Research on enzymes and the reactions they drive. Covers enzyme evolution, plastic-degrading enzymes, brain immune cells, and molecular imaging.
A Montana State University researcher has developed nano-scale materials that can convert carbon dioxide into chemical building blocks, marking a potential step forward in reducing atmospheric CO2. The materials mimic enzymes and have the ability to selectively capture CO2 from the air.
A recent UNIGE study highlights the risks of high-protein diets, also known as Paleolithic diets, which can lead to severe neurological disorders. Excess protein increases ammonium production, overwhelming the liver and potentially causing coma in severe cases.
Researchers investigate chemical modifications to genetic regulation mechanisms, finding that Set8 controls gene activity through a mechanism other than histone modification. This study refines our understanding of genetic regulation relevant to human diseases like cancer.
Researchers isolated three bacterial strains that produce amylase enzymes from sugar factory waste, showing great potential for production. The optimal conditions for amylase production were found to be 37°C and pH 7.0, leading to increased enzyme activity.
Han Xiao aims to develop cells that can biosynthesize and utilize non-canonical amino acids as in vivo sensors for enzymes involved in posttranslational modifications. This research could lead to new strategies in treating diseases by providing real-time insights into enzyme activities.
Researchers have discovered that the Greenland shark's metabolism remains unaltered over time, suggesting a key role in its exceptional longevity of at least 270 years. The study also found that metabolic enzymes were more active at higher temperatures, challenging previous assumptions about the species' adaptation to cold environments.
A study at Umeã University reveals that an enzyme breaks down the bacteria's protective outer layer, facilitating the transfer of genes for resistance to antibiotics. The researchers identified that only the SLT domain was active in PrgK, but it has an important role in regulation.
Researchers develop an artificial fusion protein combining UndB with catalase, creating a whole cell biocatalyst that converts fatty acids to alkenes with high efficiency. The biocatalyst produces pure 1-alkene as a valuable biofuel and can be used to generate a large number of hydrocarbons.
Researchers developed a permeable and robust polymer-silica hybrid armor on cell catalyst, enhancing enzyme stability and inhibiting leakage. The new technology showed improved permeability and mechanical strength, leading to higher yields and longer half-lives in biomanufacturing processes.
Researchers at Howard University have identified a new therapeutic strategy to combat prostate cancer by depleting amino acids. This depletion induces oxidative stress and DNA damage in cancer cells, making them more susceptible to treatment with DNA repair-targeted and immune checkpoint blockade therapies.
Researchers discovered that enzyme METTL6 interacts with tRNA synthetase to recognize specific tRNAs, enabling precise modification and potential application in cancer treatment. This discovery provides new insights into the molecular machinery of protein production.
Researchers have devised an algorithm to rationally engineer enzymes for improved performance, taking into account evolutionary history. The new method successfully introduced up to 84 mutations over a sequence of 280, resulting in improved activity and stability at higher temperatures.
Scientists have identified a mechanism that enables enzymes to communicate and produce organic molecules with disease-fighting properties. This breakthrough could aid in the discovery of new drugs by allowing researchers to design or modify enzymes to create novel natural products.
A research team has developed a biocatalytic process to produce nitriles using enzymes, eliminating the need for highly toxic cyanide. The process works at room temperature and produces less harmful waste, making it a promising technology for the fragrance industry.
Scientists at Hokkaido University have created a new technique for building nanoparticles using enzymes, enabling the production of various nanomaterials with controlled size and properties. This method has potential applications in technology, medicine, and quantum computing.
Researchers from Tokyo Institute of Technology developed a biocatalyzed carboxylation reaction using Thermoplasma acidophilum malic enzyme to fix CO2, increasing the yield and sustainability of the process. The method can be tailored for selective synthesis of wider carboxylation products, unlocking new avenues for renewable resources.
A recent study suggests that inhibiting epigenetic control enzymes in immune cells, specifically HDAC1, improves anti-tumor immunity and tumor surveillance. This finding could lead to new therapeutic strategies in cancer immunotherapy.
Researchers identify UBE2J1's role in degrading the androgen receptor, a key player in prostate cancer progression. The study suggests targeting this ubiquitination machinery may help overcome antiandrogen resistance in cancer therapy.
Scientists aim to create a spray-on bandage that breaks down within 48 hours, providing time for proper treatment. The project uses enzymes to degrade polymer complexes, which will allow for controlled degradation and potential applications in drug delivery.
Researchers at King's College London have developed a novel drug delivery system using biologically compatible peptides found in chicken feathers and skin tissue. This innovative approach enables targeted delivery of chemotherapy drugs and repair of faulty enzymes, potentially reducing side effects and improving treatment outcomes.
Bromination of extracellular matrix proteins is a physiological modification dependent on peroxidasin, revealing a possible role for protein bromination in pulmonary fibrosis and non-fibrotic lung tissue. This study extends knowledge of halogenation's importance in the mammalian organism.
Scientists have discovered a way to break down styrene, a toxic plastic component, using microorganisms that produce an enzyme called styrene oxide isomerase. This enzyme accelerates the conversion of styrene into a less toxic compound, offering a potential solution for biodegradable plastics.
Scientists at the Paul Scherrer Institute have precisely characterized the styrene oxide isomerase enzyme, enabling the production of valuable chemicals and drug precursors in an environmentally friendly manner. The enzyme's unique mechanism and high specificity make it a promising tool for green chemistry.
A research team has identified molecular mechanisms that weaken the virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a key step towards developing new antibiotics. Medium-chain free fatty acids regulate PlaF enzyme activity, which can be targeted to inhibit the pathogen's deadly effects.
Researchers have developed a new method to detect malignant melanoma using a microneedle patch that measures tyrosinase enzyme levels in the skin. This non-invasive technique has the potential to provide faster and more reliable results compared to traditional biopsies.
Researchers created an enzyme with a reactive boronic acid group, enabling faster and more selective catalytic reactions. This breakthrough has potential applications in the pharmaceutical industry, offering a greener alternative to traditional chemical synthesis methods.
Researchers at Rice University have successfully synthesized a group of natural compounds known as fusicoccanes, exhibiting diverse biological activities. The study leverages modern organic chemistry and engineered enzymes to achieve the synthesis of complex molecules.
Scientists at DTU and Lund University have found new enzymes that can remove both the A and B blood antigens and their blocking sugars, enabling the production of universal donor blood. This breakthrough has the potential to reduce logistics and costs associated with storing four different blood types.
A team of LMU researchers has deciphered the mechanism by which a tiny chromatin modifying enzyme called ISWI remains mobile in the cell nucleus. The study reveals that ISWI consumes ATP to navigate through densely packed chromatin and prevent it from becoming too rigid.
Scientists from OIST created synthetic droplets to mimic biological processes, finding that pH gradients facilitate Marangoni effect and enabling droplets to detect and migrate towards each other. This study sheds light on the movement of simplest forms of life in primordial soup billions of years ago.
A recent study revealed that phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) has a built-in brake mechanism that impedes cell migration, while also acting as an accelerator to prompt motility. The brake mechanism is specific to the p85β subunit and can be disrupted, leading to uncontrolled cell movement.
Researchers develop gene therapy to delay progression of metachromatic leukodystrophy by correcting enzyme deficiency and reducing neuroinflammation. Successful treatment has been demonstrated in mice, paving the way for potential human clinical trials.
Researchers discovered a crucial amino acid exchange that enables PsiM to carry out double methylation during evolution. The enzyme plays a key role in psilocybin production, with implications for biotechnological production of the active ingredient.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have discovered how DNA gyrase resolves DNA entanglements, revealing the first step in the mechanism. The study used advanced imaging techniques to visualize the interactions between supercoiled DNA and the enzyme, showing that gyrase is attracted to the looped structure.
A new research project, PHOTOZYME, aims to develop photobiocatalytic tools to convert basic chemicals into chiral molecules. The project combines biocatalysis, photochemistry, and directed evolution to create sustainable molecular synthesis.
Researchers at Nagoya University discover aldehydes cause DNA damage and contribute to premature aging in humans. The team proposes a link between aldehyde-derived DNA damage and premature aging, highlighting potential targets for therapeutic intervention.
Researchers mapped the evolution of a specific regulatory protein over millennia, revealing a novel pattern where function gain and loss occur rapidly. This study may reveal similar patterns in other regulatory proteins, enabling new discoveries in biomedical and biotechnological applications.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have found that two enzymes, APOBEC3C and APOBEC3D, promote resistance to chemotherapy drug gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer cells. Removing these enzymes can kill cancer cells by stymieing DNA repair.
A new study published in Microbiology Spectrum shows that an enzymatic cocktail can effectively kill a variety of mycobacterial species, including those causing tuberculosis. The research delivers the enzymes inside host macrophages where mycobacteria grow, increasing efficacy and reducing toxicities associated with current treatments.
A retrospective cohort study found that PERT significantly reduced the incidence of acute pancreatitis episodes among children with recurrent or chronic pancreatitis. The study also identified genetic markers, such as SPINK1 mutation, that influence treatment outcomes and suggest a tailored approach to patient care.
Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a patented contact lens material that acts as a bandage for corneal wounds, releasing drugs in a controlled manner to enhance healing. The material, which uses collagen-based technology, achieves complete wound healing within five days in human cell culture studies.
A team of scientists discovered new fusion sites in protein evolution that enable faster and more targeted drug development. By combining evolutionary processes with synthetic biology, they created customized biological drugs with improved therapeutic properties.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a patented process to produce heparin in the lab, offering a consistent and safe supply of the essential medicine. The discovery has the potential to revolutionize the production of heparin, reducing reliance on animal-derived sources and addressing global supply chain issues.
Researchers discovered T1-spanin's exceptional capability to penetrate bacterial defenses and effectively kill nearly 120 strains. A novel phage-based technology delivers T1-spanin genes into target bacteria, providing a potential solution for tackling drug-resistant pathogens.
Researchers at Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg developed novel RNA- or DNA-based substances that reliably fight off viral infections in plants. The new approach uses antisense oligonucleotides to target specific viral RNA molecules, achieving an impressive up to 90% success rate against a common virus.
Researchers developed a portable, droplet-based millifluidic device to monitor patients in the critical first days after surgery. The device measures drainage fluid's alpha-amylase activity in real time, reducing test duration from six hours to two minutes.
Rumbaugh's lab aims to understand the effects of dispersing bacteria from a biofilm on their susceptibility to antibiotics and on the host. They will use enzymes as tools to break up biofilms, allowing researchers to better comprehend the relationship between bacterial dispersal and infection outcomes.
A rapid diagnosis protocol using a luminescent paper-based platform has been developed to detect the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The approach uses a supramolecular hydrogel matrix containing terbium cholate that emits green fluorescence when UV light is shined on it.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a new technique to study the breakdown of cellulose by enzymes, revealing that hydrogen bonds in the complex molecule act as obstacles. The approach uses infrared light and operando spectroscopy to provide real-time snapshots of the sample, overcoming past limitations.
Researchers at Duke-NUS Medical School discovered a novel enzyme, FAXDC2, that plays a pivotal role in cholesterol synthesis and cancer progression. The study highlights the potential vulnerability of cancer cells to targeted therapeutic intervention. Further research is needed to explore the therapeutic potential of targeting FAXDC2 i...
Researchers have developed a novel imaging method to study the intricate relationships within a fungal garden cultivated by leafcutter ants. The technique revealed crucial metabolites and enzymes driving plant degradation, highlighting the fungus as the primary degrader of plant materials.
Indiana University researchers have found that nicotinamide nucleotide adenylyl transferase 2 (NMNAT2) plays a critical role in protecting the brain from aging and neurodegenerative diseases. The enzyme provides energy to axons, enabling them to carry out nerve impulses and maintain healthy function.
Researchers developed a new enzyme that uses formamides as a substrate for biocatalysis, achieving equivalent or slightly better results than traditional formate-based systems. The enzyme converts formamides into NADPH, producing CO2 as a waste product and opening up new possibilities for asymmetric reductive amination.
Scientists have successfully replicated QS-21, a potent vaccine adjuvant, in an alternative plant host for the first time. This breakthrough enables the production of this highly valued compound in a more sustainable manner.
A recent study published in Nature Plants reveals that O-glycosylation of the transcription factor SPATULA promotes Arabidopsis style development. The experimental study sheds new light on the mechanisms underlying plant organ symmetry.
Researchers develop enzyme that can break silicon–carbon bonds in siloxanes, a first step towards rendering chemicals biodegradable. The discovery opens possibilities for natural organisms to degrade siloxane contaminants in wastewater and treat them in the environment.
Researchers created a network of 4.9 billion plausible chemical reactions using blockchain, shedding light on prebiotic molecules and primitive metabolism. The study also demonstrates how blockchain can be used to solve complex problems in science at a lower cost.
A research team at the University of Göttingen has discovered 'protective switches' in the SARS-CoV-2 virus that shield it from attacks by the immune system. These molecular structures were found to stabilize the protein's structure against oxidative damage, allowing the virus to replicate effectively.
Sezáry syndrome patients face a vicious circle where cancer and treatment weaken the immune system, allowing bacteria like S. aureus to thrive. Eliminating these bacteria may make cancer cells more susceptible to anti-cancer drugs.
A team of scientists has identified a previously unrecognized control point in DNA repair processes, which could lead to novel cancer therapies by inhibiting the repair of damaged cancer cells. The newly discovered GSE1-CoREST complex contains three enzymes that control DNA repair and may form the basis for improved cancer treatments.