Articles tagged with Enzymes
Altered levels of an enzyme controlling brain hormone production linked to social isolation-induced anxiety and aggression in mice. The study suggests a potential mechanism for the psychological effects of social isolation, which could lead to the development of new treatments.
University of Illinois researchers successfully simulated every step of the photosynthetic process using a computer model that mimics evolution. The new findings suggest that by rearranging the investment of nitrogen, they can almost double efficiency in plants. This could lead to increased crop yields and improved plant productivity.
Virginia Commonwealth University researchers have discovered a new mechanism to inhibit key enzymes involved in clotting disorders. The newly designed molecules, known as sulfated DHPs, show promise in preventing thrombin and factor Xa's critical action.
Researchers at the University of Virginia Health System have identified a key enzyme involved in the development of Type 1 diabetes. The discovery, centered on the 12/15-lipoxygenase gene, has significant implications for understanding and treating the disease, with potential applications for preventing or reversing Type 1 diabetes.
Researchers have discovered a novel approach to developing treatments for Chagas disease by targeting the parasite's triosephosphate isomerase enzyme. By identifying specific binding sites, they found that dithiodianiline can selectively inactivate the parasitic form of the enzyme without affecting its human counterpart.
Researchers have found that mate tea can increase HDL (good) cholesterol activity by up to 10% compared to other drinks. An international agreement aims to study 84 genotypes of mate tea, including cultivated and wild varieties, to identify the most nutritionally beneficial types.
A new heparanase inhibitor has shown promising results in animal models, indicating its potential as a cancer drug. The enzyme heparanase splits polysaccharides into shorter fragments, which can promote tumor growth. By inhibiting this enzyme, researchers hope to develop a new treatment for cancer.
Researchers at the University of Iowa and Veterans Affairs Medical Center discovered how African trypanosomes shed their VSG surface protein to evade the immune system of tsetse flies. This enzyme synergy is a key step in the pathogenesis of sleeping sickness, which affects 60 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Researchers at the University of Leeds have mapped the 3D structure of T7 endonuclease 1 enzyme, responsible for splitting DNA strands and creating genetically unique offspring. The discovery is expected to shed light on human individuality and viral replication mechanisms.
A recent study found that TPPII stimulates the formation of fat cells in worms and mammalian cells, leading to decreased fat stores. Mice with lower levels of TPPII were thinner than their wild-type littermates despite comparable food intake.
Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia successfully delivered beneficial gene to entire mouse brain with one injection, correcting diseased areas. The technique has potential for treating rare genetic neurological disorders like Tay-Sachs disease and Sly syndrome.
Researchers uncover the elusive signal that triggers plantwide resistance, found to be methyl salicylate, an aspirin-like compound.
Scientists identify key enzymes responsible for modifying anthocyanins, which produce plant colors and offer antioxidant properties. The discovery could lead to the development of natural food colorings and improved understanding of plant-based cancer treatments.
Researchers at Durham University have developed a new screening system to identify safer drugs for leishmaniasis. This breakthrough could lead to the development of non-toxic anti-protozoal drugs with reduced side effects, potentially saving lives in tropical regions.
Researchers at Duke University have developed an inkless microcontact printing technique using enzymes from E. coli bacteria, achieving features as small as 1 nanometer in precision. The method eliminates the need for ink and improves resolution limits by hundreds of times.
Scientists have discovered a new enzyme that produces vitamin C in plants, revealing the antioxidant's critical role in plant growth. The findings also suggest that vitamin C is necessary for plants to grow, contradicting previous assumptions.
University at Buffalo researchers have made significant breakthroughs in genetic engineering of micro-organisms into cellular factories, enabling the production of high-value chemicals and pharmaceutical compounds. The team has successfully produced flavonoids with yields far above previous microbial synthesis efforts.
Researchers have determined the three-dimensional structure of a glycosyltransferase enzyme crucial for viral assembly. This discovery may enable scientists to develop drugs inhibiting certain viral infections.
Researchers at UW-Madison developed a novel enzyme that can decorate chemical molecules with natural sugars, altering their biological effects. The new enzyme has the potential to create a range of therapeutic agents for cancer treatment and infection prevention.
Scientists at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography have developed a new method to create natural antibacterial molecules using enzyme ingredients. This breakthrough process allows for the synthesis of complex molecules in a relatively simple mixing process, paving the way for cheaper and more sustainable 'green' chemistry.
Scientists are developing a bioengineered yeast strain that can efficiently turn switchgrass, hemp, corn, and other natural materials into ethanol. The modified yeast produces enzymes to break down a wider variety of sugars, maximizing ethanol production from biomass.
Johns Hopkins researchers have solved the long-standing puzzle of how bacteria produce the B vitamin folate, uncovering an unknown enzyme that plays a crucial role in the process. The discovery sheds light on potential antibacterial drug targets and could lead to new therapeutic options.
Research links exhaust fumes to increased asthma risk in genetically susceptible children, particularly those with high microsomal epoxide hydrolase activity and GSTP1 genetic variants. Children exposed to road traffic pollution are also at greater risk of developing asthma.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have found that the UDG enzyme searches for genetic damage by trying on DNA building blocks like a puzzle, holding onto mistakes and leaving correct ones in line. The discovery may help address how diseases like cancer arise in the genome.
MGH researchers create novel enzymes through mRNA display technique, enabling evolution without prior knowledge of enzyme mechanism. The developed enzymes show promise for improving chemical synthesis and developing new therapies.
Researchers found that green tea concentrate increased GST enzyme activity by up to 80% in people with low levels, suggesting a potential mechanism for its anti-cancer properties. The study suggests that green tea may help strengthen metabolic defense against toxins capable of causing cancer.
A University of Minnesota team found that the TOPK enzyme, which regulates cell growth and other functions, promotes transformation in colorectal carcinoma by activating related enzymes. This suggests that drugs targeting TOPK could have anti-cancer benefits.
A trio of enzymes regulates cell size in bacteria by sensing nutrient availability, with disruptions leading to defects in chromosome segregation. This discovery sheds light on the mechanisms behind uncontrolled growth in cancer cells.
Researchers at Saint Louis University have discovered a way to deliver medicine to the brain for treating Sly Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. The breakthrough uses epinephrine to induce the enzyme beta-glucuronidase, which is missing in patients with Sly Syndrome.
Researchers at Queen's University have made a groundbreaking discovery about the breakdown of vitamin D, revealing that changing a single amino acid in the hydroxylase enzyme can alter its pathway. This finding has significant implications for the treatment of cancer and other diseases associated with vitamin D deficiency.
Researchers discovered that PKR enzyme plays a crucial role in the antiviral effect of interferon against some viruses. They found that PKR affects protein synthesis and apoptosis, leading to reduced cell death and viral replication in response to stimuli.
Researchers demonstrate ability to attach gold nanoparticles to proteins, forming protein-gold arrays for deciphering protein structures, identifying functional parts, and targeted drug delivery. Applications include catalysts for biomass energy conversion and precision vehicles for tumor targeting.
A new Alzheimer's treatment, CTS-21166, designed by a Purdue University researcher has begun human clinical trials. The experimental drug is a disease-modifying therapy that could prevent and reverse the disease by intercepting and disabling key enzymes.
Researchers at University at Buffalo discover how enzymes work, providing insight into catalysis complexity and potential for improving synthetic catalysts. The study reveals interactions between enzymes and substrates are critical for large catalytic rate accelerations.
Researchers have discovered that stroke or traumatic brain injury can trigger Alzheimer's disease by enhancing the formation of brain-clogging amyloid plaques. Key findings include the role of caspase-mediated depletion of GGA3 in stabilizing BACE and increasing amyloid protein production.
A study published in The American Journal of Pathology found that a specific enzyme helps protect against tumor growth by enhancing the immune response. Mice with high levels of this enzyme in their macrophages were resistant to melanoma and lymphoma, demonstrating its potential as a new cancer therapy.
Researchers developed a smaller gene therapy vector to deliver a radioprotective enzyme systemically, sparing healthy tissue from radiation damage. The minicircle plasmid conferred undiminished radioprotection to cells, suggesting improved treatment outcomes for cancer patients.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that mice genetically engineered to lack a single enzyme in their brains are more adept at learning and quicker to adapt to changing environments. This discovery may serve as a target for treating disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, Alzheimer's disease, and drug addiction.
Researchers have discovered the controlling enzyme, GDP-L-galactose phosphorylase, which serves as the biosynthetic pathway for plants to manufacture vitamin C. This breakthrough could lead to engineered plants with increased vitamin C content, improving plant resistance and human nutrition.
Researchers develop a synthetic enzymatic pathway to convert polysaccharides into hydrogen, achieving high storage capacity and efficiency. The new process has the potential to release hydrogen from water and carbohydrates at low temperatures and atmospheric pressure.
Researchers have created mouse strains that enable them to trace the activity of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) enzyme in live animals. This breakthrough allows scientists to understand how AID regulates the immune response and its role in autoimmunity and B cell tumor development.
Scientists have found an enzyme called Pak 1 that acts on the heart's pacemaker to slow the rapid beating of the heart's 'fight-or-flight' reaction to adrenaline. This discovery opens up new avenues for diagnosis, drug design and treatment of common heart diseases.
Scientists created a model of proline dehydrogenase, an enzyme that enables the creation of superoxide, a reactive oxygen species involved in cell death and cancer prevention. The human form of this enzyme is difficult to work with, so researchers studied its bacterial counterpart, Thermus thermophilus.
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College and Yale University discovered that dynamin 1 is not essential to all synaptic transmission, but rather acts more subtly during moments of high activity. This finding has significant implications for understanding neurological injury and disease.
A study in mice deleted an enzyme that alters cholesterol structure, allowing them to consume saturated and trans fats without developing atherosclerosis. The findings suggest ACAT2 as a potential treatment target for protecting against heart disease.
Researchers identified an enzyme called SIK1 that regulates a pathway involving exercise-induced hormones and controls muscle-specific gene expression. Boosting SIK1 levels or inhibiting HDAC activity restored normal muscle function in genetically engineered mice with weak muscles. The discovery may provide clues for improving cellular...
Corn-based ethanol faces environmental and economic challenges, prompting scientists to explore cellulose as an alternative. Researchers at Cornell University have discovered a class of plant enzymes that can improve the efficiency of cellulose degradation, potentially making biofuel production more cost-effective.
A research team from the University of Illinois and the University of Wisconsin aims to discover, engineer and produce promising phosphonate-based antibiotics. The project seeks alternatives to standard antibiotics due to growing concerns about antimicrobial resistance.
A team of scientists has conducted molecular simulations to understand the cellulose enzyme complex's role in breaking down tightly bound cellulose into sugars. By discovering key steps in this process, researchers can develop protein engineering strategies to speed up the reaction and produce ethanol more efficiently.
Researchers identify mutations in moonlighting enzyme dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (DLD) that contribute to the reduction of frataxin production, leading to increased severity of Friedreich's ataxia. The study suggests DLD as a potential target for therapies of this condition.
UCSF scientists have discovered that chitin triggers an allergic inflammatory response in the lungs of mice, leading to increased production of the anti-chitin enzyme. The researchers suggest that people with less-effective versions of this enzyme may be more prone to asthma due to their inability to control exposure to inhaled chitin.
Researchers at ESRF successfully filmed an enzyme in action using cryogenic techniques, revealing intermediate states crucial to its function. The study contributes to understanding how the enzyme eliminates toxic molecules, offering hope for developing new drugs to combat neurodegenerative diseases.
A molecule designed by a Purdue University researcher could prevent the formation of amyloid plaques in the brain, a key step in Alzheimer's disease. The new compound targets memapsin 2, an enzyme involved in plaque development, and has shown promising results in reducing beta-amyloid levels.
Scientists at Mayo Clinic have isolated an enzyme called SULF2, which appears to be overexpressed in nasopharyngeal cancers. High levels of SULF2 are associated with increased risk of early recurrence and death within 10 years after radiation therapy.
A new class of anti-HIV drugs has proven effective in a clinical trial by inhibiting the integrase enzyme, leading to a significant drop in HIV RNA levels and an increase in CD4 cells. The study suggests that this drug could become an important component of combination treatment regimens for heavily pretreated patients.
Researchers have discovered that enhancing glyoxalase 1 levels can decrease glycation damage and extend lifespan in nematodes. The enzyme also protects proteins against oxidation and nitration, promoting healthy aging
Researchers propose a novel method using ultraviolet light and titanium dioxide to cut proteins into manageable pieces for analysis. This technique offers advantages over conventional enzyme-based methods, including reduced sensitivity to temperature and acidity, ease of incorporation, and long-lasting material durability.
Researchers at MIT and Harvard discover the final piece of vitamin B12's synthesis pathway, solving a decades-long mystery. The enzyme BluB catalyzes the formation of a key fragment, DMB, through an unusual cannibalization reaction.
Scientists have detailed images of a bacterial cell wall target that could aid in designing new antibiotics to treat deadly infections. The images, published in the journal Science, show an antibiotic called moenomycin binding to the enzyme, providing a new understanding of its structure and function.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered a mechanism to modify enzymes that stabilize immune regulatory cells, improving their function and preventing autoimmune diseases. The findings offer a new approach to treating multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and arthritis by targeting faulty white blood cells.