Structural Biology News and Research

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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

New Breakthrough in Generative AI Models and AlphaFold Structures for Drug Discovery

Insilico Medicine ("Insilico"), a clinical-stage end-to-end generative artificial intelligence (AI) drug discovery company, has achieved a significant breakthrough in the application of multiple generative AI models and AlphaFold structures for drug discovery.

3 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

New P38 Inhibitors Selectively Target Cardiac Cell Death

The p38 protein regulates a wide variety of cellular functions and is related to diseases such as chronic inflammation, immunological disorders, or cancer.

14 Jul 2023

Identifying How a Particular Riboswitch Regulates its Synthesis

Researchers across the world are in search of ways to combat bacteria that could evade the present arsenal of antibiotics. This is done as a measure to avoid a global health crisis.

2 Jun 2023

How Epigenetic Landscape Impacts Pioneer Transcription Factor Binding

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital researchers are investigating how a type of transcription factor known as a pioneer transcription factor reaches DNA even when it is tightly wrapped.

25 May 2023

TTUHSC Professor Awarded NIH Grant for Potassium Channel Study

Each living cell has small, highly specialized conduits called potassium (K+) channels, which are responsible for the highly selective and fast transfer of K+ ions across cell membranes.

19 May 2023

New Method for Analyzing Protein Crystals Could Open Up Applications for Drug Discovery

A new method for analyzing protein crystals – developed by Cornell researchers and given a funky two-part name – could open up applications for new drug discovery and other areas of biotechnology and biochemistry.

12 May 2023

Innate Tumor Suppression Mechanism Uncovered

The p53 gene is one of the most important in the human genome: the only role of the p53 protein that this gene encodes is to sense when a tumor is forming and to kill it.

5 May 2023

Study Reveals How the Formation of Microtubules Drives Cell Division

Cellular life hinges on a network of hollow cables called microtubules dynamically lengthening and shortening according to the needs of the moment.

2 May 2023

Argonne's Advanced Photon Source Helps Identify New Antibodies Against Coronaviruses

Results could speed development of new antivirals or vaccines that could counter many different coronavirus variants.

2 May 2023

Csx28 Membrane Protein Enhances CRISPR's Anti-Viral Defense

CRISPR achieved scientific popularity for its capacity to quickly and precisely edit genes. At the core, however, CRISPR systems are immune systems that aid bacteria to safeguard themselves from viruses through targeting and abolishing viral RNA and DNA.

28 Apr 2023

Membrane-Remodeling Proteins in Cyanobacteria are Similar to Protein Found in Higher Organisms

The cells of living organisms are equipped with proteins that are involved in the shaping and remodeling of cellular membranes, thereby performing important tasks.

26 Apr 2023

Unveiling the Molecular Structure of the Ssp Toxin from Serratia marcescens

A multinational research group has uncovered how the bacterial toxin Ssp may penetrate and kill a wide variety of living cells, including human cells.

21 Apr 2023

Study brings into sharper focus the structural details of SARS-COV-2 virus

A new study led by Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) brings into sharper focus the structural details of the COVID-19 virus, revealing an elliptical shape that "breathes," or changes shape, as it moves in the body.

31 Mar 2023

Chloride ions evoke taste sensation by binding to sweet taste receptors

Humans perceive five basic taste sensations: sweet, umami, bitter, salty, and sour. Specific foods trigger taste recognition of these sensations through the activation of different receptors in our taste buds.

24 Mar 2023

New center offers electron microscope services to the scientific community

The Joint Electron Microscopy Center at ALBA (JEMCA) was established through the collaboration of various research agencies to open a new center within the ALBA Synchrotron building that provides electron microscope assistance to the scientific community.

27 Feb 2023

Accelerating the structure-guided discovery of chemogenetic tools

In order to more fully understand how diseases arise in the brain, scientists must unravel the intricate way neurons relay messages (either chemical or electrical) along a complex web of nerve cells. One way is by using a tool called DREADDs, which stands for Designer Receptors Activated by Designer Drugs.

21 Feb 2023

3D structure of a major protein complex in cilia revealed

Researchers at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have solved the 3D structure of an important protein complex in cilia, which are signaling appendages found on cells. The structure was pictured at the highest resolution available at the time.

15 Feb 2023

New hexameric structure of the protein triggering antibiotic resistance discovered

All living organisms require DNA replication to ensure the genetic integrity of the following generation. On the other hand, bacteria have the ability to horizontally transfer genetic information to other bacteria.

6 Feb 2023