Molecular Biology News and Research

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Molecular biology is the study of biology at a molecular level. The field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry. Molecular biology chiefly concerns itself with understanding the interactions between the various systems of a cell, including the interactions between DNA, RNA and protein biosynthesis as well as learning how these interactions are regulated.

Coordinated Gene Regulation Drives Saponin Production

Triterpenoid saponins are widely valued for their diverse pharmacological activities and also play important defensive roles in plants.

22 Jan 2026

DHPS Enzyme Deficiency Impairs Macrophage Development and Tissue Repair

A new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, its Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that an enzyme involved in protein translation is essential for circulating immune cells, called monocytes, to mature into tissue-resident macrophages, a specialized population of immune cells that maintain organ health by clearing dead cells and debris.

22 Jan 2026

First Fully Synthetic Bacteriophage Engineering System for Antibiotic-Resistant Bacterium

Bacteriophages have been used therapeutically to treat infectious bacterial diseases for over a century.

21 Jan 2026

Unveiling How a Respiratory Bacterium Obtains Lipids and Targets Fatty Tissues

A multidisciplinary team has uncovered a key mechanism that allows the human bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae-responsible for atypical pneumonia and other respiratory infections-to obtain cholesterol and other essential lipids directly from the human body.

16 Jan 2026

Ancient WUS Genes and Expression Thresholds Shape Shoot Regeneration

Unlike animals, plants generate most organs after embryogenesis through stem cell–driven meristems, enabling lifelong growth and regeneration.

9 Jan 2026

High-Tech Imaging Unlocks Genetic Secrets Of Nutrient-Rich Seeds

By rapidly analyzing nearly 12,000 individual seeds, the approach uncovers genetic loci that simultaneously influence seed morphology and mineral composition, opening new avenues for crop biofortification and safer food production.

7 Jan 2026

Identifying Molecules That Activate and Inhibit Key Protein Function

Researchers at Northwestern University have discovered a concealed molecular "control switch" within a protein that plays a crucial role in the body's ability to perceive taste, regulate blood sugar, and protect the gut.

7 Jan 2026

Dual Genetic Mutations Drive RNA Mis-Splicing and Leukemia Progression

Treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML) depends on knowing what goes wrong inside cells. A new study suggests that two genetic mutations – IDH2 and SRSF2 – work cooperatively to mis-splice RNA messages and change how blood cells develop.

6 Jan 2026

Blocking Retinoic Acid Pathway Improves Dendritic Cell Anti-Tumor Function

Scientists at the Princeton University Branch of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research have identified novel mechanisms by which a metabolic derivative of vitamin A-all-trans retinoic acid-compromises both the body's normal anti-cancer immune response and, in a different context, the efficacy of a promising type of cancer vaccine.

6 Jan 2026

Hidden Molecular "Control Switch" Uncovered Inside TRPM5 Protein

Northwestern University scientists have uncovered a hidden molecular "control switch" inside a protein that helps the body sense taste, control blood sugar and defend the gut.

6 Jan 2026

Base-Pair Resolution Benchmark Uncovers Structural Variation Complexity in Tomato Genomes

Structural variations (SVs), including insertions, deletions, inversions, and substitutions, can profoundly influence gene regulation and phenotype.

2 Jan 2026

Calcium Signaling Suppresses Lignin Accumulation in Pear Stone Cells

Stone cells arise from lignified secondary cell walls and cause a gritty texture, reduced sweetness, and poor flavor in many pear cultivars.

23 Dec 2025

Foreign RsMYB28 Allele Boosts Glucosinolate Accumulation in Rapeseed

These bioactive compounds, found primarily in Brassicaceae plants, play crucial roles in plant defense, contribute to distinctive food flavors, and have potential health benefits, including cancer prevention.

23 Dec 2025

New Rat Study Reveals How Genetic Traits Ripple Through Social Microbiomes

The gut microbiome - made up of trillions of microbes in the digestive tract - is vital for digestion and overall health. Diet and medication shape these microbial ecosystems, but the contribution of genetics has been more difficult to ascertain.

22 Dec 2025

IPENS Enables Rapid Label-Free 3D Plant Phenotyping

By combining radiance-field reconstruction with SAM2 segmentation, IPENS enables users to obtain precise organ-level geometry from ordinary multi-view images using only a few prompts.

18 Dec 2025

A Molecular Tug-of-War Shapes Gene Regulation and Disease

A newly revealed molecular tug-of-war may have implications for better understanding how a multitude of diseases and disorders - including cancers, neurodegenerative diseases and immune disorders - originate, as well as how to potentially treat them, according to researchers at Penn State.

18 Dec 2025