Boston University School of Medicine researchers are developing a portable fluorescent lamp to produce vitamin D in patients with fat malabsorption syndromes. The study aims to determine the effectiveness of this device in increasing blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, with initial results expected in the spring of 2011.
A research team led by Edward Yu has discovered the crystal structures of pumps that remove heavy metal toxins from bacteria, allowing them to resist antibiotics. This finding provides a better understanding of bacterial resistance and could help drug researchers develop treatments to combat it.
A study by Case Western Reserve University found that stopping thoughts burns energy, similar to how thinking itself consumes energy. The researchers used a computer model and Metabolica software package to analyze brain metabolism.
Researchers reveal the structure of CENP-A, a molecule that plays a central role in DNA duplication and equal distribution into two daughter cells. The study provides insights into how CENP-A marks centromere location on each chromosome.
Researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles found that obesity increases the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in both mouse models and older animals, suggesting an association between excess weight and cancer progression.
The Biophysical Society has selected 2011 Fellows for their outstanding achievements in the field of biophysics, including advancements in molecular dynamics simulation and superresolution microscopy. The newly appointed Fellows will be honored at the Awards Ceremony during the annual meeting.
The Biophysical Society has recognized eight individuals with its 2011 awards for their significant contributions to the field of biophysics. The awardees include researchers who have made pioneering discoveries using NMR methods, membrane protein biochemistry, and single molecule fluorescence microscopy.
Biophysicists at Ruhr-University Bochum discovered a proton diode in proteins that allows protons to pass through cell membranes in one direction. Water molecules play a crucial role in this process, supporting the hypothesis that protein-bound water molecules are essential for protein function.
Scientists at TUM create a versatile biophysical model system to investigate complex systems and their properties. They report finding that when density crosses a threshold, actin filaments begin to move collectively, resembling flocks of birds or shoals of fish.
A recent study has discovered that even brief periods of light exposure can significantly impact a fungus's biological functions, including reproduction, pigmentation, DNA repair, and stress response. The research also found that specific metabolic pathways can be directly activated by light in this fungus.
The University of Maryland has received a $1.9 million grant to acquire an 800 MHz NMR spectrometer, enabling researchers to investigate biomolecular structure and interactions with high resolution and sensitivity. This technology will advance research on RNAs, critical biological molecules involved in various diseases.
Overutilization of medical imaging services exposes patients to unnecessary radiation and adds to healthcare costs. Radiologists recommend a national collaborative effort to develop evidence-based appropriateness criteria and implement practice guidelines to reduce overutilization.
Researchers found two mechanisms altering HIV-1 population in semen, including clonal amplification and compartmentalization. The study suggests the viral population in semen may be distinct from that in blood, affecting our understanding of transmission and selective pressures.
Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have gained atomic-level insight into how organisms synthesize their major form of chemical energy using the enzyme ATP synthase. The discovery provides a clearer understanding of how these nano-machines function, including the role of water molecules in the rotary mechanism of ATP synthesis.
A team of scientists has provided the first atomic-level glimpse of the proton-driven motor from ATP synthases, enzymes central to cellular energy conversion. The study revealed a water molecule in the critical rotor element of a bacterial nano-motor that shares common features with human mitochondria and bacteria.
A new method of attack against the AIDS virus has been developed using a prevention system that stiffens cell membranes, making them impenetrable to the virus. This research, published in Chemistry & Biology, provides a novel focus on regulating cell membrane fluidity and preventing viral fusion.
Researchers at Tufts University have made significant advancements in silk materials, transforming them from commodity textiles to high-tech applications. The development of silk hydrogels, films, fibers, and sponges enables advances in photonics, nanotechnology, electronics, adhesives, and microfluidics.
Researchers at UNC Health Care have made a breakthrough in understanding the role of Tet 1 protein in maintaining stem cell pluripotency. The study found that Tet 1 helps stem cells renew themselves and stay undifferentiated, paving the way for personalized therapies.
A team of biochemists has identified the molecular mechanism by which an immune response is triggered by invading viruses, according to recent research. The results could lead to new therapies for viral infections, including the common cold and hepatitis. By understanding how the immune system recognizes viral RNA at the atomic level, ...
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have successfully imaged the open state of a K+ channel, allowing for better understanding of its effectiveness in treating cardiovascular diseases. The study has implications for improving pharmaceutical efficiency and enhancing the quality of cardiovascular-related drugs.
Rice University researchers have developed a computer program that accurately simulates protein folding dramatically faster than previous methods. The new technique allows scientists to study the roots of diseases caused by proteins that fold incorrectly, which is crucial for understanding diseases such as Alzheimer's and cystic fibrosis.
A recent study by UNC researchers provides evidence that a specific gene, MAGE-11, interacts with proteins to promote androgen receptor activity in advanced prostate cancer cells. This finding opens the door to additional targets for new therapies and broader clinical applications of new drugs.
Gerald R. Fink receives the prestigious award for his groundbreaking work on yeast genetics, enabling gene manipulation and advancing biomedical science. His discoveries have led to life-saving drugs and vaccines, as well as a deeper understanding of disease-causing fungi.
Scientists have found that plants deploy defensin proteins to facilitate the fertilization process, releasing male sperm cells through an explosive mechanism. This groundbreaking discovery provides new insights into the evolution of flowering plants and may lead to breakthroughs in breeding crops with improved fertility.
A multicenter team of researchers, including scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, has received a NIH 'Glue Grant' to develop a strategy for discovering the structure and function of unknown enzymes. The research may result in new drug targets and lead to new enzymes for industrial reactions.
Children requiring home mechanical ventilation often receive frequent chest x-rays, but research suggests these may not be necessary to change treatment plans. Researchers analyzed records of 28 patients and found that two-thirds of repeat x-rays did not prompt changes within 24 hours.
Researchers from CAS develop novel tea filter to treat cigarette addiction, identifying theanine as key ingredient inhibiting nicotine addiction. The treatment shows promise in reducing smoking consumption and symptoms, with no apparent side effects.
Researchers from Georgetown University Medical Center identify a potential new combination therapy to increase or 'rescue' sensitivity to fulvestrant in ER+ breast cancers. The study found that the cytokine IFNγ appears to increase IRF1 expression, leading to increased apoptosis of cancer cells.
Researchers have identified synaptotagmin1 as the sole trigger for neurotransmitter release in the brain, a breakthrough discovery published in the journal Science. This finding has significant implications for understanding brain malfunctions such as autism and epilepsy.
A team of researchers will investigate how chromosomes untangle to expose genes that give cells their biological traits. They will tackle three independent projects: disassembling nucleosomes to reveal gene DNA, understanding protein facilitation of assembly and disassembly, and studying nucleosome movement in living yeast cells.
A study published in Experimental Biology and Medicine reports the discovery of periodic heart rate decelerations in premature human infants. The researchers developed a mathematical model based on Hopf bifurcation theory to describe the dynamics of these decelerations, which are statistically correlated with impending sepsis in neonates.
Researchers from Georgetown University Medical Center are studying multiple ways to address treatment-resistant breast cancers. A third approach involves triggering vulnerable cells to respond to existing treatments, while another study focuses on targeting orphan nuclear receptors to prevent resistance.
Researchers at the University of North Carolina have discovered that the Ku protein plays a crucial role in repairing damaged DNA strands. This breakthrough has significant implications for understanding the development of cancer and other age-related diseases.
In complex organisms, regulatory networks are more democratic and collaborative, with master regulators controlling middle managers governing workhorse genes. These systems tend to be less autocratic, instead relying on mutually supporting partnerships for stability.
Researchers at Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center are working on a five-year $7.5 million grant to understand the role of the estrogen receptor in breast cells, aiming to develop more advanced and targeted therapies for ER+ breast cancer cases. The project involves collaborative research with Virginia Tech and Fox Chase Cancer Center.
The spliceosome, a giant complex of RNA and protein subunits, assembles and operates to remove unwanted genetic material and join the remaining pieces. Researchers spied on the process using FRET and observed reversible contortions in the presence of energy.
Researchers have developed a method to deterministically position silver nanoparticles onto self-assembling DNA scaffolds, paving the way for new biomedical applications and precise sensing operations. The study demonstrates the viability of using silver instead of gold nanoparticles in DNA-based architectures.
A new study reveals that fungi have the capacity to quickly change their genomes and become infectious to plants and animals, including humans. This discovery raises concerns for crop agriculture and human health, as fungal diseases are more difficult to treat than bacterial diseases.
New research from UNC suggests that acetylation of metabolic enzymes plays a key role in regulating cellular metabolism. The study identified approximately 1,000 new proteins with acetyl groups, expanding the previously recognized repertoire of 50, and found that altering metabolic fuels can alter acetylation levels.
A computer simulation of protein malfunction related to Alzheimer's disease was created by researchers at Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona and University of Stockholm. The model shows that ApoE4 loses its functional structure in the presence of Amyloid beta, but not ApoE2 and ApoE3 forms.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center discover a compound found in feverfew may block pro-survival signals in breast cancer cells resistant to tamoxifen. This finding provides insight into the biological roots of resistance and tests a novel way to overcome it.
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a versatile DNA reader that can distinguish between the four core chemical components of DNA. The device uses nanotechnology and scanning tunneling microscopes to detect unique electrical signatures from each base, enabling faster and cheaper genome sequencing.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have shown that small mechanical forces can control gene expression by reducing DNA looping, a common mechanism for gene regulation. The study provides new insights into how cells regulate themselves and could lead to new understandings of diseases such as cancer and cardiac disease.
James A. Hamilton, PhD, received the 2010 Avanti Award in Lipids for his work on NMR methods to detect vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque and specific components in plaques. The award recognizes his contributions to biomedical engineering and medicine.
Researchers discovered that the Ebola virus uses a protein called VP35 to mask its RNA, evading the host cell's immune response. This unique mechanism makes Ebola highly deadly and difficult to treat.
Researchers aim to improve methods for screening and testing glaucoma, a disease affecting 70 million people worldwide. The study will focus on optimizing perimetry testing and developing new statistical methods to compare different clinical measures.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have discovered a molecular security system in human cells that deactivates and degrades foreign DNA. This discovery could lead to major improvements in genetic engineering and gene therapy technologies.
The study reveals that RNA molecules' 3D shapes are dictated by their junctions, similar to how anatomical features define arm motion. The researchers also found that drug molecules interact with RNA in predictable ways, with size being a key factor in determining the preferred orientation.
A protein complex called elongator may play a significant role in erasing epigenetic instructions on sperm DNA, enabling the formation of new embryos. This discovery could have implications for stem cell research and cancer treatment.
A new investigational agent YC137 was found to restore sensitivity of breast cancer cells to treatment by fulvestrant, a commonly used drug for estrogen-receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer. The study suggests that using an agent that can hit multiple Bcl2 proteins will be more effective in overcoming tumor resistance.
Researchers at UNC have discovered a single calcium atom controls bacterial motility required for infection. By blocking this site, the bacteria can't move, stopping its ability to establish infections like meningitis. The finding identifies a key step in bacterial infection and could lead to new drug targets.
Researchers at Arizona State University use single-walled carbon nanotubes to accelerate DNA sequencing, detecting sharp spikes in electrical activity during DNA translocation. The technique has potential to speed up sequencing by thousands of times while reducing costs.
A University of Iowa study reveals a critical link in the sugar chain of an important muscle protein, providing insights into congenital muscular dystrophies and cancer progression. The discovery may lead to new therapies for treating these conditions.
Researchers created stimulus-specific sustained activity patterns in brain circuits maintained in vitro, revealing the possibility of storing information in isolated brain tissue. The study found that semilunar granule cells played a critical role in this process.
Researchers have identified a key protein channel that helps nerve sensors regulate blood pressure. The ASIC2 channel plays a crucial role in controlling electrical activity in blood vessels, and its absence leads to high blood pressure.
A new study published by the American Psychological Association finds that deficiencies in DHA, a type of omega-3 fatty acid, may contribute to mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and ADHD. The research suggests that increasing DHA in the diet may help improve nervous-system function.
The Biophysical Society has announced the winners of its 2010 International Travel Awards, fostering interaction between American biophysicists and scientists in financially difficult countries. The recipients, chosen based on scientific merit, will present their work at the society's Annual Meeting in San Francisco.
The Biophysical Society has announced the winners of its Minority Travel Awards for 2010, recognizing minority students who will attend the society's Annual Meeting in San Francisco. Over 6,000 biophysicists are expected to attend the event, where more than 4,000 scientific abstracts have been submitted.
The Biophysical Society has announced the winners of its first annual CPOW travel award to increase women's participation in biophysics. The recipients will receive a travel grant and be recognized at the meeting.
Researchers at the University of Southern California have discovered a new bacterial behavior where Shewanella oneidensis harvests electrochemical energy and swims in response to metal presence. This finding could improve the efficiency of microbial fuel cells, producing usable energy.