Researchers designed a molecular cage that slows down molecular switching, allowing them to observe the sequence of events. The study reveals a conformational-selection mechanism behind guest-induced structural changes, opening doors for designing future molecular machines and smart materials.
Researchers uncover a critical mechanism that enables gastric cancer to spread to distant organs by stimulating Wnt signaling in surrounding stromal fibroblasts. Hyaluronan production creates a supportive microenvironment that promotes metastasis, and degrading hyaluronan suppresses metastatic tumor formation.
A new class of engineered extracellular vesicles can induce antigen-specific regulatory T cells, potentially paving the way for next-generation therapies for autoimmune and allergic diseases. The system uses peptide-MHC complexes to display disease-relevant antigens, allowing for precise control over immune responses.
Study reveals the impact of hydration on chitin nanocrystals' structure and interactions with enzymes and reactants. Researchers used 3D AFM and molecular dynamics to determine the structure of water in chitin nanocrystals and how it affects their mechanical properties, reactivities, and interactions.
Researchers at Kanazawa University developed a new technique to precisely measure nuclear elasticity in living cells, revealing how cancer cell nuclei change stiffness based on chromatin structure and environmental conditions. This finding has potential as a biomarker for diagnosis and treatment evaluation.
A team of scientists has created a novel computational framework that can accurately model biomolecular dynamics from high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) imaging. This framework enables the inference of 3D atomistic models of dynamic protein conformations with unprecedented precision, even for large protein assemblies. By combi...
Scientists at Nano Life Science Institute create a thermogenetic tool using elastin-like polypeptides to regulate protein activation temperature. This technology enables controlled apoptosis in human-derived cells and has potential applications for biotechnological tools.
A team of researchers reveals the critical role of water in guiding nanoarchitecture formation on solid surfaces. They designed short peptides that form linear, crystalline structures aligned with the underlying atomic lattice, showcasing the interplay between aromatic interactions and solvation effects.
Researchers at Nano Life Science Institute capture real-time footage of estrogen receptor alpha binding to DNA, showing precise gene activation. The study reveals a new model explaining how hormones fine-tune receptor behavior at the DNA level.
Scientists at Nano Life Science Institute developed engineered EVs that activate immune cells inside tumors, enhancing immune responses while reducing harmful side effects. The breakthrough could lead to more targeted and effective cancer therapies with fewer side effects.
A new approach using high-speed atomic force microscopy reveals distinct sEV subpopulations with specific exosome markers, enabling precise characterization and potential applications in disease diagnostics. This method has the potential to revolutionize early disease detection and targeted drug delivery.
Glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer, shows resistance to traditional treatment temozolomide. Lysosomal dysfunction is linked to tumor progression and malignancy. A new approach mimicking lysine restriction may offer a promising therapeutic strategy.
A team of researchers has discovered how lamin A helps repair the protective barrier around a cell's DNA, providing insights into treating Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome. The study highlights lamin A's unique role in nuclear stability and its potential for addressing genetic disorders characterized by rapid aging.
Scientists studied microtubule inner surface structure and visualized structural defects, gaining insights into dynamic processes that regulate microtubule function. Frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy enabled detection of lattice or structural defects caused by missing tubulin subunits, which can impair MT functions.
Scientists create synthetic biology approach to mechanistically study tissue patterning and engineer organoid structures by combining morphogens with cell adhesion control. The model system reveals a key feature of E-cadherin for forming sharp boundaries in synthetic tissue domains.
Researchers at Kanazawa University developed a biosensor that improves sensitivity to 1-methylnicotinamide (1-MNA) in urine by orders of magnitude, allowing for earlier detection of diseases such as cancer and liver disease. The biosensor has high throughput capabilities, making it suitable for screening potential NNMT inhibitors.
Scientists have successfully upgraded their atomic force microscope to retrieve imaging data with the time and spatial resolution needed to obtain 3D structure images that provide direct evidence of a hydration layer forming during the dissolution of calcite. The new upgrade enabled researchers to capture high-quality 3D-SFM images in ...
The study reveals that cofilin binding to actin filaments is structure-dependent and influenced by flexibility and helical twists. This understanding challenges traditional views of actin dynamics and sheds light on the complex interactions between actin-binding proteins.
Researchers used high-speed atomic force microscopy to observe dynamic changes in AMPA receptors, revealing how they adapt during signal transmission. The study highlights the role of the N-terminal domain and TARP γ2 in receptor function and clustering.
Researchers used high-speed atomic force microscopy to study recombinant Influenza A genomes during RNA synthesis, revealing a cycle of conformational stages. The study highlights how factors affecting RNA stability impact replication rates, providing insights into viral transcription and replication mechanisms.
A research group developed a long-acting artificial hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) mimetic molecule using cyclic peptides and protein engineering. The molecule improved liver fibrosis, lipid accumulation, and inflammation in a mouse model with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), providing an option for NASH therapeutics.
Researchers at Nano Life Science Institute have successfully extended atomic force microscopy to three-dimensional imaging, enabling the visualization of flexible molecular structures. The technique uses a specially designed sample and two modes: static and dynamic mode, which produce different friction values.
Researchers at Kanazawa University have developed an electrochemical biosensor to detect ADAR1, a biomolecule associated with several diseases including neurological disorders and cancer. The device shows good sensitivity and selectivity, enabling rapid detection of ADAR1 concentrations in cells.
Researchers used HPICM to study the effect of H2O2 eustress on individual colorectal cancer Caco-2 cells, finding that low levels of H2O2 can increase cell stiffness and negatively impact antioxidant defense. The findings suggest a potential new target for colon cancer treatment, inhibiting GPX under H2O2 eustress.
Studies using high-speed atomic force microscopy reveal that histone tail-less nucleosomes exhibit increased dynamic activity, leading to enhanced DNA detachment from histones. The absence of histone tails significantly increases nucleosome dynamics, with H2B and H3 histones found to be essential for stability.
Researchers from Nano Life Science Institute discovered how genetically designed peptides form single-molecule thick crystals on graphite surfaces. The behavior is directly related to their molecular architecture, with negatively charged and positively charged peptides forming unique oblique lattices.
TMEM16F, a transmembrane protein, exhibits a wide range of structural conformations that enable its diverse functions. The study reveals unexpected changes in dimerization interface and subunit arrangements, suggesting a dynamic and versatile mechanism for lipid scrambling and ion movement across the cell membrane.
Chromatin accessibility is a vital process that allows specific proteins to access DNA fragments. Researchers from Nano Life Science Institute identified new pathways and individual players involved in this process, including the protein TFDP1. Suppressing TFDP1 increased chromatin accessibility and made gene editing easier.
S100A11 plays a specific role in the initiation of focal adhesion site disassembly, rather than the disassembly process itself. The protein is recruited to adhesion sites through a force-dependent mechanism involving non-muscle myosin II-driven stress fiber contraction and intracellular Ca2+ influx.