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Science News for February 8, 2015


Drug detectives

A new screening method uses lipid bilayer properties to predict toxicity, identifying probable cytotoxic drugs at an early stage in development. The Gramicidin-Based Fluorescence Assay (GBFA) tracks changes in protein function as a way of monitoring lipid bilayer alterations.

Bacteria's hidden traffic control

Researchers have mapped nearly every protein in a bacterial cell for its entire cell cycle, discovering a large number of distinct patterns with subtle spatial and temporal differences. This approach has implications for understanding how bacteria coordinate the timing and location of subcellular processes.

'Virtual virus' unfolds the flu on a CPU

Scientists at the University of Oxford have built a complete model of the outer envelope of an influenza A virion using a coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation. The simulation reveals various characteristics about the membrane components, including the separation of spike proteins and their interactions with host cells. This res...

Forcing wounds to close

Researchers at National University of Singapore discover that cells exert directional forces to close gaps in protective epithelial barriers, even when underlying layers are damaged. This 'tug-of-war' mechanism drives mechanical forces responsible for gap closure.

SourceNational University of Singapore·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 8, 2015

What's next in diets: Chili peppers?

A team of researchers at the University of Wyoming found that adding capsaicin from chili peppers to a diet can stimulate energy metabolism and burn stored fat, potentially preventing obesity. The study used mice on high-fat diets and found that dietary capsaicin increased metabolic activity and energy expenditure.