Articles tagged with Cellular Proteins
Dr. Keith Wilkinson's Nobel Prize-winning research on ubiquitin has provided detailed information about cell survival and death, shedding light on the ubiquitin system's role in regulating protein turnover rates. The discoveries present opportunities to develop highly selective drugs targeting various aspects of the ubiquitin pathway.
Researchers at UNC Health Care have identified a new mechanism by which Polycomb group proteins silence genes in cancer cells. The study found that ubiquitination of histone H2A is involved in this process, providing insight into gene expression regulation and potential targets for cancer treatment.
Researchers identified human VPS37 proteins as crucial in HIV-1 budding and protein sorting. The discovery could lead to the development of drugs targeting these proteins to prevent infection spread. Human VPS28 was also found to bind to TSG101, essential for HIV-1 replication.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute find normal cellular prion protein essential for prion diseases like BSE, and inducing neurotoxicity without scrapie prions triggers catastrophic outcomes. This discovery highlights the complexity of prion pathogenesis and challenges existing therapeutic approaches.
Researchers found that multiple caspases and regulators are required for proper sperm formation in fruitflies, highlighting a non-apoptotic process. This discovery could provide insights into male infertility and suggest possible treatments.
The study reveals that nitric oxide alters protein interactions, leading to new insights into the underlying causes of disease and potential new therapies. The findings suggest that NO regulates a broad spectrum of cellular reactions, potentially underlining some disease symptoms.
The NHLBI has launched a major initiative to boost research on protein technologies, awarding $157 million over 7 years to 10 new proteomics centers. The centers will focus on novel technologies related to healthy and diseased heart, lung, blood, and sleep processes.
A Harvard chemist has developed molecular mimics that rival the complexity of nature using innovative cell screening techniques. The approach involves attaching a natural protein to a fluorescent tag and then screening molecules for their ability to perturb cellular processes.
Yale researchers have identified virtually all of the gene targets for a key protein, known as transcription factors, using new DNA chip technology. The study reveals that these proteins control cell proliferation in yeast and can be used to understand how cells become specialized.
Researchers discovered a plausible mechanism for a cancer-causing gene found in aberrant bone marrow cells. The study reveals the function of SET, a protein that helps regulate gene activity and protects cell integrity.
A newly discovered molecular protein plays a crucial role in determining whether proteins with improperly folded structures are refolded or degraded, according to University of North Carolina researchers. This finding has significant implications for understanding heart attack, heart failure, stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers at UNC Health Care have identified the crystal structure of a key protein interaction involved in cancer cell spread. This discovery aims to develop targeted therapies against invasive cancer cells with minimal side effects.
Researchers have created a comprehensive map of yeast protein interactions, revealing intriguing connections between proteins involved in different cellular processes. The network analysis suggests that these interactions can aid in predicting protein functions and uncovering new hypotheses about gene function.
Scientists at the University of Michigan have discovered that Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes bubonic plague, uses an ancient agent to sever vital cell signaling pathways. This mechanism is shared by both plant and animal bacteria, including those that cause black rot and other diseases.
A recent study found that proteins in T cells play a key role in the spread of HIV. By blocking these proteins, scientists hope to develop new treatments for the virus. The research, led by Ulrich Schubert, reveals how HIV manipulates T cells to spread and infect other cells.
Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine have identified ubiquitin as crucial to budding, a process allowing viruses to exit host cells and infect new ones. The study's findings suggest that ubiquitin plays a key role in the maturation and release of viral particles from the cell surface.
UCSF researchers identified PSD-95 protein as key link between nerve cells, suggesting possible target for treating mental retardation and nerve damage. The protein stimulates maturation of synapses, enabling brain development, learning, and memory.
A new study found that Staphylococcus aureus produces a toxin that breaks down the protein Desmoglein 1, causing blistering and skin cell adhesion loss. The findings provide insight into the bacterial mechanism of impetigo infection and spread.
Researchers found that alpha-synuclein, a key component of Parkinson's lesions, is targeted by oxidative stress, specifically nitration. This discovery provides conclusive evidence for the role of oxidative damage in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
Researchers at UCSF have identified a fundamental decision-making unit in cells that integrates multiple signals to initiate cell movement. This protein, N-WASP, relies on cooperative action between two signal molecules to trigger actin polymerization and drive cell movement.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine found that Id2 gene is implicated in neuroblastoma development and underlies tumor growth. The study suggests developing drugs to counteract the Id2 gene may provide targeted treatment for neuroblastoma and other cancers.
Researchers discover SLPI protein promotes healing in non-healing wounds, reversing tissue destruction and hastening recovery. The study's findings may lead to new treatments for delayed wound healing in the elderly.
Researchers found genes tailored to specific environments, shared among organisms living in the same ecological niche. The discovery could help understand how cells adapt to extreme conditions.
Five NYC research institutions join forces to develop high-speed methods to decipher 3D protein structures, focusing on disease-related proteins. The collaboration aims to provide a way for researchers to quickly translate genomic knowledge into promising drug targets.
The Protein Structure Initiative aims to determine protein form and function, improving health and disease understanding. The project uses x-ray crystallography, NMR, and computation to identify protein structures in minimal organisms.
Scientists have discovered a cellular mechanism in hibernating ground squirrels that allows them to survive extreme cold and hypothermia. The study found changes in the cell membrane, specifically slits on neurons and glia, which enable proteins to function within selected lipid domains.
Researchers discovered how a new anticancer drug inhibits a runaway protein switch that causes chronic myelogenous leukemia by exploiting alterations in the shape of the protein. This precise control could give pharmaceutical companies and basic researchers new tools for manipulating cell growth and signaling pathways.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have isolated a key protein involved in the degeneration of nerve cells in Alzheimer's disease. The newly discovered protein, nicastrin, regulates the production of amyloid beta-peptide, a toxic derivative associated with the disease.
A plant compound, cyclopamine, has been found to block the action of mutated cancer genes that produce basal cell skin carcinomas. The drug may be used to treat various types of cancers, including medulloblastomas in the brain and rhabdomyosarcomas in muscle.
The BRCA1 protein is at the catalytic heart of a vital DNA control complex that coordinates physical access to DNA for gene transcription. Mutant BRCA1 can lead to cancer by interfering with this complex.
Researchers at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center are conducting a clinical trial using a genetically engineered protein fragment to stimulate the immune system to recognize and kill breast cancer cells. The goal is to treat advanced breast cancer, where the disease has spread beyond the breast.
UC Irvine molecular biologists have discovered a key protein interaction that regulates cholesterol levels in cells, which may provide insights into heart disease and stroke prevention. The study found that a regulatory protein called Sp1 recruits a co-regulating protein to activate genes that balance cholesterol levels.
Researchers have created a new liquid-phase protein separation technology that can help scientists solve the proteomics puzzle. The system eliminates time-consuming 2-D gel electrophoresis and can detect trace amounts of protein, providing valuable insights into cancer research and other areas of science.
Researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center discovered a protein, Rrn3, that regulates cell growth in both humans and yeast. The protein appears to be a key player in an as-yet-unidentified cell-signaling pathway, potentially making it a unique drug target for cancer treatment.
Scientists have mapped the structure of a protein complex believed to influence cancer cell transformation, enabling potential development of unique cancer-fighting drugs. The Cdc42/GDI complex is a key regulator in both normal and cancerous cells.
A University of Hawaii research team has discovered a new class of myoglobin-like proteins in ancient microorganisms, which may be the evolutionary ancestors of proteins involved in oxygen sensing and transport. These proteins help sense oxygen, allowing the organism to find a more favorable oxygen environment.
Researchers at UCSF discovered that prions, known for being deadly to cattle and humans, might serve a beneficial role in some organisms, including humans. They found evidence of prion-forming proteins in yeast species spanning 300 million years of evolution, suggesting prions aid survival.
A study has found that an enzyme involved in normal protein folding also regulates enzymes responsible for folding proteins in healthy cells. This discovery suggests a potential connection between protein misfolding and Alzheimer's disease, with implications for treatment. The researchers identified presenilin-1 as a key player in this...
Researchers identified three key molecular actors involved in Fragile X syndrome, including the protein FMRP, which binds to messenger RNA molecules and regulates translation. The study sheds light on the cellular mechanisms underlying the disorder, potentially leading to new treatments for other types of mental retardation.
A study by MGH researchers has identified a gene malfunction that appears central to the development of type 1 diabetes. The malfunction affects the Lmp2 protein, which is required for immune system cells to recognize self-proteins, leading to an autoimmune reaction.
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory have discovered the molecular mechanism by which adenovirus binds to human cells, paving the way for the development of drugs that block infection. This breakthrough could lead to more effective vaccines and targeted therapies for viral infections.
Using genetically manipulated T cells producing a fluorescent jellyfish protein, researchers observed the movement of MEKK2 towards T cell receptors within seconds of antigen binding. This study reveals MEKK2's crucial role in delivering molecular signals to the nucleus and active attachment between immune cells.
Researchers have developed a statistical technique to determine how different positions in a protein interact with each other. This breakthrough will help scientists understand protein function more efficiently, leading to the development of more effective drugs for various diseases.
Researchers at the University of North Carolina have identified latent membrane protein 1 as a key contributor to Epstein-Barr virus-induced cancer. The study found that mice with this protein developed lymphoma, highlighting its role in cancer development and potential target for prevention.
Scientists at UNC Chapel Hill study found that a protein called adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) helps destroy another protein, beta catenin, which can lead to cell proliferation and tumor formation if disrupted. Understanding this pathway may help block tumor development in humans.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have solved the molecular intricacies of how a fruit fly controls its internal clock to cycles of light and dark. The team found that the proteosome plays a key role in TIM protein degradation, which is controlled by exposure to light.
Researchers at Purdue University have identified a protein segment crucial for the infection of cells by retroviruses and other viruses. By replacing just one amino acid in this region, they were able to eliminate fusion between the virus and its host cell. This discovery may lead to novel treatments to block the entry of these viruses.
Researchers at UCLA and Human Genome Sciences have discovered two human proteins, METH-1 and METH-2, that inhibit blood vessel formation and show promise in treating a range of cancer tumors. The proteins were found to be more potent than endostatin in preventing new blood vessel growth.
Researchers found that a common antibiotic, gentamicin, can arrest disease progression in 15% of Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients with a specific genetic mutation. The approach may also be effective for similar subsets of people with other genetic disorders. Small-scale clinical trials are planned to test the treatment.
Researchers at University of Chicago discover that a single amino acid change in viral protein ICP0 prevents herpes virus from entering nervous system. The finding reveals a potential new target for herpes vaccines or future therapies.
Researchers have determined the atomic structure of clathrin, a versatile molecule that self-assembles into a protective sphere to transport nutrients and hormones into cells. The molecule's unique structure allows for precise regulation of molecular entry, ensuring safe transit and controlled transport.
Researchers at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Rockefeller University have discovered that mammalian chromosomes end in loops, also known as telomeres. This finding has significant implications for our understanding of cell aging and cancer, providing a new way to think about molecular mechanisms.
Researchers at the University of California San Francisco have found a way for cells to move accurately, using a dual molecular docking maneuver. However, a pathogenic microbe like Listeria monocytogenes can mimic this system, hijacking the cell's motility protein and causing infection.
Scientists at Penn School Medicine found that chaperonins, huge protein molecules, catch and unfold misfolded proteins to protect cells. This process takes place within 13 seconds and helps prevent cellular harm caused by protein misfolding disorders like mad cow's disease.
Researchers at UNC-CH discovered three genes crucial to cell survival and protein disposal. The proteins ROC1, ROC2, and APC11 are involved in the ubiquitin ligase enzyme that marks proteins for degradation. Disruption of this mechanism may promote cancer development by driving cells to proliferate uncontrollably.
Researchers have identified a receptor protein in rodents and humans that can detect temperatures above 120 degrees Fahrenheit, expanding the range of temperatures for which nerve receptors are known. The discovery holds promise for better understanding pain and developing drugs to block pain.
Researchers at Millennium Pharmaceuticals have cloned the mahogany gene, which produces a protein that can suppress diet-induced obesity in mice. The study found that mice with a mutated mg gene maintain a healthy weight on both high-fat and low-fat diets, suggesting a similar role in humans.
Geneticists at Duke University have discovered the functional interaction between myc and ras, two cancer-related genes. The study found that mutated ras causes myc protein to accumulate in cells, enhancing its growth-promoting abilities.
Researchers at the University of Delaware are studying a protein called CIB, which helps pair sticky fibrinogen with hook-like receptors on blood platelets. The discovery may lead to new remedies for blocking platelet aggregation and shedding light on cell migration.
Researchers identified SLBP1 and SLBP2 proteins in frog oocytes, which act as biochemical switches triggering histone synthesis crucial for embryogenesis. The study provides new insights into the process of embryogenesis and its relation to stored RNA activation.