Lipid molecular geometry controls membrane stretching elasticity, while three-dimensional DNA networks govern bending resistance. Researchers developed a framework to dissect the mechanics of artificial cells, revealing a clear division of labor at the molecular level.
A long-term evolutionary experiment using a self-replicating RNA-protein system resulted in evolution toward extinction. Well-mixed environments inhibited host RNA replication, leading to a decrease in concentration and loss of diversity.
Researchers found that heme molecules transmit functional state of chloroplasts to the nucleus, regulating photosynthesis-related gene expression. Heme signaling is essential for plastid-derived signaling molecules, which form active phytochrome.
Researchers found that linear alkane molecules passed through nanoscale pores faster than shorter ones, with transport rates determined by pore size and gate flexibility. The study revealed a two-step transport mechanism involving an encounter complex at the outer surface of the nanocube.
A University of Tokyo team developed a fluorescence imaging method to track short-lived molecular intermediates and their magnetic responses in real time. The approach isolates spin-dependent part of chemistry, revealing how magnetically sensitive intermediates appear and disappear.
A new study reveals that positively charged ions accumulate in one phase, reducing electrostatic repulsion and allowing negatively charged biomolecules to localize within droplets. This mechanism explains the preferential partitioning of molecules in liquid–liquid phase separation.
A team of researchers has discovered a distinct group of hot Jupiters whose circular orbits contradict the expected timescale for tidal migration. These planets exhibit characteristics consistent with disk migration, such as primordial alignment and planet multiplicity, suggesting they formed smoothly within the protoplanetary disk.
Scientists have created a novel method to synthesize all 21 types of transfer RNA (tRNA) simultaneously in a test tube using the tRNA array method. This breakthrough allows for precise control over protein synthesis and has significant implications for the development of artificial molecular systems with self-reproducing capabilities.