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What makes fireflies glow? (video)

Fireflies produce light through a chemical reaction involving luciferin and ATP, but intermediate steps were unclear. Researchers explored enzyme luciferase, finding that a single electron transfer occurs during the final step, suggesting a unifying feature of bioluminescence.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJul 1, 2015

Revealing the inner workings of a molecular motor

Researchers from RIKEN Brain Science Institute have made significant strides in understanding the mechanism of dynein's movement along microtubules. The study found that specific amino acid residues on the microtubule structure play a crucial role in activating the dynein motor, enabling directional movement and cargo transport.

SourceRIKEN·JournalJournal of Cell Biology·DateJan 12, 2015

Cellular team players

Researchers at Technical University of Munich used FRET methodology to observe interaction between Hsp90, P23 and ATP. They found that P23 strengthens ATP bonding, increasing energy production. This breakthrough reveals the importance of cooperation in cellular energy generation.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 30, 2014

Researchers gain insight into key protein linked to cancers, neurodegenerative disorders

Virginia Commonwealth University researchers have gained insight into how Hsp70, a key molecular player, binds with ATP to enhance its activity and efficiency. This understanding paves the way for designing efficient small molecule drugs to specifically modulate Hsp70's function, potentially treating cancers and neurodegenerative disor...

SourceVirginia Commonwealth University·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateMay 30, 2013

Random walks on DNA

Researchers have discovered a new mechanism of DNA helicase that utilizes thermal motion to move long distances along DNA, providing an energy-efficient way to unwind double-stranded DNA

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalScience·DateApr 19, 2013

Cancer cell metabolism kills

Researchers at the University of Helsinki discovered that the Myc oncoprotein makes cancer cells vulnerable to cell death by activating AMPK, a biochemical sensor. This leads to the activation of tumor suppressor protein p53, which promotes apoptosis in cancer cells.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 15, 2013

Energy-sensing switch discovery could have broad implications for biology and medicine

Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have discovered a genetic sequence that can alter its host gene's activity in response to cellular energy levels, a finding that could have broad implications for biology and medicine. The energy-sensing switch, known as a riboswitch, detects the molecule ATP and controls global metabolic regul...

SourceScripps Research Institute·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateOct 21, 2012

Energy-saving chaperon Hsp90

Researchers from TUM proved that Hsp90 utilizes thermal fluctuations as the driving force for its conformational changes. Key findings show that the chaperone protein is highly flexible and can switch between conformations using random environmental collisions, saving valuable ATP energy.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 13, 2012

Massive endocytosis in cells

Scientists identified a previously unknown mechanism for massive endocytosis (MEND) in cells, where up to 75% of the cell plasma membrane can be reversibly engulfed. MEND preferentially targets low-ordered, cholesterol-containing membrane domains.

SourceRockefeller University Press·JournalJournal of General Physiology·DateJan 17, 2011

Mount Sinai researchers discover new mechanism behind cellular energy conversion

Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have gained atomic-level insight into how organisms synthesize their major form of chemical energy using the enzyme ATP synthase. The discovery provides a clearer understanding of how these nano-machines function, including the role of water molecules in the rotary mechanism of ATP synthesis.

Cells use water in nano-rotors to power energy conversion

A team of scientists has provided the first atomic-level glimpse of the proton-driven motor from ATP synthases, enzymes central to cellular energy conversion. The study revealed a water molecule in the critical rotor element of a bacterial nano-motor that shares common features with human mitochondria and bacteria.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateAug 3, 2010

Researchers determine how ATP, molecule bearing 'the fuel of life,' is broken down in cells

A team of researchers has discovered that kinesin proteins use a string of water molecules to harness the energy of ATP breakdown. This breakthrough reveals a critical role for water molecules in cellular function and may lead to novel drugs to combat diseases. The study provides a clearer picture of how cells function and flourishes.

SourceAmerican Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateMar 1, 2010

Common food dye may hold promise in treating spinal cord injury

A common food additive, Brilliant Blue G, has been identified as a potential treatment for spinal cord injury. The compound stops the cascade of molecular events that cause secondary damage, allowing patients to recover from paralysis. Researchers have successfully tested BBG in rats with spinal cord injuries, showing promising results.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 27, 2009

PDAs, more education help doctors follow cholesterol treatment guidelines

A new study suggests that patients with high cholesterol receive better care when physicians use a variety of tools, including PDAs, to learn and apply clinical practice guidelines for treating the condition. This multifaceted strategy improved guideline adherence by reducing over-treatment and increasing appropriate treatment decisions.

SourceAtrium Health Wake Forest Baptist·JournalArchives of Internal Medicine·DateApr 22, 2009

Why exercising muscles tire when needed most

During intense exercise, muscles rely on anaerobic metabolism for force production, leading to muscle fatigue and impaired performance. The study found that the mechanisms of muscular fatigue are similar to those discovered in laboratory research on cell and tissue samples.

Lighting up the heart

Researchers at University of Bristol have made a major breakthrough in measuring energy levels inside living heart cells, real-time. This could lead to better understanding of heart disease and improved recovery of the heart during cardiac surgery or after a heart attack.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateSep 21, 2006