55-60.

30 Mar 2024

Electron Microscope Unlocks Secrets of the Commander Complex

Receptor molecules on the cell surface are essential for cellular communication. Periodically, these receptors must be absorbed and sorted for them to be broken down or recycled.

12 Mar 2024

Breakthrough Study Reveals Key Mechanism in Passing Epigenetic Information During Cell Division

A research team led by Professor Yuanliang ZHAI at the School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong collaborating with Professor Ning GAO and Professor Qing LI from Peking University, as well as Professor Bik-Kwoon TYE from Cornell University, has recently made a significant breakthrough in understanding how the DNA copying machine helps pass on epigenetic information to maintain gene traits at each cell division.

11 Mar 2024

3D Visualizations of the Copying Machinery Found in Chloroplasts

Plants have to carry out photosynthesis and ultimately synthesize oxygen and chemical energy with the assistance of sunlight to support life on Earth.

4 Mar 2024