Crystallography News and Research

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Bacterial "Vampirism" Fuels Deadly Infections

The world's deadliest bacteria actively seek out human blood to feed on, a phenomenon that scientists are referring to as “bacterial vampirism”.

17 Apr 2024

Study Reveals Structure of Two Nucleic Acid-Degrading Enzymes

When nucleic acids like DNA or RNA build up in a cell's cytoplasm, it sets off an alarm call for the immune system.

3 Apr 2024

Drug Candidates Show Promise to Reverse HIV's Ability to Escape Immune System Detection

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine scientists have identified drug candidates that show promise to reverse the ability of HIV to escape detection by the immune system.

20 Mar 2024

How Does the Egg Coat Prevent Multiple Fertilization

The surrounding egg coat tightens once a sperm fertilizes an egg, mechanically blocking further sperm from entering and causing the embryo to die.

15 Mar 2024

NIH Researchers Map Vulnerable Sites on Epstein-Barr Virus gp42 Protein

Studies of interactions between two lab-generated monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and an essential Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) protein have uncovered targets that could be exploited in designing treatments and vaccines for this extremely common virus.

13 Mar 2024

Scientists Crack Protein's Charge Transport Secret

Energy is needed for the function of cells. It is now possible for researchers at the University of Gothenburg to describe how energy is directed by small atomic movements within the cell to arrive at its location in the protein.

16 Feb 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

Structural Insights Unmask Novel Adaptations and Functions of Human LINE-1 ORF2

Martin Taylor, MD, PhD, a physician investigator in the Department of Pathology at Massachusetts General Hospital and an instructor in Pathology at Harvard Medical School, is the lead corresponding author of a new study in Nature, Structural Analysis and Inhibition of Human LINE-1 ORF2 Protein Reveals Novel Adaptations and Functions.

20 Dec 2023

Deciphering the Chemistry Behind Antibody Tetramerization

Novel insights into antibody aggregation are anticipated to pave the way for fresh avenues in both research and therapeutic applications.

11 Dec 2023

Revealing How Copper Amine Oxidase Enzymes Stabilize Radical Intermediates

The human body heals wounds or detoxifies harmful substances like histamine with the help of a group of enzymes called copper amine oxidases.

20 Sep 2023

Newly Developed Antibody Therapy to Have Benefits Over Existing Opioid-Overdose Treatments

An antibody in single-chain fragment variable (scFv) format that binds to the powerful opioid carfentanil was shown to reverse signs of carfentanil overdose in preclinical tests conducted by scientists at Scripps Research.

11 Aug 2023

Identifying The Best Antibodies Using X-Rays

Imagine you're going to a party where you only know a single person. While you've been friends with this person for a long time, you're concerned about them leaving you alone in a room full of strangers. Even though they promise they'll stick by your side, they immediately walk away from you upon entering the party to speak to someone else they know.

26 Jul 2023

Atomic-Level Analysis of Synthetic DNA to Reveal New Treatment Options

West Virginia University researchers can now see synthetic DNA at the atomic level, allowing them to learn how to tweak its structure to improve its scissor-like function.

25 Jul 2023

Scientists Develop Method to Create Artificial Allosteric Sites in Protein Complexes

According to a recently published research paper by a team of scientists, a groundbreaking approach has been developed to create artificial allosteric sites (where by binding an effector molecule, activity at the distal active site is regulated) in protein complexes.

7 Jul 2023

Using Pressure to Understand RNA Dynamics

Similar to how there are limitless secrets in space, there is still a lot to discover when looking at biomolecules, which are one trillion times smaller than a meter.

23 Jun 2023

Innovative Technique Enables In Vivo Imaging of Intracellular Protein Aggregates

Tau aggregates have become the main study focus for figuring out the mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration since they are a prevalent form of amyloid protein. Tau fibrils and oligomers, among other forms of tau aggregates, have been linked to a variety of neurodegenerative disorders.

21 Jun 2023