Articles tagged with Biomolecular Structure
Researchers used complex computer simulations to study the attachment of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants to human cells. They found that the virus has two main locations where it grabs onto the host cell receptor ACE2, with early strains having a slippery interaction at one region that becomes less slippery as variants evolve.
Flipon genetics proposes that evolution happens on a faster time scale than Darwin imagined, with rapid adaptations occurring in real-time within individuals. This is achieved through the simple sequence repeats of DNA, which can adopt alternative shapes and transmit adaptations to offspring.
Scientists identified five human monoclonal antibodies that can neutralize multiple beta-coronaviruses by targeting a conserved structure in the spike protein. These antibodies showed promise in reducing viral load and enhancing immune responses in hamsters, providing potential inspiration for broadly protective vaccines.
A new study combines experimental data and molecular dynamics simulations to study the conformation of an RNA fragment involved in protein synthesis. The research led to a new method for defining biomolecule structures in their physiological environments.
Researchers at Peter the Great Saint-Petersburg Polytechnic University are developing thin films made from biological macromolecules such as proteins and amino acids. These unique materials exhibit self-organization ability and can be assembled into certain structures, potentially solving energy efficiency limitations in modern electro...
Scientists have gained new insights into dynamic structural changes in light-sensitive biomolecules, revealing a universal mechanism for the transformation from dark-adapted to light-adapted states. This discovery could advance applications in agriculture and optogenetics.
The University of Southern Denmark has established a new Center for Bioanalytical Sciences with funding from the VILLUM Foundation. The center will support interdisciplinary biological research using advanced equipment and computational platforms.
Researchers used massive computer-simulation power to model protein aggregation and its role in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. They found that beta-synuclein blocks harmful structures caused by alpha-synuclein, offering a potential treatment for debilitating diseases.
Hong Li's research on biomolecules has yielded new insights into RNA recognition and cleavage by a splicing endonuclease. The study provides critical information on the functioning of biomolecules, which could lead to new treatments for various health problems.
The Penn team aims to study how simple biological molecules organize themselves into complex structures and develop synthetic self-assembling molecules with similar properties. Their goal is to create new products such as microscopic capsules for drug delivery, strong carbon fibers, and artificial proteins with improved functionality.
Researchers have produced the first 3-D structures of poliovirus in the moments after it attaches to and enters a host cell. The structures reveal tiny adjustments in the virus's protein shell that allow it to grab onto its host receptor more tightly.
Researchers determined the structure of methyl-coenzyme M reductase, a key enzyme in methanogenesis that produces methane for cellular energy. The crystal structure has provided new insights into the enzymatic mechanism and will aid in characterizing other enzyme states.
Researchers have made a major breakthrough in understanding prion diseases by fully decoding the three-dimensional structure of the normal prion protein. This discovery may play a key role in the conversion of normal to disease-inducing prions, potentially leading to new treatments for BSE and Creutzfeld-Jacob disease.