Structural Biology News and Research

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New Chordata Olfactory Receptor Database Offers Insight into the Genetics of Scent

Olfactory receptors (ORs) are key to how animals perceive their surroundings, guiding behaviors like foraging, mating, and avoiding danger.

1 Jul 2025

Novel Strategy for Combating High-Fat Diet-Induced Metabolic Dysfunction

Research on receptor FFA2 reveals how different activators influence metabolic processes, paving the way for innovative treatments for diabetes and obesity.

20 Jun 2025

Histone Variant H2AZ1 Identified as Key Driver of Stem Cell Aging

Cellular senescence-a state of irreversible growth arrest accompanied by chronic inflammation-is a major contributor to aging and tissue degeneration.

18 Jun 2025

Targeting iRhom2 to Control ADAM17-Related Diseases

The atomic structures of ADAM17 and iRhom2, revealed by UC researchers, offer new avenues for developing precise treatments for chronic inflammatory conditions.

16 Jun 2025

Cryo-EM Structures Reveal How IVD Mutations Cause Isovaleric Acidemia

IVD is a key enzyme in leucine catabolism, catalyzing the conversion of isovaleryl-CoA to 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA.

10 Jun 2025

Cryo-EM/ET Reveals Dynamic Architecture of Key Metabolic Enzyme

Recent cryo-EM research reveals the dynamic architecture of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, enhancing understanding of its role in metabolism and disease.

2 Jun 2025

Scientists Develop Method to Overcome Key Limitations of Cryo-EM

Sample loss has been a persistent problem in cryo-EM, a high-tech method for creating 3D models of molecules that reveals their inner structures.

22 May 2025

Novel Bacterial Immune Weapon that Starves Viral Invaders

The discovery of Cat1 reveals how CARF effectors use complex structures to inhibit viral replication, advancing our understanding of bacterial immune responses.

19 May 2025

Unlocking the Molecular Secrets of Sweet Taste Perception

Our enjoyment of sweets can be traced to one subset of taste receptor cells – specialized sweet-sensing cells found in our taste buds – that initiate the chain of reactions driving our strong attraction and appetite for sugar.

8 May 2025

Scientists Capture Dynamic Process of Chromatin Remodeling in Action

Chromatin remodeling plays a vital role in gene regulation, affecting how DNA is accessed. Disruptions in this process can also lead to cancer and other diseases.

7 Apr 2025

CZI Launches Grand Challenge for Revolutionary Imaging Technologies

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) announced a new grand challenge to develop groundbreaking imaging technologies to transform how scientists observe, measure and understand living cells and organisms.

27 Mar 2025

Unraveling the Evolutionary Link to Eukaryotic Cells

A decade ago, the existence of Asgard archaea was unknown. However, in 2015, researchers analyzing deep-sea sediments uncovered gene fragments that suggested the presence of a new, previously unidentified group of microbes.

24 Mar 2025

First-Ever Molecular Movie Shows DNA Unzipping Mechanism in Action

Scientists at the University of Leicester have captured the first detailed "molecular movie" showing DNA being unzipped at the atomic level – revealing how cells begin the crucial process of copying their genetic material.

22 Mar 2025

Spotiphy Revolutionizes Spatial Transcriptomics with AI for Single-Cell Resolution

Spatial transcriptomics is a cutting-edge technique that characterizes gene expression within sections of tissue, such as heart, skin or liver tissue.

14 Mar 2025

Generative AI Enhances Spatial Gene Expression Analysis in Tissue Samples

Spatial transcriptomics is an advanced technique that analyzes gene expression within tissue sections, such as those from the heart, skin, or liver. These analyses offer valuable insights into how spatial organization influences cellular functions across various biological contexts and diseases.

13 Mar 2025

Advanced Algorithm Predicts Structures of Disordered Proteins

The intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) do not attain a stable secondary or tertiary structure and rapidly change their conformation, making structure prediction particularly challenging.

8 Mar 2025

Cryo-ET Reveals Retrotransposon Replication Inside Cells

An arms race is occurring within human cells: Transposons, also known as jumping genes or mobile genetic elements, can replicate and reintegrate themselves into the genome, posing a threat to genomic integrity by inducing DNA rearrangements and mutations.

6 Mar 2025

Danforth Center Scientists Innovate Cryopreservation for Plant Tissue Imaging

Danforth Center scientists Tessa Burch-Smith, PhD, and Kirk Czymmek, PhD, in collaboration with researchers at the CryoEM Facility at Stanford University, are embarking on a pioneering initiative to develop new cryopreservation and nanoscale imaging procedures for volume electron microscopy (vEM) of plant tissues.

26 Feb 2025

New AI Pipeline Revolutionizes Molecular Target Identification

When researchers create new molecules whether for agricultural applications, species management, or life-saving medications it is essential to identify their specific targets.

17 Feb 2025