Research on enzymes and the reactions they drive. Covers enzyme evolution, plastic-degrading enzymes, brain immune cells, and molecular imaging.
A study has found that methylotrophic bacteria and methanogenic archaea share common central carbon metabolism pathways involving C1 transfer reactions. These findings have implications for understanding the evolutionary history of these pathways in all organisms.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a special type of packaging that reduces the bitterness in grapefruit juice. The new packaging system uses an enzyme called naringinase to neutralize the bitter compounds found in fresh citrus fruit, resulting in a sweeter taste.
Nitrate reductase is an efficient enzyme essential for plants to acquire nitrate. Researchers aim to create a 3-D model of the enzyme to understand its structure and function. The study seeks to overcome production limitations and unlock the enzyme's full potential.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have developed a groundbreaking treatment for Pompe disease, a rare genetic muscle-wasting disorder. The injectable enzyme therapy has shown promise in improving muscle strength and reducing glycogen buildup in muscles, offering new hope for children born with the fatal condition.
Nancy Roseman, assistant professor of biology at Williams College, has been awarded a $266,191 NSF grant to study the biochemistry of dUTPase, an enzyme involved in DNA metabolism. Her research uses the vaccinia virus as a model to understand viral/host interactions and DNA replication.
Researchers create first commercially available catalytic antibody, which can catalyze aldol reactions with broad substrate range. This breakthrough addresses long-standing question of protein-catalyst efficiency.
Research by Matthew Hardy and colleagues found that stress hormones overpower the enzymes responsible for producing testosterone in testes, leading to a suppression of sperm formation. The study provides insight into male reproduction and may aid the design of new male contraceptives.
Researchers isolated two substances in grapefruit, furanocoumarins, that increase drug absorption by inhibiting an enzyme called CYP3A4. This discovery could lead to improved oral medications and increased reliability of drugs.
A recent study suggests that a human gene variation affecting lung enzyme production may be associated with reduced susceptibility to lung cancer. The study found that approximately 8% of the population has the 'protective' gene form, which reduces by about 54% the risk of developing lung cancer among smokers.
Researchers studied how garlic works at the molecular level, finding allicin disables dysentery-causing amoebas by blocking enzymes. This discovery supports garlic as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial drug with potential implications for fighting bacterial resistance and preventing heart disease.
Scientists found that mice lacking the macrophage elastase enzyme showed no signs of emphysema after heavy smoking. This discovery challenges previous theories and offers new hope for emphysema treatment. Researchers are now exploring metalloproteinase inhibitors to prevent the disease.
A new study by Ohio University researchers found that three commonly prescribed antihypertension drugs can enhance a protection mechanism against oxidative stress, which can cause cell damage. The drugs stimulated the production of antioxidant enzymes in most cases, but inhibited it in others.
Researchers at the University of Georgia have discovered an enzyme in Porphyromonas gingivalis that activates blood-clotting in humans, potentially linking periodontal infections to heart disease. The study suggests a mechanism for this connection and may lead to a vaccine to neutralize the enzyme.
Researchers at the University of Warwick have developed a novel Nuclear Magnetic Resonance approach to tag and label the connection point of fat chains, allowing for the monitoring of enzyme effects on individual chains. This breakthrough enables industrial chemists to better understand and control the quality and performance of fats.
The University of Washington School of Pharmacy has developed a systematic approach to understanding drug interactions by focusing on the four or five enzymes that metabolize most drugs. This research is producing an understanding of the potential for adverse effects among thousands of drug combinations.
Researchers found that genetic variations in enzymes metabolizing drugs contribute to cancer risk, particularly head and neck cancer. Individuals with certain enzyme genotypes or histories of environmental exposures are at increased risk for cancer.
Researchers described the crystal structure of aldehyde dehydrogenase, a vital enzyme involved in animal and plant health. The study provides insights into how the enzyme metabolizes aldehydes, which are highly reactive compounds that can poison cells and trigger cancers.
Researchers successfully used a harmless virus to deliver a normal gene into muscle cells in animals and humans, producing the enzyme for at least three months. This breakthrough could lead to a single treatment for children with Pompe's disease, an inherited fatal heart condition.
A recent Cleveland Clinic study found a three-fold increase in gelatinase activity among patients with brain aneurysms, weakening the structural proteins in brain arteries. This discovery could lead to the development of a predictive test and preventive therapy for aneurysm formation.
Researchers find Candida wickerhamii yeast neutralizes pollutant in sauerkraut brine, producing Beta-glucosidase enzyme to extract natural flavors from fruit pomace. The technology can add value to foods and beverages by adding specific fruit flavors, such as natural grape flavoring.
A team of researchers from the University of Georgia has discovered that plant cells can substitute one sugar for another in their cell walls, a process previously thought to be essential for survival. This finding suggests that oligosaccharins play a role in regulating cell wall growth and development.