The new CU Boulder e-skin has sensors embedded to measure pressure, temperature, humidity and air flow. It can be easily conformed to curved surfaces and is fully recyclable at room temperature, making it a valuable material for diverse medical, scientific and engineering fields.
A Clemson University undergraduate researcher has identified 22 genes associated with aggressive brain cancer glioblastoma. The discovery was made using a novel computer software that analyzed genomic data from two online public databases, revealing co-expression relationships between the genes.
Researchers at UC Riverside have solved the crystal structure of an enzyme that plays a key role in DNA methylation, a process linked to various diseases including cancer. The breakthrough provides important information for understanding de novo DNA methylation and its implications for gene expression and cell differentiation.
Researchers at Georgia Tech and Oak Ridge National Laboratory use neutron beams to illuminate presenilin, an intramembrane protease that chops protein building blocks. The study reveals a simpler protein structure than expected, with two chemical knives for cutting peptides.
The discovery suggests that the increase in oxygen in the biosphere triggered the addition of supplementary amino acids to form more functional proteins. The newer amino acids have systematically softer chemistry, making them more reactive and prone to undergo chemical changes.
Researchers found that mosquitoes can learn and remember human smells and associate them with defensive behaviors, leading them to avoid hosts who swat at them. This aversive learning is mediated by dopamine and can be exploited for mosquito control.
Researchers have found that blocking production of the chemical 20-HETE can control glioblastoma and breast cancer growth. The inhibitor HET0016 reduced tumor aggressiveness and invasiveness, slowing disease progression.
A recent paper explores how protein CK2 plays a key role in treating major depressive disorder. Manipulation of CK2 in the brain decreases depressive and anxious states through the 5-HT4 receptor.
A new class of medicines called HIF-2a inhibitors, including PT2385, have shown promise in treating metastatic kidney cancer. The drug blocked tumor growth for at least 4 months in 40% of patients and stopped cancer growth for over a year in 25% of patients with minimal side effects.
Researchers have developed a new method to design ordered peptide macrocycles with high accuracy, solving long-standing problems in peptide therapeutics development. The approach uses natural amino acids and their mirror opposites to improve pharmacological properties and provide a diverse range of shapes.
Scientists have developed the first synthetic protein assemblies that encapsulate their own genetic materials and evolve new traits in complex environments. These assemblies are computationally designed and can package RNA with improved efficiency, resist degradation, and increase circulation time in living mice.
Researchers from Ural Federal University and Russian Academy of Sciences developed new methods to treat type 1 diabetes by using anti-diabetic chemical compounds. The study showed that these compounds can help reduce glucose levels and increase insulin production in lab rats with diabetes.
Researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder are developing a new laser microscopy technique to study the progression of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. This technique, which involves shooting pairs of photons deep into brain tissue, may enable earlier diagnosis and better treatment options.
Biologists found a new substance, isocitric acid, with anti-oxidant properties that increased the survival rate of infusoria by 25-31 times compared to untreated cells. The compound also surpassed the effects of ascorbic acid, offering a promising solution for protecting living organisms from various toxic compounds.
Researchers discovered that flies can carry hundreds of different species of bacteria, many of which are harmful to humans. The study found that the legs and wings of flies have the highest microbial diversity.
Researchers have discovered that a cellular pump can move drugs like antibiotics into E. coli bacteria, contradicting the long-held assumption of strict proton and drug movement in opposite directions. This finding opens up new avenues for exploring antibiotic entry mechanisms to combat bacterial resistance.
Researchers have discovered the first confirmed human case of 2,3-dioxygenase deficiency, a rare metabolic disorder characterized by excessive serotonin levels. The study, led by Aimin Liu at UTSA, uses advanced instrumentation techniques to document the patient's conditions.
Scientists discovered a new binding motif that enables positively charged amino acids to bind with negatively charged terminal groups in peptides or proteins. This discovery may help rationalize why certain peptides easily pass through cell membranes and aid in designing efficient transport of drug molecules.
Vasanthi Jayaraman receives Maximizing Investigators' Research Award to study brain cell communication, developing high-resolution images of glutamate receptors for potential drug targets. Her research aims to enhance learning and memory, treat neurodegenerative conditions like Lou Gehrig's disease.
A recent study published in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry found that brain cells contain less polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to other major organs. This discovery, made by Dr. Junhwan Kim, PhD, has significant implications for understanding brain health and conditions like oxygen deprivation.
The University of Minnesota Medical School's Center for Magnetic Resonance Research has received a NIH R01 grant to investigate the underlying trajectory of brain chemistry in healthy aging and Alzheimer's disease. The project aims to identify abnormal metabolic pathways in Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at the University of Notre Dame have developed a new analysis procedure to better understand how intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) function in cells. The study finds that most IDPs are more disordered than previously thought, which could lead to new strategies for preventing protein misfolding diseases.
Scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have discovered a compound that directly makes cancer cells commit suicide while sparing healthy cells. The new treatment approach, BTSA1, works by triggering apoptosis in cancer cells through the BAX protein, leaving healthy cells unscathed.
Scientists use single-molecule FRET imaging techniques to study the dynamics of NMDA receptor gates, which control chemical signals into electrical signals. The research reveals that these gates have multiple conformational interactions that improve or degrade signaling.
Researchers studied HIV drug combinations to understand why some drugs act synergistically while others do not. They found that virus protein mutations and host cell receptor density affect synergy, highlighting the need for personalized treatment approaches.
Professor Patricia Dos Santos of Wake Forest University has received a $680,000 NSF grant to support her biochemistry research and mentorship program. The grant enables her to work with graduate students and undergraduate researchers from local colleges, providing hands-on research experience and career development opportunities.
Scientists at Oregon State University developed a new assay to study the otoferlin protein, essential for hearing. They found a truncated version of otoferlin that can function in sound encoding and validated a method for characterizing large membrane proteins.
Exposure to seismic signals from air gun surveys increased scallop mortality rates and altered physiological characteristics, including reflex responses and hemolymph biochemistry. These findings suggest potential effects of anthropogenic aquatic noise on marine life.
A Virginia Tech research team found that oleuropein, an olive-derived compound, helps the body secrete more insulin and detoxify amylin, a signaling molecule linked to type 2 diabetes. This discovery could lead to new strategies to fight obesity and related diseases.
Researchers create non-invasive ESR imaging technique using quantum probes to detect and image electronic spins with sub-cellular resolution. This breakthrough provides new insights into the role of transition metal ions in biology and disease, offering a promising tool for probing human biochemistry.
Saint Louis University chemist Paul Bracher has received a $597,380 NSF grant to investigate the origins of life on Earth and potentially in oily environments like Titan. The research aims to develop new biochemistry that can function in organic solvents.
Scientists discovered that molecules help the tongue communicate with the brain to identify the correct taste. By rewiring the taste-system of mice, researchers found that taste receptor cells determine their own connectivity by providing instructive signals to neurons.
Researchers at Iowa State University have identified two key mechanisms by which bacteria can resist antibiotics: efflux pumps that extrude drugs from cells, and reinforced cell walls that make it difficult for antibiotics to penetrate. These discoveries could lead to the development of new treatments that target these structures.
Scientists from University of Washington and University of Toronto have developed new high-throughput approach to test folding stability of thousands of computationally designed proteins. This study led to the design of 2,788 stable protein structures with potential bioengineering and synthetic biology applications.
Scientists describe the first step of DNA packing in a cell, revealing how protein H1 helps compact and shield DNA. The discovery sheds light on genetic processes critical to understanding diseases like cancer and muscular dystrophy.
Katayoon Dehesh, a UC Riverside molecular biochemist, has been elected to the Leopoldina, the German National Academy of Sciences. Her research focuses on deciphering the molecular and biochemical regulatory mechanisms underlying stress-induced responses in plants.
Erhu Cao, a University of Utah biochemist, has been named a Pew Scholar to explore the dynamic interactions within cell membranes. His research focuses on ADPKD, a genetic disorder affecting approximately 1 in 1,000 people, and may lead to new therapeutic approaches.
Researchers found biochemical differences in astronauts with vision issues before space travel, suggesting a genetic predisposition. The study suggests that length of time in space may impact eye health and that further research is needed to resolve vision issues for astronauts.
Researchers have discovered a molecular mechanism behind prion protein's role in neurodegenerative diseases, including Creutzfeldt-Jakob and Alzheimer's. The study found that copper biases the prion protein towards its 'off' state, which reduces toxic signals to nerve cells.
Scientists discovered that biological activity in sea spray affects the chemical composition of aerosol particles, making them more complex and diverse. This finding could improve the accuracy of atmospheric and climate models, which play a crucial role in understanding the impact of sea spray on climate.
A Queen's-led European research project, INBIONET, has made huge strides in tackling antibiotic resistance and its impact on global health. The study found that various pathogens share a common anti-immune strategy, potentially leading to the development of new drugs to treat different types of infections.
A new study by University of Notre Dame researchers has led to the development of a test kit for detecting influenza using fluorescent light. The test kit emits red fluorescence when exposed to infected patient samples, indicating the presence of the virus.
Research shows that ocean-going spinner dolphin calves do not develop physical characteristics essential for sustaining deep dives as quickly as shallow-diving coastal species. This slow development may lead to mother-calf separations during tuna purse-seine fisheries, posing a significant threat to dolphin populations.
Researchers have discovered a defined architecture of the bacterial expressome, allowing for a better understanding of how bacteria impact human health. This finding may lead to the development of new antibiotics that target bacteria but leave human cells unharmed.
The University of Utah will receive a cryo-electron microscope, enabling precise imaging of life's building blocks at an atom-by-atom scale. The instrument will help researchers study protein complexes and understand biological processes.
A team of MSU scientists mapped a giant Samba virus using DIY cryo-electron microscopy technology, revealing its structure and biological mechanisms. The breakthrough could lead to new treatments for diseases caused by similar viruses.
Researchers at UC Riverside have determined the crystal structure of the Zika virus NS5 protein, enabling a better understanding of its replication mechanism. The discovery provides a strong basis for developing potential inhibitors against ZIKV infection.
Scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison solved the structure of an enzyme that attacks toluene, a chemical derived from wood and oil. The study reveals a less reactive form of iron-oxygen intermediate that avoids side reactions, offering insights for synthetic chemists.
The study used Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to detect biomolecular changes in white blood cells stimulated with bacterial components, revealing a threefold increase in microvesicle production and altered lipid content.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have discovered that plants can recognize friendly RNAs by breaking down those without a nucleotide 'tail' using the immune system. This breakthrough paves the way for future biotechnological techniques to modify crops.
Scientists have completed a model of the P22 virus's chemical structure with unprecedented detail, revealing the building blocks of proteins and their interactions. This breakthrough allows for more information about biochemistry and provides detailed annotations for future experiments.
Researchers at Northwestern University have found a molecule that stops the growth of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a fatal pediatric brain tumor. The study, published in Nature Medicine, reveals the molecule detaches proteins that enable cancer cells to grow, offering new treatment options for children under 10.
Grimes, assistant professor in UD's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, will use her fellowship to investigate how chronic inflammatory diseases, such as asthma and Crohn's disease, arise from bacterial cell wall fragments. Her work aims to understand the immune system's response to these molecules.
Scientists from UNC School of Medicine have confirmed the functions in bacterial cells of two important excision repair proteins, Mfd and UvrD, using an advanced sequencing technique. The study provides a genome-wide map of excision repair in bacteria and highlights the potential for developing novel antibiotic drugs.
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology found that doubling dialysis hours did not improve overall quality of life for patients with kidney failure. However, some intermediate outcomes improved, such as blood pressure parameters and biochemistry measurements.
Researchers discovered a viral protein that transforms its structure when interacting with DNA, acting like a sensor to measure out appropriate lengths. This finding reveals a potential drug target for human herpesviruses and offers a new therapeutic strategy.
Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine and Georgia Tech found that the yeast protein Lsb2 forms a 'metastable' prion in response to elevated temperatures as a protective mechanism against stress. This discovery suggests that prions may play an adaptive role in cell survival.
Researchers from the University of Bath will investigate mass extinction using genetic and fossil analyses to understand patterns of extinction and species formation. They hope to find evidence of higher extinction rates before the K-Pg boundary, shedding light on recovery rates after the event.
The study reveals how Piperlongumine converts to an active drug that targets and silences the GSTP1 gene, which is often overactive in tumors. This breakthrough provides new hope for developing cancer therapies using natural compounds.
University of Minnesota researchers have provided unprecedented images of cancer genome-mutating enzymes acting on DNA, offering vital clues into how these enzymes promote tumor evolution. The findings suggest ways to block enzyme activity in cancer, potentially making current anti-cancer therapies more effective.