Researchers describe molecular anatomy of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a small bacterium that can survive on its own. The study reveals intricate networks and multifunctional molecules, challenging the idea of a 'minimal' cell.
Scientists discovered how plant hormone ABA interacts with protein PYR1 to trigger drought response. This interaction enables PP2C molecules to be hijacked, allowing plants to increase water uptake and storage while decreasing water loss. The study offers new approaches for increasing crop tolerance to water shortages.
Researchers at EMBL developed an integrated approach to forecast CRM activity, predicting gene expression patterns in fruit fly development. The study identifies flexibility in genetic regulation, enabling organism development without essential transcription factors.
Scientists have discovered a gene behind malaria-resistant mosquitoes, which could lead to new tools for controlling malaria transmission in endemic areas. The study found that a single section of one chromosome contains a gene called TEP1 that promotes the killing of malaria parasites in mosquitoes.
Researchers at EMBL have discovered a new protein, Brdt, that directs tight re-packaging of sperm DNA, enabling the development of more streamlined sperm. This discovery sheds light on potential problems in sperm development and human male infertility.
Researchers have uncovered the genetic switch that controls macrophage polarization, essential for muscles to regenerate properly. Macrophage polarization allows them to shift from clearing debris to promoting repair in damaged areas.
Researchers identified two proteins, C/EBPα and β, that control the transition from stem cell to skin cell development in mice. Mice lacking these proteins had defective skin formation and died shortly after birth. The study sheds light on the mechanisms involved in skin cancer and other epithelial cancers.
Researchers at EMBL have identified a whole family of proteins capable of directly responding to the alarm signal produced by PARP1 when DNA is damaged. Histone macroH2A1.1 plays a key role in this process, condensing chromatin around damaged areas to increase repair chances.
The Systems Biology Graphical Notation (SBGN) is a new visual language for graphically representing biological information, aiming to make complex models accurate, efficient, and easy to understand. Developed by researchers worldwide, SBGN will benefit systems biologists working on various biochemical processes.
Researchers at EMBL and University of Heidelberg create fluorescent probe to quantify MMP12 activity in macrophages, allowing study of emphysema development. The test has potential as biomarker for disease evolution and therapeutic intervention monitoring.
Researchers have identified 20 genes involved in cholesterol regulation, including 12 previously unknown genes. This discovery may lead to new treatments for cholesterol-related diseases and help fight heart disease.
Researchers studied dorsal closure in fruit flies to gain insights into human wound healing, discovering that the actin cable acts as a ratchet to guide epithelial cells over gaps. This mechanism could apply to developing tissues beyond dorsal closure and wound healing.
Researchers at EMBL have produced a three-dimensional reconstruction of immature HIV, showing its protein coat assembly in unprecedented detail. The study suggests a simple model of HIV formation, involving multiple Gag proteins interacting to form a hexameric lattice.
The Gene Expression Atlas collates data from over 1000 studies, providing insights into gene function and development of new drugs. The resource allows users to query gene expression under various conditions, enabling researchers to identify key genes in specific diseases.
Researchers found that adding a sugar tag to nuclear proteins is vital for normal development in fruit flies, revealing a critical link between Ogt and Polycomb protein function.
Researchers at EMBL and PSI create ACEMBL, a new technology that produces multiprotein complexes with reduced effort and materials, speeding up structural studies and deciphering molecular mechanisms of health and disease. The system will be adapted for eukaryotic cells to study human origins and complex drug targets.
A team of researchers has uncovered the first step in the recycling of a crucial molecular tag that ensures correct gene expression. This mechanism, called nonsense-mediated decay (NMD), helps protect against genetic diseases such as thalassaemia and Duchenne's muscular dystrophy.
Researchers at EMBL discovered Vtc4p as the protein responsible for producing polyphosphate chains in yeast, a process crucial for energy storage and other cellular functions. This finding has significant implications for agriculture, including improved crop production and fertilizer development.
Researchers at EMBL have discovered a promising drug target in influenza virus, specifically the PA subunit responsible for cleaving host RNA caps. This finding provides new insights into the cap snatching mechanism that allows the virus to hijack human cells and multiply.
A genome-wide study in yeast redefines the concept of promoters, showing most regions produce overlapping transcripts starting at the same promoter. This finding has implications for understanding gene expression and regulation in humans.
Scientists studying the larvae of a marine ragworm discovered that nerve connections between the photoreceptor cell and cilia regulate swimming motion. This finding sheds light on how early eyes evolved to sense direction and drive phototaxis in marine plankton.
The MIBBI initiative brings together grassroots standardisation groups to create a unified framework for high-throughput biology. By sharing minimal information standards, researchers can increase data reproducibility and analysis power.
The European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) will gain free access to large collections of information on drug properties and small molecules after receiving £4.7 million from the Wellcome Trust. This will enable academia to participate in early-stage drug discovery, potentially improving prediction of side effects.
Researchers found that pregnant mice ignore alien male urine smells after day 3 of pregnancy due to dopamine surge. This chemical change helps avoid infanticide and protects fetal development.
Researchers at EMBL generated the most precise map of genetic recombination in yeast, revealing new insights into its organisation. The study provides a wealth of information about crossover and non-crossover events, with implications for tracking disease genes in humans.
Researchers developed a computational tool to compare drug side effects and predict common targets, revealing hidden therapeutic potential. The approach successfully identified new uses for marketed drugs in treating diseases they were not specifically developed for.
Researchers have developed a mouse model of SIDS, showing that an imbalance of serotonin in the brainstem is sufficient to cause sudden death. The study suggests that a congenital serotonin defect could play a critical role in SIDS.
A new computational tool provides accurate insights into DNA and protein sequence evolution by avoiding systematic errors. The results suggest that sequence turnover is much more common than assumed, with a higher frequency of insertions and lower frequency of deletions.
A chromatin modifying enzyme helps compensate for the fact that males have only one copy of the sex chromosome X by binding differently to male and female sex chromosomes. This process, called dosage compensation, ensures that males produce the same amount of proteins as females despite their single X chromosome.
A new EC-funded project aims to unite Europe's biological data resources into a sustainable, integrative network for life sciences research. The European Life-science Infrastructure for Biological Information (ELIXIR) project will provide a secure funding mechanism and protect valuable data from insecure or short-term funding.
The platypus genome sequence published by UK researchers reveals a mix of mammalian, bird-like and reptilian features in the species' genetic blueprint. The analysis found that platypus venom is a cocktail of proteins originally with different functions, similar to those in reptile venom.
Researchers at EMBL and CNRS identified the key protein domain responsible for binding to host RNA molecules, allowing the virus to multiply. The PB2 cap-binding site is a promising target for designing mimics of the cap that would inhibit viral replication.
A new mouse model has granted insight into the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying acute myeloid leukemia. The study reveals that a specific mutation triggers innate genetic programmes allowing white blood cells to proliferate uncontrollably.
Researchers at EMBL discovered that estrogen causes rapid epigenetic changes in breast cancer cells, challenging the long-held assumption of methylation as a mechanism of long-term gene regulation. This cyclical nature of methylation may shed light on the molecular bases of cancer and development.
Researchers discover hereditary hemochromatosis is a liver disease caused by a genetic defect in the liver that leads to increased iron absorption. The study reveals that the liver cells make an iron hormone called hepcidin to regulate iron uptake, but a mutated HFE gene reduces its production, leading to iron overload.
Researchers from EMBL discovered that proteins regulating iron metabolism play a vital role in ensuring nutrient and water absorption in the intestine. The study found that mice lacking these proteins suffer from weight loss, dehydration, and impaired nutrient absorption.
Researchers have found a naturally occurring protein called CnAß1 that permanently activates calcineurin, increasing muscle stem cell proliferation and regeneration. This uncouples the protein's activity from injury signals, making it a promising candidate for treating muscle damage and wasting.
Researchers from EMBL have visualized proteins responsible for cell-cell contacts for the first time, revealing the molecular organization of skin. The technique, called cryo-electron tomography, allows for the first 3D image of human skin at molecular resolution.
Researchers at EMBL and AMOLF discovered a new experimental approach to study microtubule end tracking proteins, which are crucial for cell shape development. The study sheds light on the interaction between proteins and the cell's skeleton, revealing how +TIPs recognize dynamic microtubule ends.
Researchers at EMBL used a novel microscopy technique to observe the interplay of signalling molecules in living yeast cells. They found that the actual signal is not produced uniformly throughout the cell but only by specific chain components in the mating projection.
Researchers at EMBL have identified a molecule called n-cofilin crucial for preventing neuronal disorders. The protein helps organise cell skeleton, essential for brain development and function.
The new guidelines aim to reduce ambiguity and capture necessary information from experiments to provide a deeper level of understanding. They have been implemented in public repositories such as ArrayExpress, IntAct, and PRIDE, enabling easier identification and use of relevant data.
A team of scientists from EMBL has uncovered the assembly mechanism of a bipolar spindle in oocytes, allowing them to accurately separate chromosomes. This process is crucial for proper egg development and fertilization.
Immune cells use filopodia to catch pathogens, with the internal scaffolds growing and shrinking through actin filaments. Researchers tracked the dynamic behavior of these structures for the first time in three dimensions, revealing discrete steps of retraction and a possible molecular mechanism underlying it.
Researchers have identified a gene, GLIS2, that protects against a serious kidney disease called nephronopthisis. Mutations in this gene cause the disease, which leads to kidney degeneration and failure.
Researchers have discovered that modern brain centers containing hormones show similarities to those found in marine worm-like ancestors. These hormone-secreting cells are multifunctional and have sensory properties, suggesting they played a key role in conveying environmental cues to the body.
Researchers have discovered a new compound called AN2690 that effectively treats fungal infections by blocking protein synthesis. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new antibacterial compounds to combat antibiotic resistance.
The ENCODE project reveals that most human DNA is transcribed into RNA and that transcripts extensively overlap one another. This challenges the long-standing view of a small set of discrete genes and 'junk' DNA, suggesting instead that genes are just one type of functional DNA sequence.
Chromosome condensation, essential for successful cell division, begins early but continues late, acting as a safety net against separation defects. The EMBL researchers discovered that an enzyme called Aurora kinase is crucially involved in this process.
Researchers have identified a molecular link between spontaneous physical activity and food intake in mice, which could help explain individual variations in weight gain. The discovery of Bsx, a molecule regulating NPY and AgRP hormones, may lead to new ways to prevent obesity and related diseases.