Biochemistry

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Innovative Insights into the Interplay Between Proteins and Small Molecules

With the support of a Maximizing Investigators' Research Award, or MIRA, from the National Institutes of Health, Michigan State University researcher Aleksandra Skirycz is making fundamental discoveries linked to the health and resilience of plants and animals.

4 Nov 2024

ALDH3A2 Enzyme Controls Red-Yellow Pigment Balance in Parrots

A single enzyme fine-tunes red and yellow pigments in parrots' polychromatic plumage, according to a new study. The findings reveal new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the evolution and display of color variation in one of nature's most colorful birds. Colors play a central role in ecological adaptation and communication in the natural world.

4 Nov 2024

Researchers Develop Cultured Pork Using Sorghum Proteins

Meat grown in a lab isn’t science fiction anymore. Cultured meats have existed for over a decade, and as of 2023, you might even find lab-grown chicken in restaurants (in the U.S., at least).

4 Nov 2024

New Insights into the Mechanism of Glycan Branch Formation

Glycans are sugar chains that bind to cells via proteins or lipids, altering their chemical properties

30 Oct 2024

Revolutionary Single-Sensor “E-Nose” Achieves 96.7% Accuracy in VOC Detection Using Graphene Oxide

Ant-nose sensor demonstrates reliable VOC classification with graphene technology, offering a low-cost solution for food quality and environmental monitoring.

30 Oct 2024

Monoclonal Antibody Market Set to Triple by 2033, Revolutionizing Disease Treatment

Recent advancements in monoclonal antibody engineering are reshaping disease treatment, focusing on safety, effectiveness, and addressing current medical needs.

28 Oct 2024

Study Reveals Role of Gut Microbes in Enhancing Children's Health

To address childhood malnutrition -; which affects 200 million children globally -; researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis developed a therapeutic food that nourishes the collections of beneficial microbes that reside in the gut, and improves children's growth and other measures of their health.

25 Oct 2024

Light-Activated Immune Therapy Shows Promise Against Solid Tumors

Immunotherapies that mobilize a patient's own immune system to fight cancer have become a treatment pillar.

25 Oct 2024

Unlocking the Secrets of Life Through Synthetic Biology

It is one of the most fundamental questions in science: how can lifeless molecules come together to form a living cell? Bert Poolman, Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Groningen, has been working on this problem for over twenty years.

22 Oct 2024

Researchers Discover GAME15's Role in Steroidal Compound Biosynthesis

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology have identified GAME15 as a key protein that regulates the biosynthesis of both steroidal glycoalkaloids and steroidal saponins in plants of the genus Solanum.

21 Oct 2024

Human Organoids Provide Insights Into Gut Hormone Release

A collaborative team of researchers from the Hubrecht Institute and Roche’s Institute of Human Biology has formulated strategies to identify the regulators involved in intestinal hormone secretion.

18 Oct 2024

MANF Protein Found to Boost Cellular Clean-Up and Efficiency

Researchers at McMaster University have uncovered a previously unrecognized function of a protein that helps protect cells, potentially leading to new treatments for age-related conditions and promoting healthier aging.

18 Oct 2024

Placental Protein Levels Offer Insights into Early-Onset Preeclampsia

A potentially fatal pregnancy complication, preeclampsia is characterized by persistently elevated blood pressure, which is exacerbated when it develops early in the first trimester.

15 Oct 2024

Scientists Identify Key Role of Proteasome in Cell Death

Programmed cell death protects the body against cancer and other diseases. A team of researchers led by Professor Alexander Bartelt from the Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK) has decoded a new mechanism by which oxidative stress influences cell death.

15 Oct 2024

Researchers Discover Key Genes for Plant Stress Tolerance

New research identifies for the first time the genes that help plants grow under stressful conditions - with implications for producing more sustainable food crops in the face of global climate change.

10 Oct 2024

A Novel Approach to Detecting Adulteration in Ginseng Supplements

Rosalee Hellberg, an associate professor in Chapman University's Food Science Program, and her research team have made a significant breakthrough in the fight against adulteration in dietary supplements. Effective methods for identifying adulteration and fraud have remained elusive. Now, a new study of 50 commercially available ginseng products has found surprising results.

9 Oct 2024

Study Unravels the Mystery of Hsp70 Chaperones

Proteins control most of the body's functions, and their malfunction can have severe consequences, such as neurodegenerative diseases or cancer. Therefore, cells have mechanisms in place to control protein quality.

9 Oct 2024

Unveiling the Enzymatic Riches of Spider Venoms

Spiders, as venomous creatures, employ their chemical arsenal for prey acquisition or self-defense. Their venom contains small neurotoxins that target the central nervous system of their targets.

8 Oct 2024

The Promise of Venomous Crustaceans in Drug Development

Many animals use venoms for self-defense or hunting. The components of such venom, known as toxins, interfere with various physiological processes - which is also the reason why they are so interesting for the development of new pharmacological agents.

7 Oct 2024

New Approaches to Treating Circadian Rhythm Disorders

Researchers from the University of California and Duke-NUS Medical School have figured out how to control the human body's internal clock. It was discovered that this regulator is located exactly at the end of Casein Kinase 1 delta (CK1δ), a protein that sets the pace for circadian rhythm, or internal biological clock, which regulates sleep-wake cycles and other daily activities.

7 Oct 2024