Articles tagged with Enzymes
Researchers have developed a cost-competitive way to extract fermentable sugars from lignocellulosic biomass using thermophilic microbes. The most active populations in the switchgrass-deconstructing consortium were identified as Gemmatimonadetes and Paenibacillus, which show potential for biofuel production.
Researchers from the University of Manchester have developed a new stem cell gene therapy to treat Sanfilippo, a fatal genetic brain disease. The treatment has shown promising results in mice, producing near-normal levels of SGSH enzyme and correcting progressive dementia and hyperactivity.
A team from the University of Iowa has found that inhibiting the CaMKII enzyme could be an effective approach to treating allergic asthma. The study suggests that airway lining cells play a crucial role in asthma, and blocking the enzyme may help alleviate symptoms.
Researchers found that TAp73 supports proliferation of human and mouse tumor cells by activating G6PD, increasing PPP activity, and directing glucose to pathways for macromolecule synthesis. This reprogramming allows rapid generation of nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins, enabling tumor cells to thrive.
Researchers at UC Davis show that individual protein molecules can restart at any speed achieved by the whole population of enzymes, demonstrating the ergodic theorem. This finding has implications for understanding protein folding, drug interactions, and enzyme engineering.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have discovered that APOBEC3B, a human antiviral enzyme, causes DNA mutations that lead to several types of cancer. The enzyme was found to be significantly elevated in six types of cancer and produced a unique mutational signature that matches the actual mutation pattern in these cancers.
Researchers created nanotweezers using DNA to manipulate enzymatic reactions with fine-grained control. The device separates an enzyme and a cofactor on separate arms of the instrument, allowing for external control of inhibition and activation.
Researchers at Brookhaven Lab identified two promising candidates for antiviral drugs against human adenovirus. The compounds target the viral enzyme proteinase, essential for virus maturation and replication. These inhibitors may provide effective treatment against all strains of adenovirus.
Researchers at UCSF discovered that vitamin C helps release brakes on genes in mouse stem cells, potentially playing a key role in normal development. This finding may lead to the use of vitamin C in IVF and cancer treatments, as it can stimulate gene activity similar to early embryonic development.
Researchers discovered that gut microbes in rotation-resistant Western corn rootworms facilitate their ability to feed on soybean leaves and tolerate the plant's defenses. The study found significant differences in bacterial species abundance and digestive enzyme activity between resistant and nonresistant beetles.
A study by University of Notre Dame researchers found that cancer cells use antioxidant enzymes to survive detachment from the extracellular matrix. This discovery may lead to targeted therapies for metastatic cancers.
Scientists have discovered a novel cellulose structure that can be broken down with fewer enzymes, increasing sugar yields by as much as five times. This breakthrough could lead to an order of magnitude reduction in enzyme usage and more cost-effective biofuel production.
Researchers discovered novel cellulose-degrading enzymes in marine wood borer gribbles, which can thrive in industrial settings. The enzymes hold promise of efficiently breaking down biomass into sugars for biofuel production.
Researchers identified a key brain enzyme, prohormone convertase 2 (PC2), involved in opioid addiction. PC2 regulates endogenous opioids in the brain, leading to increased mu opioid receptor expression.
A study published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology identifies new fungal enzymes that can break down cellulose, a key component of plant biomass. The researchers found that the fungi and bacteria in leaf-cutter ant gardens work together to convert plant biomass into energy-rich compounds.
Researchers at the University of Guelph have discovered a liver enzyme that protects cells from bilirubin damage, paving the way for new treatments for jaundice. The enzyme helps remove bilirubin and prevent liver cell death, offering hope for alternative therapies.
A team of researchers has identified an enzyme called cGAS that detects cytosolic DNA, triggering the innate immune response. This discovery has significant clinical implications for understanding autoimmune diseases and developing new therapies.
Researchers have identified a genetic mutation that allows fungi to continuously produce enzymes for breaking down cellulose and xylan into sugar molecules. This discovery enables the production of cheap biofuel from lignocellulose, reducing competition with food production and making it more economically viable.
Scientists have discovered a new enzyme that can break down wood into simple sugars, which can then be fermented to produce liquid biofuels. The gribble cellulase is extremely resistant to aggressive chemical environments, making it ideal for industrial applications and potentially reducing costs.
Researchers at UEA have made a breakthrough in breast cancer research showing that an enzyme called MMP-8 could be acting as a locator to the immune system, which then becomes activated to attack tumors. The findings suggest that this enzyme may help explain why some patients with breast tumors experience better outcomes.
A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine reveals that a subset of antibodies, PAD3/PAD4 cross-reactive autoantibodies, may serve as a diagnostic marker for the most severe form of rheumatoid arthritis. The presence of these antibodies is associated with aggressive inflammation and connective tissue damage.
A new study offers promising hope for treating progeria by targeting the enzyme ICMT, which causes premature aging. Researchers have successfully tested an ICMT inhibitor on mice, reducing or blocking the development of progeria symptoms and increasing cell growth.
Research identifies a key gene that regulates both protection against bacterial infection and excessive blood clotting, leading to potential new treatments for deep-vein thrombosis. The study found that inhibiting the enzyme could offer hope to patients prone to clots.
Researchers have identified a new mechanism governing critical processes in sexual reproduction during meiosis. The discovery reveals that a step-2 enzyme is modified by SUMO proteins, altering its function and working together with an unaltered enzyme to form SUMO chains.
Researchers developed a method to deliver tumor-killing enzymes using protein packages that protect the enzyme until it reaches the cell's interior. The addition of ubiquitin enhanced the enzyme's persistence and potency without hindering its delivery, also reducing toxicity to non-tumor tissues.
Scientists have discovered a potential treasure trove of enzymes in fungi thriving in horse feces that can break down cellulose in non-food plants. The enzymes, found in a fungus isolated from the digestive tract of horses, have the potential to simplify and reduce the cost of biofuel production.
Researchers identified an enzyme called ACOT7 that helps neurons get rid of excess fats that can be toxic. In a study, mice with non-working ACOT7 gene showed signs of neurodegeneration when fasting, highlighting the enzyme's role in protecting against fat toxicity.
Researchers use PALM microscopy technique to analyze enzyme cocktails and find specific targets for cellulase synergy. This reveals how different combinations of enzymes can generate synergistic activity, increasing saccharification efficiencies and reducing biofuel production costs.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have discovered a way to extract large quantities of hydrogen from any plant, potentially bringing a low-cost, environmentally friendly fuel source to the world. The new process uses xylose, the most abundant simple plant sugar, to produce high-purity hydrogen with an energy efficiency of over 100 percent.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a new method to kill deadly pathogenic bacteria, including listeria, using nature-inspired nanobiotechnology. The coating kills listeria on contact, even at high concentrations, without affecting other bacteria.
Mutated histone H3 causes aberrant gene silencing in childhood brain cancer DIPG, leading to tumor growth. Researchers identify potential tool for inhibiting enzymes, developing pharmaceuticals targeting specific SET-domain methyltransferases.
Lyme disease bacteria rely on manganese to make essential enzymes, evading immune system defenses that starve pathogens of iron. This discovery opens the door to new therapies targeting manganese, potentially improving disease detection and treatment.
Studies on the fruit fly Drosophila show that blind flies can't see due to histamine recycling in glial cells. Flies lacking Ebony and Tan genes have impaired vision, but those with Black mutations still struggle to see without histamine recycling. Further research is needed to understand the role of enzyme Black in vision.
Researchers at Ohio State University identified a unique mechanism by which vitamin E inhibits the activation of an enzyme called Akt, leading to tumor cell death in prostate cancer cells. The gamma form of tocopherol was found to be the most potent anti-cancer form of vitamin E.
A study published in Blood journal found that cord blood stem cells are effective and safe alternatives to matched donor bone marrow stem cells in treating children with Hurler's syndrome. The research showed improved engraftment rates, enzyme levels, and survival rates among patients who received cord blood transplants compared to tho...
Scientists have identified enzymes that can reverse a key protein modification involved in breast cancer, cellular stress reactions, and gene regulation. The discovery enables selective manipulation of ADP-ribosylation, which could lead to new treatments for inflammasions and cancers.
A researcher has received a grant to develop a method to organize enzymes on electrodes to create nanoscale devices that efficiently convert chemical energy into electricity. The goal is to enhance kinetics by spatial organization and apply the understanding to biofuel cells, pharmaceuticals, and commodity chemicals.
Researchers have developed a new line of transgenic 'Enviropigs' that can digest high levels of phosphorus in plant matter, eliminating the need for supplements. This breakthrough could improve food production and reduce environmental pollution by producing less phosphorus waste.
Scientists aim to understand how promiscuous enzymes can be engineered to tackle new functions, such as removing toxins from the environment. The goal is to develop biodegradable enzymes that can replace toxic chemicals in industrial processes.
A new study investigates the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in airway smooth muscle contraction, revealing its potential as a therapeutic target for treating asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The research suggests that PKC activation could contribute to airway hyperresponsiveness and exacerbate lung diseases.
Researchers at MIT have developed a method to increase isobutanol production in yeast by up to 260%, boosting it entirely within mitochondria. This approach may also be applicable to other biochemicals, opening opportunities for metabolic engineering and renewable energy production.
Researchers isolated an enzyme called NucB from the marine bacterium Bacillus licheniformis, which can break down biofilms in sinusitis. The enzyme cleared over half of biofilm organisms tested, offering a potential solution to chronic sinusitis.
A genetic mutation causing Pompe disease has been found in both humans and dogs. A genetic test can now diagnose canine Pompe disease, allowing for the identification of affected individuals and their breeding lines. This breakthrough could lead to improved treatment options and disease management.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have identified an enzyme called APOBEC3B as a key player in causing DNA mutations found in most breast cancers. The discovery may lead to new diagnostic methods and treatments that can prevent or block these harmful mutations, offering hope for improved breast cancer outcomes.
Scientists at Salk Institute have discovered a new way for plants to coordinate their growth by sharing chemical messages, overturning conventional views of metabolic regulation. This finding has implications for breeding better crops and treating metabolic diseases.
A previously poorly investigated signalling pathway is crucial for prostate cancer cell proliferation, involving the production of cAMP at multiple locations in the cell. Inhibiting the soluble adenylyl cyclase enzyme suppresses cancer cell growth, suggesting a promising new therapeutic approach.
Researchers develop bi-functional enzyme to increase alkane output in bacteria and plants, eliminating hydrogen peroxide inhibition. The combo enzyme boosts reaction efficiency by producing oxygen, a key component required for activity.
Researchers have developed an experimental molecular therapy that crosses the blood-brain barrier to reverse neurological lysosomal storage disease in mice. The therapy uses a modified enzyme called IDUAe1, which penetrates the blood-brain barrier and delivers large-molecule therapeutic agents to treat brain diseases.
Researchers have successfully created single-molecule 'intelligent' motors powered by common enzymes, catalase and urease. These motors can generate force and move in specific directions, even at the nanoscale, with implications for applications in medicine, engineering, and more.
A recent review article suggests that hydrogen sulfide has multiple anti-aging pathways, including inhibiting free-radical reactions and activating SIRT1. It also shows promise in treating age-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, Parkinson's disease, and cancer.
Researchers in Calgary have launched the world's first gene therapy clinical trial for Fabry disease, a rare inherited enzyme deficiency. The trial aims to transplant stem cells with a working copy of the GLA gene into patients, potentially curing the condition.
Researchers at University of California - San Diego discover that blocking digestive enzymes can reverse shock, reduce organ damage, and increase survival rates in animals. The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, provides novel insights into the mechanism of multiorgan failure and death.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have made a groundbreaking discovery in the study of enterococcal cytolysin, a 'virulence factor' that kills human cells. The enzyme responsible for its formation was found to produce distinctly different ring structures with unusual stereochemistries.
Researchers discover protein OTUD7B, which regulates TRAF3's destruction and controls NF-kB pathway implicated in autoimmune diseases and cancer. Cells with intact OTUD7B suppress non-canonical NF-kB signaling, leading to increased lymphoid cell growth and hyper-responsiveness to antigens.
A team of researchers at Johns Hopkins has identified a system that makes certain immune cells impervious to HIV infection. The discovery suggests a new approach to eradicating the virus from the body by targeting non-dividing cells.
Researchers identified the protein OTUD7B as TRAF3's protector, revealing its role in regulating a molecular pathway implicated in immune system-related diseases. OTUD7B suppressed non-canonical NF-kB signaling, leading to increased lymphoid cell growth and hyper-responsiveness to antigens.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic identified an association between the naturally occurring enzyme Kallikrein 6 and malignant brain tumors. Higher levels of KLK6 were associated with shorter patient survival rates, but blocking its receptors made tumor cells more susceptible to treatment.
Researchers discovered that mutation of a critical folic acid enzyme causes neural tube defects in mice. Folic acid supplementation reduces neural tube defects, but the exact mechanism is still unclear.
Researchers discovered a class of p53 target genes and regulatory molecules that regulate metabolism and senescence in cells. Malic enzymes, identified as novel pharmaceutical targets for anticancer therapy, may also play a role in the normal process of cellular aging.
A new enzyme treatment has been developed to neutralize the effects of lethal chemicals responsible for thousands of deaths each year. The treatment, known as a bioscavenger, was found to protect mice against nerve agents and showed no lasting effects.