Biochemistry

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Scientists discover unexpected pathway by which brown fat can burn energy

When we are exposed to sufficient cold or exercise, small clusters of brown fat cells in our bodies begin to burn up energy.

7 Apr 2020

Researchers gain insight into synthesis and functions of lipids found in tears

New understandings of how lipids function within tears could lead to better drugs for treating dry eye disease.

7 Apr 2020

Cookie brands use banana powder to provide new taste experience for consumers

Brands in the cookies category are using banana powder to provide a new sensory experience for consumers, according to GlobalData a leading data and analytics company.

6 Apr 2020

Making plant-based, protein-rich food to resemble meat

A team of University of Massachusetts Amherst food scientists has been awarded a grant from the Good Food Institute to create tasty, plant-based, protein-rich food that's similar in texture to whole chicken, pork or beef.

6 Apr 2020

Exposing the difference between hot- and cold-brew coffee

Cold-brew might be a popular trend in coffee-making, but little is known about the way this process changes the chemical characteristics of the drink.

6 Apr 2020

Study designs artificial proteins that function as molecular logic gates

Researchers are currently using the same fundamental tools that enable the working of computers to manipulate life at the molecular level.

6 Apr 2020

Study reveals coconut oil reduces metabolic syndrome associated with obesity

An animal study has found that obese females who consumed a small amount of coconut oil every day, in spite of having a high-fat diet, exhibited reduced metabolic syndrome—several risk factors that increase the possibilities of developing heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

1 Apr 2020

Detecting cannabis at the roadside

In the U.S., those who consume alcohol and drive are often subjected to roadside stops, breathalyzer tests and stiff penalties if their blood alcohol content exceeds certain limits.

31 Mar 2020

Study discovers novel chemistry to fight against fungal disease in crops

Pathogenic fungi are a major and ever-increasing threat to global food security.

From University of Exeter 31 Mar 2020

Study discovers hydrogen cycling in the Acetobacterium woodii bacterium

At Goethe University Frankfurt, microbiologists have unraveled the mechanism of hydrogen use by the bacterium Acetobacterium woodii for energy conservation.

31 Mar 2020

Researchers develop a modular system for genetic reprogramming of bacteria

Novel biomaterials could soon be created using magnetic bacteria.

26 Mar 2020

Study develops high-resolution maps of microbial communities on the human tongue

Scientists in the United States have used a newly developed fluorescent imaging technique to create high-resolution maps of microbial communities on the human tongue.

25 Mar 2020

Regulating ion flow using a ball-and-chain mechanism

Ion channels that permit potassium and sodium ions to move in and out of cells are essential for the function of the brain and heart, and also for neuronal “firing” in the central nervous system.

19 Mar 2020

IL-2's flexible structure helping the immune system

Scientists have known that interleukin-2 (IL-2), a signaling molecule, strongly influences the immune system. However, attempts to leverage its potential for therapeutic purposes have went futile due to serious side effects.

From University of California Santa Cruz 18 Mar 2020

Study discovers structure of bacterial enzyme that breaks down amino acid found in collagen

Chemists from MIT and Harvard University have elucidated the structure of a strange bacterial enzyme with the ability to break down an amino acid found in collagen.

18 Mar 2020

Study finds fatty acid uptake is greater in cells that lack EHD2 protein

Several foods such as mozzarella on a pizza, the olive oil in salad dressing, or hollandaise sauce used on asparagus contain lots of fat.

18 Mar 2020

Study demonstrates ability of blended electrospun mat to gradually release protein

Russian scientists from the Federal Research Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, and Lomonosov Moscow State University have shown that it is possible to combine two incompatible components—a protein and a polymer—in one electrospun fiber.

17 Mar 2020

Study identifies that the JNK protein is a stress sensor in synapses

Synapses are minute cell projections through which electrochemical impulses are transferred between nerves.

12 Mar 2020

Research on mice shows unexpected effect of intermittent fasting on fat metabolism

Australian scientists have used sophisticated analytical tools to understand the effect of intermittent fasting on the liver to help mitigate disease.

11 Mar 2020

Study explores the impact of solute carriers on the activity and potency of cytotoxic drugs

At the CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, scientists have investigated how solute carriers (SLCs)—a large class of membrane transport proteins—affect the activity and potency of cytotoxic drugs, for example, those used to treat leukemia and other cancers.

10 Mar 2020