Actin News and Research

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Protein's 'silent code' influences cell movement

The protein actin is ubiquitous and essential for life. In mammals, every cell expresses two of its forms, beta-actin and gamma-nonmuscle-actin. Despite having distinct roles, the two forms are nearly identical, sharing 99% of their amino acid sequence.

8 Jul 2021

Newly identified protein regulates the flow of materials in the Drosophila ovary

According to a research work performed by Northwestern Medicine and published in the Current Biology journal, a protein helps guide the flow of materials in the ovary of Drosophila fruit flies during the formation of egg cells.

17 Jun 2021

Newly identified protein helps tumors evade the immune system

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have identified a protein that helps tumors evade the immune system and, in certain types of cancers, is linked to a poorer chance of survival. The protein could become a target for future cancer treatments.

3 Jun 2021

AMSBIO's custom lentivectors enable visualization of cell nuclei and F-actin cytoskeleton in organoids

AMSBIO have supplied custom lentivectors to Francesco Pampaloni and his team at the Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences in Frankfurt, Germany allowing them to visualize cell nuclei and F-actin cytoskeleton in their organoids.

From AMS Biotechnology 1 Jun 2021

Researchers study the mechanical properties of prostate cancer cells treated with anti-cancer drugs

Malignant tumor cells undergo mechanical deformation more easily than normal cells, allowing them to migrate throughout the body. The mechanical properties of prostate cancer cells treated with the most commonly used anti-cancer drugs have been investigated at the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Cracow.

28 May 2021

New probe allows real-time imaging of molecular orientations in live cells

Monitoring alignments of the building blocks of cells is important to understand how the cells are built. By collaborating with imaging scientists at the MBL, researchers from Japan have developed a new probe which they call POLArIS, allowing real-time imaging of molecular orientations in live cells.

17 May 2021

New atomic force microscopy enables faster, less-invasive imaging of biological samples

Kanazawa University researchers have reported a new approach of atomic force microscopy for imaging biological processes and specimens.

31 Mar 2021

Electron cryo-tomography reveals 3D images of sarcomeres at high resolution

Using electron cryo-tomography, researchers have created the first high-resolution 3D image of the sarcomere.

25 Mar 2021

Study reveals new mechanism through which cells build “mini-muscles”

Research teams have revealed how the motor protein, called myosin, which is responsible for causing the contraction of skeletal muscles, also functions in non-muscle cells.

3 Mar 2021

New statistical study shows how pairs of cancer cells interact

One of the fundamental principles of biology is the fact that cells are motile and make contact with one another.

17 Feb 2021

Researchers discover new molecular mechanism that promotes cell migration

Research groups at the University of Helsinki and Institut Jacques Monod, Paris, discovered a new molecular mechanism that promotes cell migration. The discovery sheds light on the mechanisms that drive the uncontrolled movement of cancer cells and also revises the 'textbook view' of cell migration.

10 Feb 2021

New insights into the biology of chytrid fungus responsible for deadly skin infection

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have gained new insight into the biological processes of a chytrid fungus responsible for a deadly skin infection devastating frog populations worldwide.

9 Feb 2021

New mathematical model captures forces involved in cell movement

Physicists have teamed up to find out the precise mechanisms that play a crucial role in cell motility.

19 Jan 2021

Advanced methodology reveals structures of Arp2/3 complex within cells

The cells in our body are in motion. Some migrate from A to B to heal wounds or fight pathogens. They do so with the help of small "feet" at the leading edge of migrating cells, so-called lamellipodia.

22 Dec 2020

Study shows how microplastics are internalized into living cells

Microplastics have polluted the global environment. These minute particles enter food chains, and end up in the digestive systems of humans and animals.

11 Dec 2020

Researchers describe how drug use change specific brain cells responsible for motivation

In the October 28, 2020 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina and the National Institutes of Health describe how reminders of drug use can change specific brain cells responsible for motivation, increasing the desire to seek drugs.

30 Oct 2020

Study explains the nuances of mechanical signaling in cells

Actin is among the most abundant proteins in cells, and it has many jobs--from giving the cell its very shape and structure to managing networks of proteins crucial to numerous cellular functions. Without it, the fragile fundamental unit of life would crumble.

27 Oct 2020