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Progression of ALS linked to a membrane and an enzyme: mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum disruption and loss of TBK1 activity

Researchers at Nagoya University have discovered a relationship between ALS progression and the disruption of mitochondria-associated membranes (MAM) and TBK1 activity. Decreased activation of TBK1 is linked to motor neuron death in ALS patients and mice with disrupted MAM.

SourceNagoya University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 17, 2024

IAA-miR164a-NAC100L1 mediates graft incompatible

Researchers found that the IAA-miR164a-NAC100L1 module induces callose deposition to mediate graft incompatible cucumber/pumpkin seedlings. The module regulates callose synthase activity and interacts with NAC100L1 to enhance symbiotic incompatibility.

SourcePlant Phenomics·JournalHorticulture Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 16, 2024

Tiny beads preserve enzymes for biocatalysis

Researchers used tiny beads to immobilize enzymes from edible fungus Agrocybe aegerita, protecting them from plasma treatment and increasing stability up to 44 times. The study paves the way for new biocatalytic applications combining enzymes with technical plasmas.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 21, 2023

New study sheds light on the molecular mechanisms underlying lipid recycling within cells

A recent study published in the Journal of Cell Biology has made significant progress in understanding autophagy and lipid recycling. Researchers used yeast as a model organism to identify key players in the process, including Atg15, Pep4, and Prb1, and demonstrated that Pep4 and Prb1 activate Atg15 to break down phospholipid bilayers.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Cell Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 2, 2023

Study associates reduced activity of a key enzyme with microcephaly in zika-infected offspring

Brazilian researchers found that Zika-infected mice with microcephaly have lower Ndel1 enzyme activity, which plays a key role in neuron differentiation and migration. The study suggests that Ndel1 may be a biomarker for early diagnosis of microcephaly and offers hope for treatment options.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalJournal of Neurochemistry·DateOct 24, 2023

U of I researchers develop organic nanozymes suitable for agricultural use

U of I researchers have developed organic nanozymes that mimic the properties of natural enzymes, exhibiting peroxidase-like activities and detecting glyphosate with adequate accuracy. The OC nanozyme is quicker to produce, cost-effective, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly.

On-off switch for enzymes

A protein found in bacteria activates its enzymatic activity by up to 10,000 times when exposed to blue light, acting like an on-off switch. This discovery could lead to enhanced and optimized optogenetic tools and medical treatments.

SourceGraz University of Technology·JournalScience Advances·TypeImaging analysis·DateAug 3, 2023

A multiplex assay to assess activated p300/CBP in circulating prostate tumor cells

A new multiplex assay has been developed to assess activated p300/CBP in circulating prostate tumor cells, revealing correlations with clinical outcomes and potential therapeutic targets for castration-resistant prostate cancer. The study found that patients with upregulated p300/CBP activity had shorter response times to ARSI therapy.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 24, 2023

Machine learning helps identify the cause of an old phenomenon in meat tenderness

Researchers used machine learning algorithms to explain how calpain-1 activity is modified on the molecular level, finding that lipid peroxidation products like MDA and HNE can increase or decrease activity. The study provides new insights into protein modification and its role in meat tenderness.

SourceUniversity of Connecticut·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 11, 2023

A novel mechanism may be effective in patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia and prior episodes of acute pancreatitis

A phase 2 study found that ANGPTL3 inhibitor therapy reduced triglycerides by up to 70% in patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia who had previously experienced acute pancreatitis. The treatment, evicanumab-dgnb, also showed potential for cardiovascular prevention by reducing apolipoprotein B levels.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalNature Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 9, 2023

Evolutionary history of detoxifying enzymes reconstructed

Scientists have reconstructed the evolutionary history of flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMOs), a class of detoxifying enzymes present in all lifeforms. The study reveals that a single ancestral gene diverged into two distinct functions, with one gene triggering a different breakdown reaction.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 27, 2023

Cabbage white butterflies utilize two gut enzymes for maximum flexibility in deactivating mustard oil bombs

Researchers discovered that cabbage white butterfly caterpillars use two complementary enzymes for detoxification, allowing them to adapt to various cruciferous plants. The NSP and MA enzymes differ in their capacity to process different glucosinolates, enabling the caterpillars to fine-tune their detoxification mechanisms.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 12, 2022

What’s your poison?

A high-throughput analysis of 26 medically important snakes in sub-Saharan Africa reveals the benefits of an integrated approach to understanding their venom composition and function. The study provides a solid foundation for further research on snake biology and antivenom development.

SourceGigaScience·JournalGigaScience·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 12, 2022

Experimental drug to treat liver cancer shows evidence of activity with manageable side effects

A new experimental drug has shown promising results in treating liver cancer, with two patients experiencing a partial response to the treatment. The drug, NMS-01940153E, targets an enzyme that plays a critical role in cell division and growth, and its side effects are manageable.

SourceEuropean Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 27, 2022

SFU researchers develop new chemical biological tools to monitor Parkinson’s disease

Researchers at SFU have developed new chemical biological tools to monitor Parkinson’s disease progression, measuring the activity of lysosomal glucocerebrosidase (GCase) enzyme. This breakthrough could lead to improved diagnostics and treatment, as well as a better understanding of other neurodegenerative diseases linked to GCase.

SourceSimon Fraser University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 13, 2022

How a particular protein regulates up to two-thirds of the world’s methane emission: key mechanism for methane emission in anaerobic environments is now understood, potentially helping the fight against climate change.

Researchers have deciphered the activity of B12-dependent radical SAM enzymes, which regulate methane production by archaea. The study's findings have implications for biotechnologies that control key enzymatic events and could help reduce global warming.

SourceNagoya University·JournalNature·TypeImaging analysis·DateMar 17, 2022

All organisms produce methane

A study led by Frank Keppler and Ilka Bischofs reveals that all organisms release methane, with the process driven by reactive oxygen species. The researchers verified this finding in over 30 model organisms, including bacteria, archaea, yeasts, plant cells, and human cell lines.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 11, 2022

Novel enzyme catalyzing the formation of glycosidic bonds in complex sugar moieties characterized

Researchers have identified a novel enzyme that catalyzes the formation of glycosidic bonds in complex sugar moieties. The discovery provides fresh insights into carbohydrate metabolism and offers a breakthrough for the synthesis of sugar chains, which play key roles in various biological processes.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 7, 2022

Mutant mice shed no tears

A study led by Kyoto University researchers found that modulating hormone levels can improve meibomian gland disorder, a common cause of dry eyes. Topical administration of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) boosted NAD levels and rebooted 3-HSD activity in mutant mice, alleviating dryness.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Aging·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 7, 2022

Promising molecule for treatment of COVID-19

Researchers at Uppsala University have designed a molecule that inhibits the replication of coronaviruses, including the new variant, with great potential for developing an antiviral drug. The molecule has been shown to be effective against both old and new variants, offering hope for treatment options.

SourceUppsala University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 10, 2022

Understanding Eraser Enzymes

MRNA eraser enzymes play a crucial role in regulating gene expression and cell fate decisions. Research on these enzymes may lead to the development of therapeutics that target misbehaving erasers in disease. The team aims to understand how these enzymes recognize and choose specific methyl groups to remove from RNA.

Tiny droplets offer glimpse of real life inside a living cell

Researchers at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) have developed a system to study cellular reactions in a way that more closely reflects how molecules behave in a living cell. By mixing a polymer with protein, they created membraneless droplets that can mimic the molecular properties of how molecules move in the cell.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 10, 2021

Understanding variations in Salmonella virulence

Researchers from the University of Seville discovered that a single amino acid mutation in Salmonella enzymes enables them to modify more proteins in infected cells, leading to increased virulence. This finding has significant implications for developing inhibitors as alternative antibacterial treatments.

SourceUniversity of Seville·JournalChemical Science·DateOct 11, 2021

Probiotics prove effective in treating antibiotics-induced dysbiosis in mice

A study by Kazan Federal University found that probiotics administered to antibiotic-treated mice improved behavior, reduced oxidative stress, and restored gut microbiota diversity. The researchers demonstrated a strong link between the gut microbiota and brain functioning, with potential therapeutic benefits for treating dysbiosis-rel...

SourceKazan Federal University·JournalLife·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateAug 26, 2021

Making patient care easier: Self-powered diaper sensors that monitor urine sugar levels

Researchers from Tokyo University of Science developed a self-powered diaper sensor that monitors urine sugar levels, providing an alternative biomarker for blood sugar monitoring. The sensor uses a biofuel cell powered by glucose in the urine, detecting sugar levels within 1 second and simplifying caretaking tasks.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalACS Sensors·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 23, 2021

Enzyme from Amazon fungus could enhance efficiency of second-generation ethanol production

Researchers discovered an enzyme from Amazon fungus Trichoderma harzianum capable of breaking down diverse plant biomass sugars, enhancing the efficiency of second-generation ethanol production. The enzyme's industrial use is now viable at low cost due to genetic engineering techniques.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalScientific Reports·TypeNews article·DateAug 4, 2021

Move over Michaelis-Menten!

Researchers at Aarhus University have developed a new equation to describe the activity of enzyme cascades in cells. This breakthrough could lead to a better understanding of how enzymes control cellular signaling and potentially improve drug development for cancer treatment.

SourceAarhus University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 20, 2020