Researchers engineered miniature linear and split-belt treadmills to study insect locomotion, gaining insights into proprioception's role in natural activities like walking. The study showed that flies can modify their steps to continue walking straight despite rotational perturbations.
A mathematical model shows that quicker decisions are influenced by initial bias, while slower decisions are less biased. The model predicts that with more information, decision makers are more likely to behave rationally.
Researchers developed TurCaMP, a bright cyan fluorescent protein that accurately monitors mitochondrial calcium dynamics. Its unique properties enable stable basal fluorescence in the physiological pH range, facilitating accurate and multiplexed calcium dynamics monitoring.
Scientists at the University of Nottingham have created a powerful method to analyze RNA structures in unprecedented detail. By combining cryogenic OrbiSIMS with advanced computational modelling and automation, they can now determine RNA structures in a matter of days, significantly advancing the field of RNA structural biology.
Lysosomes are critical for cellular degradation through endocytosis, phagocytosis, and autophagy, recycling essential components. Research has developed tools to study lysosomes in cultured cells, C. elegans, and mice, with novel assays needed to understand diverse physiological and pathological conditions.
Scientists at Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University have mapped the cellular architecture of MS lesions using advanced methodology. This reveals how immune cells and glial cells interact in the disease.
Scientists have developed an artificial microbial community consisting of two engineered yeast strains to produce more ethanol per unit of plant sugars. The team discovered that adding the xylose-fermenting yeast specialist to the mixture first, followed by the glucose specialist, dramatically boosted ethanol production.
Researchers studied how epithelial cells sense small changes in their environment using ion channels. They found that even small movements can trigger rapid intracellular calcium changes via mechanosensitive cation channels, which play a key role in touch sensation and other physiological functions.
Scientists at Florida State University produced the first high-resolution images showing magnesium ions playing a crucial role in CRISPR-Cas9's DNA-cutting process. The discovery sheds light on how magnesium coordinates double-stranded breaks, providing new insights into the enzyme's functioning.
A new model describes microswimmer self-propulsion energy requirements, enabling optimized shape designs and applications in microfluidics, biophysics, and material science. The study reveals surprising similarities between artificial and natural shapes.
The next generation of supercomputers is revolutionizing biophysics research, allowing researchers to simulate complex biological processes with extraordinary detail. This enables the creation of new proteins and design of novel molecular circuits, challenging longstanding biological assumptions.
A new study by Boston University researchers found that Serum Amyloid A (SAA) acts as a universal protein detergent to clear cell membrane debris from wounds and inflammation sites. However, high levels of SAA can also promote fibrous deposits in vital organs like the kidney and liver, leading to life-threatening disease AA amyloidosis.
The workshop, under Prof. Rafael Bernardi and Prof. Emad Tajkhorshid's guidance, showcased expertise from NAMD and VMD developers, providing in-depth dives into molecular dynamics simulations and biomolecular visualization.
A new study found that high-stress caregivers had higher klotho levels and longer telomeres in specific immune cells, which may provide protection against aging. In contrast, low-stress caregivers showed no significant associations between klotho levels and telomere length.
A study by Prof. WANG Lei and WANG Chih-chen’s group at the Institute of Biophysics (IBP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) establishes the relationship between oxidative protein folding and stem cell aging for the first time.
Researchers at the Complexity Science Hub developed a mathematical method to analyze armed conflict data, identifying causal links between battles and predicting future conflicts. The approach, inspired by physics and biophysics, reveals how violence spreads like avalanches across Africa and can be applied to other armed conflicts.
Researchers have discovered that nuclear pore IDPs form a dynamic barrier that allows essential cellular factors to pass while blocking viruses and pathogens. The team used synthetic biology, multidimensional fluorescence microscopy, and computer-based simulations to study IDPs in living cells.
Researchers from Penn State and Ohio State University used structural biology, biophysics, and cell biology to understand how pioneer factors interact with nucleosomes. They found that a specific region of the protein helps it access DNA, making it accessible for proteins involved in gene expression.
Researchers from Karolinska Institutet and the Max Planck Institute have identified a new mechanism for DNA folding, revealing how the Smc5/6 complex regulates chromosomal organization. This discovery provides new insights into normal development and disease prevention.
Researchers found that cholesterol increases the toxicity of a peptide implicated in Alzheimer's progression, altering its secondary structure and forming small, toxic clusters called oligomers. A diet rich in cholesterol may contribute to Alzheimer's disease development by changing the lipid composition of neuronal membranes.
Carlas S. Smith receives Biophysical Journal's Paper of the Year-Early Career Investigator Award for groundbreaking work on single-molecule localization microscopy precision. His research provides new opportunities to optimize methods for achieving optimal precision in localization microscopy.
Studies have shown that COVID-19 infection increases the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes. The virus causes changes in calcium channels, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the heart, leading to arrhythmias and myocarditis.
Researchers have developed a tool to predict females' heart response to medications using male data, aiming to prevent deaths from drug-induced complications. The tool uses regression-based models to analyze differences in heart physiology between males and females.
Researchers at IRB Barcelona have developed a new tool to block protein-protein interactions, a potential therapeutic approach for diseases such as prostate cancer. The synthetic molecules mimic the binding surface of proteins, offering high versatility and stability.
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have developed a new computational method to map the architecture of human tissues in unprecedented detail. This approach enables powerful new diagnostic strategies for a wide range of diseases, including cancer and chronic conditions.
A study by OIST Graduate University's Marine Biophysics Unit found that mangroves in the Ryukyu Islands have limited connectivity, making it crucial to protect isolated forests. The research used genetics and oceanography to track propagule dispersal, revealing rare genetic exchanges between islands.
Jose Rizo-Rey, a professor of Biophysics at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, has been exploring the process of synaptic vesicle fusion using the Frontera supercomputer. His research reveals that specialized proteins are
Researchers at the Kosinski Group used a combination of cryo-electron tomography, single particle cryo-EM, and integrative modelling to create the most complete model of the human NPC to date, covering over 90% of its core. This breakthrough enables scientists to understand the NPC's structure and function in greater detail.
The German Research Foundation has granted funding to Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and its strategic alliance partners for four years. Researchers in materials sciences, biophysics, and medicine are working on three collaborative projects with a total funding volume of EUR 35 million. The focus is on developing multiscale ...
Researchers developed a model inspired by vascular biophysics to examine the stability of coastal channel loops. They found that strong interplay between rivers and tides is essential for loop stability, and that flows must constantly rearrange themselves to keep them open.
A Texas A&M AgriLife team has described several protein structures of the C1 domain of protein kinase C, providing a reliable guide for designing drug candidates. The research sheds light on how C1 domains bind ligands and could lead to new treatments for diseases such as Alzheimer's, AIDS, and cancer.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered a new binding site on the STING protein, which plays a critical role in launching immune attacks. This finding could lead to new ways of manipulating STING to prompt stronger immune responses or stem its action in autoimmune diseases.
Researchers at Duke University have developed a device that manipulates particles and cells using complex sound waves, enabling selective pairing of individual cells to measure adhesion forces. This technology could lead to personalized medicine by allowing doctors to determine treatment for individual cancer patients.
Researchers used optical tweezers to study protein folding, revealing entropy and enthalpy levels for the first time. The team discovered that during transition states, the protein skeletal structure is built, but most van der Waals interactions remain unstable.
A study by Arizona State University shows that certain proteins can act as efficient electrical conductors, outperforming DNA-based nanowires in conductance. The protein nanowires display better performance over long distances, enabling potential applications for medical sensing and diagnostics.
Researchers at RIT have created a biophysical model that can predict changes in cartilage mechanics and function during disease pathways. The model, informed by experimental data, enables noninvasive predictions using MRI scans, potentially reducing the need for invasive procedures.
Researchers developed a fully autonomous biohybrid fish from human stem-cell derived cardiac muscle cells that recreates the muscle contractions of a pumping heart. The device has two layers of muscle cells that work together to propel the fish for over 100 days.
A pilot study at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) spurred regeneration in dormant parts of failing hearts. The study's results showed evidence of regeneration in areas considered dead, suggesting a promising avenue for developing regenerative heart therapies.
Scientists at Baylor College of Medicine identified two rare inherited vitamin B12 conditions that share the same gene but exhibit distinct clinical features. The study found that additional genes, including RONIN and HCFC1, are affected, leading to a more complex syndrome.
Researchers developed a neural network model called STANN that provides new insights into the brain's cellular architecture and functionality. The model predicts precise locations of different cell types and their communication patterns within morphological layers.
Researchers at Goethe University and the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics have gained new insights into how mitochondrial complex I facilitates proton transfer through water molecules. The study's high-resolution structure data enabled computer simulations that shed light on the protein's dynamics during its catalytic cycle.
This special collection highlights the use of biophysical methods in identifying and characterizing molecules in early drug discovery, including graphene bioelectronic sensing technology and mass spectrometry. It also showcases a fully automated acoustic ejection mass spectrometry technology for high-throughput screening.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet investigated the protein eIF4A3, which helps cancer cells grow. By blocking this protein, they found that cancer cells stop growing and eventually die. The study suggests a new approach for targeted treatment of colon and sarcoma cancers.
Researchers discovered Piezo1 selectively restrains Treg cells, limiting their potential to mitigate autoimmune neuroinflammation. Inhibiting Piezo1 could lead to new treatments for neuroinflammatory disorders like MS.
Scientists from Würzburg, Germany, have identified a protein in the plant Arabidopsis thaliana that detects and translates acidic conditions into an electrical signal. This discovery could lead to more tolerant crops for waterlogging conditions.
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine discovered that charged biopolymers like heparan sulfate and heparin accelerate amyloid aggregation in various organs. This understanding will guide targeted drug design for deadly diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and type-2 diabetes.
Researchers used advanced imaging technology to film Zebrafish brains while they were alive, revealing that the activation of stem cells responsible for generating neurons is not random, but rather coordinated. This finding has important implications for understanding brain development and may lead to new treatments for neurodegenerati...
Researchers Lynne Maquat and Joan Steitz recognized for elucidating key functions of RNA, a workhorse molecule in cell function. Their discoveries inform RNA-based therapies for diseases like COVID-19 and muscular dystrophy.
Researchers at Einstein College of Medicine developed a topical drug that regenerates and restores function of erectile nerves damaged by radical prostatectomy. The siRNA gel enhanced nerve regeneration and restored nerve function in rat models, restoring erectile function.
Computational biophysics research uncovers mechanism for HIV-1 virus importing nucleotides into its core for DNA synthesis. The study challenges the prevailing view of the viral capsid and reveals an active role in regulating a key step in the virus's life cycle.
Researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill develop collaborative strategy to test hypothesis on how tiny chemicals formed basic biochemistry four billion years ago. They aim to enhance understanding of cellular processes to detect new disease treatment strategies and inspire life outside Earth.
The new journal features short contributions and rapid turnarounds, covering all disciplines of biophysics with an emphasis on methods and techniques. The inaugural Editor-in-Chief, Jörg Enderlein, expects significant potential for the journal to offer transparent and rapid editorial decisions.
Researchers studied cell interactions in a microscopic 'cell collider' and found that normal cells repel each other's protrusions, while cancer cells try to squeeze past each other. The study suggests new approaches for understanding cancer cell behavior and identifying molecular bases for these differences.
Researchers from the University of Münster and Düsseldorf provide an in-depth summary of the dynamical density functional theory, a method used to describe interacting particles. The article covers various branches of physics and applications in chemistry, solid state physics, and biophysics.
Rutgers scientists expand Darwin's theory of evolution to consider DNA stability as an energy code, enabling analysis of the human genome and explaining long-term survival of species characteristics. The study's findings provide new ways to analyze genomes and potentially improve selection of DNA targets for therapeutics.
Researchers have identified a new and evolutionarily conserved pathway responsible for silencing genes in mammalian cells. BAHCC1 protein is involved in the Polycomb pathway, which generates a chemical tag to silence genes, and its high expression is linked to leukemia, challenging current understanding of gene silencing.
A team of biophysics developed a computer model that shows antiseptics cause changes in bacterial membrane structure, making them weaker and more susceptible to external factors. The study's results can help combat bacterial resistance by optimizing antiseptic use and developing new agents.
Carnegie Mellon University has received a $500,000 planning grant to develop AI research and interdisciplinary collaborations in astrophysics, subatomic physics, and biophysics. The university aims to promote cross-disciplinary interactions and encourage new collaborations to advance fundamental fields.
The study sheds light on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein's flexibility and its impact on viral infection. The research reveals that the stalk is extremely flexible, allowing it to move and search for receptors on host cells.
A non-invasive low-cost ventilator has been designed and tested by UB researchers, providing efficient respiratory support to patients. The prototype adapted to spontaneous breathing rhythm and provided a feeling of breathing relief similar to commercial devices.