The UT Prevention Research Center will continue its work in translating research into practice, with a focus on Texas youth and communities. The center's programs, including Coordinated Approach to Child Health and Familias, aim to prevent health-related problems such as diabetes and asthma.
Researchers found a novel rhodopsin protein in bacteria that can distinguish between blue and orange light, enabling more efficient harvesting of light for photosynthesis. This discovery sheds light on the role of cell membranes in biological functions and has potential applications in nano-machinery as a color-sensor.
The University of Texas-Houston has established a Specialized Center of Research (SCOR) in scleroderma, a chronic disease with no known effective treatment or prevention. The center will conduct investigations into the genetic and environmental factors that affect susceptibility to the disease.
Researchers have identified key features of cardiac troponin C, a protein that regulates muscle contraction. The study's findings may lead to the development of new therapies for patients with congestive heart failure, by targeting calcium binding to regulatory proteins.
Researchers at UT-Houston Medical School discovered that growth factor TGF-Beta plays a key role in forming long-term memories. The study found that TGF-Beta produces stronger electrical nerve cell connections, similar to those observed in animals with enhanced withdrawal response triggered by behavioral training.
Researchers at UT-Houston Institute of Molecular Medicine have discovered sentrin, a protein that protects cells from apoptosis by blocking Fas/APO-1 and TNFR receptors. This finding has significant implications for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and degenerative diseases such as arthritis and Alzheimer's.