Molecular & Structural Biology

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New 3D in vitro model reveals the origins of human spine

The spinal column is the central supporting structure of the skeleton in all vertebrates. Not only does it provide a place for muscles to attach, it also protects the spinal cord and nerve roots. Defects in its development are known to cause rare hereditary diseases.

28 Apr 2022

Understanding the regulation of intramembrane proteases across the tree of life

Working with tiny bacteria, Michigan State University researchers led by Lee Kroos have made a discovery that could have big implications for biology.

27 Apr 2022

Bone growth protein may help treat newborns with rare genetic lung condition

When babies are born with alveolar capillary dysplasia with misalignment of pulmonary veins (ACDMPV), their skin starts to turn blue from the under-oxygenated blood in their systems.

22 Apr 2022

Researchers discover a protein that protects the pancreas from self-digestion

The pancreas secretes around a cup of digestive juices per day—a mixture of molecules capable of breaking down the food people consume.

22 Apr 2022

Researchers explore how tRNAs evolve in protein synthesis

In the process of protein synthesis, a peptide bond is formed between two amino acids that are bound to two different transfer RNAs (tRNAs). Researchers have long been perplexed as to how these tRNAs evolved to be so near to one another on the ribosome.

From Tokyo University of Science 22 Apr 2022

Little-known protein may play a role in frontotemporal lobar degeneration

Scientists have known for years that amyloid fibrils -; fibrous, ropelike structures formed by closely linked protein molecules -; are present in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases and likely play a role in the progression of these disorders.

21 Apr 2022

Researchers analyze single-cell DNA sequencing for having a significant role in Alzheimer’s disease

The loss of functional neurons in the brain is a characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. What, on the other hand, is the source of this loss?

21 Apr 2022

New protective mechanism against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease identified

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), commonly known as fatty liver disease, is a prevalent disease frequently seen in obese people. Having high fat content in the liver is detrimental as it is strongly associated with severe health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, and liver cancer.

20 Apr 2022

Researchers may have identified a key intermediate in the transition from prokaryotes to eukaryotes

All modern organisms fall into two classes, eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Eukaryotes (from the Greek meaning "true kernel") have a cell nucleus that harbors most of the cell's genetic information and includes organisms such as humans, plants and fungi.

20 Apr 2022

Research reveals how RNA elements control cleavage activity of DICER enzyme in pre-miRNA and shRNAs

A research team led by scientists from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has revealed how secondary structure RNA elements control the cleavage activity of the DICER enzyme in both pre-miRNA and short-hairpin RNAs, improving the understanding of the DICER cleavage mechanism and providing a foundation for the design of accurate and efficient short-hairpin RNAs for gene-silencing.

20 Apr 2022

Double-stranded RNA provoke bone loss during periodontitis

Researchers from Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology have made a novel revelation about the processes of bone loss in gum disease (periodontitis).

19 Apr 2022

Cryo-EM reveals the structure of fermentation enzyme phosphoketolase

Pharmaceuticals, plastics, and other industries use enzymes to help synthesize molecular feedstocks.

19 Apr 2022

A new breakthrough in the quest to improve photosynthesis in certain crops

A Cornell University study describes a breakthrough in the quest to improve photosynthesis in certain crops, a step toward adapting plants to rapid climate changes and increasing yields to feed a projected 9 billion people by 2050.

19 Apr 2022

Researchers analyze the complex function of cyanobacteria and the regulation of the biological clock

Researchers aim to learn more about circadian rhythms, which are the 24-hour internal clock cycles of sleeping and waking that happens in all species, including humans, plants, fungi, and bacteria.

18 Apr 2022

Max Planck researchers reveal the structure of kinetochore corona

During cell division in a mother cell, the 23 chromosomes that carry the human genome must be first copied and later delivered to two newly forming daughter cells.

From The Max Planck Institute 11 Apr 2022

Scientists gain fascinating insights into the dynamic ultrastructure of the heart

What happens below the cellular level when the heart contracts and relaxes has long been unexplored. Thanks to new ultra-high-resolution electron microscopy techniques, scientists can now watch the heart beating – almost at a molecular level.

11 Apr 2022

Researchers create RNA molecules to address human pancreatic beta cells

Researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine have created RNA molecules that bind to human pancreatic beta cells, which generate insulin and are destroyed in type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients.

11 Apr 2022

Cryo-EM imaging of STING protein reveals a new binding source for immune attacks

In new research, UT Southwestern scientists report that imaging a key immunity protein known as STING at near-atomic resolution reveals a previously undiscovered binding location that appears to be crucial for launching immunological attacks.

11 Apr 2022

Combining organoids and microfluidics to study how the immune system responds to hepatitis C

A vaccine for hepatitis C has eluded scientists for more than 30 years, for several reasons. For one, the virus that causes the disease comes in many genetic forms, complicating the creation of a widely effective vaccine.

7 Apr 2022

A mitochondrial uncoupler prevents sarcopenic obesity in elderly mice

A recently discovered chemical compound helped elderly mice with obesity lose fat and weight, add muscle and strength, reduce age-related inflammation and increase physical activity, a new study shows.

7 Apr 2022

Molecular & Structural Biology

New 3D in vitro model reveals the origins of human spine

Understanding the regulation of intramembrane proteases across the tree of life

Bone growth protein may help treat newborns with rare genetic lung condition

Researchers discover a protein that protects the pancreas from self-digestion

Researchers explore how tRNAs evolve in protein synthesis

Little-known protein may play a role in frontotemporal lobar degeneration

Researchers analyze single-cell DNA sequencing for having a significant role in Alzheimer’s disease

New protective mechanism against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease identified

Researchers may have identified a key intermediate in the transition from prokaryotes to eukaryotes

Research reveals how RNA elements control cleavage activity of DICER enzyme in pre-miRNA and shRNAs

Double-stranded RNA provoke bone loss during periodontitis

Cryo-EM reveals the structure of fermentation enzyme phosphoketolase

A new breakthrough in the quest to improve photosynthesis in certain crops

Researchers analyze the complex function of cyanobacteria and the regulation of the biological clock

Max Planck researchers reveal the structure of kinetochore corona

Scientists gain fascinating insights into the dynamic ultrastructure of the heart

Researchers create RNA molecules to address human pancreatic beta cells

Cryo-EM imaging of STING protein reveals a new binding source for immune attacks

Combining organoids and microfluidics to study how the immune system responds to hepatitis C

A mitochondrial uncoupler prevents sarcopenic obesity in elderly mice

Driving Support for Pharmaceutical Testing Through Continuous Innovation

From Memory to Metaplasticity: Unraveling the Brain's Secrets

Revolutionizing Mass Spectrometry: A Deep Dive into Plasmion’s SICRIT® Technology

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