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.

Study Reveals How STING Protein Migrates to Trigger Immune Responses

UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have identified how the quintessential immune protein known as stimulator of interferon genes (STING) migrates from one cellular organelle to another, a necessary step in its activation.

27 Mar 2026

Microtubules Act as Active Regulators of Key Cellular Enzymatic Reactions

Microtubules, the dynamic filaments that form the cell's internal scaffolding, have long been viewed as mere passive structural supports. But a new study reveals they play a far more active signaling role.

27 Mar 2026

Newly Discovered CRISPR System Activates Genes Without Cutting DNA

In back-to-back studies published in Nature, researchers from Purdue University and Columbia University report a naturally evolved gene-editing system that can activate genes, offering an advantage over existing CRISPR gene-editing systems that merely find and cut DNA.

26 Mar 2026

SLIT3 Protein Drives Brown Fat Activation Through Dual Signaling

Researchers have determined how a key protein activates brown fat by expanding blood vessels and nerves in the heat-generating tissue.

26 Mar 2026

Study Reveals Molecular Basis of Reduced Cold Sensitivity in Salamanders

The ability to sense environmental temperature, which helps animals move away from sub-optimal locations and find those with ideal temperatures, involves various channels on sensory neurons that open at specific temperature ranges.

26 Mar 2026

Reversing Memory Loss in Aging Mice by Targeting Gut Bacteria

The study uncovers how gut bacteria like Parabacteroides goldsteinii contribute to memory decline, offering insights for potential cognitive interventions.

26 Mar 2026

Synthetic Plasmid Design Enables Precise Control of DNA Replication

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it," goes the old adage, which Rice University professor James Chappell completely ignored in a recent Nature Communications publication.

26 Mar 2026

NAC Complex Triggers Protein Folding at Earliest Stage of Synthesis

In the earliest phase of creating human proteins, the protein complex NAC performs an essential task by starting the first steps towards folding proteins into their correct three-dimensional structures.

24 Mar 2026

New PanNDA Atlas Maps Protein Networks in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases form a tangled biological web with overlapping molecular signatures and symptoms. To decode this complexity, a multi-institute collaboration led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists developed the pan-neurodegeneration atlas (PanNDA).

24 Mar 2026

SHP Protein Slows Cartilage Degeneration in Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis, a condition that causes pain and reduced mobility in joints such as the knees and fingers, is one of the most common joint disorders worldwide, particularly among aging populations.

24 Mar 2026

New Mechanism Links Mitochondria Dysfunction to T Cell Exhaustion

The immune system's killer T cells do a commendable job of detecting and destroying cancer cells. But the harsh environment at the heart of tumors often saps them of their vitality, pushing them into a state of permanent lassitude called "terminal exhaustion."

23 Mar 2026

How Toxic Protein Spreads in Huntington’s Disease

Huntington's disease is a debilitating brain disorder that gradually robs people of mobility, memory, and personality.

23 Mar 2026

New Enzyme Atlas Rewrites Decades of Biology Research

WEHI researchers have led a major global effort to create the first authoritative atlas for a class of enzymes that regulate almost every cellular process in the human body.

From Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) 23 Mar 2026

Scientists Develop Method to Sequence Proteins Using DNA Technology

Proteins, one of the smallest building blocks of life on Earth, hold promise for answering some of biology's biggest questions.

19 Mar 2026

PAX3 Protein Plays Key Roles in Development and Cancer

Paired Box 3 (PAX3) is a protein that plays a critical role in the formation of tissues and organs during embryonic development and can positively (and less frequently, negatively) regulate gene expression.

19 Mar 2026

Molecular Switch Links Mitochondrial Stress to T Cell Exhaustion

Cancer-fighting T cells do not simply "run out of energy." They are molecularly reprogrammed.

19 Mar 2026

Psoriasis-Like Inflammation Limits Skin Cancer Growth

A study shows that psoriasis-like immune responses may limit skin cancer growth, challenging the view of chronic inflammation as solely tumor-promoting.

19 Mar 2026

'Spiderman' Cells Trap Viral Genomes With Sticky Protein Webs

Scientists have identified a cell defense mechanism that mimics Spiderman shooting his web to ensnare enemies.

18 Mar 2026

EV Engineering Boosts Drug Delivery and Improves Sepsis Survival

The engineered scaffold protein EN144 significantly improves extracellular vesicle therapies, showing potential in sepsis treatment and targeted drug delivery.

18 Mar 2026

Lab Studies Validate Non-Animal Methods for Protein Quality Assessment

Nine labs have coordinated a set of studies that support new alternatives to animal-based digestibility testing when protein quality measures are required for labeling food.

17 Mar 2026