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Universität Leipzig


Two-billion-year-old enzyme reconstructed

Researchers successfully reconstructed a two-billion-year-old enzyme, shedding light on an ancient evolutionary mechanism that enables modern enzymes to work efficiently despite interruptions. The study reveals the ancestral enzyme is processive, removing correctly added nucleotide building blocks, and shows how bioinformatics and bioc...

SourceUniversität Leipzig·JournalMolecular Biology and Evolution·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 5, 2022

Poor diet damages our blood vessels

Researchers found that metabolic disease affects blood vessels in different organs, leading to vascular dysfunction and increased risk of diseases. A healthy diet can partially reverse this damage, but some blood vessels may retain the disease signature, making it difficult to fully reverse.

SourceUniversität Leipzig·JournalNature Metabolism·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 21, 2022

New insights into tumor biology

A recent study reveals that cancer cells adopt a softer state to facilitate metastasis, forming a new mechanical state with rigid islands in a fluid environment. This state allows tumors to grow while providing room for soft, motile cells to break out and form metastases.

SourceUniversität Leipzig·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 4, 2022

Brothers and sisters shape character less than thought

A large-scale study of over 80,000 adults from nine countries found no systematic relationship between sibling gender and personality traits such as risk-taking or emotional stability. The results suggest that siblings have a limited influence on personality development in adulthood.

SourceUniversität Leipzig·JournalPsychological Science·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 13, 2022

Leipzig hematologists research rare forms of blood cancer

Researchers at Leipzig University Hospital's Clinic and Polyclinic for Hematology discovered two new forms of rare blood cancers, including a molecular mechanism in T-lymphocytes that augments the response to incoming cell signals. The findings have significant implications for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment planning.

SourceUniversität Leipzig·JournalNature Communications·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateSep 13, 2022

Researchers study historical developments of the periodic system of chemical elements

Researchers analyzed the knowledge of chemical space between 1800 and 1869 to discover how well the periodic table corresponds to the chemical data at its formulation. They found that the periodic table's basic structure was already encoded in space by the 1840s, two decades before its creation.

SourceUniversität Leipzig·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 8, 2022

Corals as climate archives

40-million-year-old tropical reef corals from Leipzig University's collection provide a unique climate archive. The coral skeletons reveal small seasonal temperature fluctuations of about half the current value, confirming expected small differences in the planet's warm periods.

SourceUniversität Leipzig·JournalScience Advances·TypeCase study·DateMay 20, 2022

How mechanical stimuli trigger cellular signalling

Scientists have discovered that mechanical stimuli play a crucial role in activating adhesion GPCRs, which transmit signals via G proteins. The study provides insight into the functional nature of mechanosensitive receptors and has implications for developing future forms of therapy.

SourceUniversität Leipzig·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 14, 2022

Scientists develop new thermofluidic process for lab-on-a-chip applications

Researchers have created a new method to generate strong fluid flows in tiny channels by heating a metal film with a laser beam, allowing for the separation and transport of nano-objects. This innovation has potential for lab-on-a-chip applications and could lead to advancements in nanoscale manufacturing and sensor technologies.

SourceUniversität Leipzig·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 9, 2022

Genome of Steller’s sea cow decoded

An international research team reconstructed the genome of Steller's sea cow from fossil remains, finding inactivations of genes responsible for its unique skin structure. The study reveals a dramatic reduction in population size contributing to the species' extinction.

SourceUniversität Leipzig·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 8, 2022

Hidden order in windswept sand

An international team of geomorphologists and physicists has discovered a consistent number in the frequencies of shifting grains, enabling reliable classification of newly discovered sand ripples. This finding could help explain the formation of mysterious new sand waves on Mars and evaluate past climatic conditions.

SourceUniversität Leipzig·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 11, 2022

Controlling the metabolism of cancer cells

Researchers at Leipzig University have discovered that cancer cells need the succinate receptor to control their metabolic rate. The receptor is found on the surface of various types of tumors and plays a crucial role in the survival of cancer cells.

SourceUniversität Leipzig·JournalCancer Letters·TypeMeta-analysis·DateDec 17, 2021

How to retard time for cells

Heavy water significantly reduces cellular dynamics without damaging cells, a finding with implications for organ transplants and tissue storage. The study's results suggest increased interaction between structural proteins and reversible effects, paving the way for further research into this phenomenon.

SourceUniversität Leipzig·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateJun 4, 2021

How tiny machines become capable of learning

Researchers developed microswimmers that can change direction by heating tiny gold particles, then learned to navigate through a virtual environment via external control and virtual rewards. The findings suggest an optimal speed is key to navigation, with implications for autonomous tasks and collective behavior in biological systems.

SourceUniversität Leipzig·JournalScience Robotics·DateMar 25, 2021

'We marry disorder with order'

Researchers at Leipzig University have developed a new model that enables precise determination of the features in complex pore networks, revealing potential applications in drug release, sensor technology and energy storage.

SourceUniversität Leipzig·JournalLangmuir·DateMar 17, 2021

Coronavirus test from a suitcase

A portable, suitcase-based laboratory provides rapid and accurate SARS-CoV-2 testing in regions with limited infrastructure. The mini-lab uses a recombinase polymerase amplification method, producing results in under 15 minutes.

SourceUniversität Leipzig·JournalAnalytical Chemistry·DateFeb 11, 2021

Universal access to spectrometers one step closer

A team of physicists at the Universität Leipzig is developing an ultra-compact spectrometer with potential applications in industries such as food, medicine, and textiles. The new instrument could make quality control cheaper and more accessible, allowing for widespread adoption and democratizing access to spectral analysis.