The American Association for the Advancement of Science has selected five University of Tennessee faculty members for their distinguished contributions to science. The new fellows were recognized for their outstanding achievements in fields such as archaeology, biochemistry, and materials science.
Two University of Houston scientists, Dan Graur and Mary Ann Ottinger, were elected as AAAS Fellows for their distinguished contributions to the fields of biology and biochemistry. They join a select group of researchers recognized by their peers as among the best in their fields.
Case Western Reserve researchers have identified a protein mutation that prevents proper gonadal tissue development, leading to cancer and other issues. The discovery highlights the importance of the SRY protein in regulating male sex determination and has implications for understanding birth defects and cancer.
Scientists at Carnegie Institution for Science have discovered crucial biochemical pathways in single-cell alga Chlamydomonas that allow it to generate energy from stored sugars without taking up oxygen. This process is essential for the survival of many aquatic and terrestrial organisms, but its mechanisms are poorly understood.
Researchers have defined riskier mutations in neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer, which could help match patients with optimal treatment using ALK inhibitors. The study, published in Cancer Cell, analyzed DNA from nearly 1,600 patients and discovered ALK mutations in 8% of tumors.
A new blood test has been developed to diagnose early onset Alzheimer's disease, detecting changes in the brain two decades before symptoms appear. The test shows high accuracy in predicting AD risk and has the potential to improve treatment options.
Scientists at LSU have made a breakthrough in understanding photosynthesis by analyzing two critical plant proteins, PsbP and PsbQ. The study reveals how these proteins interact to facilitate oxygen production, providing new insights into the process.
ASU researchers are developing artificial genetic polymers composed of threose nucleic acid (TNA) to address emerging health and defense threats. The team plans to search large combinatorial pools for TNA molecules with desired functional properties.
A new study reports the discovery of a universally conserved drug target for Ebola, which can be used to develop effective anti-Ebola agents against all known species. The researchers have produced a peptide mimic that displays a functionally critical region of the virus, making it suitable for use in high-throughput drug screens.
Researchers suggest progesterone as a potential treatment for spinal cord injury due to its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. Studies demonstrate that progesterone preserves white matter integrity and improves locomotor function in animal models of spinal cord lesion.
A new Ebola treatment has shown promise against the Sudan strain of the virus in mice, using synthetic antibodies designed to target a key molecule on the surface of the virus. The treatment is not effective against the Zaire ebolavirus, which is currently devastating West Africa.
Researchers found that high insulin levels foster processes leading to obesity, even in mice given insulin to counter diabetes. Suppressing glucagon action may prevent hyperinsulinemia without causing diabetes.
The University of Houston's Comprehensive Student Success Program has been recognized for its success in improving grades and retaining students in introductory biology courses. The program includes curricular enhancement, peer-led recitation sessions, and field trips, resulting in a 14% increase in successful completion rates.
The NIH grant funds four collaborative projects, including those led by Dr. Robert Callender and Dr. Vern Schramm, who are working to understand the physics of atomic motions in enzymes. By doing so, they aim to design new classes of pharmaceuticals that can alleviate disease by targeting specific enzyme-substrate interactions.
Researchers are developing Camelina sativa as a biodiesel crop for the Great Plains, which can grow on poor-quality farmland and requires little irrigation and fertilizer. By altering the plant's biochemistry, they aim to create low-viscosity oil that can be used directly in diesel engines.
UH undergrads worked on diverse projects tackling cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and contact lens issues. Researchers explored ways to convert cancer cells into fat cells, analyzed neural activity effects of alcohol, and created a Lego-building guide app.
A new protease, Wss1, has been identified as a safeguarding factor that removes DNA-protein crosslinks, enabling cells to duplicate their genome. Cells lacking Wss1 are highly sensitive to damage and suffer from genomic instability.
Wolfgang Baehr will receive the Nelson Trust Award and funding to continue researching retinal diseases that lead to blindness. The award supports his work on understanding phototransduction and retina diseases.
The grant will support innovative practices in key introductory STEM classes, including collaborative group research and hands-on connections among sciences and math. The program aims to increase student participation and retention in STEM concentrations, particularly for underrepresented minorities.
The OU research team will investigate three specific antibiotic resistant pathogens, focusing on their structural components and physico-chemical properties. The goal is to develop a realistic predictive model that facilitates the design of effective antibiotics capable of penetrating the cell wall of these bacteria.
University of Utah researchers developed a way to observe HIV budding without interfering with the process, showing ALIX's involvement in the late stages of virus replication. The study used digital camera and microscope technology to make movies and photos of the budding process.
Researchers at Kansas State University have identified a new protein, BiP, associated with the neurological disorder dystonia. The study, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, suggests that modulating BiP could lead to effective treatments for dystonia.
Researchers at the University of Missouri identified a molecular signal that invites bacterial attack in plants. This discovery could lead to natural defenses against harmful bacteria in food-producing plants.
Researchers have determined the structure of a protein produced by Candida albicans, a common fungal pathogen that causes yeast infections and other diseases. The discovery could lead to the development of targeted compounds to treat widespread fungal infections.
Researchers at UMass Chan Medical School found that fruit flies can emit light when treated with a synthetic luciferin analog. This discovery expands the scope of bioluminescence imaging and opens new avenues for non-invasive studying of biological processes.
Scientists have discovered the atomic-scale mechanism of action for NpmA, an enzyme that imparts chemical changes to bacterial ribosomes, making them resistant to aminoglycoside antibiotics. This finding poses a significant threat to public health, but also reveals potential targets for developing new drugs.
A Texas A&M AgriLife Research study found that peach extract inhibits breast cancer metastasis in mice by targeting metalloproteinases. Consuming two to three peaches per day may provide similar benefits for humans, according to the study published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.
Researchers led by Maria Belen Cassera aim to identify new drug targets for preventing malaria transmission by studying the metabolism of the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum. The project focuses on understanding the role of isoprenoids in early stages of gametocytogenesis.
Researchers uncover an entire network of cellular helpers to mitigate damage, identifying new regulatory mechanisms for the heat shock response. The study's findings may also offer insights into neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Researchers at UT Arlington found that exposure to BPA can increase HOTAIR expression in breast tissue and tumor cells, potentially contributing to breast cancer growth. The study's results suggest a link between BPA and tumor genesis in addition to tumor growth.
Brandeis University researchers have identified the correct structure of a potassium ion channel in heart cells, challenging previous studies that suggested varying numbers of proteins were required. The findings have significant implications for understanding arrhythmias and developing effective treatments.
Five chemists from Indonesia, Jamaica, Nigeria, Uzbekistan and Yemen are being honored with Elsevier Foundation Awards for Early Career Women Scientists in the Developing World. The winners were selected for their impressive accomplishments in applying chemistry to pharmaceutical science.
The Price Family Foundation has awarded a $3 million grant to Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the University of Oklahoma to investigate the structural biology of anaerobic microorganisms, with a focus on combating C. difficile infections. The joint project aims to find better treatments for these life-threatening infections.
A device called MEDIC combines engineering and biochemistry to monitor specific drug levels in the bloodstream, offering potential for tailored prescriptions. The device uses microfluidic chambers lined with gold electrodes to detect target molecules in real-time.
Researchers at Duke University have determined the structure of a key part of the HIV envelope protein, gp41 membrane proximal external region (MPER), which previously eluded detailed structural description. This discovery will help focus HIV vaccine development efforts.
Scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute discovered the structural effects of V44M and V44A genetic mutations linked to FAD. The mutations lead to increased production of toxic Amyloid Beta 42 peptide, driving memory failure in patients.
Researchers created a robust synthetic genetic clock in E. coli bacteria to regulate protein production accurately across a wide temperature range. The breakthrough resolves a long-standing problem in synthetic biology and has potential applications in biotechnology and reprogramming cellular regulatory mechanisms.
A UT Arlington chemist has discovered that mutations outside the CDO enzyme's outer coordination sphere can lead to high levels of ROS, increasing the likelihood of age-onset diseases. The findings could be applied to other oxygen-dependent enzymes, potentially screening for genetic dispositions for ROS-related diseases.
A recent study has found that great white sharks have more similar proteins to humans than zebrafish, which challenges current understanding of their evolution. This discovery opens up new avenues for studying shark metabolism and biochemistry, potentially revealing insights into the biology of mammals as well.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge discovered that crop-infecting viruses use aphids as pawns to spread infection to healthy vegetation. By altering plant biochemistry, these viruses repel visiting aphids and force them to move to healthier plants, unwittingly transporting and spreading the virus.
Scientists have discovered the detailed molecular dance of a membrane transporter, revealing new insights into multi-drug resistant cancers. The study's findings provide a more complete picture of how transporters work, including their movements and interactions with surrounding molecules.
Researchers at Oregon State University have discovered a new way to produce novel compounds with antibiotic potential by deleting a master regulator gene in a common fungus. This finding opens up the door to studying dozens of new compounds and potentially discovering new antibiotics.
Researchers at UAB designed an antibody fragment that cleared Aβ peptide oligomers from the cerebral cortex, reversing anxiety and learning memory deficits in mice. The treatment also improved apolipoprotein levels, suggesting a potential therapeutic approach for Alzheimer's disease.
A multidisciplinary team has identified the function of an enzyme and its biochemical pathway in a marine bacterium, using computational methods combined with laboratory techniques. This breakthrough sheds light on protein-coding genes and offers insights into the role of orthologous enzymes in similar pathways.
Researchers have created a protein molecule that can be programmed to unite with three different steroids, opening up possibilities for biosensors, molecular sponges, and synthetic biology. The breakthrough could lead to detection of biomolecules in early-stage cancer and treatment of overdoses.
A new study from Case Western Reserve University reveals the SRY gene master switch is vulnerable to change, allowing for variability in male development. This could explain why human males develop near the edge of sexual ambiguity, making them more prone to dramatic changes in fetal development.
Researchers have used computer simulations to demonstrate a universal increase in electrical conductivity of many materials under strong electric fields. This finding has significant implications for systems in electrochemistry, biochemistry, and electrical engineering.
Scientists have developed lab-born human tissue structures to study and treat tumor growth, offering a more accurate alternative to animal testing. The new method uses biochemistry and cell types to replicate human conditions, paving the way for personalized medicine.
Researchers discover that a burnt sugar derivative, THI, improves muscle regeneration in mice with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The substance protects the body's supply of sphingosine 1-phosphate, essential for turning stem cells into specific types of cells and regenerating damaged tissue.
Researchers found a genetic process among rodents that challenges assumptions about sex determination and the pace of evolution. A novel protein domain added to the Sry gene acts as a genetic capacitor, providing protection against mutations but also allowing for rapid evolutionary change.
University of Oklahoma Norman campus researchers received $135,000 OCAST grants for three-year health research projects. The recipients will study advanced treatments for bone defects, viral RNA structure to develop new drugs, and the control of mosquito-transmitted diseases.
A Kansas State University-led study reveals that the TonB protein plays a central role in the uptake of iron by Gram-negative bacteria, which cause diseases like typhoid fever and meningitis. The research found that TonB acts as an electric motor that rotates in response to cellular energy flow, enabling iron acquisition into the cell.
Scientists used a combination of biochemistry and mass spectrometry to reveal how protein degradation is critical to cell cycle progression and bacterial development. They identified over 100 new candidate substrates of the protease ClpXP, including proteins involved in DNA replication, transcription, and cytoskeletal changes.
Researchers at the University of Montreal have discovered how rapamycin prevents cells from dividing, potentially slowing cancer progression and other diseases of abnormal growth. The study reveals that TOR sends a signal to shut down B cyclin production through an intermediary protein.
Scientists discovered that a molecule called BRD4 recognizes a specific amino acid on NF-kappa B and activates it, preventing its degradation in cancer cells. This interaction is critical in the development of cancer, and blocking it may lead to new cancer treatments.
A study by Georgia Tech researchers reveals that RNA can catalyze single electron transfer in oxygen-free environments with the assistance of iron. This process suggests that complex biochemical transformations may have been possible when life began on Earth, and could even revive a latent function of RNA.
Researchers identified genetic controls that enable social amoebas to differentiate between gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. The study found nearly 800 genes activated when exposed to gram-negative bacteria, highlighting a key role for a specific gene in degrading bacterial cell walls.
Active transporters in cells, which facilitate nutrient entry, have been found to be leaky and allow water to pass through. This discovery suggests a universal behavior among all active membrane transporters, with large structural changes causing leaks during movement of substrates.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have found that the ATP7A gene is essential for copper absorption, leading to a better understanding of Menkes disease. The study used laboratory mice and discovered that the gene's absence can lead to copper deficiency symptoms similar to those seen in children with the disease.
Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed a new chemical process that transforms waste sulfur into a lightweight plastic, which may improve batteries for electric cars and other applications. The new plastic has great promise as something that can be produced easily and inexpensively on an industrial scale.