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The good cough and the bad cough

Researchers have identified separate brain pathways for good and bad coughs, potentially leading to new treatments for chronic cough disorders. The study used functional brain imaging to assess cough reflex sensitivity and identified two distinct neural circuits involved in coughing.

SourceThe Physiological Society·JournalThe Journal of Physiology·DateOct 7, 2020

Cellular energy audit reveals energy producers and consumers

Scientists at Gladstone Institutes have performed a massive cellular energy audit to understand how cells regulate ATP levels. They identified genes and proteins that can be targeted to manipulate cellular energy and treat disease, including neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. The study reveals new pathways for boosting cellular en...

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 28, 2020

Drug researcher develops 'fat burning' molecule

Researchers have identified a small mitochondrial uncoupler called BAM15 that decreases body fat mass in mice without affecting food intake or muscle mass. The molecule also shows promise in reducing insulin resistance and oxidative stress associated with obesity and related diseases.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 8, 2020

Programming with the light switch

A research team has created a system that uses light-reactive photo switches to control the formation and degradation of DNA building blocks. This allows for the creation of self-assembling structures with adaptable properties, opening up new possibilities for developing synthetic materials inspired by living organisms.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateMay 6, 2020

New metabolic pathway discovered in rumen microbiome

A German-American research team has discovered a new metabolic pathway in the rumen microbiome of ruminants that allows the bacteria to adapt to extreme fluctuations in sodium content. This adaptation enables the production of ATP through two different respiratory circuits, one requiring sodium ions and the other using hydrogen ions.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 8, 2020

Blueprint for plant immune response found

Washington State University researchers found the way plants respond to disease-causing organisms and how they protect themselves. The discovery provides a blueprint for breeding resistance to diseases or pests, enabling faster and more efficient development of crop protection strategies.

SourceWashington State University·JournalPLANT PHYSIOLOGY·DateJan 11, 2019

NAD can restore mitochondrial function and energy production in MTDPS liver-like cells

Researchers at Medical University of South Carolina identified nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) as a compound that restores mitochondrial function and energy production in Mitochondrial DNA Depletion Syndromes (MTDPS) liver-like cells. NAD was found to increase ATP levels by activating a transcription cascade that results in inc...

SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalCell Reports·DateNov 6, 2018

Shedding light on 100-year-old cancer mystery

Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute found that cancer cells redirect energy production when lactate dehydrogenase is inhibited, instead relying on glutamine to sustain growth and survival. This discovery identifies a potential new target for melanoma treatment by targeting the ATF4-signaling pathway.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalThe EMBO Journal·DateSep 12, 2018

Unearthing the secrets of cellular energy

Researchers at Gladstone Institutes identify 156 genes affecting ATP levels in cells, shedding light on cellular energy production. The findings could lead to the development of new therapies for diseases such as mitochondrial disorders, heart disease, and neurodegenerative diseases.

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalPLOS Biology·DateAug 27, 2018

New species may arise from rapid mitochondrial evolution

A recent study sequenced the genome of a Pacific tidepool crustacean and found that mitochondrial genes differ widely between populations. Hybrid offspring suffer from lowered fitness due to incompatibility. The research suggests that rapid mitochondrial evolution may be an early stage of one species becoming multiple species.

SourceOregon State University·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateJul 12, 2018

Magnesium makes chromosomes

Researchers develop MARIO, a fluorescent probe that measures magnesium ion concentration, showing its critical role in chromosome condensation. The study provides a new mechanism for chromosome organization and may help understand diseases like cancer.

SourceOsaka University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateFeb 1, 2018

Kinesins ignore weak forces as they carry heavy loads

A Rice University-led study shows that kinesins ignore weak forces as they transport cargo in cells, with lead kinesins carrying 90% of the load. The research provides molecular-level details of how kinesins respond to external forces and confirms earlier experiments on team-based motor proteins.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 2, 2017

A calcium pump caught in the act

The study reveals that the calcium pump uses energy from ATP to transport calcium ions into the cell, a process crucial for muscle function and heart health. This insight could lead to the development of new drugs targeting this enzyme to alleviate ionic imbalances associated with disease.

SourceAarhus University·JournalStructure·DateMay 9, 2016

Building living, breathing supercomputers

A team of researchers led by Prof. Nicolau has created a model bio-supercomputer that processes information quickly and accurately using parallel networks, powered by proteins present in all living cells. The device uses much less energy than traditional electronic supercomputers, making it more sustainable.

SourceMcGill University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 26, 2016

Mitochondria on guard of human life

Researchers at Lomonosov Moscow State University developed a novel approach to study electron transport chain in living mitochondria using SERS. They successfully observed changes in cytochrome c structure during ATP synthesis and were able to initiate and stop electron transport. This method provides new insights into mitochondrial fu...

SourceLomonosov Moscow State University·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 17, 2015