Biochemist Joe Ogas' research on the PICKLE gene reveals a biochemical switch that could help understand cancer and develop new oil crops. Plants with mutated genes produce roots storing oils like seeds do, but also exhibit pickle-like swellings.
The American Society of Plant Physiologists has self-published a comprehensive 1400-page textbook on biochemistry & molecular biology of plants, featuring original drawings and photographs. The book is designed for upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses, and was introduced to sell well over 600 copies at the ASPP Annual Meeting.
Michael Czech, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, is being honored with the CIIT Founders' Award for his groundbreaking research on insulin's molecular action. He will speak on 'Fat as an Endocrine Organ: Target for Environmental Toxins' at the award ceremony.
Dr. F. Ann Walker, a researcher on the kissing bug, will present her award-winning research on heme proteins and Chagas' disease at the American Chemical Society meeting. The study highlights the intersection of entomology, inorganic biochemistry, medicine, and anthropology.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University have created a vaccine using a weakened rabies virus to carry an HIV envelope protein into cells, prompting the immune system to produce anti-HIV antibodies. The successful test in mice lends promise to eventually developing a human vaccine against HIV.
Researchers develop a mouse model for intrauterine growth retardation and find that administering indomethacin during pregnancy can rescue underweight fetuses. The study provides promising insights into the underlying biochemistry of IUGR and identifies a potential therapeutic approach.
The University of Chicago is set to receive a new laboratory complex, the Interdisciplinary Research Building, thanks to a $131.5 million investment from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The 375,000-gross-square-feet building will bring together researchers from various fields, enhancing collaboration and idea-sharing.
The medical school will recruit four researchers in structural biology, including Michael Weiss, to study molecular processes leading to disease. The HHMI grant aims to enhance the medical school's research enterprise and develop scientific breakthroughs.
Scientists identify key lipids essential for proper myelin sheath formation, providing new insights into myelin biology and multiple sclerosis. The discovery sheds light on the molecular mechanisms underlying nerve sheath abnormalities.
The structure of coagulation factor Va's membrane-binding domain has been determined, revealing a barrel-like shape with three major loops. This breakthrough provides new insights into the molecular details of blood clotting and protein-membrane association, with potential implications for cell-cell interactions and genetic diseases.
Seattle researchers have described the structure of factor VIII, a key blood-clotting protein implicated in hemophilia A. The discovery provides a key to developing improved blood-thinning medications and clotting agents for hemophiliacs, as well as better treatments for those at risk of stroke and heart attack.
The Western Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society will feature over 300 papers on topics such as environmental science and organic/biochemistry. Dr. Jerome Karle, a Nobel Prize winner, will address the conference.
A team of biophysicists introduces a new method in atomic force microscopy that maps not only topographic features but also the specifics of biochemistry on biological molecules. The technique, which attaches antibodies to microscope tips, allows for precise location of proteins and has extensive applications in biotechnology.
Researchers have shown that four drugs, known as angiogenesis inhibitors, can effectively treat spontaneous tumors at distinct stages of progression in mice. The study provides evidence for the potential of these drugs to act against tumors in a mouse model that more closely resembles human tumor development.
Researchers have discovered a way to describe how molecules self-assemble into cell-wall-like polymers without requiring biochemistry. This understanding could lead to the production of wood-like materials from other plant-derived molecules, such as straw, and help conserve forests.
Researchers have found a protein in the small intestine that directly facilitates uptake of dietary lipids, making it a promising target for drugs to combat obesity and heart disease. The discovery has the potential to significantly reduce cholesterol levels in the blood and may help treat conditions such as artherosclerosis.
A newly discovered glycosphingolipid receptor may help explain susceptibility to urinary tract infections and provide a potential new treatment strategy. The receptor, called sialosyl galactosyl globoside (SGG), is suspected to be on urogenital tract cells in about 30% of all men and women, binding strongly to E. coli bacteria.
Researchers have discovered a novel function of the Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) protein essential for mRNA production in all cells. This finding links SMN deficiency to spinal muscular atrophy, a leading genetic cause of infant death, and paves the way for potential therapeutic interventions.
University of Illinois scientists have discovered that steroids can increase myelin synthesis, reversing a major problem in multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases. The findings offer new potential treatments for nerve injuries and demyelinating diseases.
The University of Delaware has received a $1.6 million HHMI grant to support interdisciplinary research projects, outreach efforts, faculty development, and new equipment for active learning methods. The grant aims to enhance undergraduate education in the biological sciences through problem-based learning.
Researchers at the University of Illinois found that zinc deficiency can exacerbate anorexia by increasing neuropeptide Y production and decreasing leptin levels. Zinc supplements have shown to increase recovery rates, supporting its potential as a treatment for anorexia.
Biological clocks in animals and plants regulated by temperature rather than light, according to Dartmouth study. Temperature cycles may be crucial for maintaining circadian rhythm in humans, particularly during seasonal changes.
A comprehensive review article by Stephen S. Hecht summarizes the biochemistry, biology, and carcinogenicity of tobacco-specific nitrosamines, linking them to lung cancer formation. The article highlights the importance of understanding these compounds for developing effective chemoprevention strategies and targeted prevention methods.
Researchers have discovered a new light-sensitive pigment called cryptochrome, which controls the circadian rhythm in mammals, regulating bodily functions such as body temperature and blood pressure. The discovery may lead to better treatment for depression and reduce accidents during late-night shifts.
Dr. Joseph Nagyvary discovers that 17th and 18th century Italian violin makers used brine-soaked wood, resulting in vibrant tonal quality. His chemically treated violins are praised by international concert violinists.
University of Michigan researchers have created the smallest biosensors ever developed, which can detect subtle changes in living cells' biochemistry. These probes, called PEBBLEs, contain dye that glows when exposed to specific ions or molecules, allowing real-time monitoring of cell processes.
Nancy Roseman, assistant professor of biology at Williams College, has been awarded a $266,191 NSF grant to study the biochemistry of dUTPase, an enzyme involved in DNA metabolism. Her research uses the vaccinia virus as a model to understand viral/host interactions and DNA replication.
Researchers at University at Buffalo and Children's Hospital have identified a critical protein involved in iron metabolism. The discovery is expected to boost understanding of iron-deficiency anemia, the most prevalent disease worldwide, and provide insights into treating hemochromatosis, an inherited iron overload disorder.
The study reveals a family of selenium-based compounds that can lower blood pressure without toxic side effects. These compounds could lead to the development of new therapeutic agents, expanding knowledge on selenium's role in human health.
Researchers have identified key features of cardiac troponin C, a protein that regulates muscle contraction. The study's findings may lead to the development of new therapies for patients with congestive heart failure, by targeting calcium binding to regulatory proteins.
Researchers found glioblastoma multiforme tumors resistant to procarbazine exhibited defects in mismatch repair, leading to drug resistance. The study may lead to more effective treatment of GBM, a common and virulent brain tumor.
Researchers have identified the precise mechanism by which marine algae produce DMSP, a compound that helps clouds form in the atmosphere. This discovery could lead to genetically engineered crops with improved drought, freeze, and salt tolerance, potentially regulating global climate.
Researchers at UNL have discovered a glycoprotein complex, p67, that correlates directly with cells' resistance to viruses. The team found that encouraging the growth of p67 could be a useful means of preventing viruses from taking over cells' reproductive machinery.
Researchers discovered new clues to biological clocks that pace daily activities, including the role of two proteins regulating light responses. Their findings link evolutionary spectrum from light perception to time keeping, paving way for detailing modern clock mechanisms in various organisms.
Biological clocks are reset by slow action of White Collar-1 and White Collar-2 proteins; these proteins work in the dark without light stimulation. Their discovery provides a link between light perception and circadian rhythms, opening an evolutionary window into clock mechanisms.
Research at the University at Buffalo has provided a biochemical explanation for obesity, showing that chronic hyperinsulinemia precedes obesity in rat pups. The study suggests that early metabolic setpoints program rats to overproduce insulin, leading to obesity later in life.
Researchers at the University of Washington have discovered that removing a brain chemical called neuropeptide Y (NPY) can help reduce body fat in genetically obese mice. The study found that mice lacking NPY become only half as fat, eat less, and have a higher metabolic rate compared to their morbidly obese cousins.
A team of researchers at Northwestern University and the Mayo Clinic have identified two new proteins, Cyp-40 and p23, that act as molecular chaperones to fold proteins into an intermediate state. This discovery expands our understanding of what molecular chaperones are and their role in enhancing hormone sensitivity in cells.
A University of Colorado research team is testing the skies over northern Peru with a large balloon and kite to measure greenhouse gas emissions in the Amazon rainforest. The team will track levels of carbon dioxide, methane, and ozone, as well as hydrocarbons emitted from vegetation.
Researchers have discovered a novel 'left-handed' spiral structure in the protein enzyme LpxA, which could lead to the development of new antibiotics that target this unique structure. The discovery offers a promising approach to combating bacterial resistance to current antibiotics.