Cytoplasm News and Research

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Determining the structure of protein pumps using cryo-EM

A rare, genetic disorder known as Hailey-Hailey disease causes patches of blisters to develop mainly in the folds of skin under the breasts, in the groin, and the armpits.

29 Mar 2023

Single mechanosensitive protein shown to contribute to fibrosis in multiple organs

Researchers from Kyushu University have found how a single mechanosensitive protein induces the process that thickens and scars tissue, known as fibrosis. The protein, called VGLL3, was shown to contribute to fibrosis in multiple organs.

23 Mar 2023

Novel way to block the death of nerve cells in MND

Scientists have found a novel way to block the transportation of mutant RNA and subsequent production of toxic repeat proteins which lead to the death of nerve cells in the most common subtypes of motor neurone disease (MND) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

2 Mar 2023

Study reveals how two proteins enable drug-resistant MRSA bacterium to secrete toxins

Antimicrobial resistance represents one of the top 10 global public health threats according to the World Health Organization, and scientists have been scrambling to find new tools to cure the most deadly drug-resistant infections.

14 Feb 2023

Cryo-EM helps visualize the detailed structure of viral genome replication machinery

RNA viruses, such as the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, are in a life-and-death race the moment they infect a cell.

30 Jan 2023

Enhancing the efficacy of CRISPR/Cas9 and related methods

The effectiveness of molecular genetic techniques like CRISPR/Cas9 and related systems has been significantly improved, and their range of applications has been expanded, by researchers from the Department of Developmental Biology/Physiology at the Centre for Organismal Studies of Heidelberg University.

26 Jan 2023

New insight into human genome evolution

Researchers discovered that in one out of every 4,000 births, some of the genetic code from the mitochondria—the “batteries” that power human cells—inserts itself into the DNA, giving a startling new insight into how humans evolve.

6 Oct 2022

Characterizing the transcription profile of microglia in a mouse model

Researchers from Tohoku University have now shown that the consolidation and extinction of contextual fear conditioning alter the microglial genes connected to the synapse—structures that permit neurons to communicate with one another.

13 Sep 2022

Light-sensitive molecule can interpret moonlight to synchronize the reproductive cycles of marine life

How animals are able to interpret natural light sources to adjust their physiology and behaviour is poorly understood.

12 Sep 2022

Mitochondrial DNA plays a crucial role in inflammation, study finds

Mitochondria are generally known as the powerhouse of the cell, however, growing research indicates that they may potentially be involved in inflammation.

8 Aug 2022

Study discovers a molecular mechanism that confers special physical properties to chromosomes in dividing human cells

The Gerlich Group at the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA) has identified a molecular process that gives chromosomes in dividing human cells unique physical characteristics that permit faithful transmission to the progeny.

8 Aug 2022

Scientists solve how RNA molecules reach their targets

Scientists claim that life does not come with an instruction manual, but this is not totally accurate. Each cell in our body follows the instructions provided by its DNA in the form of RNA molecules.

1 Aug 2022

Research reveals how two RNA-binding proteins interact with each other

Neurons are continually adapting to changing conditions. The biochemical basis for memory and learning is this plasticity.

5 Jul 2022

Researchers created ultrasound-guided microbubbles to enhance immunotherapy performance

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center scientists have created an ultrasound-guided cancer immunotherapy approach that promotes systemic antitumor immunity and increases immune checkpoint blockade therapeutic potential. Nature Nanotechnology published the results of the pioneering study.

1 Jun 2022

Little-known protein may play a role in frontotemporal lobar degeneration

Scientists have known for years that amyloid fibrils -; fibrous, ropelike structures formed by closely linked protein molecules -; are present in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases and likely play a role in the progression of these disorders.

21 Apr 2022

Researchers discover a mechanism by which the protein DELE1 detects organelle stress

Researchers have long speculated an association between disorders in mitochondria, tiny organelles inside the cell, and the aging process and age-related illnesses.

11 Apr 2022

Study shows how shuttle proteins safeguard the nuclear pores

The nucleus is guarded by a highly secure door, the so-called nuclear pore, that controls the transport of substances from the cytoplasm to the cell nucleus and back.

1 Feb 2022

New finding could lead to the development of cell death regulators for cancer therapies

Scientists led by Professor Ana J. Garcia-Saez at the CECAD Cluster of Excellence for Aging Research at the University of Cologne have shown that apoptosis, the programmed cell death, involves a direct physical interplay between the two proteins BAX and DRP1.

17 Jan 2022

Study finds amphipathic peptide that safely opens endosomal membrane

The cell plasma membrane and the derived endosomal membranes are both greasy barriers that prevent the inflow of water-soluble macromolecules like nucleic acids and proteins into cells.

2 Dec 2021

Infection with measles virus activates two different immune responses

Researchers from The University of Tokyo Institute of Industrial Science have found that infection with the measles virus activates not one but two different branches of the innate immune system.

15 Oct 2021