Molecular & Structural Biology

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Study Reveals How TR4 Fungus Silences Banana Defense Genes

Bananas rank among the world's most valuable staple crops, yet their production faces severe losses from Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) tropical race 4 (TR4).

24 Oct 2025

RNA-Based Molecular Switch Enhances Disease Resistance in Pears

In recent years, scientists have uncovered the remarkable regulatory power of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) - RNA molecules once dismissed as "genetic dark matter."

24 Oct 2025

Fully Automated 3D Framework Accurately Maps Fruit Microstructure

Applied to apple and pear fruit, the model achieved very high accuracy, outperforming previous 2D approaches and traditional algorithms.

23 Oct 2025

Mapping the Molecular Choreography of Nuclear Pore Transport

Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are tiny but sophisticated gatekeepers that control the flow of materials between a cell's nucleus and its cytoplasm by quickly selecting which molecules to transport across the nuclear membrane.

22 Oct 2025

Disarming Cancer’s Droplet Hubs to Halt Tumor Growth

In a city, coworking hubs bring people and ideas together. Inside cancer cells, similar hubs form-but instead of fueling progress, they supercharge disease. That's what researchers at the Texas A&M University Health Science Center (Texas A&M Health) have discovered inside the cells of a rare and aggressive kidney cancer.

21 Oct 2025

Decoding the Genetic Network Behind Soybean Shade Tolerance

In intercropping systems, soybeans grown beneath tall maize plants experience severe shading that disrupts photosynthesis, weakens stems, and limits yield.

21 Oct 2025

Synthetic Biology Unlocks New Ways to Engineer Plant–Microbe Interactions

By integrating engineering principles with plant biology, this review highlights how redesigned genetic pathways and plant-based biosensors can deepen understanding of plant responses to both harmful and beneficial microbes.

17 Oct 2025

Molecular Brake SlKNU Regulates Flower Formation and Fruit Development in Tomato

Floral meristems (FMs) are small clusters of stem cells that orchestrate flower formation and ultimately determine the size and structure of the fruit.

17 Oct 2025

Research Reveals Transcriptional Mechanism Behind Salt Tolerance in Watermelon

High soil salinity disrupts water absorption, ion balance, and photosynthesis in plants, leading to growth inhibition and yield loss.

16 Oct 2025

The Biological Tagging of Astrocytes Enhances Memory Recall

Why are we able to recall only some of our past experiences? A new study led by Jun Nagai at the RIKEN Center for Brain Science in Japan has an answer.

16 Oct 2025

New Insights into rRNA Motifs and Nervous System Genes

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is a type of molecule and a key building block of the ribosome, the cell's protein-making machinery. rRNA accounts for much of the RNA in a cell, and it's crucial for life.

15 Oct 2025

Structural Insights into Heat Shock Chaperone Complex and Protein Handoffs

The first full-length structures of two heat shock chaperone proteins in a complex reveal the key structural region regulating their function, according to a new study from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

15 Oct 2025

Auxin Controls Grape Berry Firmness Through a Hierarchical Gene Cascade

Grape berry softening is a crucial physiological transition that affects postharvest storage, transport, and flavor.

15 Oct 2025

Molecular Condensates Coordinate Crucial Life Decisions in Cells

A cell can act in astonishingly complex ways. It must decide for itself whether to grow and multiply, rest, specialize, age or die. This applies just as much to mammalian cells as it does to seemingly simple microbes.

14 Oct 2025

St. Jude Researchers Uncover Dual Role of ASPL in Stress Granule Assembly and Disassembly

Stress granules are droplet-like protein hubs that temporarily shield fragile RNA from cellular stresses such as toxins. VCP is a protein essential for breaking up stress granules and has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases.

10 Oct 2025

RfaH Identified as Key to Bacterial Survival in Hostile Environments

Researchers at Umeå University have identified a key molecular player that helps bacteria survive the hostile environment inside the body.

10 Oct 2025

Warming Alters Histone Methylation and Iridoid Production in a Traditional Chinese Herb

For centuries, the concept of "geoherbalism" has underscored that traditional Chinese medicines grown in specific regions produce superior therapeutic effects.

10 Oct 2025

New Synthetic Polypeptides Prevent Freezer Burn and Preserve Biological Medicines

Anyone who has experienced freezer burn knows that ice crystals can be a problem at low temperatures.

8 Oct 2025

Structural Variation and Resistance Gene Clusters Drive Disease Defense in Wild Grapes

Grapes are a cornerstone of global agriculture and the foundation of the wine and table grape industries.

8 Oct 2025

Measuring KIF1A Motor Protein Force with DNA Nanosprings

Cells all require the transport of materials to maintain their function. In nerve cells, a tiny motor made of protein called KIF1A is responsible for that.

8 Oct 2025