Research on enzymes and the reactions they drive. Covers enzyme evolution, plastic-degrading enzymes, brain immune cells, and molecular imaging.
Researchers discovered ethane-eating microbes at hydrothermal vents, which use the same enzyme as methane-eaters to break down ethane. The enzyme's unique structure was visualized with unprecedented precision, revealing a larger catalytic chamber and additional methyl groups, allowing for efficient recognition of ethane.
The new technique uses engineered yeast cells to produce enzyme and histone proteins, conduct biochemical assays internally, and then display the results. This approach significantly reduces the time required for examining a single enzyme/histone pairing from a week to just a couple of days.
A study found that certain genetic variants of MTHFR enzyme can increase folate deficiency risk, leading to neurological and heart problems. Researchers identified over 656 possible variants, including the common A222V variant, which affects enzyme function in subtle ways.
Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology found that TET enzymes play a crucial role in keeping immune cells on a healthy track, suggesting potential new avenues for controlling cardiovascular disease. The study also identified the minor but important role of TDG enzyme in immune cell demethylation.
Researchers at Heidelberg University discovered an enzyme that breaks down Wnt proteins, shaping body axis development in the freshwater polyp Hydra. This discovery may play a role in human diseases such as cancer.
Researchers discover bacteria that can break down toxic chemicals like lindane and HBCD, which have been banned in many countries due to their persistence in the environment. The microbes produce enzymes that can degrade these pollutants, offering a potential solution for cleaning up chemical waste from landfills.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed chemical probes to detect an enzyme that breaks down antibiotics, making bacteria resistant to treatment. The probes can also be used to study nutritional immunity and may help find alternative treatments for resistant bacteria.
Researchers discovered MCAD's protective role in glioblastoma cells, which relies on the enzyme to detoxify toxic byproducts of fatty acid metabolism. Inhibiting MCAD appears to be specific and potent in killing glioblastoma cells.
Scientists from the University of Bath explore racemases, critical enzymes linked to cancers and other life-threatening diseases, and propose strategies for finding drugs that neutralize them. Lab experiments show promising outcomes in targeting these enzymes, with potential applications in treating various diseases.
Researchers have found that Rubisco proton production can enhance CO2 acquisition, allowing plants to fix more carbon dioxide and produce more sugar. This discovery could lead to improved crop yields and increased food security.
Scientists at UC San Diego School of Medicine discovered two enzymes, histone deacetylases (HDACs), that inhibit the body's inflammatory response in the skin. These enzymes allow the skin to tolerate certain microbes living on its surface while preventing a constant rash from developing elsewhere.
Researchers develop therapeutic strategy to disrupt sticky biofilm that causes early childhood caries, a severe form of dental decay. The treatment targets the bonds between bacteria and yeast, reducing biofilm volume and making it easier to remove.
Research reveals that just three amino acid changes can dramatically alter an enzyme's function, allowing microbes to thrive in diverse ecosystems. This discovery has significant implications for understanding disease-causing bacteria and developing remedies.
Researchers from JAIST have synthesized high-performance BioNylons using itaconic acid and amino acids, which degrade under the pepsin enzyme found in mammal stomachs. These novel materials show improved thermal/mechanical performances compared to conventional nylons.
Researchers created a probe that glows when detecting an enzyme associated with blood clots and strokes. The probe, made up of two components, can host fluorescent molecules and detects an increase in fluorescence intensity when the probe comes into contact with the enzyme.
A new study reveals diatoms primarily use one pathway to concentrate CO2, continuing to operate at higher CO2 concentrations. The team found that marine diatoms are highly efficient in fixing atmospheric CO2, fixing nearly one-fifth of the global carbon fixation on earth.
Researchers discovered an enzyme in a fungus that breaks down lignocellulose, a key component of forestry and agricultural waste. This breakthrough has the potential to produce valuable chemicals and fuels, increasing the sustainability of renewable energy sources.
Scientists have developed a new class of cancer drug targeting enzymes that play a key role in translating DNA into proteins. This approach shows promising results in treating acute myeloid leukaemia, with the drug significantly reducing cancer cell growth and proliferation.
Researchers have identified a new light-driven enzyme, fatty acid photodecarboxylase (FAP), that converts fatty acids into alkanes and alkenes under blue light. The enzyme's complex photocycle drives this transformation, and its structure has been elucidated using serial femtosecond crystallography.
A team of researchers has discovered that JMJD3 enzyme promotes inflammation in monocyte/macrophages, leading to the development of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Blocking this enzyme prevents aneurysm formation, providing a potential new target for treatment.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have developed a new treatment for Pompe disease, a genetic condition that affects 1 in 40,000 people in the US. The treatment has been shown to be safer and more effective than current therapy, improving respiratory muscle function, endurance, and overall quality of life.
A new study maps brain regions responsible for alcohol's intoxicating effects, revealing that acetate produced in the brain plays a key role in cognitive impairment. The research also suggests that abnormalities in enzyme production can lead to detrimental effects associated with alcohol misuse.
Researchers identified Mycobacterium tuberculosis' use of rubredoxin B to survive in iron-deficient conditions, helping the bacterium evade the immune system. The study provides new insights into the development of drug resistance and potential targets for therapeutic agents.
A new natural blue food coloring has been developed by converting anthocyanins in red cabbage using a custom enzyme. The discovery could provide an eco-friendly alternative to widely used synthetic blue dyes.
Scientists have developed a novel naturally derived cyan blue colorant from red cabbage anthocyanin pigments, which shows high stability over time. The new compound, Peak 2, can produce both blue and green colors in food products, offering an alternative to synthetic blue dye.
Researchers discovered a link between the mutated enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) and increased oxidative stress in mouse models of Folling Disease. This finding may explain some comorbidities found in adult PKU patients and has implications for understanding the disease.
Researchers at Nagoya University discovered a DNA-like molecule called XNA that could be synthesized without enzymes, supporting the hypothesis of an XNA world before the RNA world. The findings suggest that XNAs can carry genetic code stably and potentially transfer genetic information between DNA and RNA.
Researchers discovered that the potato toxin α-solanine is biosynthesized from the spirosolane α-tomatine found in tomatoes. The conversion involves a dioxygenase enzyme called DPS, which can be suppressed with an inhibitor, offering a potential basis for suppressing poisonous compound synthesis in potatoes.
By introducing covalently linked fluorophores into a bacterial photosynthetic enzyme, researchers broadened the enzyme's band of harvestable light wavelengths. This improvement boosts energy conversion efficiency and paves the way for developing an efficient artificial photosynthesis system for solar energy conversion.
Researchers at the University of Florida have discovered a way to evaluate enzyme lifespan, allowing them to identify enzymes that need improvement. This breakthrough could lead to increased crop yields by reducing energy spent on replacing worn-out enzymes.
Researchers have discovered an enzyme on the surface of Aspergillus fumigatus that breaks down vital molecule NAD, affecting immune cells and weakening the immune system. The discovery may lead to new treatments for fungal infections.
Researchers at Michigan State University are exploring the impact of climate change on plants' efficiency, focusing on photorespiration, a process that reduces plant productivity. By understanding this phenomenon better, they hope to develop new breeding techniques and improve crop yields.
Higher temperatures can reduce photosynthesis efficiency and hinder plants' ability to regulate CO2 uptake and water loss. Plants with structural features that make them more or less susceptible to heat stress also influence how temperature affects crop yields.
Researchers uncover key mechanism of acyl protein thioesterase APT2's membrane binding and function. APT2 binds membranes through electrostatic interactions and hydrophobic loop, enabling deacetylating proteins.
Researchers at the UAB have designed minimalist biostructures that imitate natural enzymes, carrying out two differentiated and reversibly regulated activities. These peptides can be used to create 'intelligent' nanomaterials with tailor-made combinations of catalytic functions for practical applications.
Scientists at the University of Freiburg have discovered three key enzymes that play a crucial role in synthesizing natural products. These enzymes restructure a chemical precursor molecule to create the carbon backbone of these compounds, which are used for various pharmacological effects.
A team of researchers has developed a new method to combat periodontitis by targeting only the bacteria that cause the disease. The approach uses a test substance that attacks glutaminyl cyclase, an enzyme in the bacteria that plays a special role in metabolism.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute modified E. coli to produce chondroitin sulfate, a drug used to treat arthritis, in an animal-free fashion. The process allows for fast and efficient production of the drug, with potential applications in therapeutics and regenerative medicine.
Researchers found evidence of oxygen-using enzymes in ancient bacteria and archaea, dating back 3 billion years before the Great Oxygenation Event. This suggests that life forms already utilized oxygen long before the main event, which allowed for the evolution of humans and other oxygen-breathing organisms.
A Canadian pilot study on gene therapy for Fabry disease shows the treatment is working and safe, enabling patients to produce normal levels of the defective enzyme. The trial, led by Dr. Aneal Khan, treated five men with a single dose of gene therapy, which resulted in stable patients who are no longer requiring replacement therapy.
Sanfilippo syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that causes childhood dementia and premature death. Researchers are developing a new combination therapy using gene therapy and stem cells to restore metabolic defects in brain cells.
Researchers used DNA origami to analyze ultra-fast movements of CRISPR enzymes, enabling them to understand how they recognize target sequences. This technique will help optimize CRISPR for fewer off-target matches and improve gene editing processes.
The Spinning Disc Mesh Reactor (SMDR) creates chemicals by reacting enzymes on a spinning cloth-covered plate, like a vinyl record. It offers flexibility and scope for batch production, making pharmaceutical companies more responsive to emerging health issues.
A team of scientists at Osaka University has discovered a new protein called QhpG that enables the conversion of amino acid residues on polypeptides into an enzyme cofactor. This finding may lead to the development of novel bioactive peptides and enzymes for bioremediation purposes.
A new method has enabled scientists to study the natural structure of large enzymes, revealing that they function differently than previously thought. This discovery could help better understand certain diseases, including Alzheimer's and those caused by viruses, and potentially lead to new treatment options.
Researchers found that Lactobacillus bacteria use enzymes to manipulate bile acids, creating a favorable gut environment. The type of bile acid and the presence of specific enzymes affect the toxicity of the acids and bacterial survival.
A Danish research team has discovered a new control mechanism in the innate immune system, involving the ITIH4 protein. The study found that ITIH4 inhibits proteases via an unknown mechanism, preventing damage to healthy cells.
A new method has been developed to identify peptides that inhibit histone deacetylases (HDACs), enzymes that play a role in cancer development and treatment. The researchers hope to use this method to develop more specific HDAC inhibitors with fewer side effects, leading to improved cancer therapy.
A new genetic disorder, LINKED, has been identified by NIH researchers, characterized by developmental delays and malformations of the brain, heart, and facial features. The disorder is caused by mutations in the OTUD5 gene, which interferes with key molecular steps in embryo development.
Researchers discover that a gel containing GzmB inhibitor VTI-1002 reduces skin blistering by 50% and protects skin integrity, offering hope for targeted treatments for pemphigoid diseases. Current corticosteroids often cause severe side effects, making alternative therapies needed.
Researchers have engineered a new-to-nature metabolic connection, the TaCo pathway, which fixes CO2 instead of releasing it in photorespiration. This synthetic pathway is more energy-efficient than any other proposed alternative, with potential applications in improving crop yield and recycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
A new Texas A&M AgriLife Research project aims to enable temporary genetic changes in mosquitoes, which then remove themselves from the population. The goal is to test and fine-tune a self-deleting gene technology to control mosquito populations and prevent disease transmission.
Researchers at the University of Münster developed a strategy to switch DNA functions on and off using light. This allows for better understanding and control of cellular processes, such as epigenetics. The method involves transferring photocaging groups to DNA using protein engineering.
Researchers at the University of Ottawa have identified the molecular defects associated with LIC Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes mortality in young children. The study found that small mutations in the NSMCE3 gene affect the Smc5/6 complex's ability to compact DNA, leading to severe defects in DNA repair.
Engineers from Aarhus University and MIT have enabled the biological synthesis of high-yield industry-relevant production of climate-neutral drop-in fuels from biowaste using an unusual light-dependent enzyme. The discovery proves that fatty acyl-CoA is the preferred reactant for the enzyme, leading to a 89% conversion rate into alkanes.
The discovery sheds light on how a subtle deviation in the development process can be detrimental to individual survival and reproductive success. The study reveals that Kdm7a regulates Hox gene expression, which is crucial for embryonal morphogenesis and vertebrate body plan development.
A study by University of Illinois researchers found that beta-carotene's full health benefits require an active enzyme to produce vitamin A. The active enzyme BCO1 converts beta-carotene into vitamin A, which helps lower bad cholesterol and protect against atherosclerosis.
A preclinical study by University at Buffalo researchers has identified new genes that could be key therapeutic targets for treating Alzheimer's disease. The study found that inhibiting certain enzymes involved in abnormal gene transcription can reverse memory deficits associated with the disease.
A new study by UC Riverside and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has revealed how bacteria control metabolic intermediates, enabling more efficient biofuel production. By understanding this regulation, scientists can design cells that produce desired chemicals while preventing excessive buildup of unwanted products.
A recent study has identified a genetic variation that influences cognition and IQ in people with schizophrenia, suggesting the possibility of developing new therapies to target learning and memory problems. Higher levels of a specific brain chemical were found to be associated with better visual and working memory.