Molecular & Structural Biology

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The Genetic Mechanics of Bacterial Circadian Clocks

Circadian clocks play an important role in our health and well-being by synchronizing the 24-hour biological cycles with light and dark exposure. Disruptions in the rhythms of these clocks, such as jet lag and daylight saving time, might put their everyday operations out of sync.

11 Feb 2026

Cells Use Protein Partnership to Manage Oxidative Stress

Cornell researchers have discovered a new way cells regulate how they respond to stress, identifying an interaction between two proteins that helps keep a critical cellular recycling system in balance.

10 Feb 2026

Microglia Found to Drive New Neuron Growth in Adult Hippocampus

Breakthrough research from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine is revealing how immune cells in the adult brain can regulate the generation of new neurons.

10 Feb 2026

Powerful New Enzyme Efficiently Synthesizes RNA

From vaccines and diagnostics to emerging gene-based therapies, RNA molecules are now central to modern medicine.

10 Feb 2026

New Gene-Editing Strategy to Eliminate Aggressive Cancer Cells

The initiation and severity of cancer are associated with the atypical behavior of specific genes, referred to as oncogenes. The most recognized of these changes is mutation; however, it is not the sole alteration.

9 Feb 2026

Disordered Mitochondrial Protein Guides Electron Traffic for Metabolism

For decades, scientists assumed that order drives efficiency. Yet in the bustling machinery of mitochondria - the organelles that crank out adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the universal "energy currency" of cells - one of the most enigmatic components is a protein that appears anything but orderly.

6 Feb 2026

New Insights into TRiC and Prefoldin Mechanics

Proteins are the molecular machines of cells. They are manufactured in protein factories known as ribosomes using their blueprint, or genetic information.

6 Feb 2026

Study Reveals Dual Action Protein Protecting Bacteria From Phages

University of Toronto researchers have expanded our understanding of bacterial immunity with the discovery of a new protein that can both sense and counteract viral infections.

5 Feb 2026

Novel RNA Molecule Preserves Cell Structure, Impacts Cancer Survival

In a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), researchers at the Texas A&M University Health Science Center (Texas A&M Health) identify a novel RNA molecule that plays a crucial role in preserving the integrity of a key cellular structure, nucleolus (a dense region of the cell containing a subset of crucial genetic material).

3 Feb 2026

How DNA Leakage into the Cytoplasm Drives Ruijs-Aalfs Syndrome

Although DNA is tightly packed and safeguarded within the cell nucleus, it remains continually at risk of damage from normal metabolic activity and external stressors such as radiation and chemical agents.

2 Feb 2026

Lower IgG Hinge Controls Antibody Assembly and Immune Function

The lower hinge of immunoglobulin G (IgG), an overlooked part of the antibody, acts as a structural and functional control hub, according to a study by researchers at Science Tokyo.

31 Jan 2026

Cryo-EM Uncovers Alarmone-Driven RNA Transcription Initiation

Scientists at IOCB Prague are uncovering new details of gene transcription. They have identified a previously unknown molecular mechanism by which the transcription of genetic information from deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) into ribonucleic acid (RNA) can be initiated.

31 Jan 2026

Visualizing Real-Time DNA Transcription in a Living Mouse

DNA can be regarded as an extensive library that contains all genetic information. Cells do not utilize this information simultaneously.

30 Jan 2026

Unraveling the “Dark Energy” Found in the Structural Protein Universe

Astronomers use the term dark energy to refer to energy in the universe that is unaccounted for by ordinary matter but necessary to explain cosmology.

28 Jan 2026

Rice Researchers Create Accurate 3D Structures of Chromosomes Using FI-Chrom Method

Chromosomes are masters of organization. These long strings of DNA fold down into an ensemble of compact structures that keep needed parts of the genome accessible while tucking away those that aren't used as often.

28 Jan 2026

Novel Epigenetic Regulator Enhances Downy Mildew Resistance in Brassica rapa

Downy mildew is a major constraint on Brassica crop production worldwide, especially during early developmental stages when plants are highly vulnerable to infection.

27 Jan 2026

Protein Translation Enzyme Governs Macrophage Maturation and Tissue Homeostasis

A new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, its Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that an enzyme involved in protein translation is essential for circulating immune cells, called monocytes, to mature into tissue-resident macrophages, a specialized population of immune cells that maintain organ health by clearing dead cells and debris.

24 Jan 2026