The Biophysical Society has announced the winners of its Minority Affairs Committee travel awards, which support participation at the Annual Meeting by minority students and early career scientists. The recipients include 12 researchers from diverse backgrounds who will present their research in San Diego.
Professor Michael F. Holick received the American College of Nutrition Communication Media Award for his outstanding media contributions promoting better nutrition. He was also a keynote presenter at the ACN Conference, highlighting the importance of vitamin D in good health.
Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine identified the pattern of cell signaling induced by antipsychotic drugs in a complex composed of two brain receptors linked to schizophrenia. This discovery may allow for the prediction of novel compounds' effectiveness and accelerate the development of better antipsychotic drugs.
A multidisciplinary team at VCU School of Medicine has developed a metric to determine the effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs and advance drug design. The study found that the connection between two brain receptors is critical to how these anti-psychotics work, particularly in signaling through this receptor complex.
Researchers build a simple model system to study laws of 'absorbing states' in active systems, where energy is continuously consumed but movement stops. Complex structures form with perfectly shaped rings made up of millions of individual fibers.
Researchers at Princess Margaret Cancer Program have identified a promising approach to treating leukemia using the antibiotic tigecycline. By cutting off energy production in leukemia stem cells, the drug can selectively destroy these cancerous cells while sparing healthy ones.
Scientists have identified a gene switch that regulates the choice of odorant receptor genes in olfactory sensory neurons. Regulatory elements in the genome act as on-off switches to determine which gene is chosen for expression.
Pediatric oncologists and biochemists advance treatment options for neuroblastoma by studying tumor biology at the molecular level. The study found that certain ALK mutations make cancer cells more resistant to crizotinib, but increasing dosage may overcome this resistance.
Scientists have developed a technique using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) to view proteins tagged with gold nanoparticles in whole, intact cells. This method offers ten times better resolution than optical microscopes and could help study cancer processes and understand how viruses hijack healthy cells.
A team of scientists led by Thomas E. DeCoursey discovered a gene in dinoflagellates that controls voltage-gated proton channels, found also in humans and other species, with bioluminescence and potential applications in controlling deadly red tides
Researchers found that morning UV exposure increases skin cancer risk by 500% compared to afternoon exposure. The study's findings imply that restricting sunbathing or tanning booth visits to morning hours could help prevent skin cancer in humans.
Researchers studied model cavity and tunnel structures resembling protein binding sites to understand their ability to stay dry. Geometric shields prevent water molecules from penetrating at the nanoscale.
Researchers have discovered that hemoglobin interacts with HbA1 within living red blood cells, affecting the condition of patients with thalassemia and other diseases. The study also found a positive correlation between blood sugar levels and multiband re-release of Hbs from RBCs in diabetic individuals.
The American Physiological Society's conference highlights the importance of considering sex and gender in cardiovascular health. Research findings show that women accumulate plaque more evenly inside major arteries, making heart disease a significant concern for women.
The agreement enables the development of a revolutionary DNA sequencing system with unprecedented speed and cost-effectiveness. Drs. Stuart Lindsay and Colin Nuckolls' novel approaches for reading DNA bases will be integrated into Roche's sequencing center of excellence.
Researchers have discovered two genetically distinct HIV types in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with HIV-associated dementia, which may predict disease progression and cognitive damage. The study found that one variant infects macrophages, a type of white blood cell, while the other reproduces in T cells.
The Biophysical Society recognizes Edward Egelman for his leadership in Biophysical Journal and service to the Society, while Kenneth Dill and Sarina Bromberg receive the Emily M. Gray Award for their landmark textbook on molecular biophysics.
The Biophysical Society has announced its 2012 Society Fellows, recognizing their outstanding research in molecular motors, computational biology, single molecule biology, and protein folding. The fellows are honored at the Awards Ceremony during the Biophysical Society's 56th Annual Meeting.
Scientists at the University of Nottingham are developing a new organic medical imaging system using nano-transducers made from biological membranes to detect diseases earlier and track medication. The system has the potential to monitor electrical activity in the brain and track individual cells in the human body.
The study reveals three distinct classes of protein motion: localized diffusion, methyl group rotations, and jumps. These motions are crucial for understanding protein functions critical to life, enabling scientists to design new biofuels and environmental remediation technologies.
Researchers at Harvard University have developed a new device that can trap tightly and efficiently, eliminating the problem of overheating in traditional optical tweezers. The new plasmonic nanotweezers use light from a laser to create strong forces on nanoscale particles.
Researchers will study the role of folic acid in preventing neural tube defects, with the goal of developing individualized prevention strategies. The study aims to identify which genes are modified by folic acid levels and how those patterns can be used to assess risk for spina bifida.
A study from UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine has illuminated a critical step in demethylation, giving stem cell researchers information to reprogram adult cells. The disappearance of chemical tags is a passive process, not catalyzed by an enzyme.
Researchers have identified a neurotransmitter released in response to stress that stimulates the growth and migration of breast cancer cells. The study found that this neurotransmitter, norepinephrine, and its receptor NPY play a key role in the progression of breast cancer.
A transgenic mouse model exhibiting behavioral parallels with humans diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder has improved scientific understanding and may lead to diagnostic tests based on biomarkers. The research could also help design targeted interventions and treatments.
The Biophysical Society has honored five researchers with its top awards for 2012, recognizing their innovative work on membrane proteins, lipid interactions, and single-molecule biology. The awardees include Charles R. Sanders, Huey W. Huang, Lucy R. Forrest, Sunny Xie, and Vijay Pande.
Scientists at UCSF have identified a crucial chemical that the malaria parasite produces internally, allowing it to survive in human blood. This insight provides a powerful tool for discovering and designing new treatments.
Researchers at Stanford and UCSF have developed a novel method to grow large volumes of modified malaria parasites that no longer cause the disease, revealing how the parasite's survival depends on isopentenyl pyrophosphate. This breakthrough could speed up drug development and provide a basis for an effective vaccine against malaria.
Researchers have engineered new sensors that can detect estrogenic compounds in human cells, which is crucial for understanding the potential health risks associated with these substances. The sensors, developed by a team led by Huimin Zhao, were found to reliably detect estrogenic compounds within hours, even at low levels.
Researchers at Yale University have successfully re-engineered the genetic code of bacteria to synthesize special forms of proteins that can mimic natural or disease states. This new technology enables the production of human proteins with their naturally occurring phosphorylation sites, a crucial step in understanding disease processes.
Researchers at the University of Iowa have identified a new function for the harmonin protein, which is mutated in Usher syndrome. The protein plays a critical role in transmitting sound information to the brain.
Aging causes muscle weakness due to calcium leakage from ryanodine receptor channel complex, leading to reduced muscle function. An experimental drug called S107 stabilizes calstabin1, improving muscle force and exercise capacity in aged mice.
A new study demonstrates that even a simple microbe can achieve sophisticated sensory adaptation, allowing its behavior to remain consistent in ever-changing background conditions. Researchers found that E. coli responds to relative changes in sensory inputs rather than absolute concentrations.
The Penn team successfully grafted olfactory receptors onto carbon nanotubes, enabling the conversion of chemical signals into electrical signals. This technology has potential applications in pharmaceutical research and could help develop new treatments for diseases by targeting specific GPCRs.
Researchers at Harvard have identified the mechanism for diffuse axonal injury and explained why cerebral vasospasm is more common in blast-induced brain injuries. Treating neural tissue with a ROCK inhibitor within minutes of injury may lead to viable treatments, according to the study.
Researchers at UNC School of Medicine have discovered the seventh and eighth bases of DNA, called 5-formylcytosine and 5-carboxylcytosine. These modified bases are thought to play a role in DNA demethylation and stem cell reprogramming.
Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine used evolutionary clues to reveal how a key clotting protein assembles. They found that two histidines play a crucial role in sensing pH changes and guiding the assembly of von Willebrand Factor, leading to new insights into common bleeding disorders.
A study by University of Cincinnati researchers found that stainless steel- and/or co-polyester lined-aluminum bottles did not release BPA, while aluminum bottles with epoxy-based resins showed variable contamination. However, boiling water increased BPA migration from epoxy-lined bottles.
Researchers from RUB-Department of Biophysics elucidated the proton pump mechanism of a cell-membrane protein in atomic detail, revealing that protein-bound water molecules play a decisive role. A chain of only three water molecules is formed for just a few thousandths of a second to transfer protons into the interior of the protein.
Recent research found that zinc acts like a security guard to prevent amylin from forming harmful clumps. In healthy individuals with normal zinc levels, amylin helps regulate blood sugar, but in zinc-starved environments, it forms toxic aggregates.
Researchers at University of Michigan developed a new way to search for drugs that target RNA, a molecule essential to retroviruses like HIV. They successfully predicted the binding of six new small molecules to HIV's genetic material and demonstrated their efficacy in inhibiting viral replication.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center have defined three distinct processing stages for human speech recognition, mirroring those found in non-human primates. These findings provide insights into the complex workings of the human auditory brain and its role in processing language.
Researchers have identified a key trigger for Gerstmann–Sträussler–Scheinker (GSS) syndrome, a rare but deadly neurodegenerative disease. The finding has significant implications for the treatment of other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have identified the linchpin protein MICU1, which drives mitochondria's calcium uptake. The discovery could lead to a better understanding of diseases such as neurodegenerative disorders and diabetes.
Michael F. Holick, a renowned expert in vitamin D and skin research, has been awarded The Delbert A. Fisher Research Scholar Award from the Endocrine Society. He received this honor for his groundbreaking contributions to understanding the history of endocrinology.
Researchers successfully modified messenger RNA to override a 'red light' signal, producing a full-length protein instead. This breakthrough may aid treatment strategies for genetic disorders caused by premature stop codons.
University of Pennsylvania researchers have developed a way to form biological molecules that can be directly integrated into electronic circuits. A new microscope technique was also developed to measure the electrical properties of these devices.
Researchers tracked 27 unique viruses affecting honey bees, including four unknown strains and six species of bacteria and fungi. The study provides a baseline measurement of pathogens in healthy hives, shedding light on the causes of colony collapse.
University of Illinois researchers used a high-resolution single-molecule study technique to see subtle differences between two branches of neurotransmitter-gated ion channels. They found that changing the position of an amino acid changes its properties, allowing cation-selective channels to regulate excitation.
Scientists have described a chemical interaction vital to blood clotting in atomic detail, resolving a decades-long mystery. The interaction between a clotting factor and cell membrane was first observed using nanodiscs and advanced modeling techniques.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed an algorithm to computationally select the best proteins for building nanostructures, drawing inspiration from biological structures. The method eliminates thousands of candidate proteins to identify suitable ones, making the protein selection process more efficient.
Researchers have identified an enzyme that drives the production of estradiol, a potent form of estrogen, in human breast cancer tissue. The enzyme creates a positive cycle where estradiol sustains its own production, leading to aggressive and potentially deadly cancer types.
A new study links obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to increased tumor growth and aggressiveness in melanoma cancer cells in mice. Recurrent hypoxia, a hallmark of OSA, enhances tumor proliferation and necrosis.
Researchers have uncovered the detailed dynamics of the Epac2 protein switch, which plays a critical role in cAMP-mediated cell signaling. This finding holds promise for developing new therapeutic strategies specifically targeting this pathway to combat diseases like diabetes and cancer.
Researchers at Texas AgriLife Research have identified a key molecular mechanism regulating plant stem cell development, which could lead to increased fruit, seed, and leaf production. By understanding how microRNAs interact with RNA silencing proteins, scientists can engineer plants to produce more biomass.
Researchers discovered that breast cancer cells can thrive under starvation conditions by using fatty acids as an alternative energy source. The protein CPT1C plays a key role in this adaptation, and its expression is increased under conditions of metabolic stress.
Researchers discovered a new way breast cancer cells adapt to starvation conditions by turning to fatty acids for energy. This adaptation highlights the resilience of cancer cells and could lead to targeted therapies that block their ability to survive.
Research suggests that a balanced diet with mono- and polyunsaturated fats can improve cardiac function in patients with heart failure. By providing sufficient energy to the heart, a damaged heart can maintain its normal metabolic profile and utilize its preferred energy source.
Biophysicists at Penn have developed a new technique to study how proteins respond to physical stress, particularly in red blood cells. The technique, which measures the degree of exposed cysteine in proteins, reveals that stressed cells are more fluorescent under microscopy.
Scientists at Yale University used fluorescent stains to create movies of cellular actin filaments disassembling, shedding light on their mysterious process. The study reveals the location of breaks along the filaments, crucial for cell movement and maintenance.