The study shows that the initial state of platinum-on-carbon catalyst particles significantly influences the development of polymer electrolyte fuel cell catalyst inks. Controlling this initial state allows for the optimization of microstructural and electrochemical properties of catalyst inks, leading to improved fuel-cell performance.
Researchers found that CHD8 mutation causes abnormal differentiation of ventral progenitor cells, leading to autistic-like behavior in mice. This study reveals the role of CHD8 in brain development and paves the way for new therapeutic strategies targeting specific neurodevelopmental stages or cell types.
Researchers identified C/EBPγ as a novel regulator of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and DNA double-strand break repair in lung adenocarcinoma cells. This protein promotes cancer cell plasticity, DNA repair, and therapy resistance by interacting with other proteins.
A Kanazawa University research group has created a new method to selectively break strong carbon-hydrogen bonds, leaving weaker carbon-silicon bonds intact. This technique enables the creation of complex organosilicon compounds from simple precursors, which are difficult to synthesize using conventional methods.
Ancient DNA from two high-coverage genomes reveals continuity with modern Japanese populations, continental ancestry, and starch adaptations in Japan. The study suggests interactions among multiple continental populations shaped Yayoi ancestry.
A study by researchers at Kanazawa University has successfully detected 90% of early-stage pancreatic cancer using a blood-based gene expression test. The test analyzed peripheral whole blood and showed higher sensitivity than traditional tumor marker CA19-9, with 60% sensitivity and 93.3% specificity. This breakthrough may improve lon...
Researchers found that disruptions in specialized extracellular structures surrounding cerebellar neurons alter neuronal activity across brain circuits involved in social behavior. Mice without these structures showed clear impairments in social interaction and decreased interest in unfamiliar mice. The study suggests a previously unkn...
Researchers discover ultra-faint galaxy LAP1-B with record-breaking low oxygen abundance and elevated carbon-to-oxygen ratio, suggesting it is the 'ancestor' of fossil galaxies near our Milky Way. The team's findings provide a historic window into the earliest stages of galaxy assembly.
Researchers identified Mrep, a macrophage population, that promotes muscle repair under normal conditions but triggers heterotopic ossification in FOP. Transplanting Mrep improves muscle repair in FOP mouse models, suggesting therapeutic approaches targeting Mrep could be effective.
Researchers explored using CDK4/6 inhibitors to treat PDAC by targeting RB1, which is often inactivated by oncogenic KRAS. This approach showed promise in inducing cellular senescence, but further combination therapy is needed for therapeutic benefit.
Researchers developed a rule-based symbolic AI computing-driven digital twin model to evaluate energy consumption and indoor thermal comfort in Zero-Energy Buildings. The model reduces air conditioning energy consumption by up to 8.5% while maintaining stable average annual energy-saving effect.
A team of researchers has discovered an oral compound that selectively induces the mammalian clock gene Per1, promoting a dual E-box DNA element's activation. This results in the advancement of both central and peripheral clocks, advancing jet lag and shift work-related sleep disorders.
Researchers from Kanazawa University and partners have discovered chorus emissions in Mercury's magnetosphere, exhibiting similar chirping frequency changes to Earth's magnetosphere. This breakthrough provides the first reliable evidence of intense electron activity at Mercury, expanding our knowledge of planetary space environments.
Researchers at Kanazawa University have developed a new combination therapy that combines CAR-T cell therapy with a SUMOylation inhibitor, which effectively suppresses MYC activity and slows the growth of Burkitt's lymphoma cells. The approach extends survival rates in mouse models by up to 80%.
Researchers identified Netrin-1 as a host factor that inhibits HBV entry into hepatocytes, disrupting viral attachment and internalization. Synthetic peptides derived from Netrin-1 sequences exhibited potent anti-HBV activity, providing a potential novel therapeutic strategy for chronic hepatitis B.
Researchers developed a novel method to form high-performance alloy films on various surfaces without expensive alloy targets. The technique uses pulsed laser deposition with a rotating multicomponent target, enabling precise control of film thickness and depth.
Researchers have developed record-breaking efficient all-organic solar cells that can be safely incinerated like regular plastics, reducing environmental impact. The new cells achieve more than twice the power conversion efficiency of previous models, overcoming major challenges in film-type solar cell technology.
Industry researchers and engineers can collaborate with WPI-NanoLSI experts to explore innovative applications of Bio-SPM technology. The advanced imaging capabilities offer the potential to capture nanometer-scale phenomena in motion.
The researchers identified that the flexibility of a protein hinge plays a crucial role in the transfer of proteins in key cell processes. They found that a flexible hinge allows ubiquitination to take place by facilitating the rearrangement of the protein around it.
A team of scientists at Kanazawa University used high-speed atomic force microscopy to study the structural dynamics of sodium ion channels in cell membranes. They found that voltage sensor domains can dissociate from pore domains when the channel is in a resting state, leading to dimerization between neighboring channels. These findin...
A new method predicts biomolecular structure placement on AFM substrates based on electrostatic interactions, improving understanding of biological processes at the nanoscale. The method provides remarkable agreement with previous experimental results and can be applied for post-experimental analysis.
Researchers have developed a method to control and fix the chirality of helical proteins by synthesizing molecules with achiral components and introducing chiral elements. The method slows down chirality inversion by a factor of 10^12, enabling stable α-helices for years.
Researchers at Kanazawa University demonstrate how environmental changes can accelerate or decelerate the chiral inversion process of metallocryptand (R6)LNi3. By adding alkali metal ions, they can change the preferred ratio and speed of switching between two forms of the molecule. This novel approach provides a time-programmable switc...
Researchers at Kanazawa University found that genetic alterations underlie the dual function of activins in colorectal cancer. Mutations in genes such as Kras and Trp53 can promote tumor progression while also suppressing it, highlighting the complex role of TGF-ß signaling.
The study sheds light on the mechanisms that sustain SARS-CoV-2 in the body, revealing that ORF6 interacts with host proteins and disrupts mRNA transport. The researchers found that ORF6 aggregates into amyloids, which can lead to complications in COVID-19 symptoms.
Researchers detected local generation of chorus waves in Mercury's dawn sector, indicating a physical mechanism for their formation. The study reveals energy transfer along magnetic field lines, creating conditions favorable to chorus wave generation.
A team from Kanazawa University and international partners report their groundbreaking study on dynamic friction, shedding light on the force needed to maintain molecule movement. The research provides fresh insights into a long-studied phenomenon and paves the way for future studies on energy dissipation relaxation processes.
Researchers at Kanazawa University found a link between nuclear pore complex alterations and glioblastoma. They demonstrated that NUP107 proteins overexpression degrades the function of p53, a crucial cancer-preventing protein. Further studies are needed to uncover the molecular pathways at play.
A new protocol for nanoendoscopy-AFM has been developed to image nanoscale structures inside living cells, overcoming limitations of existing techniques. The technique uses atomic force microscopy (AFM) with a nanoneedle to penetrate cells and captures high-resolution images of intracellular structures.
The study reveals that the hydration layer on sapphire is non-uniform due to local distributions of surface OH groups, whereas α-quartz has a uniform hydration layer. The interaction force between oxides and water also varies significantly between the two crystals.
Scientists at Kanazawa University discovered how calcium ions block sodium channels, regulating ionic current involved in neural activities like memory formation. The study reveals the structural features and molecular processes underlying divalent cation block in NavAb, a well-known tetrameric sodium channel.
Scientists have used high-speed atomic force microscopy to observe the structural dynamics of CaMKII protein, shedding light on its role in modulating neural connections. The study reveals that the protein's structure changes in response to calcium and calmodulin binding, leading to a form of molecular memory.
A team of researchers has identified a new 2D material that can accelerate the chemical reduction of carbon dioxide. The discovery could be an important step forward towards using electrocatalysts in electrochemical CO2 reduction applications, producing valuable chemicals without by-products.
Researchers at Kanazawa University used high-speed atomic force microscopy to study the TRPV1 protein's structural fluctuations in response to stimulating and suppressing ligands. They found that ligand binding increases conformational fluctuations, while suppression decreases them.
High-speed atomic force microscopy reveals the structural dynamics of amyloid-beta protofibrils, a key component in Alzheimer's disease. The technique also shows an effective tool for studying the impact of drugs on this process.
Computational modeling and simulations allow for reconstruction of 3D conformations with atomistic resolution from topographic resolution-limited AFM images. This enables automated recognition of biomolecular shape changes and feature assignment, including amino acid residue identification on the molecular surface.
The study simultaneously measures topography and ion concentration profiles of lithium ion batteries during charging and discharging, revealing correlations between structural and ion concentration changes. This enables the evaluation of battery performance and optimization of operating conditions.
Researchers have discovered how peptides can self-assemble on solid surfaces, enabling the design of hybrid biomolecular nanodevices. The breakthrough uses peptide engineering and molecular recognition to create a seamless interface between biology and technology.
Researchers used high-speed atomic force microscopy to visualize CRISPR-Cas9's DNA binding and cutting dynamics. They discovered a selective, long-range interaction involving hydrophobic forces, which challenges the current understanding of target DNA identification.
Researchers used high-speed atomic force microscopy to visualize the dynamics of H2A.Z nucleosomes, revealing a spontaneous sliding process along DNA strands. This finding may lead to better understanding of gene expression mechanisms.
Researchers from Kanazawa University developed a new approach to control the formation and dissociation of rotaxanes, which can be used as building blocks for molecular machines. The new strategy uses accelerators like bromine ions to speed up the processes, opening up possibilities for tunable functionality.
Research reveals that severe fatty liver disease is caused by a change in cell death modes from apoptosis to necroptosis, induced by RIPK3 and stress-inducible transcription factor ATF3. This mechanism contributes to inflammation and liver damage in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Researchers from Kanazawa University have developed a nanoscopic tool using high-speed atomic force microscopy to assess alternative COVID-19 prevention methods. They found that viral surface roughness can enhance the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 variants, but spike-neutralizing antibodies neutralize the Delta variant spike protein.
Research at Kanazawa University reveals that certain cancer cells lose metastatic potential due to negative selection, which eliminates cells with detrimental traits. These eliminated cells often have reduced growth and survival rates, and are unable to form tumors in healthy mice.
A study at Kanazawa University uses high-speed atomic force microscopy to examine the impact of temperature, pH, and salt levels on small extracellular vesicle structure. The research reveals how sEVs' shape, size, and elasticity change under different conditions, providing valuable insights for nanodrug development.
Researchers have developed a novel strategy to induce the effects of growth factors and cytokines with enhanced retention in brain tissues. The 'lasso-grafting' technique enables the design of protein therapeutics with desired stability and controllable pharmacokinetics.
Researchers at Kanazawa University and their international collaborators used 3D-AFM and molecular dynamics simulations to study the surface chemistry and structure of individual cellulose nanocrystal particles. The findings reveal new details on chain arrangements, structural defects, and water molecule arrangement near the CNC surface.
Atomic force microscopy studies reveal that chemical fixation leads to structural changes in cell surfaces, forming large protrusions with diameters of 20-100 nanometers. Membrane proteins aggregate during fixation, creating artefacts that can mislead experimental results.
Researchers at Kanazawa University create a nanoparticle called nanoHT that can both generate heat and measure temperature, allowing for controlled manipulation of cellular activity. The technology shows promise in inducing cell death in cancer cells, with HeLa cells dying after heating by 11.4°C.
Research reveals Lect2 protein enhances type I IFN and IFN-stimulated genes expression, suppressing viral replication. Lect2 binds to MET receptor, inhibiting SHP2 activity and promoting RIG-I degradation.