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European Molecular Biology Laboratory


What we can learn from hungry yeast cells

Scientists discovered a unique way in which yeast cells adapt to starvation by coating their mitochondria with massive molecular complexes called ribosomes. This adaptation has potential implications for cancer treatment as it may help overcome the challenges faced by cancer cells when they are starved of nutrients.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 8, 2024

Follow the cellular road

Researchers have successfully visualized and tracked specific cells in deep brain tissue, including along the corpus callosum's nerve fibre highway. This advancement could potentially lead to better diagnostic tools for glioblastoma, a deadly brain cancer.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 10, 2024

New photoacoustic probes enable deep brain tissue imaging, with the potential to report on neuronal activity and enable better understanding of brain function

Researchers have developed novel photoacoustic probes for neuroscience applications, enabling visualization of neurons in specific brain regions. The probes use a combination of protein and synthetic dye to bind to chemicals and emit sound waves that can be detected by imaging equipment.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 27, 2024

Developing a simple, cost-effective method to study an important protein modification

Researchers developed a simple, cost-effective method to study ubiquitination, a critical protein modification process involved in diverse cellular functions. The Ub-POD method quickly labels targets of E3 ligase enzymes directly in human cells, allowing for the identification of new substrates and expanding therapeutic options for dis...

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 12, 2024

An enzyme with a smart friend

Researchers discovered that enzyme METTL6 interacts with tRNA synthetase to recognize specific tRNAs, enabling precise modification and potential application in cancer treatment. This discovery provides new insights into the molecular machinery of protein production.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 25, 2024

Scientists at EMBL Heidelberg discover how ancient ‘relaxant-inflammatory’ molecules get sponges (and blood vessels) moving

Sponges exhibit coordinated movements despite lacking muscles or neurons, attributed to relaxation of stress fibres triggered by an evolutionarily ancient inflammation-like mechanism. This process also regulates human blood vessel contraction, influencing blood pressure.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 25, 2024

Scientists in Germany develop a new analytical method, which enables improved insight into (mRNA) nanoparticles and similar pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical products

Scientists in Germany developed a new analytical method to precisely elucidate the size of particles, structure, and RNA molecules in pharmaceutical products. This information can help evaluate product quality, enabling improved development of new products.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 19, 2023

Switching off the cytokine storm

Researchers at EMBL Grenoble have obtained the first structure of p38α being activated by MKK6, opening up new directions for developing drugs to stop cytokine storms. The inflammatory response is triggered by a series of kinases, and inactivating p38α could prevent inflammation from occurring.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 14, 2023

A glimpse into the hexasome: 40 years on

A recent study by the Eustermann group at EMBL Heidelberg reveals that DNA packaging into hexasomes impacts the function of enzymes involved in gene regulation. The researchers used cryo-electron microscopy to visualize the molecular processes of how this packaging regulates genome expression and maintenance.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 12, 2023

When microbiomes collide

A team of EMBL researchers used data from over 300 human faecal microbiota transplants to investigate the ecological understanding of what happens when two gut microbiomes clash together. The study found that species richness and how different a recipient's gut microbiome is from a donor's are key factors in determining which microorga...

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalNature Medicine·DateSep 15, 2022

Zooming in to get the full picture

Researchers have constructed the most complete single-cell map of fruit fly embryo development, enabling a continuous view of molecular changes driving embryonic development. This study provides a significant advance in understanding the complex process of embryogenesis and its relationship to gene regulation.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalScience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 4, 2022

The retron switch

Scientists identified that retrons encode toxin proteins kept inactive by a small DNA fragment, unleashing them upon viral attacks. The EMBL team discovered how retrons form antitoxins and found natural switches to trigger growth inhibition complexes.

Flip-flop genome

Inversions in the human genome are more common than previously believed, according to a recent study. The researchers found that these genetic variations can lead to genomic instability and an increased risk of certain diseases, including developmental delays and neuropsychiatric disorders.