Scientists at Yale University investigate the mechanics of touch by studying the sensitive skin on ducks' bills, finding similarities with human palms. They identify the Piezo2 molecule as crucial for touch sensation, with duck bill skin allowing more ions to enter neurons than mouse paw skin.
Researchers found that lipids can self-assemble into vesicles on a surface without external input, forming compartments enclosed by lipid membranes. This process is plausible and could have occurred on early Earth, where fatty molecules were abundant.
The Biophysical Society has announced the winners of its Outstanding Poster Award, recognizing outstanding scientific achievements in biophysics. The student winners were selected for their research on HERG kinetics, while the postdoctoral winner was recognized for her work on cardiac resynchronization therapy.
The Biophysical Society has honored 10 distinguished members as 2019 Society Fellows for their groundbreaking work on cytoskeleton filaments, protein folding, single-molecule methods, and cellular dynamics. These individuals have made significant contributions to the field of biophysics.
Enrico Gratton, a renowned researcher in lipid biophysics, will receive the 2019 Avanti Award. His pioneering work has led to significant discoveries on membrane heterogeneity and nanodomains, advancing our understanding of biological membranes.
Harry Noller receives 2019 BPS Ignacio Tinoco Award for his pioneering studies on the structure, dynamics, and function of the ribosome. He is recognized for promoting an inclusive and collaborative research environment that positively impacts his community.
Elizabeth Rhoades, Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, has been awarded the 2019 Michael and Kate Bárány Award for her outstanding work on structure-function relations in disordered systems. The award recognizes her innovative use of single-molecule tools to gain insights into conformational landscapes.
Jeff Gelles to receive 2019 BPS Kazuhito Kinosita Award in Single-Molecule Biophysics, recognizing his exceptional contributions to single-molecule studies and cross-disciplinary research. The award aims to promote further developments in the field, advancing an appreciation of single-molecule biophysics among scientists.
Raymond Stevens has made significant contributions to membrane protein structural biology technologies. His work led to ground-breaking discoveries on the structures, evolution, and therapeutic targeting of G protein-coupled receptors.
The Biophysical Society named Yves De Koninck its 2019 Emily M. Gray Award winner for his work in developing transdisciplinary training initiatives in neurophysics and neurophotonics. The award recognizes his dedication to mentoring the next generation of scientists.
Juli Feigon, Distinguished Professor at UCLA, receives the 2019 BPS Founders Award for her pioneering work in NMR structural biology. She has made significant contributions to understanding the conformational variability of DNA and RNA, as well as the structure and function of telomerase complexes.
Songi Han is recognized for her inventions of solid-state and time-domain-capable dynamic nuclear polarization instrumentation, advancing fundamental understanding of surface water properties in biological materials. Her work characterizes surface water in soft materials, contributing to our knowledge of biological hydration.
Meytal Landau is honored for her creative and committed work on amyloid-like fibers and alpha-helical structures. The Biophysical Society recognizes her contributions to advancing scientific knowledge and promoting diversity in researchers.
Researchers found that increased tissue stiffness leads to tumor aggressiveness and drug resistance in breast cancer cells. The study suggests that developing drugs that can prevent stiffness may stop the spread of cancer.
Researchers discovered that lipid asymmetry plays a key role in activating immune cells. By maintaining balance, the immune system can be controlled and potentially used to treat allergies, inflammation, or cancer. The study's findings suggest new avenues for treating these conditions by regulating membrane composition.
Research explores how gut bacteria respond to common changes in their habitat, revealing that bacterial species can go extinct when environments are altered even slightly. This understanding could lead to the design of targeted probiotics and therapies to make gut microbes more resilient.
Researchers at the University of Southern Denmark have developed a new method to rapidly transform the soft body of jellyfish into a crunchy treat. The technique, which uses ethanol, produces crispy jellyfish chips that could be of potential gastronomic interest.
Researchers developed an electric eel-inspired device that produced 110 volts from gels filled with varying strengths of salt water, leveraging ion gradients across hydrogels. The team hopes to increase the current and develop a power source for implantable devices utilizing existing human body ionic gradients.
Researchers at Stanford University are using the vibrational Stark effect to measure an enzyme's electric field as it evolves into antibiotic-resistant form. They aim to understand the correlation between electric field changes and antibiotic resistance, with potential implications for developing new antibiotics.
Cyanobacterial clock proteins were found to dictate their function through internal motions, providing important mechanistic insights into biological timekeeping. This discovery has implications for understanding circadian clocks in eukaryotic organisms, such as animals and humans.
Researchers at UC San Francisco have uncovered the architecture of the spindle pole body in yeast, shedding light on its function and potential connections to human centrosomes. The study reveals that the Spc110 protein plays a crucial role in the SPB's structure and may provide a binding surface for its architecture.
Researchers used mutant bacteria to study how changes in membrane proteins impact cellular processes, finding that phospholipid environment can control protein structure and function. This discovery provides a new way to understand cellular regulation and integration of chemical reactions.
Researchers at the University of Illinois discovered how Ras protein binding to cell membranes impact the signaling pathways that cause cancer's uncontrolled growth. The study found that KRas4b binds more tightly to the cell membrane, but it needs to attach on the correct side.
The Biophysical Society has announced its new and notable symposium speakers for the 62nd Annual Meeting. The session will feature cutting-edge research on ultrafast glutamate sensors, dynamic chromatin fibers, and more. The meeting will take place from February 17-21, 2018.
The Biophysical Society has announced the winners of its 2018 Committee for Inclusion and Diversity Travel Awards, which aim to encourage participation at the Annual Meeting by underrepresented students and postdoctoral fellows. This year's recipients represent various universities and research institutions across the US.
The recipients are selected based on scientific merit and will present their research during the meeting, receive a travel grant, and be recognized at a reception. The awardees include students and postdoctoral fellows from various institutions.
Daniela Kraft has been selected as the winner of the Biophysical Journal Paper of the Year Award for 2017 for her research on microparticle assembly pathways on lipid membranes. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to biophysics, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary research in this field.
The Biophysical Society has announced the winners of its international travel grants, chosen based on scientific merit and proposed presentation at the meeting. The recipients will be honored at a reception on February 18, 2018, in San Francisco.
The Biophysical Society has awarded travel fellowships to female postdoctoral fellows and mid-career scientists presenting at the conference. The recipients will receive a travel grant and be recognized at a reception on February 21, 2018.
The Biophysical Society has announced its 2018 Society Fellows, recognizing distinguished members who have made significant contributions to the field of biophysics. The 2018 Fellows include Patricia Bassereau, James Bowie, Astrid Graslund, Roderick MacKinnon, and others.
The Biophysical Society has announced its 2018 award recipients, honoring outstanding contributions to the field of biophysics. The winners include Jue Chen, Wonhwa Cho, Bianxiao Cui, Taekjip Ha, Leslie Loew, Carrie Partch, Madeline Shea, and James Spudich for their innovative research and advancements in biophysics.
The Biophysical Society's 2018 Future of Biophysics symposium features young investigators exploring the intersection of physics and life sciences. Researchers will present their work on topics such as enzyme structures, protein sorting, and RNA polymerase II mechanisms.
The Biophysical Society has announced the winners of its Education Committee Travel Awards, recognizing students and postdoctoral fellows for their scientific merit. The recipients will present their research during the meeting, receive a travel grant, and be recognized at a reception.
The Biophysical Society has announced the winners of its Committee for Inclusion and Diversity Travel Awards, which aim to encourage participation at the annual meeting among underrepresented students. The award recipients will be honored at a reception on February 11, 2017.
The Biophysical Society has announced the winners of its 2017 CPOW Travel Awards to increase female participation in biophysics. The recipients are female postdoctoral fellows or mid-career scientists presenting posters or oral presentations at the conference, and will receive travel grants and recognition.
The Biophysical Society has announced the winners of its international travel grants to attend its annual meeting in New Orleans, USA. The recipients are scientists from around the world who will present their research on biophysics and related fields.
Scientists are studying graphene oxide to create bacteria-killing catheters and medical devices, reducing the need for antibiotics and speeding recovery times. Graphene oxide wraps around bacteria, puncturing its membrane and killing it, making it a potential alternative to traditional methods that are toxic to the environment.
Researchers at Ohio State University have identified a human gene product called MG53 that regulates wound healing and may control scarring. This discovery could help heal open wounds, decrease recovery time after surgery and reduce the spread of infections.
Researchers have developed a new way to controllably manipulate biomolecules like DNA using acoustic force spectroscopy. The technique stretches molecules by applying varying forces in a precise way, shedding light on chemical bonding and mechanical properties.
Researchers have discovered a critical change in amyloid beta protein shape that explains why smaller bundles are more toxic than larger ones. This understanding may lead to developing drugs to treat diseases like Parkinson's and Type-II diabetes.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory researchers developed a simulation to predict the permeability of drug molecules across cell membranes, enabling faster testing and development of nerve-agent treatments. The simulation shaved weeks off compound testing, reducing the time required from six weeks to just 16 hours.
A team of researchers found that squid suckerin proteins are composed of beta-sheet polymer networks, giving them strength and stretchiness. These thermoplastic proteins could be used to create biomaterials for tissue growth and artificial ligaments, offering a sustainable alternative.
Researchers discovered that multi-target antiarrhythmic drugs like amiodarone change cell membrane properties, altering the function of multiple proteins. This finding has implications beyond AF treatment, suggesting a general mechanism for drug-induced changes in membrane protein function.
Researchers develop a novel microfluidic device called the 'IVF chip' that enables high-resolution imaging of the initial steps of fertilization. The device allows scientists to observe the fusion of sperm and egg, membrane remodeling, and sperm DNA incorporation into the egg.
Researchers convert tarantula toxins into painkillers by targeting neural receptors, providing an alternative to current treatments with limited pain relief and side effects. The study reveals the importance of cell membranes in peptide toxin activity and opens opportunities for designing new drugs.
Researchers found that cancerous mutations are linked to stiff tissues, where cells experience more nucleus deformation and damage. This constricted migration causes molecular damage, leading to genomic instability and increased mutation rates.
A team of scientists, led by Bailong Xiao, has discovered the molecular mechanisms underlying mechanotransduction in Piezo proteins. They found that these proteins form a novel class of ion channels with distinct modules responsible for ion conduction and mechanical force sensing.
The Biophysical Society has announced the winners of its annual CPOW Travel Awards to increase women biophysicists' participation at the 2016 Annual Meeting. The recipients include Jana Broecker, Nabanita Das, and others presenting posters or oral presentations on various membrane proteins and calcium signaling.
The recipients are selected based on scientific merit and will present their research, receive a travel grant, and be recognized at a reception. The winners include students and postdoctoral fellows working on various topics such as membrane protein flux, mechanotransduction, and DNA binding regulation.
The Biophysical Society has announced the winners of its international travel grants to attend the 60th Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, California. The recipients are chosen based on scientific merit and their proposed presentation at the meeting.