Molecular & Structural Biology

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Researchers Find "Hidden" Mutations by Tracing Protein Isoforms

Approximately 25 million individuals in the United States are affected by a rare genetic disorder, and a significant number of them face challenges not only due to the absence of effective treatments but also because of insufficient information regarding their condition.

10 Nov 2025

St. Jude Scientists Discover Hidden Binding Pocket in Nuclear Receptors

A study from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital uncovered an alternative binding pocket within nuclear receptors, revealing a much-needed new therapy route for this important class of drug targets.

7 Nov 2025

TRV-Mediated Gene Editing System Transforms Tomato Functional Genomics

CRISPR-Cas9 has revolutionized plant genome editing, yet its application in tomato remains limited due to the plant's recalcitrance to transformation and regeneration.

7 Nov 2025

Scientists Reveal Nonenzymatic Role of NUDT5 in Purine Pathway Regulation

Inside every cell, a finely tuned metabolic network determines when to build, recycle, or stop producing essential molecules.

7 Nov 2025

Atomic Structure of Kinesin-2 Reveals the Molecular Logic of Cargo Recognition

For decades, scientists have known that motor proteins like kinesin-2 ferry vital cargo along microtubule "highways" inside cells.

7 Nov 2025

Molecular Dynamics Simulations Accurately Recreate the RNA Folding Process

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is one of life's most versatile molecules, with roles going far beyond being a messenger of genetic code, as it is fundamentally involved in gene regulation, processing, and maintenance across all living systems.

5 Nov 2025

RNA Molecules Alter Genome Structure to Silence Critical Neuronal Genes During Stress

What if the brain's response to stress could be read not in fleeting neurotransmitter bursts, but in the quieting of genes deep inside chromatin? Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have now shown that stress hormones may silence crucial neuronal genes through an unexpected class of RNA molecules that operate not by encoding proteins, but by reshaping the genome's architecture.

5 Nov 2025

Study Unveils the Complete Biosynthetic Loop Regulating Tannin Production in Strawberries

Hydrolyzable tannins (HTs), including gallotannins and ellagitannins, are essential polyphenolic compounds that influence fruit taste, antioxidant capacity, and stress tolerance. Although condensed tannin biosynthesis has been well studied, the enzymatic processes governing HT formation remain unclear.

3 Nov 2025

Frazzled Protein Found to Shape Fast Neural Connections in Fruit Flies

Florida Atlantic University neuroscientists have uncovered a surprising role for a protein named "Frazzled" (known as DCC in mammals) in the nervous system of fruit flies, showing how it helps neurons connect and communicate with lightning speed.

3 Nov 2025

Synthetic Nanocompartments Offer a New Route to Boost Photosynthesis in Crops

Australian researchers have created tiny compartments to help supercharge photosynthesis, potentially boosting wheat and rice yields while slashing water and nitrogen use.

31 Oct 2025

Rapid Cell-Free Crystallization Method Reveals 3D Structures of Flexible Sugars

A quick, purification-free method was developed by researchers at Institute of Science Tokyo, to capture the detailed 3D structures of flexible sugar molecules.

31 Oct 2025

Researchers Discover Novel Clubroot Resistance Gene Crr5 in Chinese Cabbage

Clubroot disease, caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae, is a devastating soil-borne pathogen that severely threatens global production of cruciferous crops.

28 Oct 2025

Discovery of Glucocorticoid Receptor Multimerization Opens Path to Safer Therapies

Drugs to treat inflammatory and autoimmune diseases - such as asthma, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis or Chrousos syndrome - act mainly through the glucocorticoid receptor (GR).

28 Oct 2025

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