Articles tagged with Enzymes
Researchers develop model that links movement of predators and prey to segregation of oil and vinegar, expanding theoretical framework from inanimate matter. The model reveals universal characteristics of active living matter, including bacteria, enzymes, and motor proteins.
Researchers at MedUni Vienna's Institute of Pharmacology have isolated a beetroot peptide that inhibits prolyl oligopeptidase, an enzyme involved in the breakdown of protein hormones in the body. The study suggests that this peptide could be a promising drug candidate for treating neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases.
Researchers at ORNL used neutron scattering to create a three-dimensional map of the SARS-CoV-2 enzyme molecule critical to virus reproduction. The study reveals the location of every atom in the protease enzyme, enabling the design of more specific and effective drug inhibitors.
Researchers found that bats lack AIM-2 receptors, which could reduce inflammation and allow viral reservoirs. In vitro experiments showed partial restoration of inflammasome signaling when human AIM-2 genes were introduced into bat cells.
Researchers developed a more efficient way to produce fucosyltransferase VI (FTVI) enzyme, which enhances the homing ability of cord blood stem cells. This breakthrough could improve the effectiveness of cord blood transplants for treating various life-threatening conditions.
Researchers developed two molecules that inhibit SARS-CoV-2-PLpro, an enzyme used by the virus for production and immune system disruption. This discovery provides a framework for anti-COVID-19 drug design.
Scientists at Harvard's Wyss Institute have created a new method for enzymatic DNA synthesis that uses photolithographic techniques to write digital data into DNA. The approach enables the simultaneous writing of multiple DNA strands with varying sequences, paving the way for high-capacity data storage in DNA.
Researchers compared the DNA of four C3 grass crops and four C4 grass crops to identify regions that control the expression of four enzymes involved in photosynthesis. They found 'activators' that trigger expression in bundle sheath cells and 'repressors' that restrict expression in mesophyll cells.
A study on the Orobanchaceae parasitic plant Phtheirospermum japonicum reveals that β-1,4-glucanase enzyme is crucial for both plant parasitism and cross-species grafting. The enzyme facilitates cell-cell adhesion and transport of water and nutrients between the parasite and host plants.
A collaboration between NREL and the University of Portsmouth has led to breakthroughs in understanding how enzymes like PETase and MHETase work together to degrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic. The research reveals that combining these two synergistic enzymes significantly improves their ability to break down PET.
Researchers repurpose anti-malarial compounds to target the intestinal parasite Cryptosporidium, killing it in cell cultures and immunocompromised mice. The compounds work by inhibiting an enzyme responsible for protein production within the parasite.
Researchers found that catalase can regulate cytokine production, protect alveolar cells from damage, and repress SARS-CoV-2 virus replication in rhesus macaques. The study suggests a potential therapeutic solution for hyperinflammation caused by COVID-19.
Researchers at Penn University found that autophagy, a cellular process, causes SIRT1 enzyme to degrade over time. Treating mice with an autophagy inhibitor restored SIRT1 levels, suggesting a new approach to treating age-related diseases.
Researchers discovered the mechanism of an enzyme called F420-oxidase that converts oxygen into water, allowing methanogens to thrive in oxygen-free environments. The enzyme uses a gas channel and gating system to control the reaction, preventing oxygen from being transformed into superoxide.
Scientists have created a new enzyme 'cocktail' that can digest plastic up to six times faster than existing methods. The combination of two enzymes, PETase and MHETase, breaks down polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into its building blocks, enabling recycling and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology have found that surplus sugar from honeydew secretions by whiteflies is used to detoxify plant toxins. The discovery of a novel glucosylation pathway reveals how whiteflies prevent activation of mustard oil bomb in cruciferous plants.
Researchers successfully degrade PET plastic using a two-enzyme system and engineered chimeric enzyme that works synergistically to break down the plastic pollutant. The discovery could lead to new methods for plastics depolymerization, offering an alternative to traditional recycling methods.
The genome of Fleming's original Penicillium strain has been sequenced for the first time, showing that the UK and US strains use different methods to produce penicillin. The results suggest new routes for industrial production and could help inspire novel solutions to combatting antibiotic resistance.
Researchers created an optimal experimental environment by introducing engineered plant enzyme into E. coli bacteria. They discovered that a specific subunit of Rubisco works faster than others and can be improved in bacteria to boost crop productivity.
Researchers have identified the structure of double-strand DNA break repair by PARP enzymes, which can bridge broken DNA ends together. The study provides insight into the mechanisms underlying PARP activation and catalytic cycle, potentially aiding in understanding resistance to cancer drugs that inhibit PARP.
Researchers uncover the production of nitric oxide by methane-eating microbes when they co-metabolize ammonia, a process previously thought to be toxic. This finding has significant implications for understanding the survival and growth of methanotrophs in environments with increasing fertilizer input.
The innate immune system interprets cytosolic DNA as a sign of intracellular pathogens. However, cGAS is found in the nucleus and prevents autoimmune reactions by binding to chromatin, not DNA. This interaction fails to activate the innate immune system.
Researchers developed a new tool to guide scientists in choosing the best CRISPR enzyme for their high-stakes gene edits, making the technology safer, cheaper and more efficient. The tool helps identify where mistakes are most likely to occur for each enzyme, saving time and reducing risk.
A team of researchers has discovered a previously unknown relative of the ancient enzyme rubisco, which is central to photosynthesis and carbon fixation. The new form, called form I-prime rubisco, provides clues about how this enzyme evolved over billions of years.
Researchers have developed first-in-class inhibitors of the NSD1 protein, a key enzyme linked to several types of cancer. The lead compound, BT5, showed promising activity in leukemia cells with the NUP98-NSD1 chromosomal translocation.
Researchers at University of Toronto Engineering and University of Michigan have modified an enzyme from bacteria to promote regrowth of nerve tissue following injury. The new version is more stable than the natural enzyme, which could lead to new treatments for reversing nerve damage.
The metabolic enzyme IL4I1 promotes tumor cell spread and suppresses the immune system, making it a promising target for cancer therapy. The study's findings may provide important information for the development of new immunotherapy concepts.
Researchers discovered that small highly branched polymers can mimic modern biological protein enzyme function, potentially aiding in the origins of life. These simple catalytic structures may have played a key role in jumpstarting life on early Earth.
Researchers at the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) have developed a low-cost platform for producing enzymes that break down biomass into fermentable sugar for biofuel conversion. The enzyme cocktail, produced by genetically engineering a fungus, has significant potential industrial applications.
Chemists at Scripps Research have created three families of complex, oxygen-containing molecules that are normally obtainable only from plants. The key to this new method is harnessing natural enzymes--from bacteria--to assist in complex chemical transformations.
A team of scientists from UC San Diego identified a metabolic switch that decreases tumor growth in mice by restricting dietary amino acids. They found that restricting serine and glycine led to the production of toxic lipids that slow cancer progression.
Researchers identified an enzyme that breaks down mucus in the gut, providing a potential biomarker for intestinal diseases. The discovery could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as ulcerative colitis and colorectal cancer.
Chinese scientists introduce FlowRACS, a flow-mode Raman-activated cell sorter, to support high-throughput discovery of enzymes and their cell factories at the precision of just one microbial cell. The instrument can screen yeast for its TAG content and profile in real-time.
A team of Virginia Tech researchers discovered a new biosynthetic pathway for allicin, the compound responsible for garlic's unique flavor and aroma. This finding enables farmers to predict and control the strength of their crops, leading to more consistent production and greater flavor profiles.
Scientists have discovered a simple and ingenious strategy used by the Zika virus to protect important parts of its genome from host cell defence mechanisms. The virus uses an automatic umbrella-like mechanism, where one end of the viral RNA strand is protected while the other is not, allowing it to replicate efficiently.
A team of researchers from UC Santa Barbara and LMU found that enzymes can cause liquid droplets formed from DNA to bubble unexpectedly. The bubbles occur when the enzyme penetrates inside the droplet, leading to an osmotic effect that causes water to be drawn in, resulting in a swelling phenomenon.
Researchers discovered a unique 'BO enzyme' found only within certain bacteria responsible for producing body odour molecules. This breakthrough highlights the role of Staphylococcus hominis in body odour production and suggests its existence prior to modern humans' evolution.
Researchers validate sEH enzyme inhibition to reduce neuroinflammation, improve endogen response and neuronal damage in Alzheimer's disease. The study suggests sEH as a new therapeutic target with potential implications for other inflammatory pathologies.
A new study from La Jolla Institute for Immunology reveals that a metabolic enzyme called ADA2 inhibits inflammation in blood vessels and restrains the immune system. The researchers found that ADA2's loss stimulates a robust innate immune response, which can lead to harmful inflammation.
Researchers from Göttingen and Halle create novel inhibitors for enzymes involved in Alzheimer's disease, offering a promising new treatment approach. The study reveals a potential solution to the incurable nature of Alzheimer's disease through highly selective binding without harmful side effects.
A breakthrough in understanding rubisco, a crucial enzyme in photosynthesis, could lead to significant gains in crop production. By revisiting a billion-year-old strategy, scientists have identified new ways to enhance rubisco activity.
A new study improves CRISPR gene editing by mutating the Cas9 enzyme to reduce off-target hits. The mutation increases fidelity up to 93-fold, making it a potentially safer strategy for gene therapy.
Cyanobacteria construct organelles to convert CO2 into sugar through a complex process involving Rubisco enzymes and chaperone proteins. A recent study reveals the crucial role of Raf1 protein in assembling Rubisco complexes, improving carboxysome function.
Researchers identified eight new acetyltransferases in plants, which are doubly catalytically active and play a role in photosynthesis. The study reveals an entirely new complexity within the enzyme machinery, suggesting other enzymes with similar dual activities exist in eukaryotic cells.
Researchers have discovered that DNA resection pathways are highly specific and designed to repair distinct types of DNA damage, challenging the notion of redundancy in these mechanisms. This understanding has significant implications for cancer therapy and the development of new treatments.
Researchers developed ancestral biotinylation enzymes to improve proximity-dependent biotin identification. The new AirID enzyme showed higher activity, specificity, and lower toxicity than previous types, enabling comprehensive analysis of protein interactions.
Researchers discovered that DNA droplets can exhibit bubbling behavior, similar to boiling water, when exposed to certain enzymes. This phenomenon occurs in lightly-bound systems, where the enzyme penetrates the crowded DNA particles, causing an osmotic effect and leading to a burping-like outburst.
Researchers discovered unicellular green algae with enzymes that can convert commercially viable substances without generating co-substrate, using photosynthesis. This breakthrough has the potential to create a greener industry by producing substances at mild temperatures and in water.
A study by Baylor College of Medicine researchers reveals that defective CLN6 causes toxic waste accumulation in cells, leading to progressive degeneration and cell death. The researchers found that CLN6 works together with CLN8 to transport enzymes to lysosomes, and when CLN6 is defective, this process is impaired.
A team of researchers has performed the first room-temperature X-ray measurements on the SARS-CoV-2 main protease, enabling the creation of a comprehensive 3D model. This model will be used to advance supercomputing simulations aimed at finding drug inhibitors to block the virus's replication mechanism.
A new study reveals that the enzyme SAMHD1 protects B-ALL cells from nelarabine's anti-cancer effects, but not T-ALL cells. This discovery has crucial implications for leukaemia treatment, offering a potential biomarker to tailor therapy to individual patient needs.
A new study from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center finds that increased activity of the normal metabolic enzyme SHMT2 transforms normal B cells into B cell lymphomas. The enzyme binds to tumor suppressor proteins, turning them off and resulting in the development of lymphoma.
Researchers have discovered that herbicide-resistant weeds like waterhemp produce detoxifying enzymes to neutralize certain chemicals, making them resistant to common herbicides. This metabolic resistance strategy is hard to identify and combat, highlighting the need for a multi-pronged approach to control these weeds.
GlycoNet researchers have identified a key enzyme, Agd3, critical for biofilm formation in Aspergillus fumigatus. Without this enzyme, the biofilm does not form, and the fungus is weakened. The team has also discovered a new family of carbohydrate-processing enzymes that has not been previously characterized.
Researchers at Northwestern University developed a new rapid-prototyping system to accelerate the design of biological systems, reducing production time from months to weeks. The iPROBE platform leverages cell-free synthetic biology and computational design algorithms to discover optimal biosynthetic pathways for sustainable chemicals.
Researchers at Aarhus University are hunting for unique enzymes that can break down polyethylene, a common type of plastic. They aim to develop polymer-destructive enzymes, which could revolutionize the field and provide a solution to plastic pollution.
Researchers at Uppsala University have resurrected billions-year-old enzymes and repurposed them to catalyse new chemical reactions. The study develops sustainable solutions in biotechnology and chemically degrades environmental toxins.
Minor ginsenosides have diverse pharmacological activities, including anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, neuroprotective, immunomodulator, and anti-inflammatory effects. The utilization of microorganisms and their enzymes for biotransformation and biosynthesis are considered highly specific, safe, and environmentally friendly production methods.
Scientists at Illinois have identified a novel enzymatic reaction that uses repurposed enzymes to produce high-yields of valuable chiral carbonyl compounds. This eco-friendly process merges biocatalysis with photocatalysis, offering potential applications in pharmaceutical and bioenergy fields.
A new image of the LSD1 enzyme reveals its role in regulating genes and interacting with the nucleosome. The discovery sheds light on how cancer cells disrupt normal development and highlights potential therapeutic targets.