Molecular & Structural Biology

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Unearthing Beal’s Time Capsule: The 144-Year-Old Seed Experiment

In April of 2021, a clandestine gathering took place on the Michigan State University campus, where four plant scientists from the university unearthed a bottle filled with seeds that had been buried over 144 years ago by the renowned MSU botanist, William J. Beal.

8 Nov 2023

SPT5 Identified as a Potential Target Protein for Treatment of MYC-Dependent Cancers

MYC proteins play an important role in many types of cancer. A research team at the University of Würzburg has now succeeded in indirectly influencing these proteins - with clear consequences for the tumor.

8 Nov 2023

Unlocking the Secrets of Memory: Key Protein Regulates Hippocampal Plasticity

Mount Sinai researchers have shed valuable light on the mechanism of a key protein that regulates the plasticity and function of the hippocampus, a key brain region involved in memory and learning, and that decreases with age in mice.

3 Nov 2023

Scientists Unlock the Structure of Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 2

Neurons talk to each other using chemical signals called neurotransmitters. Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have drawn on structural biology expertise to determine structures of vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), a key component of neuronal communication.

2 Nov 2023

Obesity Susceptibility may be Written Into Molecular Processes of Human Cells

A susceptibility to gain weight may be written into molecular processes of human cells, a Washington State University study indicates.

2 Nov 2023

DNA’s Role in Glioblastoma: Insights from Umeå University’s Research

A groundbreaking research conducted at Umeå University in Sweden has revealed that the three-dimensional arrangement of DNA can impact the development of aggressive brain cancer, glioblastoma.

1 Nov 2023

Two Bee Species Become One as Researchers Solve Identity Puzzle

A new study by Curtin and Flinders Universities has found that what were thought to be two different species of native Australian bee are in fact one.

30 Oct 2023

Rab32 and Rab38 Crucial for Bone Resorption and Pigmentation of Skin, Hair

Bone is maintained via delicate balance between formation and resorption, and its imbalance leads to bone related diseases like osteoporosis rheumatism and periodontitis.

26 Oct 2023

Role of Chloroplasts’ Dual Function From Photosynthesis to Immune Defense

For a long period, scientists have been aware of chloroplasts' role in converting solar energy into plant food.

26 Oct 2023

DNA-Origami Nanoengine Performing Pulsing Movements

An international team of scientists has just invented a revolutionary form of DNA nano-engine.

20 Oct 2023

AI Model Predicts Age and Detects Disease in Eye Fluid

A group of scientists mapped over 6,000 proteins found in various cell types within the eye using a few drops of eye fluid taken through surgery. Researchers reported that a proteomic clock with an AI model is designed to predict a fit person’s age based on their protein profile.

20 Oct 2023

MIT Chemists Discover Structure of SARS-CoV-2 Ion Channel in Open State

The genome of the SARS-CoV-2 virus encodes 29 proteins, one of which is an ion channel called E. This channel, which transports protons and calcium ions, induces infected cells to launch an inflammatory response that damages tissues and contributes to the symptoms of Covid-19.

16 Oct 2023

Study Discovers Fanzors in Eukaryotic Organisms

Snails, algae, and amoebas all have programmable DNA-cutting enzymes called Fanzors, and a recent study from Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) McGovern Institute for Brain Research has found hundreds of them.

16 Oct 2023

DNA Methylation Enables Plants Adapt in a Warm World

Plants increasingly need to adapt quickly to preserve their existence as global warming continues to reshape ecosystems.

13 Oct 2023

Researchers Develop Drug Targeting lncRNA TUG1 to Control Brain Tumor Growth in Mice

A new study has unraveled a crucial link between how cancer cells cope with replication stress and the role of Taurine Upregulated Gene 1 (TUG1). By targeting TUG1 with a drug, the researchers were able to control brain tumor growth in mice, suggesting a potential strategy to combat aggressive brain tumors such as glioblastomas.

13 Oct 2023

Lactate Oxidase Nanocapsules Help the Immune System to Fight and Kill Solid Tumors

UCLA researchers have developed a new treatment method using a tiny nanocapsule to help boost the immune response, making it easier for the immune system to fight and kill solid tumors.

13 Oct 2023

Researchers Unveil Novel Protein Families and Functions in Microbial Communities

Imagine researchers exploring a dark room with a flashlight, only able to clearly identify what falls within that single beam. When it comes to microbial communities, scientists have historically been unable to see beyond the beam -; worse, they didn't even know how big the room is.

12 Oct 2023

DNA Aptamer Promotes Cardiomyocyte Differentiation From Pluripotent Stem Cells

Generating specific cell lineages from induced pluripotent stem cells and embryonic stem cells is the holy grail of regenerative medicine.

12 Oct 2023

Revealing How Interferon-Gamma Stops Tumor Cell Growth

At the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, scientists have uncovered a novel function for a protein known as extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) within a pathway activated by interferon-gamma, capable of inducing cellular self-destruction.

11 Oct 2023

The Astute White Blood Cell Defense

Neutrophils, the most prevalent kind of white blood cell, are able to block Candida albicans toxin, according to study from Umeå University. EMBO Reports has published the findings.

6 Oct 2023