Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have made significant breakthroughs in developing new antidotes for certain poisons that can mitigate their effects more efficiently compared to existing remedies. Additionally, a novel system has been designed to direct traffic lights and reduce fuel consumption by identifying the most fuel...
Researchers have created a highly stable artificial protein called SUWA, which can withstand temperatures of up to 122°C without denaturing. This breakthrough could lead to new applications in nanotechnology and synthetic biology.
Scientists at the University of Groningen mapped the structure of a transport complex in bacteria, revealing that it works very efficiently using three independent lifts. This discovery has implications for human brain cells, where a similar transporter plays a vital role in signal transduction.
Scientists have determined the 3D atomic structure of a key enzyme complex in paramyxoviruses, a family of RNA viruses that includes measles, mumps, human parainfluenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This discovery could lead to the development of new antiviral drugs for these viruses as well as coronavirus.
Researchers developed an autonomous machine learning-based method to determine crystal structure from EBSD data with high accuracy. The platform enables high-throughput evaluation of material properties, opening doors for rapid discovery and analysis.
Mark Beno, a senior chemist at Argonne National Laboratory, was posthumously awarded the AAAS Fellow distinction for his pioneering work on chemical crystallography. He made significant contributions to understanding high-temperature superconductors and developed beamlines at the Advanced Photon Source.
A protein complex of Teneurin, Latrophilin, and FLRT attracts neighboring neurons during development, enabling synapse formation and information exchange. In early brain development, however, the same proteins repel migrating nerve cells, guiding them to their target brain area.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have developed a chemical compound, UBP1700, that inhibits certain NMDARs while allowing others to function. This allows for the precise investigation of NMDAR activity in both healthy and diseased brains.
An international team of scientists developed an optic system to visualize protein crystals in X-rays and determine their position. This improvement significantly reduces analysis time and preserves the integrity of biological molecules.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new semiconductor neutron detector that can absorb thermal neutrons and generate electrical signals. The material is highly efficient, stable, and can be used in small, portable devices for field inspections or large detectors for national security applications.
The university aims to provide unique research opportunities for undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds, tackling big data sciences challenges. The three-year program will integrate students from Virginia Tech and partnering colleges, offering experiential learning and diversity.
Researchers have identified the structure of a lethal toxin produced by C. difficile bacteria, paving the way for new drugs to neutralize it. The finding uses cryo electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography to map out delivery and binding components of the toxin.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have made significant strides in developing a novel cancer drug that targets KRAS gene mutations, as well as chelating heavy metals with artificial proteins. Additionally, scientists have discovered a natural mechanism in human tooth enamel that prevents cracks from forming, allowing teeth to last a lifetime.
Researchers have successfully developed the first crystal-growing technique for manganese-bismuth telluride (MnBi2Te4), a new antiferromagnetic topological insulator. The discovery has significant implications for technological advances in information processing, sensors, and computing.
Scientists at University of Helsinki and Institut Jacques Monod have identified a molecular machinery that drives rapid depolymerisation of actin filaments and recycles resulting monomers. This discovery provides new avenues for developing therapeutics to inhibit cancer cell migration.
Researchers discovered a new mechanism for detecting foreign material during early immune responses, which could help detect elusive cancers. ERAP1 protein can break down peptides bound to MHC I, allowing immune cells to recognize and destroy infected cells.
A new software tool, developed at KAUST, allows researchers to visualize and design catalytic pockets using topographic steric maps. This helps improve the understanding of how known catalysts function and guides exploration of chemical modifications to create better catalysts.
A team of scientists has proposed a new method for studying the structure of complexly organized materials, enabling the study of difficult-to-analyze self-organizing three-dimensional materials. This breakthrough could revolutionize industries such as electronics and biomedicine.
The European XFEL has enabled scientists to create molecular movies of ultrafast protein movement, allowing them to observe proteins' physical functioning and enzyme activity in real-time. This breakthrough capability opens the door to answering bigger biological questions and potentially saving lives.
Researchers at Cornell University have discovered a unique bacterial regulatory mechanism called T-boxes, which facilitate basic functioning in bacteria. Understanding the structure of these elements could lead to designing targeted antibiotics, offering hope against antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
Researchers have identified a key difference between SMAD2 and SMAD3, revealing that SMAD2 binds to DNA and activates gene expression. This finding refutes the theory that SMAD2 does not bind to DNA.
Researchers at McGill University have made significant strides in understanding the functioning of enzymes that produce antibiotics and therapeutics. The study found a surprising level of flexibility in the assembly line of nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs), which could lead to new therapeutic design possibilities.
Researchers used ultrashort X-ray pulses to study Photosystem I, a large biomolecular system converting sunlight into chemical energy. This breakthrough paves the way for time-resolved studies on electron transfer in photosynthesis, with potential applications in medicine and next-generation solar energy storage.
A team of scientists has successfully synthesized a new high-temperature superconductor, thorium decahydride (ThH10), with a critical temperature of 161 K. The material exhibits outstanding high-temperature superconducting performance and pushes the boundaries of classical chemistry.
Researchers at Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology have synthesized a new superconducting material called thorium decahydride (ThH10), which exhibits high-temperature superconductivity at 161 kelvins. This breakthrough is significant as it could lead to the development of more practical applications for superconductors.
Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum identified why certain enzymes like hydrogenases are unstable in oxygen. By analyzing structural changes on an atomic level, they hope to protect these proteins against oxygen in future biotech applications.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have created synthetic phages that can recognize and attack a broader range of bacterial strains, providing a potential solution for treating antibiotic-resistant infections. The synthesized phages share the same genome but have different receptor binding proteins, allowing them to target specific hosts.
Researchers solved the three-dimensional structure of potassium chloride cotransporter 1 (KCC1) using cryo-electron microscopy. The study's findings provide new insights into the protein's role in regulating cell volume, particularly in the kidneys and brain, and shed light on potential treatments for hereditary epilepsy.
Researchers at the University of Seville have developed a procedure for producing boron carbide phase B6C, an ultra-resistant material with a hardness of 52 GPa and Young modulus of 600 GPa. The material is resistant to radioactivity and surpasses diamond in hardness.
Researchers used solid-state NMR spectroscopy to observe rhomboid protease movement, revealing a gate that opens for substrate protein entry. This study provides new insights for developing medication targeting these proteins.
A new study shows that X-ray crystallography can provide inaccurate information about critical cell membrane proteins, leading to poor drug design. Researchers used supercomputing to simulate molecular dynamics of a membrane protein and found that unresolved loops can stabilize the protein despite apparent lack of structure.
George Mason University researchers have discovered the exact location where two proteins responsible for hiding cancer cells from the immune system bind. The protein painting technology enables rapid performance testing of drugs, producing results in several days instead of years.
Researchers found that selectively bred oysters can alter their shell biomineralisation mechanisms to promote resilience against environmental acidification. This breakthrough could be a global mitigation strategy for sustainable shellfish aquaculture in the face of climate-driven change.
The new sample holder allows for direct crystallization of proteins on the holder, eliminating the need for transfer and reducing damage risk. This innovation simplifies protein crystallography by grouping up to 24 sample holders onto one plate.
Scientists have detailed the structure of calcium-calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII), a key protein involved in encoding memories. The study reveals how CaMKII binds to actin filaments, forming rigid bundles that support dendritic spines and enable cognitive functions.
For the first time, researchers have visualized chemical processes in unprecedented detail using molecular electron microscopy. This breakthrough allows for the observation of discrete stages in chemical reactions, which could aid in the development of methods to synthesize chemicals with greater control and precision.
The NIH award supports MacCHESS, a subfacility of CHESS that attracts hundreds of biomedical researchers, enabling the study of cellular functions and molecular interactions. Researchers at MacCHESS will focus on macromolecular crystallography and high-pressure biology to develop new technology for drug design and disease understanding.
A team of scientists has discovered previously unknown binding sites on a bacterial enzyme that could guide novel approaches to antibiotic design. The researchers identified key sections of the MraY enzyme that can be targeted with new drugs to inhibit the spread of certain bacterial infections.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a new software called Emap2sec that can identify secondary structures in proteins from lower-resolution cryo-EM maps. This technique has the potential to speed up protein structure analysis and improve accuracy, enabling researchers to develop more effective drugs for various diseases.
Scientists at the University of Vienna developed two solutions to overcome limitations in analyzing small crystals with electron radiation. By disturbing the carrier material or covering it with nylon fibers, researchers can achieve a complete 3D view of the crystals, enabling more accurate structure analysis.
Serial femtosecond X-ray crystallography (SFX) allows researchers to analyze the tertiary structure of proteins previously inaccessible. This method uses powerful X-ray free-electron lasers to generate diffraction patterns before destroying the sample, enabling faster and cheaper drug design.
Rice University physicists have shown single crystals of cerium zirconium pyrochlore possess the right characteristics to qualify as the first possible 3D quantum spin liquid. The material exhibits long-range magnetic order and entanglement, which are hallmarks of a quantum spin liquid.
A computational model has been developed to understand the mechanism of prion replication, which replicates in absence of genetic material. The study proposes a novel architecture consistent with recent experimental data and allows for the reliable prediction of protein conformational transitions.
Researchers have discovered a molecular machine that reorganizes the inner mitochondrial membrane, which is essential for energy production in cells. The study sheds light on the hereditary disease optic atrophy and may lead to new therapies.
A recent study has deciphered the near-atomic structure of filaments called 'pili' that extend from the surface of bacteria causing traveler's diarrhea. This breakthrough may lead to the development of new treatments and vaccines for the disease.
The study reveals the largest real-time structural changes in a molecule ever, showing how bacteriorhodopsin pumps protons from inside to outside through the cell membrane. This process creates a concentration gradient that the cell uses to gain energy for its metabolism.
Scientists have captured atomic-level images of active CRISPR enzyme Cas9, providing new structural information on its mechanism. The images show how the enzyme cuts DNA strands and reveals the importance of domain movement during reaction, which could lead to improved genome-editing tools.
A recent study by the University of Birmingham has identified a key pathway involved in protecting bacteria against antibiotics. The researchers discovered that phospholipids are transported towards the outer membrane through a series of proteins, which could lead to the development of new antibiotic treatments.
Scientists have discovered a natural defense against the deadly neurotoxin saxitoxin in bullfrogs, which could lead to the first-ever antidote for this compound. Additionally, researchers have captured atomic motion in 4D and identified a molecular switch that promotes IIL tolerance in bacteria, paving the way for better biofuels.
The research team developed a system that allows for the real-time observation of MOF adsorption behavior, enabling accurate measurements and assessments of gas adsorption isotherms. By analyzing individual pore molecules, they identified a stepwise adsorption process and quantified the effects of pore structure and adsorption molecule...
The study determined the structure of the RebA protein, which synthesizes the plant's high-intensity sweetness. The researchers found that the plant enzyme decorates a core terpene scaffold with three special sugars to create the sweetness.
Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory developed a new approach to solve protein structures from tiny crystals, utilizing unique sample-handling and data-assembly techniques. The method enables the study of difficult-to-crystallize cell-surface receptors and other membrane proteins, improving our understanding of health and disease.
A study at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center identified a new therapeutic target in cancer cells, caseinolytic protease P (ClpP), which breaks down proteins within mitochondria. New anti-cancer agents called imipridones activate ClpP and cause cancer cell death via mitochondrial proteolysis.
Researchers at MUSC have identified a critical lipid-binding pocket on the SET protein that can be targeted with rational drug design to develop better cancer therapeutics. Fingolimod and other FDA-approved drugs bind this pocket, restoring PP2A's growth-suppressive function and killing cancer cells.
A new chemical tool has been identified to block endocytosis in plants, a process essential for nutrient uptake and cellular signaling. The compound, ES9-17, was developed through an international collaboration and retains the ability to bind clathrin, a protein involved in endocytosis.
Researchers develop a new method to create detailed structural models of proteins using force-driven simulations, reducing computational power requirements. The technique, inspired by metallurgy, allows for faster computation and more accurate results than existing approaches.
Researchers have decoded the structure of MHETase, an enzyme that breaks down PET plastics into their basic building blocks. This discovery paves the way for developing more efficient enzymes to recycle PET, a key step towards a circular economy and mitigating plastic waste.
Scientists at Scripps Research have identified small molecules that prevent structural changes to proteins causing the disease. These molecules bind to and stabilize immunoglobulin light chain proteins, preventing misfolding and forming toxic plaques.
The Science of Chocolate project uses storytelling to promote interest in scientific careers, particularly among girls, by highlighting the work of women researchers. The project has received funding from the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology and is published in Catalan and Spanish.
Scientists have discovered that USP25 is inactive in its isolated form and forms a tetramer, whereas USP28 exists as a constitutively active dimer. This knowledge provides the molecular basis for developing targeted anti-cancer drugs with low side effects.