Researchers have discovered that defects in RNA biology contribute to the development of ALS, a disease caused by misfolded proteins. The study found that genes related to stress granules can rescue FUS-related toxicity, suggesting new targets for developing drugs.
A University of Minnesota scientist has been awarded a five-year, $10 million grant to study the human antiviral protein APOBEC3G and its potential to treat HIV and other viral diseases. By producing atomic resolution images of the protein, researchers hope to develop novel methods to alter it for therapeutic use.
Rockefeller scientists have developed a new polarized microscopy technique that can help deduce the orientation of specific proteins within cells. By harnessing the unique properties of polarized light, researchers have filled in the gaps left by other techniques and made important new discoveries about protein complexes.
Researchers at University of Western Ontario developed a strategy to stimulate blood vessel formation in tissues lacking oxygen, potentially treating conditions like coronary artery disease. The approach, using fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9), activates supporting cells that create functional new vessels that last over a year.
Methods Navigator is an online tool that enables life scientists to search, access, and apply the right method for their research. With access to over 50,000 articles and 120 commonly used protocols, Methods Navigator simplifies the scientific workflow.
Researchers used carbon dating to determine the age of carotid plaques in humans, finding that plaque formation occurs during a relatively short and late time period in life. The study also found an association between low plaque age, higher insulin levels, and instability.
Dr. Michael S. Watson, PhD, FACMG, receives the first ACMG Presidents' Award for his groundbreaking work in translating genetic information into healthcare use. He has been a driving force behind the American College of Medical Genetics' success.
Studies found that exercise prevents telomere stress and cell aging, suggesting a link between physical activity and healthier cells. Telomeres measure cell age and health, with shorter lengths linked to diseases like cancer and cardiovascular disease.
A genetic variant has been linked to both longer telomeres and a reduced risk of bladder cancer, according to researchers. The study found that the variant, rs398652, was associated with a 19% reduction in bladder cancer risk.
Studies reveal Tet protein maintains pluripotency in stem cells by silencing differentiation genes while activating pluripotency genes. The protein's product, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, plays a crucial role in regulating transcription and is the first genome-wide location of its role in development and disease.
Researchers at University of Minnesota develop technology to convert CO2 into hydrocarbon fuels using bacteria and sunlight, a potential solution to fossil fuel depletion and climate change. The process uses ketones produced by bacteria as feedstock for diesel fuel production.
The Biophysical Society has recognized twenty student research achievement award winners for their outstanding contributions to the field of biophysics. The winners were selected from a competitive event held during the annual meeting, and they will receive monetary awards for their work.
Researchers found that acetylation regulates DNA maintenance, favoring protection of genetic information. This discovery may lead to interventions enhancing the body's natural preservation of genetic info, potentially delaying aging-related diseases.
A study by Albert Einstein College of Medicine researchers found that an enzyme family, katanin, regulates cell motility. Treating this enzyme can encourage cells to migrate in a particular direction to heal wounds. This discovery could lead to new therapeutic agents for conditions like diabetic ulcers and metastatic cancer.
Researchers at NYU have created a new method for generating extended and knotted optical traps in three dimensions using computer-generated holograms. This breakthrough could lead to advancements in fusion energy and medical diagnostics, enabling the manipulation of small objects in complex 3D environments.
A UCSF team has developed a new model for how inherited genes contribute to frontotemporal lobar degeneration, a neurodegenerative disease. The study suggests that progranulin regulates the speed of dying cells being cleared from the brain.
A new gene mutation has been identified as the cause of a rare form of muscular dystrophy, with severe cognitive impairment. Researchers created a mouse model to study the mutation and found similar muscle and brain abnormalities, offering hope for potential treatments.
Researchers at UCI have found a second form of phototransduction light sensing derived from vitamin B2, which challenges the long-held understanding of this process. This discovery may reveal new information about cellular processes controlled by light and has implications for optogenetics.
Scientists have developed an instrument that tracks protein conformation and translocation with nanoscale precision. This breakthrough enables researchers to study proteins that regulate DNA replication and transcription, revealing new insights into their mechanisms.
Microscopic relaxation processes contribute to macroscopic changes in polymer network properties. Over ten hours, elasticity decreases by about a fifth and remains stable, shedding light on the aging process of elastic polymers.
A team of researchers has discovered that arrestin molecules bind to two rhodopsin molecules in bright light, but one in low light, challenging the long-held assumption of a single binding interaction. This finding has implications for understanding other senses and physiological functions controlled by G-protein coupled receptors.
Iowa State researchers have identified and described two parts of the three-part system that pumps toxins from bacteria and allows them to resist antibiotics. The discoveries provide novel insights into how the transporter functions and could lead to ways to block its activity, heightening bacteria's sensitivity to antibiotics.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have developed nanoparticles containing nitric oxide that improve survival after life-threatening blood loss in hamsters. The therapy maintains blood circulation and protects vital organs by increasing levels of NO gas, which relaxes blood vessels and regulates blood pressure.
Researchers discovered that targeting cancer-related pathways can treat congenital heart disease, with one drug reversing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in mouse models. Two drugs, an immunosuppressant and anti-cancer agent, were found to be effective in preventing and reversing the condition.
The study provides the first detailed atomic model of tropomyosin bound to actin, significantly advancing our understanding of this key cellular protein. The researchers found that the interaction between tropomyosin and actin is weak enough that it can be readily perturbed by regulatory proteins, acting as a molecular switch.
Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine have identified a protective mechanism in Streptococcus pyogenes that could be exploited to create new antibiotics. The discovery reveals how the antitoxin blocks the toxin's activity, sparing the bacteria from self-destruction.
Researchers at University of Washington develop tiny, battery-powered implantable devices that bridge impaired nerve connections and promote brain recovery from injury or disease. The devices can record nerve cell activity, process it, and stimulate cells in another brain region.
Researchers have identified the gene DOT1L as critical for heart function, which could lead to improved diagnosis and treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy. The study found that low levels of DOT1L enzyme can cause heart disease, including congestive heart failure.
Scientists have successfully imaged an intact virus using extremely intensive and ultra-short x-ray pulses from the world's first X-ray free electron laser. This breakthrough technology enhances the possibilities of imaging individual biological molecules too small to study with conventional microscopes.
Researchers at University of Michigan and University of California, Irvine discover DNA's building blocks 'rock and roll,' forming alternative structures with Hoogsteen base pairs. These fleeting states contain new layers of information stored in the genetic code, shedding light on critical interactions between DNA and proteins.
Researchers discovered that IDH mutation leads to a metabolic battle between molecules ?-KG and 2-HG, contributing to cancer development. Bolstering ?-KG production could offer a new treatment option for patients with the mutation, which affects 75% of people with low-grade brain tumors and 20% of those with acute myeloid leukemia.
The University of Michigan has developed a biosensor that can measure the growth and drug susceptibility of individual bacterial cells without a microscope. This breakthrough technology promises to speed up the treatment of bacterial infections, reduce healthcare costs, and combat antibiotic resistance.
Ralph G. Nuzzo, an American chemist, has been awarded the Research Award of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for his pioneering work on thiol-based SAMs. He will spend several months researching at KIT and Bielefeld University to advance Interfacial Systems Chemistry.
Researchers have identified the molecular signals that influence circadian rhythms in organisms, including humans, mice, and fruit flies. The study reveals how cryptochrome protein interacts with light to regulate these rhythms.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have discovered how HIV binds to and destroys APOBEC3F, a specific human antiviral protein. By converting this protein to a more effective antiviral agent, they found that shielding of a common feature shared by related proteins may yield similar outcomes.
The Biophysical Society honored 11 minority students with the Minority Travel Award for attending its 55th Annual Meeting. The award aims to encourage participation in biophysics research among underrepresented groups.
A recent study from the University of North Carolina found that widely used histone antibodies may not always recognize their intended targets, but instead bind to other sites. The researchers used a new approach to generate modified histone proteins and tested commercial antibodies, which often showed off-target binding issues.
A new technique developed at ORNL allows supercomputers to sift through massive molecular databases and identify potential drug candidates. This breakthrough could lead to diverse and innovative classes of drugs by processing millions of molecules a day.
Researchers identified SynCAM 1, a molecule that promotes synaptic connections and controls plasticity in the brain. The study found that too much of this molecule can be damaging, while mice with normal amounts of it have impaired learning ability.
Researchers are working on four different projects: studying MTB infection, analyzing latent infection in humans, improving chemotherapy for glioblastoma multiforme, and exploring gene modification for stem cell selection. The funding will support a multidisciplinary team of experts in proteomics, genetic epidemiology, and cytokine bio...
Scientists found that extreme temperature variations greatly impact chemical reactions, with some taking over 2 billion years to occur without enzyme assistance. This discovery challenges traditional views on life's origins and may influence future research on artificial catalysts.
A panel of experts addressed safety concerns in medical imaging, highlighting the risks associated with excessive radiation exposure. The Image Wisely initiative aims to educate patients and professionals on the benefits and risks of medical imaging.
Researchers used the Encanto supercomputer to create molecular snapshots of the ribosomal subunits during protein synthesis. The study showed that head swivel motion plays a crucial role in facilitating translocation via intra-subunit tRNA hybrid sites, and a dynamic catalyst acts as a pawl in the ribosomal machinery.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati found a potential genetic target, miR765, which can down-regulate protein phosphatase 1 inhibitor-1 and reduce cardiac muscle contractility. This micro-RNA may play a role in heart disease development by decreasing or deactivating proteins that help the heart function at full capacity.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have identified a protein called HAX-1 that protects cardiac cells and muscle from damage during ischemia-reperfusion injury. The study found that HAX-1 levels were reduced in hearts after heart attack, but overproduction improved contractile performance and decreased cell death.
A new study by Radiological Society of North America suggests that routine mammography screening in women over 40 has a very low risk of radiation-induced breast cancer. The study found that annual or biennial screening would result in few cancers and fatalities, but numerous lives saved through early detection.
Biophysicist Stuart Lindsay's new technique uses recognition molecules to grasp each base in turn, generating a distinct electronic signal that identifies each base. This allows for the reading of individual bases without interference from neighboring bases, including recognition of epigenetic modifications.
A UNC research team has identified RGL2 as a critical protein in the KRAS signaling pathway, which could lead to the development of effective pancreatic cancer treatments. The team's findings suggest that blocking this pathway may hold promise for halting the growth of pancreatic tumors.
Researchers at Harvard University project an estimated 42% of American adults will be obese by 2050, driven by the accelerating spread of obesity via social networks. The study found that non-obese individuals have a 2% chance of becoming obese annually, which increases with each obese social contact.
Researchers at UIC are investigating both acquired and familial causes of heart failure with a focus on identifying markers for diagnosis and targets for cures. The five-year funding supports an ongoing program-project grant led by R. John Solaro, which looks at the underlying maladaptive changes that lead to heart failure.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have developed a new epitope-mapping laboratory test that can pinpoint the unique binding site for disease-causing pathogens within three weeks. The test uses five essential proteins involved in antigen processing by immune system cells, speeding up the development of cancer vaccines and diagnostic...
Researchers have identified a new agouti family gene that regulates pigmentation and body weight in fish. The protein enables fish to dramatically change color to match their environment, a phenomenon also observed in mammals such as the arctic hare.
The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) has recognized 63 life scientists for their outstanding research contributions. Among the new members are 12 female researchers who have made significant advancements in various fields of molecular biology, neuroscience, and cancer biology.
Researchers discovered that U1 plays a crucial role in protecting mRNA transcripts from premature termination. By binding to the transcriptome, U1 keeps the cleavage/polyadenylation machinery in check until the RNA polymerase enzyme reaches its finish line.
Researchers have mapped the atomic structure of the M2 channel, a key protein in the flu virus. By understanding how protons move through this channel, scientists can develop new drugs to block its reproductive role and combat influenza.
Researchers at Penn School Medicine identified the steps controlling CD45 protein's different forms, essential for activating the immune system. The study's findings have implications for understanding autoimmune and neurological diseases.
A scientist at Florida State University has developed innovative techniques to characterize proteins, enabling faster and more accurate prediction of their structure and dynamics. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new drugs targeting specific proteins and designing new molecular machines.
Scientists at the University of Illinois Chicago have found a gene expression mechanism that contributes to drug resistance in aggressive ER-positive breast tumors. The study reveals how estrogen and inflammatory proteins work together to drive cancer progression.
Researchers found that blind individuals use specialized modules in the visual cortex to process spatial location, analysis of space, patterns, and motion. This neural plasticity enables them to refine their sense of sound and touch, exceeding sighted people's abilities.
The Einstein research aims to understand the role of proteins in normal biological processes and disease pathways. The project will focus on determining the structures of thousands of biomedically important proteins.