Research on enzymes and the reactions they drive. Covers enzyme evolution, plastic-degrading enzymes, brain immune cells, and molecular imaging.
Researchers at Colorado State University have developed a cheap and easy-to-use detection device that can quickly identify counterfeit antibiotics. The device uses a simple paper-based test to detect the presence of antibiotics, with a strip turning red if a falsified sample is present.
Researchers create nanobot pumps that neutralize nerve agents and administer antidotes, powered by the enzyme's chemical energy. The technology has applications in medicine, manufacturing, robotics, and fluidics, and could be used to treat diseases like diabetes and deliver targeted treatments.
Researchers find that glucitol-core-containing gallotannins from red maple leaves can block elastase activity, maintaining skin elasticity. The findings could lead to the development of plant-based skincare products and create new economic opportunities for farmers in eastern North America.
Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have identified an enzyme, GPAT1, as a promising target for increasing biofuel production from red algae. The study found that TAG productivity could be increased by more than 56 times in a strain overexpressing GPAT1 without negative effects on algal growth.
Researchers have developed a new method for making valuable compounds by combining enzymatic and photocatalysts. The study, published in Nature, found that this combination can create important active pharmaceutical intermediates for producing pharmaceutical drugs.
Scientists at Tohoku University successfully developed a method to create virus-like polymer particles with various nanostructures, which can be selectively functionalized. This technology has potential applications in immunoassay systems, drug delivery, and enzymatic reactions.
A researcher at Florida Atlantic University has been awarded a grant to develop novel compounds that inhibit enzymes contributing to cancer spread. The focus is on melanoma and breast cancer, with the goal of creating effective anti-cancer therapeutic agents.
A team of Emory scientists has identified an enzyme that removes N6-methyladenine from Drosophila DNA, crucial for neuronal development. The finding provides insights into the role of this modification in humans, particularly in relation to Polycomb proteins.
Researchers found that Cas12a is a more choosier enzyme than Cas9 due to its binding mechanism, making it less likely to edit the wrong part of the genome. This discovery could lead to improved gene editing in plants and animals with increased safety for human applications.
Researchers at Technical University of Munich have developed an enzymatic process to produce methionine from gaseous CO2, replacing the current petrochemical-based method. The new process requires just two enzymes and has a yield of 40 percent, compared to photosynthesis which uses 14 enzymes with only a 20 percent yield.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide found a link between enzymes involved in malt production and a specific tissue layer within barley grains. The study showed that grains with more aleurone had increased enzyme activity, which could lead to improved brewing processes and new malts.
Researchers found that guanylate cyclase enzyme plays a crucial role in the allergic immune response, and its inhibition can lead to reduced symptoms. The study used knock-out mice lacking this enzyme to show that Th1 responses can suppress Th2 responses, resulting in weaker allergy symptoms.
Researchers found that PI3Kγ expression increases during T. cruzi infection, essential for avoiding excessive inflammation and controlling heart parasitemia. The enzyme's absence in macrophages impairs their ability to kill parasites and control inflammation.
Scientists have discovered a key structural motif in the tuberculosis NagA enzyme, providing a promising drug target. The research aims to design specific molecules to block its function and inhibit the critical pathway, potentially leading to new TB therapeutics.
A team of international researchers has discovered a new family of cytochrome P450 enzymes that can convert lignin into valuable products. The discovery represents a new class of P450s, Family N, with a two-component architecture.
Scientists have identified a promising plant compound, montbretin A, that inhibits pancreatic alpha-amylase activity and reduces blood glucose levels. The discovery of the biosynthetic pathway for this compound lays the groundwork for its potential use as an anti-diabetes drug.
Researchers have identified TLK2 enzyme as a key player in several diseases, including breast cancer and intellectual disability. The study suggests that inhibiting the enzyme may be an effective therapy approach.
A new family of enzymes has been discovered that can convert plant waste into high-value products such as nylon and bioplastics. The research also offers additional environmental benefits by creating products from lignin, a previously waste material.
Researchers developed a new genetic engineering technique to improve an enzyme's ability to break down biomass. The EASy method enables accelerated evolution of desirable traits in microorganisms, leading to more efficient conversion of lignin into fuels and plastics.
A new study has identified the genetic networks behind a critical catalyst called a sarpagan bridge enzyme in Indian Snakeroot, a plant used for millennia in South and South East-Asia as a tranquilizer. The discovery could lead to faster routes to treatments for abnormal heart rhythms, high blood pressure, and some mental disorders.
Researchers at Imperial College London have developed a more efficient enzyme that can break down plant-based biomass 30 times faster than current methods. This breakthrough could lead to cheaper and more environmentally friendly biofuel production, as well as more efficient plastic recycling.
Researchers developed a low-cost sensor made from semiconducting plastic that can measure critical metabolites in sweat, tears, saliva, or blood. The sensor offers higher sensitivity compared to traditional metal electrodes and can be easily modified to detect various metabolites.
Researchers created a synthetic DNA enzyme that outperforms naturally occurring enzymes by three orders of magnitude, flipping lipids in cell membranes and inducing cell death in cancer cells. The new enzyme is poised to be used for personalized therapeutics and treatments.
Researchers at Princeton University have found a way to make a naturally occurring enzyme take on a new role, enabling the catalysis of non-natural reactions. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new enzymatic reactions and potentially more cost-effective chemical catalysis.
Researchers discovered that trehalose increases cellular waste disposal and improves neurological symptoms in MPS IIIB mice. The study found that trehalose delayed retinal degeneration, vision loss, and improved lifespan by activating a master regulator of the lysosomal system.
A team of researchers has identified a new family of enzymes that modify transfer RNAs in malignant melanoma, leading to addiction and resistance. Inhibiting these enzymes synergizes with targeted therapies to produce a strong anti-tumoral effect.
The University of Basel researchers have solved the mystery of how the ACC enzyme assembles into distinct filaments, revealing its impact on enzymatic activity and fatty acid production. This discovery opens up new possibilities for developing selective ACC inhibitors to combat diseases linked to metabolic syndrome.
Researchers at Aalto University discovered that regulating lignin particle surface charge enables enzymes to adhere and multiply in efficiency. The breakthrough paves the way for using lignin as a sustainable material in industries.
Researchers at TU Graz have achieved a breakthrough in biocatalysis by manipulating an enzyme to create ring-shaped molecules. This innovation enables the production of novel pharmaceuticals and plant protection products with high enantiomeric purity, opening doors for sustainable 'green' chemistry.
Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology identified USP8 as a key enzyme controlling large collagen carrier formation. The enzyme inhibits collagen secretion when active, promoting its transport instead.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham have created a self-sustaining circuit of reactions that produces chemicals more efficiently through a looped set of reactions using enzymes in flow. This method reduces environmental waste, is self-sustaining, and produces higher-quality end products.
Researchers at University of Würzburg develop new technology to redesign enzyme surfaces, increasing efficiency and selectivity in biochemical reactions. The modified enzymes can convert table sugar into a fructose polymer, with potential applications in medicine and the food industry.
Researchers discovered a small molecule that destroys HIV protein Tat, which is responsible for revving up the virus. The molecule reveals proteins in host cells that can potentially target Tat and halt its replication process. This finding offers new insights into the biology of HIV and potential targets for therapy.
Researchers have gained insights into stress granules, clumps of RNAs and proteins that form when cells are stressed, linking them to neurodegenerative diseases. The study reveals the critical role of two enzymes, USP5 and USP13, in disassembling stress granules, which could lead to innovative treatments.
University of Groningen biotechnologists successfully redesigned aspartase enzyme using computational method, producing kilograms of pure building blocks for pharmaceuticals and other bioactive compounds.
Researchers uncover the role of SWI2/SNF2 ATPase in microRNA production, revealing a unique gene-editing target to control microRNA levels. The protein has two separate functions: one for its native chromatin and another for the microRNA-producing factory.
Sandia National Laboratories scientists have engineered E. coli to efficiently convert tough plant matter called lignin into valuable platform chemicals. This breakthrough solves three problems: cost, toxicity and speed, paving the way for economically viable biofuel production from renewable sources.
Bielefeld chemists create a biocatalytic method to selectively reduce sulfur-containing heterocycles, yielding highly enantioselective synthesis of target compounds. The discovery has potential applications in developing new active substances and sustainable pharmaceutical production.
Scientists analyzed 107 mammal genomes to find genes that allowed early ancestors to digest insects. They discovered nearly all mammals have remnants of these genes, suggesting a shared insectivorous diet with our distant ancestors.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine and National Tsing Hua University developed a method to rapidly manipulate cilia's chemical signaling pathways, which can lead to breakthroughs in understanding and treating human diseases. The technique, called STRIP, enables precise control over microtubule modifications in living cells.
Researchers from Brazil's National Energy & Materials Research Center (CNPEM) have discovered a key enzyme that can boost the efficiency of sugarcane bagasse saccharification, a crucial step in producing second-generation ethanol. The enzyme, produced by microorganisms living in Lake Poraquê in the Amazon, shows high glucose tolerance ...
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine identified depleted metabolic enzymes as a key factor promoting tumor growth in kidney cancer. The study found that these enzymes are universally depleted in ccRCC tumors, which could lead to new treatment options for patients.
Researchers have identified PFKFB3 as a key player in the development of pulmonary hypertension, a condition characterized by high blood pressure in the lungs. By targeting this enzyme, scientists hope to develop new treatments that can help alleviate symptoms and improve patient outcomes.
ORNL researchers developed a method to uniquely identify vehicles using roadside sensors and improved predictive Earth system models for plants' heat wave responses. Computational modeling also aided in filling gaps of olefins breakdown and catalyzation process.
Biochemists and molecular biologists use a new method to label m6A modifications in mRNA, allowing for precise detection using Next Generation Sequencing. The approach enables researchers to analyze the role of m6A modifications in physiological and pathological processes.
Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory uncover how membrane proteins organize three enzymes involved in building lignin, a crucial cell-wall component. The discovery sheds light on the metabolic pathway channeling carbon into lignin precursors, potentially leading to new ways to promote carbon storage or biofuel production.
Researchers at Duke University successfully delivered CRISPR/Cas9 repressors to silence the Pcsk9 gene, which regulates cholesterol levels, in adult mice. The treatment resulted in reduced blood cholesterol levels and sustained gene repression for six months after a single treatment.
Researchers at the University of Freiburg have discovered how flavins work with oxygen to activate enzyme cofactors, shedding light on their role in metabolic processes and biotechnological applications.
A study has found that the rapid evolution of resistance to pyrethroid-based indoor residual sprays on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, is driven by metabolic changes in Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes. The enzyme CYP9K1 plays a key role in this process.
The study reveals that a slight change in the substrate can practically stop an enzyme reaction. Computational design of a new variant was successfully produced and tested, demonstrating the method's accuracy and potential for future research.
Researchers have identified key genes involved in enzymatic degradation of sugarcane biomass by three fungal species. The study, supported by FAPESP, provides insights into the genetic mechanisms controlling enzyme secretion and expression, paving the way for more efficient biomass breakdown and production of biofuels.
The LSD1 enzyme suppresses mitochondrial metabolism and slow-muscle genes, promoting glycolysis in fast muscles. Glucocorticoids promote LSD1 degradation, allowing for muscle fiber type differentiation.
A biologically inspired membrane, called memzyme, can capture 90% of carbon dioxide from coal-fired power plants with a low cost of $40 per ton. The membrane uses an enzyme to rapidly and selectively dissolve carbon dioxide molecules.
Researchers at INRS have identified a non-pathogenic marine bacterium that can effectively degrade petroleum products in soil and water. The bacteria's enzymes have been shown to break down benzene, toluene, and xylene with high efficiency, offering an eco-friendly method for decontaminating oil sites.
Researchers at the University of Notre Dame discovered that lytic transglycosylase Slt helps gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa recover from antibiotic damage by repairing its cell wall. The enzyme rapidly attempts to rebuild the organism's structural entity, allowing it to survive and continue causing infection.
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory discovered that plants have a built-in brake on oil production, which can be disabled to increase biofuel and bioproduct synthesis. Disabling the gene for an inactive enzyme subunit increases oil production even under normal conditions.
A study from the University of Eastern Finland has found that anthocyanins in berries increase SIRT6 enzyme levels and decrease cancer genes in human cells. The findings suggest a potential role for anthocyanins in preventing cancer growth, paving the way for new drug development.
Researchers created a strain of bacteria that can produce bicyclobutanes, high-energy carbon rings useful in chemicals and materials. The bacteria were engineered using directed evolution, allowing them to efficiently create the strained rings under ambient conditions.
Researchers at RMIT University have developed artificial enzymes called NanoZymes that can be triggered by light to kill bacteria. The technology has the potential to create self-cleaning surfaces in hospitals and toilets.
A new study by Karolinska Institutet reveals that enzyme FIH determines how muscles consume oxygen, with implications for elite athletes and potential new forms of metabolism-affecting drugs.