Articles tagged with Cellular Proteins
Researchers at the University of Alberta have developed a photocleavable protein that breaks into two pieces when exposed to light, allowing scientists to study and manipulate activity inside cells in new ways. This tool has vast potential applications in various fields of research, including development biology and gene-editing techno...
A team of researchers from Michigan State University identified a single protein, ADCY1, responsible for many behavioral and molecular abnormalities in Fragile X syndrome. By reducing the expression of this protein, they eliminated autism-like behaviors and improved neuron signaling.
Researchers at the Salk Institute identified a microprotein involved in clearing out genetic material that's no longer needed, shedding light on gene regulation and mRNA recycling. The discovery highlights the importance of overlooked microproteins and their potential role in disease.
Scientists discovered that expressing a single subunit of a chaperone complex can improve protein folding and extend lifespan. The study found that this approach mimics the proteostasis of human pluripotent stem cells and delays age-related diseases in a model organism.
Researchers at the University of York and Texas have identified a protein, PAQR11, in the Golgi apparatus that receives a signal from Zeb1, triggering the transport of membrane sacks and altering the cancer cell's perimeter. This process allows cancer cells to detach from their fixed position and travel to other parts of the body.
Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia discovered a novel mechanism by which viruses shut down alarm signals that trigger immune responses. By trapping an important signaling molecule inside the cell nucleus, viral protein VII prevents it from sounding an alarm to the immune system.
Researchers at CSU have made a groundbreaking discovery by imaging RNA translation in real time, shedding light on the fundamental cellular process. They observed proteins forming and maturing at a rate of 10 amino acids per second, and found polysomes to be globular rather than elongated.
Lisa M. Jones, an assistant professor of chemistry at IUPUI, has received the NSF CAREER Award to study cell membrane proteins in their native environment. The award supports cutting-edge research training for undergraduate students from historically black colleges and universities as well as IUPUI students.
Human cells have evolved mechanisms to detect and respond to latent herpesvirus infections, but the virus has developed ways to evade these defenses. The study identifies a viral protein that blocks cellular proteins from reactivating the infection.
A team of scientists created a new single-molecule tool to observe enzymatic proteins at work, providing fast and reliable characterization of their interactions with DNA. This tool offers picometer-resolution nanopore tweezers, enabling detection of minute differences in protein binding and motion.
A new study has found that protein aggregates formed after heat exposure are fully reversible and resume normal cellular functions after returning to normal temperatures. The research sheds light on the biological nature of protein aggregates, which were previously considered toxic dead-end products.
Scientists at McGill University have made a breakthrough in understanding the role of Netrin1, a protein that brings cells together and maintains their healthy relationships. The study used genetic technology to remove all Netrin1 from mouse embryos, revealing a greater disruption of the nervous system than previously thought.
A genetic mutation in the PLVAP gene has been identified as a cause of severe protein losing enteropathy in infants, leading to abdominal swelling, malnutrition and early death. The study's findings offer hope for targeted correction through gene therapy.
Researchers developed a novel sensor that changes color depending on the confinement of space in cells, demonstrating the effects of lack of space on protein behavior. The study reveals attractive forces inside cells that override compression effects, leading to changes in protein functions under osmotic stress.
Researchers have identified a potential therapeutic approach against Ebola virus infection by targeting cellular proteins critical for the virus's functions. Oubain, a drug previously used to treat heart disease, has been shown to reduce virus replication in infected cells.
Researchers identified a new cellular disposal mechanism that efficiently destroys toxic protein aggregates, such as those found in Huntington's disease. This discovery may help develop concepts for possible disease preventions and shed light on the mechanisms behind human neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have made a groundbreaking discovery in living cell signaling, finding that stochastic 'noise' is an important signaling factor. This breakthrough could lead to the development of treatments for various cancers and cellular disorders resistant to therapy.
Researchers at Aarhus University discovered that enzyme DDX6 regulates toxic RNA aggregates in muscular dystrophy patients. The study found that increasing DDX6 levels reduces RNA aggregates, while decreasing them leads to more aggregates.
Researchers have solved part of the hagfish slime mystery, revealing how super-strong protein threads are organized at the cellular level. The discovery provides valuable insights into producing synthetic versions of the threads for commercial use.
Researchers analyze baker's yeast to uncover key features in cellular development linked to diseases such as Parkinson's and cancer. The study reveals a precise cellular role for DJ-1 family proteins, which may provide new insight into mechanisms contributing to these conditions.
Scientists at the University of Bristol found significant differences in viral proteins for all four DENV types, which may impact anti-viral therapy design. This discovery could lead to more effective treatments for dengue disease, a mosquito-borne infection affecting millions worldwide.
A team of researchers led by Professor Jean Gruenberg has identified an exit in the cellular garbage truck, a structure responsible for sorting molecules and ensuring inter-cell digestion and regulation. The study reveals how Alix protein uses this route to avoid cellular digestion and how vesicular stomatitis uses it to infect cells.
Researchers discovered that a team of dynein motors can share a load much larger than any one motor can handle due to their ability to change gears. This allows them to work efficiently and generate large forces. In contrast, kinesin motors without gears cannot produce comparable forces.
A team of researchers from the University of North Carolina and Columbia University discovered how two key proteins in messenger RNA communicate via a molecular twist to regulate histone production. This complex interaction helps maintain the balance of histones and DNA, ensuring proper cell growth and division.
The Biophysical Society has awarded Minority Affairs Committee Travel Awards to 14 students and postdoctoral fellows from diverse backgrounds, enabling them to present their research at the annual meeting. Recipients include Otonye Braide, Jackson Chief Elk, and others from universities across the US.
Researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem have identified two inclusion bodies, JUNQ and IPOD, with opposing effects on protein aggregation. Aggregation in JUNQ can lead to toxicity, while aggregation in IPOD is protective, suggesting a new potential strategy for designing therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers used machine learning techniques to predict functional associations between proteins in bacteria and extend biological pathways in humans. The study offers new insights into protein function and its relation to cellular aging and cancer.
A new study reveals how an invading virus hijacks a cell's signaling system by mimicking a cellular marker to defeat the body's defenses. This finding may represent a broader targeting strategy used by other viruses.
A study published in Molecular Cell found that more than 30% of PDZ domains interact with various membrane lipids, controlling their cellular location and interaction with other protein partners.
Scientists at Scripps Research Institute have identified a single prion protein that causes neuronal death similar to 'mad cow' disease, with toxic effects up to 10 times more potent than larger prion species. The study opens new avenues for exploring neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
Researchers have elucidated the structure of the 26S proteasome, a key protein degradation machinery, using a combination of structural biology methods. The discovery sheds light on how cells dispose of their waste and could have important implications for understanding neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Bacteria manipulate a natural cellular process to divert raw materials for building and disguising a structure that houses the bacteria as it replicates. The modification creates a dam, blocking proteins from reaching their destination, allowing the bacteria to blend in with the cell.
Scientists have elevated little-studied cellular mechanism sulfenylation to potential drug target by showing its importance in cell signaling and cancer. A new chemical probe allowed detection of minute differences in sulfenylation rates, revealing a key role for hydrogen peroxide in activating epidermal growth factor receptor.
Researchers discovered a novel role for aquaporin-4 in brain inflammation, which causes astrocyte swelling and cytokine release. The study suggests that inhibition or down-regulation of aquaporin-4 expression may offer a new therapeutic option for diseases like multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica.
The study provides the first detailed atomic model of tropomyosin bound to actin, significantly advancing our understanding of this key cellular protein. The researchers found that the interaction between tropomyosin and actin is weak enough that it can be readily perturbed by regulatory proteins, acting as a molecular switch.
Researchers have developed a 3D picture of a herpes virus protein interacting with human cellular machinery, revealing how the virus hijacks cells to spread infection. This discovery provides new insights into the mechanisms of viral replication and opens up possibilities for preventing or treating viral diseases.
A new study identifies a previously unrecognized mutation in the valosin-containing protein (VCP) gene, which causes an inherited form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The research provides new insight into the disease's underlying pathology and validates the exome sequencing technique for identifying genetic causes.
Scientists have discovered that Rho GDI1 plays a crucial role in balancing the levels of other Rho proteins, which are involved in cell migration, proliferation, and death. This finding may lead to new therapies targeting the balance of these proteins to prevent cancer.
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) have identified a viral protein called nsp1 as a major contributor to SARS virus virulence. The protein interferes with host cell defenses by targeting ribosomes, which are responsible for producing proteins crucial for immune defense.
Researchers discovered protein misfolding coincides with loss of heat shock response in C. elegans, suggesting protective mechanism deficient during aging. Early intervention with a 'vitamin' equivalent boosts heat shock response, delaying protein misfolding and extending lifespan.
A team of researchers has discovered a novel mechanism by which elastin-like polypeptides increase recombinant protein accumulation in tobacco plants. The study found that ELP fusions targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum induce the formation of mobile protein bodies, enhancing protein yield.
Researchers found that Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus uses polyadenylation to block normal gene expression in cells. The virus' SOX protein aberrantly lengthens mRNA poly(A) tails, sending a signal to the cell that its messages are wrong and holding them back.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered a new function for a protein essential to mitochondrial protein synthesis, which plays a key part in cell respiration. Without this protein, mitochondria cannot produce proteins and cellular respiration is impaired.
Researchers at Yale University have identified a key role for cellular prion proteins in triggering the damage caused by amyloid-beta peptides in Alzheimer's patients. The study suggests that these proteins act as early targets for new therapies, offering promising hope for the treatment of this debilitating disease.
A study by researchers at the University of Illinois reveals that RIG-I, a cellular protein, can detect viral RNA and trigger an immune response in every cell type. The protein uses two major parts to distinguish between viral and self-RNA, using a unique 'triphosphate' tag.
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) uses a viral protein to modify tumor-suppressing proteins in human cells, evading cellular control and leading to uncontrolled cell growth. This discovery provides new insights into how viruses cause cancer and could lead to potential treatments.
Researchers have discovered a crucial role for heparan sulfate in regulating embryonic stem cell potency, while also uncovering the mechanism behind SARS lung damage. The structures of key enzymes involved in these processes are now understood, opening up new avenues for treatment and drug development.
Researchers found that TRADD is essential for the transformation of B lymphocytes by Epstein-Barr virus, and that it can be targeted for cancer treatment. The study reveals a unique interaction between the viral protein LMP1 and TRADD, which masks its apoptotic activity.
The Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever virus uses protein 'knives' to cut bonds between cellular proteins, evading the immune system's defense. This allows the virus to replicate and spread, leading to high mortality rates. The discovery provides insight into why the virus is so virulent.
Scientists at The Wistar Institute have solved the three-dimensional structure of a molecular complex of pRb and E1A, revealing how the viral protein disrupts normal cell growth. This discovery sheds light on related mechanisms used by other viruses to trigger cancers.
Researchers have identified new proteins in amniotic fluid that could improve pregnancy marker development. Additionally, a study on the Wlds gene has provided insights into preventing neuronal communication deterioration in Alzheimer's disease. A comprehensive analysis of proteins in human Jurkat T cells has also been conducted.
A research team led by Dr. Benoit Coulombe has developed a powerful proteomics approach to infer putative functions of previously uncharacterized proteins by identifying their interaction partners. The study reveals an intricate network of protein interactions that connect together 436 different proteins.
The studies identified new proteins involved in coronary heart disease, clusterin responsible for colorectal cancer progression, and potential biomarkers for esophageal cancer detection. These findings may lead to improved diagnosis and therapies for these diseases.
A new assay allows simultaneous detection of individual proteins and their interactions in living cells, enabling researchers to monitor protein expression and interaction networks. This breakthrough method has the potential to develop novel antiviral factors and therapies for infectious diseases and cancers.
Researchers have discovered a flexible coiled-coil region in dynein that enables rapid conversion of chemical energy into mechanical force, powering cell division and mitochondrial transport. This breakthrough sheds light on the protein's function and may hold implications for understanding neurodegenerative disorders.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute developed a technology to identify and quantify specific protein phosphorylation sites in response to stimuli. They discovered 6,600 phosphorylation sites in 2,244 proteins, with 90% being unknown, and created the Phosida database to share their findings.
Researchers at UNC Health Care identified the cellular system that degrades faulty CFTR protein in cystic fibrosis, allowing some proteins to regain their proper shape. This understanding provides insight into potential therapeutics aimed at curing the disease.
Researchers at Rockefeller University discovered that calnexin plays a crucial role in forming the ?IIb?3 receptor complex. The study highlights the importance of calnexin in protein folding and degradation, which may lead to new strategies for treating common diseases.
Researchers found that viral protein vFLIP K13 actively promotes cancer cell growth through the NF-?B pathway, leading to increased lymphoma formation in transgenic mice. The study provides a promising new target for novel therapies against HHV8-associated tumors.
Scientists at EMBL have developed a new model for protein-complex interactions in yeast, revealing that key components are produced ahead of time and assembled as needed. This discovery sheds light on the dynamic behavior of cellular machines and offers potential applications in studying human and animal biological systems.