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Faster, more accurate, more sensitive

Researchers developed a new method called HHblits that surpasses PSI-BLAST in performance by increasing sensitivity and precision. By analyzing similar sequences, scientists can infer the structure and functions of proteins more accurately and frequently than before.

Similarities cause protein misfolding

Studies using single-molecule fluorescence reveal that neighboring protein domains with similar amino acid sequences are more prone to misfold, potentially leading to neurodegenerative diseases. This finding suggests that proteins have evolved to limit similarity between domains to prevent misfolding and maintain functionality.

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Production of mustard oils: On the origin of an enzyme

Researchers isolated an enzyme from Arabidopsis thaliana that catalyzes glucosinolate formation and found it resembles an enzyme involved in leucine synthesis. This structural similarity enabled the plant to produce toxic compounds as a defense mechanism, highlighting the importance of small genetic changes in evolutionary adaptations.

New method takes snapshots of proteins as they fold

Researchers use temperature jump and fast chemical reaction to capture protein folding process, providing detail needed for accurate predictions. The new method offers hope for improving protein structure predictions, which are crucial for medicine and biotechnology.

Princeton scientists construct synthetic proteins that sustain life

Researchers create genetic sequences never seen in nature and produce substances sustaining life in cells almost as readily as natural proteins. The team's work represents a significant advance in synthetic biology, suggesting the construction of artificial genomes capable of sustaining cell life may be within reach.

Structural genomics accelerates protein structure determination

Scientists have developed a bioinformatics strategy to predict membrane protein structures, which are underrepresented in existing databases. Using this approach, researchers successfully determined the tertiary structure of a bacterial membrane protein and predicted the structure of a plant membrane protein.

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New study reveals ways to better inhibit blood clots

Researchers discovered that adding proline and phenylalanine amino acids improves binding rates of synthetic fibrin knobs to holes, leading to a novel peptide mimic with 10-fold higher affinity. The study also identified structural properties contributing to functional knob-hole interactions.

Manmade antibodies hold biomedical promise

Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a method to create synthetic antibodies that can bind with human proteins with high affinity and specificity. This technique, called synbody construction, involves combining random amino acid sequences to form a binding molecule that can target specific proteins.

Echolocating bats and whales share molecular mechanism

A new study by researchers at the University of Michigan found that echolocating bats and whales share a similar molecular mechanism for this ability, overturning conventional thinking on convergence. The research focused on the prestin gene, which plays a crucial role in hearing and amplifying sounds.

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Relationships in rank and file

Researchers Johannes Soeding and Andreas Biegert have developed a new method called CS-BLAST that takes into account the sequence context to improve similarity searches. This approach can identify twice as many distant relatives of proteins compared to traditional BLAST, leading to better insights into gene and protein functions.

Rebuilding the evolutionary history of HIV-1 unravels a complex loop

Researchers have developed a new method to reconstruct the evolutionary history of the HIV-1 V3 loop, revealing biologically dependent amino acids that form 'co-evolving' ties across the protein. This study advances understanding of HIV-1 evolution and identifies potential targets for future research.

Protein pulling -- Learning how proteins fold by pulling them apart

Scientists have developed a novel approach to probing protein folding energy, revealing the slope and height of the energy barrier proteins must overcome. This method has the potential to shed light on how amino acid sequences affect protein function and how diseases arise from misfolding.

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Researchers use new approach to predict protein function

A team of researchers has developed a computational approach to accurately predict the function of proteins with unknown structures and functions. By comparing amino acid sequences to known proteins, they can identify potential substrates and understand the protein's biological role.

A new wrinkle in evolution -- man-made proteins

Researchers at Arizona State University have evolved new proteins in a fraction of the time it took nature, providing new lessons on how to optimize proteins. The team used 'synthetic evolution' to improve protein stability and binding efficiency, discovering that subtle amino acid changes can significantly enhance function.

Protein fragments sequenced in 68 million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex

Researchers have successfully sequenced tiny pieces of collagen protein from a 68 million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex fossil, closely matching amino acid sequences found in present-day chickens. The findings support the long-debated proposal that birds and dinosaurs are evolutionarily related.

Soft tissue taken from Tyrannosaurus rex fossil yields original protein

A team of scientists led by Dr. Mary Schweitzer confirmed the presence of original protein fragments in soft tissue from a 68 million-year-old Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil. The discovery uses mass spectrometry to analyze ancient proteins, providing new insights into fossil preservation and potential medical applications.

Biologists probe the machinery of cellular protein factories

Recent breakthroughs have enabled researchers to construct an atom-by-atom model of the ribosome, a complex molecular machine responsible for synthesizing proteins. The high-resolution images reveal detailed interactions between the ribosome, messenger RNA, and transfer RNAs, providing new insights into protein synthesis.

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Researchers make major gain in understanding how prions jump species

A new study by researchers at Case Western Reserve University has found that an abnormal form of the prion protein from one mammal species can infect another species, bypassing natural barriers. This discovery sheds light on the mechanisms behind prion diseases like mad cow disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Artificial prions created

Scientists have identified amino acid sequences that allow prions to aggregate and replicate, leading to the creation of an artificial yeast prion. This breakthrough sheds light on the mechanisms behind diseases like mad cow disease and Alzheimer's, potentially paving the way for new treatments.

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Researchers design and build first artificial protein

Scientists successfully designed and built an artificial protein using a novel computational approach, opening up new possibilities for medicine and industrial applications. The achievement represents a significant breakthrough in understanding protein folding and design.

UCSD researchers ID peptides that bind to Alzheimer's plaques

Researchers at UCSD have identified two peptide sequences that bind to abnormal beta-amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease. The peptides may be used for diagnostic tests or coupled with molecules to inhibit plaque toxicity, making them a promising new approach to the disease.

High-speed images show how cells mobilize for immune response

Researchers use high-speed imaging to track movement of calcium waves in cell signaling, identifying a sequence of amino acids (LTL) that controls the pathway. The findings have implications for treating autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and uveitis.

NSF awards $9 million for study of proteins

Researchers will use computational biolinguistics to analyze protein sequences and understand their structure, dynamics, and function. This project aims to extract information from gene sequences that may lead to developing drugs to fight degenerative diseases.

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Beyond copolymer 1

Researchers at JCI Journals have made significant strides in understanding the biological function and clinical relevance of copolymers. The study's findings hold promise for developing new treatments for various human diseases.

Brown researchers use wildcards to develop better way to sequence DNA

Researchers at Brown University have developed a new way to sequence DNA that is faster and more efficient than current methods. By inserting gaps into DNA probes, they can extract substantially more information about the DNA, allowing for the sequencing of tens of thousands of bases.

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What happens when genetic information is not correctly edited in brain cells

Scientists from Max Planck Institute report correlation between impaired RNA editing and epilepsy. Genetic manipulation in mice reveals that correcting the defect can lead to improved brain function and reduced seizures. The study suggests a potential link between human genome sequence and neurological disorders.

Images of enzyme suggest way to improve DNA sequencing

Researchers have identified a structural anomaly in the Taq DNA polymerase enzyme that hampers its performance in DNA sequencing. By modifying this anomaly, scientists created an improved version of the enzyme, which increases sequencing speed and reduces errors.

Quality Control System Ensures Genetic Instructions Are Ready To Go

Researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison found that amino acids must attach to transfer RNA (tRNA) in the nucleus for efficient delivery out of the nucleus. This quality-control process, known as proofreading, ensures genetic instructions are complete and ready to function.

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New Software Improves Accuracy Of Amino Acid Sequence Identification

A new software developed by Ohio University researchers reduces amino acid sequence misidentification rates by at least twice, combining human intelligence with automated systems. The software aims to minimize time spent on identifying protein sequences, improving accuracy and efficiency in biochemistry research.