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Breaking the code

Researchers developed a diagnostic method that reveals factors behind conditions thought to have environmental triggers by decoding an individual's immune system. The process identifies disease-specific antibodies and their corresponding antigens, providing insight into conditions like Type-1 diabetes, autism, and Alzheimer's disease.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 21, 2013

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.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNature·DateMay 31, 2011

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.

SourceArizona State University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 19, 2010

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.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 23, 2009

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.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateNov 23, 2007

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.

SourceArizona State University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 22, 2007

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.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateMar 23, 2004

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.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJun 12, 2002

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.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 17, 1999