A team of scientists at EMBL found that oskar RNA requires both tags to reach its correct destination, suggesting a 'ticket' that also affects its speed of transport. The study provides clues on how a single molecule could receive tickets for different destinations depending on the type of cell.
Scientists at EMBL discovered that bacteria like Mycoplasma pneumoniae tune proteins to perform multiple tasks, leveraging post-translational modifications. This strategy may be an ancient evolutionary tactic shared with complex cells.
Researchers at EMBL and IGBMC discovered a ring-like structure in the Elongator protein complex, which holds tRNA in place while introducing chemical modifications to DNA. This ensures accurate protein production. The findings also suggest that the complex employs tools and tricks to perform its tasks inside cells.
Researchers at EMBL Hamburg used advanced techniques to study myomesin's three-dimensional structure and its role in maintaining muscle fibers. The discovery sheds light on the protein's function in living organisms, particularly in animal models.
Researchers found that enhancers, which are meant to be active only in certain muscle types, were occupied by transcription factors from other tissues. This discovery reveals a new model for how enhancers function and provides insights into the developmental history of cells.
EMBL Monterotondo researcher Rocio Sotillo has won a $650,000 Howard Hughes Medical Institute award to support her research on cancer and chromosomal errors. She will use the prize to establish an independent research programme and develop new ways to grow lung cancer cells in three-dimensional cultures.
Researchers found a strong link between an inherited TP53 gene mutation and chromothripsis, a condition where chromosomes shatter and reassemble incorrectly. This discovery has significant implications for diagnosis and treatment, as patients with the mutation may be at high risk of developing certain types of cancer.
Researchers discovered over 5000 conserved CTCF binding sites across six mammalian species, indicating a key role in gene regulation. These sites are embedded inside retro-transposons and have remained unchanged over hundreds of millions of years.
Scientists at EMBL have developed a new method to observe enhancer activity during development, showing that specific chromatin modifications trigger gene expression. This breakthrough provides cell-type specific information on enhancer activity and gene status in multicellular embryos.
Scientists at EMBL have discovered how a protein called RIG-I sounds the alarm when it detects viral RNA, triggering an immune response. The study sheds light on how cells rapidly respond to various viruses, including influenza and hepatitis.
ELIXIR will provide sustainable infrastructure for managing biological information in Europe, securing public access to genes, proteins, and complex networks. The initiative aims to support life science research and its translation to medicine and the environment.
The Minimum Information about a Bioactive Entity (MIABE) standard aims to capture more information about bioactive compounds, enabling better analysis and design. By adopting this standard, researchers can analyze large datasets from various drug discovery programs, leading to improved understanding of successful drugs.
Researchers found that microtubules, which act like 'fishing lines,' often incorrectly hook onto chromosomes, resulting in 90% of chromosomes getting connected in the wrong way. This error-prone process can lead to female infertility and miscarriages due to incorrect chromosome separation.
The new microscope combines light-sheet microscopy and single molecule spectroscopy to record fluorescence and take snapshots every millisecond. It allows scientists to observe and measure fast processes like molecular diffusion across entire samples.
UK PubMed Central will be led by EMBL-EBI for the next five years, providing access to over 2 million full-text biomedical research articles. The service aims to build a gold-standard digital repository for the biomedical literature, benefiting researchers worldwide.
Research reveals microglia cells prune connections between neurons, shaping brain wiring. The discovery could help understand autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
Scientists have determined the 3D structure of a key cellular component using a heat-loving fungus. By analyzing the genome and proteome of Chaetomium thermophilum, researchers were able to identify the proteins that make up the innermost ring of the nuclear pore, a channel that controls what enters and exits a cell's nucleus.
Scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory have discovered a protein complex called condensin that keeps chromosome arms folded and easy to transport. This discovery may lead to a better understanding of how chromosomes are organized during cell division, with implications for our own cells' ability to divide properly.
Researchers found three distinct gut types, each associated with unique microbial genetic markers. These markers may help diagnose diseases like colo-rectal cancer and predict treatment outcomes.
Scientists developed a new method, GROMIT, to study gene regulation by employing a jumping gene as an informant. The technique revealed that each regulatory element can control a broader range of genes than previously thought, and expression levels are fine-tuned at the tissue level.
Scientists have developed a new method to understand how different genes interact and affect cellular processes. The technique enables the identification of genes that influence each other's effects, similar to Facebook suggesting friend pairs, which could help predict patient outcomes and adapt treatments for diseases like cancer.
Scientists at EMBL identified a multi-tasking protein PriA from Mycobacterium tuberculosis that catalyzes reactions on two different molecules. This finding presents new opportunities for developing organism-specific drugs, targeting the pathogen but leaving other beneficial microorganisms untouched.
Scientists discovered how stressed cells boost thrombin production, a key blood-clotting factor, which may be taken advantage by cancer cells. This process could explain why cancer patients are more likely to suffer from blood clots and septicaemia.
A comprehensive analysis of human genomes identified 28,000 structural variants, including over 1,000 gene-altering mutations linked to diseases. The findings shed light on why some parts of the genome mutate more frequently than others.
The Micropilot software brings machine learning to microscopy, analyzing low-resolution images and automatically performing complex experiments when cells with interesting features are detected. It has been used to uncover the roles of proteins in cell division and will be a key tool for European systems biology projects.
EMBL scientists first to visualize the structure of a ribosome-protein complex involved in carrying nascent proteins out of the cell. The discovery could increase understanding of illnesses such as cystic fibrosis and Parkinson's disease, where improper protein targeting leads to harmful accumulation inside cells.
The Euro-BioImaging project will develop a comprehensive plan to construct and operate a set of complementary imaging infrastructure facilities across Europe. This will enable scientists to access state-of-the-art imaging technologies, receive training, and facilitate the translation of basic results to medical applications.
Scientists have developed a novel system called MultiLabel to efficiently label mammalian cells with multiple fluorescent markers, allowing for faster disease process analysis. This technique enables precise labeling of cellular components involved in various diseases, facilitating accelerated drug development and screening.
EMBL scientists uncover counterpart of cerebral cortex in marine worm Platynereis dumerilii, a relative of the earthworm. The finding suggests that the pallium is much older than previously thought and likely evolved as an adaptation to early marine life.
Researchers at EMBL identified specific type of neurons involved in mouse fear response, revealing complex brain circuitry. They used fMRI and genetic approaches to control neurons' activity, showing that fear can trigger active coping strategies instead of freezing.
Scientists at EMBL identified two proteins, PRC1 and kinesin-4, that control the formation and size of microtubule overlaps in the spindle. This adaptive mechanism ensures the overlap remains constant without affecting microtubules elsewhere in the cell.
Scientists at EMBL have identified IRPs as key proteins ensuring iron balance in cells. In a study, they found that IRPs are required for mitochondrial function and that their dysfunction leads to iron deficiency and cellular damage.
Researchers at EMBL developed a technique to capture high-quality images of fruit fly embryos and zebrafish development, revealing previously unseen details. By combining multiple images and angles, scientists can now study complex processes in real-time.
Researchers discovered a novel protein complex that regulates around 4000 genes in Drosophila, with implications for human biology. The Non-Specific Lethal (NSL) complex helps MOF bind to promoters and determine gene expression in both sexes.
Scientists at EMBL discovered that a molecular signal triggers cell shape change necessary for zebrafish lateral line development. This change in shape allows cells to migrate properly along the embryo's sides, forming a rosette structure.
Researchers at EMBL identified microRNAs MiR144 and MiR451 as crucial regulators of efficient red blood cell formation. These molecules help fine-tune genes involved in haematopoiesis, allowing for stable oxygen transport under challenging conditions.
The European Nucleotide Archive (ENA) consolidates three major sequence resources, providing free access to over 20 terabases of nucleotide sequence data. The ENA offers improved submission and data-access tools, making it easier for users to share their sequence data.
Researchers at EMBL identified a new Polycomb group complex, PR-DUB, which surprisingly removes the same gene-silencing tag as another complex. This unexpected behavior may be a case of fine-tuning to maintain optimal levels of chemical tagging.
Researchers discovered that transcription factor binding sites are not conserved across 300 million years of evolution. Despite this, these proteins still regulate liver-specific genes in vertebrates. This study highlights the plasticity of gene regulation and its implications for disease mechanisms.
Researchers have created a global map of human gene expression using data from 163 laboratories worldwide involving 5,372 human samples. The analysis reveals six distinct groups or 'continents' of gene expression activity, providing new insights into the genetic basis of human function and behavior.
Researchers at EMBL identified almost 600 human genes involved in mitosis through high-throughput imaging and computer analysis. The study provides a rich resource for scientists to investigate the molecular workings of cell division.
The Ensembl project has successfully catalogued the genetic diversity of over 50 species, including the zebra finch. The genomic annotation system enabled researchers to identify genes expressed in the zebra finch brain responsible for vocalising messages.
Researchers at EMBL and Yale found that up to a quarter of human genes are regulated differently in people, with variations in non-coding regions and protein interactions contributing to these differences. This new understanding may lead to novel approaches for studying diseases and personalizing treatments.
Researchers at EMBL discover a reference gene set for the human gut microbiome, cataloging 3.3 million microbial genes and shedding light on their role in maintaining health. This breakthrough enables non-invasive stool samples to be used as a measure of health, potentially leading to new treatments.
Scientists found conserved microRNAs in animals as diverse as sea anemones, worms, and humans, suggesting an early origin of these tissues in animal evolution. The discovery opens new avenues for studying the current functions of specific microRNAs.
Researchers from EMBL have discovered the molecular structure of a key protein involved in cellular communication systems that are affected in neurodegeneration, cancer and cardiovascular disease. The study provides insights into how this protein functions and how it can be targeted with drugs to develop new treatments.
Scientists at EMBL discovered membrane-coat proteins in bacteria from the PVC superphylum, which could aid in understanding eukaryotic cell evolution and structure. These findings provide molecular evidence that coat proteins shape eukaryotic endomembrane systems in prokaryotes.
Scientists at EMBL identify Notch signalling pathway as critical component of heart muscle cell communication, leading to heart defects and cardiac malformations in Alagille syndrome. Re-activating Notch improves adult mouse heart function after heart attack, offering new therapeutic potential.
Researchers at EMBL uncover gene Foxl2 that maintains female traits in adult mice, reversing default pathway. The study has implications for reproductive medicine and may help treat sex differentiation disorders.
Scientists at EMBL have visualized the molecular mechanism responsible for oskar mRNA transport in Drosophila. By combining immunofluorescence with electron microscopy imaging, they defined a hierarchy of RNA particle assembly. This breakthrough sheds light on development and neuronal function, including synaptic plasticity and learnin...