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New insights into the immunomodulatory properties of russula polysaccharides

Researchers explore structural and functional characteristics of Russula vinosa Lindblad polysaccharides, finding potential applications in pharmaceuticals and functional foods. The study reveals that structural differences between polysaccharides influence immunomodulatory activities.

SourceJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·JournalJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 29, 2025

Caloric restriction is known as a dietary intervention that can improve aging health, but this study shows that a dietary change from glucose to galactose, without restriction, can result in healthy aging in yeast

Researchers at PLOS discovered that a diet change from glucose to galactose can slow down aging in yeast, similar to the benefits of caloric restriction. The study found that this dietary shift maintains a youthful profile in ageing yeast cells.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateAug 29, 2023

A sugar hit to help destroy cancer cells

Researchers at USC Viterbi's Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science have discovered a fatal vulnerability in many cancer cells: their inability to adapt to alternative sugars like galactose. The discovery could lead to new metabolic treatments for cancer, targeting cells with specific genetic mutations.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalJournal of Cell Science·DateJun 16, 2020

Seaweed as biofuel? Metabolic engineering makes it a viable option

A University of Illinois research team has developed a strain of yeast that can efficiently ferment galactose, a key component of seaweed, making it a viable option for biofuel production. The discovery improves the economic viability of marine biofuels by increasing fermentation rates and reducing production costs.

Flies offer insight into human metabolic disease

Scientists have developed flies with genetic changes similar to those found in patients with galactosemia, allowing researchers to study the disease and develop potential treatments. These models can help understand how sugar metabolism leads to disease and open the door to novel drug discovery.

SourceThe Company of Biologists·JournalDisease Models & Mechanisms·DateJun 1, 2010

Sweet as can be: How E. coli gets ahead

Researchers discovered that E. coli has a protein that recognizes the rarer furanose form of galactose, allowing it to exploit this additional nutrient source. This adaptation enables E. coli to grow faster and persist in the gut at the expense of other species.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateNov 12, 2009

See Spot work

Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have discovered that Spot 42, a small RNA, differentially regulates gene expression in the E. coli galactose operon through an antisense mechanism. The study provides mechanistic insight into the process and answers long-standing biological questions.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateJun 30, 2002