A team of researchers has developed a device called SpiderMass that enables surgeons to analyze tissue samples in real-time, potentially speeding up cancer surgery. The device uses mass spectrometry and a new ionization strategy to detect protein biomarkers, which could help identify stray cancer cells faster.
Researchers have discovered that the act of reading histone modifications leads to the modification of an oncoprotein called TRIM24 with a small protein tag called SUMO. This discovery suggests new ways to inhibit metastasis in cancer cells by targeting TRIM24's interactions with histones.
Researchers discover new proteins involved in atrazine degradation, shedding light on bacterial evolution and adaptation. The study's findings have implications for developing targeted enzymes to contain nitrogen runoff and mitigate algal blooms and animal die-offs.
Researchers found that healthy octogenarians have high cholesterol efflux capacity, a trait linked to reduced early signs of atherosclerosis. Additionally, two microRNAs were identified as drivers of programmed cell death in fat cells, suggesting a potential target for sustainable weight loss.
Researchers used proteomics to understand the pathogenic mechanisms of Trichomonas vaginalis and Aspergillus fumigatus, identifying palmitoylation sites in T. vaginalis proteins that regulate infectivity and a strategy for A. fumigatus to evade macrophage destruction. This work suggests potential treatments for these infections.
A new study by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine identified an enzyme that helps cancer cells make the building materials they need to quickly proliferate. Inhibiting this enzyme could slow down cancer growth, leading to more effective treatments.
A team of researchers used computational simulations to gain insights into how an enzyme activates and shuts off phospholipid production. The study's results could help understand why small changes in the enzyme lead to conditions like blindness and dwarfism.
A study of 800 participants who consumed milkshakes found new uncommon gene variants affecting patients' responses to a cholesterol drug. The variants were associated with changes in triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol levels after consuming high-fat meals and taking the medication.
Researchers have developed novel proteomics methods to address unanswered questions in cancer research, including protein variation within tumors. This study reveals significant variations in expression of multiple proteins between areas from the center and periphery of a tumor.
Recent studies in the Journal of Lipid Research reveal that dietary lipids can either treat or exacerbate diseases, depending on their type. The ketogenic diet has shown mixed results as a cancer therapy, while polyunsaturated fats like omega-3 and omega-6 have different effects on inflammation and brown fat formation.
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) has announced its annual award lecturers, who will present at the Annual Meeting in San Diego from April 21-25. The awards recognize outstanding contributions to biochemistry and molecular biology.
Pathogenic bacteria use a unique secretion system to export adhesins, which enable them to adhere to host cells. The study found that the adhesin protein needs to be modified with specific sugars by three enzymes acting in a specific sequence.
Researchers discovered a unique mechanism involving intrinsically disordered polypeptides in nuclear pore complexes that enable rapid recognition and binding of transport factors. This 'fuzzy' interaction allows for specific and speedy cell signaling, preventing DNA data breaches by viruses or faulty functioning.
Researchers studying a rare skin disorder called DEB found that loss of collagen VII affected the cellular microenvironment, leading to abnormal mRNA and protein turnover. Meanwhile, another study used novel proteomics to characterize changes in O-GlcNAc modification sites on proteins involved in T cell activation.
Scientists at Iowa State University have used leftover blood donor cells to gain insights into how natural killer cells interact with antibodies. They found that the carbohydrate modifications on these cells result in higher affinity, potentially leading to improved antibody therapies.
Researchers discovered a crucial link between virus sensing and gene expression in plant immune systems. The Rx1-Glk1 connection enables plants to regulate their antiviral responses without overdoing it.
Researchers at Stanford have discovered how a disease-associated protein gets inactivated, potentially paving the way for new treatments for celiac disease. The discovery of ERp57, an enzyme that re-forms a disulfide bond to turn off TG2, raises questions about its functions in healthy people and could lead to targeted therapies.
Researchers found that disruption of ganglioside enzyme leads to cell overgrowth in Sandhoff disease organoids, mimicking large brains of patients. Gene therapy approach was successful in improving size and reducing ganglioside accumulation after treatment.
Researchers have identified the protein SLC25A3 as the copper carrier into mitochondria, where it plays a crucial role in energy conversion. This discovery has implications for understanding metabolic diseases related to copper transport and energy production.
Recent studies investigate the role of cholesterol and other lipids in blood circulation, discovering a correlation between bad cholesterol levels and muscle damage in muscular dystrophy patients. Another study reveals a synergistic effect of hepatitis B and alcohol on cholesterol metabolism, increasing biosynthesis and impairing uptake.
Researchers have developed a new way to measure the activity of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), a protein associated with poor prognosis in cancer patients. By identifying specific client proteins tied to Hsp70 activity, scientists can now develop potential therapies by testing small molecules in real-world environments.
A study found that Pseudomonas protegens, a soil-dwelling bacterium, releases toxins through its type VI secretion system to protect plants from diseases. The toxins target NAD+, destroying other bacterial species and allowing the plant-protective bacteria to outcompete them.
Researchers identified an enzyme that is absent in healthy colon tissue but abundant in colon cancer cells. The enzyme, GalNAc-T6, attaches sugar molecules to proteins, affecting cell-cell adhesion and leading to abnormal tissue formation. This discovery may lead to new therapies for colon cancer.
Researchers discovered a new form of antibiotic resistance in pandemic cholera, where the enzyme AlmG modifies lipid A to prevent CAMPs from binding. This unique mechanism offers a new challenge for overcoming increasing antibiotic resistance.
Researchers have identified a common phospholipid pathway in plants and parasites, including malaria-causing Plasmodium. This discovery may lead to the development of new therapies for parasitic infections. The study also revealed that plant enzymes with similar structures can play different roles in the plant.
A large, enigmatic protein called AKAP350 plays a crucial role in assembling microtubules, which are essential for cell division and cargo transport. Researchers have gained new insights into its function, which may lead to improved anti-cancer therapies.
Researchers discovered that an enzyme called squalene monooxygenase (SM) responds to increased cholesterol levels by being destroyed, reducing cholesterol production. This finding could lead to new treatments targeting SM, potentially decreasing cholesterol levels.
Researchers developed a computational simulation method to predict protein sequence changes for efficient membrane insertion, correlating improved insertion efficiency with increased protein yield. The new approach offers a way forward for membrane protein researchers struggling to express their proteins.
A research project that began with an interest in bipolar disorder drugs has led to a better understanding of leukemia. The study found that the protein GSK-3 affects RNA splicing, which is linked to acute myeloid leukemia. This discovery could also explain why lithium causes increased white blood cell count.
A team of researchers has identified a region of the genome that regulates vitamin D activation in the kidneys, which could lead to new treatments for diseases involving vitamin D. The discovery also sheds light on the role of calcitriol in inflammatory diseases and its potential use as a treatment.
The proteasome complex has been found to regulate DNA packing in the nucleus, influencing gene expression. In yeast cells, the proteasome can induce heterochromatin formation but prevent its spread, suggesting an alternative mechanism of action beyond proteolysis.
Researchers discovered a previously unknown region of antithrombin protein plays a crucial role in preventing blood clots. This finding could lead to better-designed drugs for other blood disorders and improved treatments for patients with antithrombin deficiency.
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.
Researchers used a novel method to map protein interactions between mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum, shedding light on their crucial roles in cellular signaling and exchange. Faulty connections have been linked to several neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers have found that a protein called FBXL5 plays a crucial role in regulating iron levels by adding molecular tags to IRP-1, which can then be degraded. This discovery sheds light on the complex network of checks and balances underlying cellular iron regulation.
A recent study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry found that specific sugars attached to a key protein called Notch can serve as quality-control markers, ensuring its proper transport to the cell membrane. This discovery has implications for understanding cancer progression and developing potential treatments.
A study published in The Journal of Biological Chemistry reveals that bacterial toxins from E. coli can cause urinary tract infections with a different mechanism than pertussis toxin, which causes whooping cough. Understanding this diversity may help improve existing vaccines and create new ones.
Researchers developed an efficient method to produce antibodies that can bind to two different target molecules simultaneously, enhancing cancer immunotherapy. The new approach uses a modified IgG antibody structure with only four key changes, allowing for more versatile formats and improved stability.
A little-studied gene SLC13A5 may explain how liver cancer cells obtain energy to proliferate. Suppressing SLC13A5 in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines resulted in slower growth and division of cancer cells.
A team of researchers has developed methods to observe and quantify misfolded proteins associated with Parkinson's disease entering neurons. They found that fibrils were actively engulfed by the cell membrane and transported to lysosomes, where most remained for days.
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology honored prominent researchers with various awards, including the Herbert Tabor Research Award, FASEB Excellence in Science Award, and ASBMB Plenary Lectures. These recognition include notable scientists such as Robert G. Roeder, Bonnie L. Bassler, Peter Walter, Charles Brenner...
The 2016 ASBMB meeting featured scientific symposia on various topics including bioinorganic catalysis, cell signaling, chemical biology, chromatin organization, DNA replication, education, and glycoscience. Key researchers like Aziz Sancar will present their work on DNA repair and precision medicine.
Thyroid disease affects about 12% of the US population, with an overactive or underactive thyroid causing problems like weight gain or loss and mood changes. Researchers have now identified a common thread among autoantibodies and receptor mutations that trigger abnormal hormone production.
The ASBMB's Minority Affairs Committee has received a $500,000 NSF grant to support its Interactive Mentoring Activities for Grantsmanship Enhancement (IMAGE) program. The program aims to promote diversity in the scientific workforce by providing grantsmanship skills and career-development strategies to postdoctoral fellows and early-c...
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology recommends eight steps to make the scientific enterprise sustainable, including predictable funding and reduced regulations. The recommendations aim to spur action and implement changes at institutions and within the government.
Researchers discovered that salamanders can regenerate their hearts within six weeks by activating stem cells from the blood. This finding raises hope for new treatments for people with damaged tissue, potentially paving the way for clinical trials and improved therapies.
Researchers have discovered a new class of proteins called cnidarins that can block HIV virus penetration into T-cells, providing a potent barrier against infection. The proteins were found in a feathery coral collected off Australia's northern coast and show a unique mechanism of action.
A new study has identified molecules that send detrimental signals in preeclampsia patients, which may lead to poor health outcomes in babies born to mothers with the syndrome. The researchers found that these molecules are associated with increased risk of disease later in life.
African American children with a genetic predisposition to diabetes can reduce their risk by consuming the USDA-recommended dose of calcium. Higher calcium intake appears to mitigate the impact of some risk genes for type 2 diabetes.
The Journal of Biological Chemistry published a series of articles assessing the cys-loop ligand-gated ion channel superfamily, which includes GABA A and glycine receptors. These proteins target neurotransmitters to regulate functions such as muscle contraction, anxiety, and pain.