Molecular & Structural Biology

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Exploring the Flexible Structure of Sulfite Reductase Enzyme

Visualization of sulfite reductase's structure offers insights into sulfur chemistry, aiding in drug development and understanding bacterial energy sources.

28 May 2025

Study Reveals How APOE Isoforms Impact Brain Microglia

A study reveals how APOE isoforms influence microglial activity in Alzheimer's, highlighting the need for targeted interventions based on genetic risk factors.

28 May 2025

Study Challenges Longstanding Mitochondrial Theory of Aging

The human genome is broadly classified into the genome residing in the cell nucleus (nuclear DNA) and the genome residing in the mitochondria (mitochondrial DNA: mtDNA). Mitochondria are cell organelles that produce energy essential for life activities through oxidative phosphorylation (mitochondrial respiration), and mtDNA encodes a set of genes required for mitochondrial respiration.

27 May 2025

Peptide Metabolites: A New Frontier in Antiviral Therapies

Interest in antiviral treatments has grown significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Effective peptide treatments made from natural substances are in high demand right now due to the increased attention being paid to peptide-based drugs like Wegovy.

27 May 2025

Study Reveals How Introns Multiply and Move Across Genomes

DNA is the genetic code that provides the biological instructions for every living species, but not every bit of DNA helps the species survive. Some pieces of DNA are more like parasites, along for the ride and their own survival.

24 May 2025

Scientists Develop Method to Overcome Key Limitations of Cryo-EM

Sample loss has been a persistent problem in cryo-EM, a high-tech method for creating 3D models of molecules that reveals their inner structures.

22 May 2025

Study Unveils Molecular Mechanism Behind Synapse Maturation

Researchers from the lab led by Prof. Joris De Wit (VIB-KU Leuven) have discovered an important clue to how connections between brain cells, known as synapses, mature.

21 May 2025

TEAD Proteins Switch Partners to Drive Neural Cell Maturation

The basic mechanisms that control neural development are intricate, and as research from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital shows, the underlying motivations may even seem contradictory.

21 May 2025

Tracing the Evolution of Cyanobacterial Circadian Clocks Through Earth's History

Investigating ancient cyanobacterial timekeeping systems sheds light on the evolution of circadian rhythms and their significance in Earth's ecosystems.

21 May 2025

Study Resolves Longstanding Mystery of Ashwell-Morell Receptor

Study applies new techniques to reexamine a receptor linked to sepsis and resolve contradictions regarding its binding interactions with other proteins.

19 May 2025

Novel Bacterial Immune Weapon that Starves Viral Invaders

The discovery of Cat1 reveals how CARF effectors use complex structures to inhibit viral replication, advancing our understanding of bacterial immune responses.

19 May 2025

Real Time RNA Tracking in Plants Using Fluorescent Biosensors

RNA acts as a messenger inside cells, carrying instructions from DNA that are translated into proteins that are essential for how cells function.

15 May 2025

Novel Role for Disordered Protein in Coordinating Key Stages of Gene Expression

Research reveals TAF2's disordered region links transcription and RNA editing, highlighting its role in gene expression regulation and nuclear organization.

15 May 2025

Microscopy Study Uncovers Dynamic Brain Remodeling During Hormonal Cycles

Hormone levels fluctuate like the tides, ebbing and flowing according to carefully orchestrated cycles.

14 May 2025

How RNA-Binding Proteins and Circular RNAs Shape Tumor Biology

The interaction between RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) has emerged as a key area of interest in understanding cancer biology.

13 May 2025

Lipid-Rich Ascites Weakens Immunity in Advanced Ovarian Cancer

Recent research conducted by scientists in Ireland has revealed the significant role of lipid-rich fluid in the abdomen, referred to as ascites, in diminishing the body’s immune response in advanced ovarian cancer.

12 May 2025

Cryo-EM Reveals Protein-Free RNA Structures in Bacterial Cells

Cryogenic electron microscopy showed for the first time that large RNA complexes can assemble without the help of proteins, expanding our understanding of RNA folding and function.

10 May 2025

Unlocking the Molecular Secrets of Sweet Taste Perception

Our enjoyment of sweets can be traced to one subset of taste receptor cells – specialized sweet-sensing cells found in our taste buds – that initiate the chain of reactions driving our strong attraction and appetite for sugar.

8 May 2025

Novel Therapeutic Strategy for Healthy Aging and Longevity

An international study led by the Institut de Neurociències at the UAB (INc-UAB) found that raising levels of the Klotho protein in mice extends lifespan and improves both physical and cognitive health as they age.

8 May 2025

Study Unlocks Molecular Mechanisms Behind Tea Plant Defenses

Plants face constant threats from herbivores, prompting complex defense mechanisms. While grasses like rice and Arabidopsis have well-studied defense systems, woody plants like tea remain poorly understood.

7 May 2025