Molecular & Structural Biology

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Newly discovered RNA-guided endonucleases can be harnessed for genome editing in cells

Researchers seeking to understand the origins of CRISPR-Cas9 systems have uncovered a class of transposon-encoded RNA-guided nucleases, which they dubbed "OMEGA," that could be harnessed for genome editing in human cells.

14 Sep 2021

Study unravels the DNA repair mechanism by enzymes

A new study by researchers from the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology in the Republic of Korea has revealed the mechanism of DNA repair by enzymes exonuclease III and polymerase I by utilizing single molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET)-enabled dynamic observation.

14 Sep 2021

Study uncovers mechanism where two transcription factors stabilize each other’s binding to DNA

Researchers have discovered an exclusive mechanism through which two transcription factors stabilize each other’s binding to DNA in fission yeast.

14 Sep 2021

Study could help choose the ideal DNA extraction method for microbiome research

Let's face it, we are a results-driven society. Too focused on the outcome, people don't often think about the "how." For instance, did you think about "how" you got to work this morning or did you just get there? In microbiome studies the results are the graphs and the data but the "how," like commuting, is often just part of a routine.

13 Sep 2021

Study reveals how autoimmune antibodies can predict severe cases of COVID-19

The presence of special immune system defense molecules, called autoimmune antibodies, has been strongly tied to how poorly people fare when hospitalized with COVID-19, a new study shows.

From New York University (NYU) 9 Sep 2021

Viruses buried in marsupials' DNA may help protect against future infections

Fossils of ancient viruses are preserved in the genomes of all animals, including humans, and have long been regarded as junk DNA. But are they truly junk, or do they actually serve a useful purpose?

From The University of New South Wales (UNSW) 9 Sep 2021

Study unearths previously unknown role of CTCF, the transcription regulator

Researchers discovered evidence that CTCF governs chromatin accessibility, the mechanism of opening tightly spooled DNA facilitating gene expression.

9 Sep 2021

Bacteria-derived curli amyloid fibril promotes neurodegeneration in the host

Increasing evidence points to the fact that gut microbiota performs a vital role in regulating the advancement of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

9 Sep 2021

High fat diets lead to over-eating and obesity in rats by disturbing the body clock

When rats are fed a high fat diet, this disturbs the body clock in their brain that normally controls satiety, leading to over-eating and obesity. That's according to new research published in The Journal of Physiology.

7 Sep 2021

Research shows how dendrimers avoid detection by the immune system

Tiny synthetic particles known as dendrimers have been shown to avoid detection by our immune system and so could be used to develop a new system to deliver drugs into the body without triggering a reaction.

3 Sep 2021

Study reveals possibilities to disrupt dynamics and halt SARS-CoV-2 transmission

Researchers have simulated the transition of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein structure from the time it recognizes the host cell to its entry into the cell.

2 Sep 2021

Family of naturally occurring proteins shows promise for treating ischemic stroke

Boosting a family of naturally occurring proteins that dampens inflammation in the body has been shown to be effective in reducing damage from an ischemic stroke, according to preclinical researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

2 Sep 2021

Experts decode the genetic mechanism governing the speed of mRNA translation

The genetic material of all eukaryotic organisms is stored in the cell nucleus in the form of DNA. The DNA is first transcribed into messenger RNA in the cell cytoplasm and later translated into protein using ribosomes for it to be used, where ribosomes are small machines capable of decoding messenger RNA to synthesize the relevant proteins.

1 Sep 2021

Study details how immature innate lymphoid cells become effector cells

During the invasion of pathogens into the human body, a prompt response is needed.

1 Sep 2021

Study employs inflammatory proteins to diagnose the early onset of Alzheimer’s

According to recent research, investigating some inflammatory proteins will enable diagnosis of the earlier onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

31 Aug 2021

Study reveals mechanisms promoting overall glioma tumor growth

Researchers from Northwestern Medicine unearthed the epigenetic processes involved in the regulation of multiple oncogenes in glioma cells.

31 Aug 2021

Researchers fabricate 3D-integrated nanopores to detect single DNA molecules

Detecting DNA from a single cell is vital for the identification of genetic disorders and diseases.

From Osaka University 31 Aug 2021

Stanford researchers use machine learning approach to solve structural biology challenges

Determining the 3D shapes of biological molecules is one of the hardest problems in modern biology and medical discovery. Companies and research institutions often spend millions of dollars to determine a molecular structure – and even such massive efforts are frequently unsuccessful.

27 Aug 2021

Old habit-controlling neurons may also play a key role in learning new tricks

Imagine working on your computer and typing the same long password you have used for years to access your email.

26 Aug 2021

Researchers develop a method to engineer new functionalities into cells

Researchers at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have developed a method to engineer new functionalities into cells. The results were published today in the journal Cell in the article "Dual film-like organelles enable spatial separation of orthogonal eukaryotic translation".

26 Aug 2021