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Institute for Basic Science


Lighting up the B cells

Researchers create CDyB, a fluorescent probe that targets SLC35C2 transporter in B cells, allowing for live-cell distinction from T cells. The study enriches the molecular probe toolbox and opens possibilities for multi-dimensional cell analysis.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalAngewandte Chemie·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 21, 2022

“Merlin” serves as a gatekeeper in new blood vessel formation

Researchers at Institute for Basic Science discovered Merlin's crucial role in regulating angiogenesis. By suppressing VEGFR2 internalization, Merlin prevents tip EC induction and promotes balanced sprouting angiogenesis. This study sheds light on the importance of Merlin in maintaining capillary integrity and proper angiogenesis.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 12, 2022

Synthesis of two-dimensional holey graphyne

Researchers have successfully synthesized a new type of carbon allotrope called holey graphyne, which has semiconductor properties and can be used in various applications. The material was created using a bottom-up approach and consists of alternately linked benzene rings and C≡C bonds.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalMatter·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 18, 2022

Reliable diagnostics at the tip of your finger

Researchers developed a biosensor using nanostructured and nanoporous surfaces to detect biomarkers in clinical samples, overcoming technical challenges of small sample amounts. The new technology can provide quick and accurate diagnoses for diseases like prostate cancer without needing dilution or preprocessing steps.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 17, 2022

Using sound to control enzymatic reactions

A team of scientists successfully controlled multistep enzyme reactions using audible sound, creating a new method for spatiotemporal regulation. The researchers used standing waves generated by sound to separate and compartmentalize solutions, allowing for the precise control of chemical reactions.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 2, 2022

Learning chemical networks give life a chiral twist

A mathematical model reveals that spontaneous symmetry breaking in chemical reactions leads to homochirality, optimizing energy harvesting from the environment. This phenomenon could explain how life developed on primordial Earth and has implications for the synthesis of chiral drug molecules.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 26, 2022

A new era of mitochondrial genome editing has begun

Scientists have successfully developed a gene-editing platform called TALED that can perform A-to-G base conversion in mitochondria, the final missing piece of the puzzle in gene-editing technology. This breakthrough has significant implications for treating previously incurable genetic diseases caused by mutations in mitochondrial DNA.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalCell·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 25, 2022

Scientists discover how our circadian rhythm can be both strong and flexible

Researchers found that the master clock and slave clock operate via distinct molecular mechanisms, allowing for robustness and flexibility in regulating bodily rhythms. The master clock's ability to adapt to environmental changes enables quick adjustment to new time zones after international flights.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 17, 2022

Boxing up molecular machines

A team of scientists successfully constructed a supramolecular rotor inside a hollow cube-shaped zinc(II)-metallated porphyrinic cage (Zn-PB) molecule. The addition of a chemical stimulant initiates both rotary and tumbling motions, controlled by external stimuli.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalChem·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 18, 2022

Large future changes in climate variability

The study found that climate change impacts are apparent in nearly all aspects of climate variability, including temperature extremes, precipitation patterns, and ecosystem changes. These changes have important implications for sustainable resource management and future adaptation strategies.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalEarth System Dynamics·TypeMeta-analysis·DateDec 9, 2021

Scientists can control brain circuits, behavior, and emotion using light

Researchers create Opto-vTrap, a reversible inhibition system that can temporarily trap vesicles from being released, allowing for controlled brain activity. The technique enables temporary removal of fear memory in live mice, with potential applications in epilepsy treatment, muscle spasm treatment, and skin tissue expansion technolog...

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNeuron·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 30, 2021

Two is better than one: Single-atom dimer electrocatalyst for green hydrogen production

Researchers developed a nickel-cobalt metal dimer on nitrogen-doped carbon that can catalyze electrolysis under both acidic and basic conditions. The new system exhibits comparable overvoltage to commercial Pt-based catalysts and shows significant activity enhancements compared to individual single-atom catalysts.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 19, 2021

Ultra-large single-crystal WS2 monolayer

Researchers develop new epitaxial growth mechanism to achieve large-scale single-crystal WS2 monolayers, overcoming a crucial hurdle in replacing silicon with 2D materials. The technique enables uniform alignment of small crystals and leads to the successful growth of wafer-scale single-crystals of WS2, MoS2, WSe2, and MoSe2.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature Nanotechnology·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 15, 2021

Ultrathin quantum dot LED that can be folded freely as paper

Researchers at the Institute for Basic Science have developed a foldable quantum dot LED that can be transformed into various complex 3D structures, such as butterflies and pyramids. The technology employs selective laser-etching to create precise curvature lines, allowing for stable light-emitting performance even after repeated folding.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature Electronics·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 27, 2021

Creation of the most perfect graphene

A team of researchers at the Institute for Basic Science has developed a method to produce large-area, single-crystal graphene with no wrinkles or adlayers. This breakthrough enables the creation of high-performance devices oriented in any direction over the entire graphene film.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 25, 2021

The birth of a subnanometer-sized soccer ball

Researchers successfully captured a video image of the bottom-up synthesis of fullerene C60, an allotrope resembling a soccer ball. The process was observed using single-molecule atomic resolution real-time electron microscopy (SMART-EM), revealing a kinetically and thermodynamically controlled cyclodehydrogenation reaction.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalACS Nano·DateMay 24, 2021