Articles tagged with Metabolic Networks
Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are developing new cancer treatments that target the metabolic pathway hijacked by cancer cells. Using neutrons and x-rays, researchers mapped the enzyme structure to design roadblocks along the pathway.
Researchers identified five genes influencing BMI in women and two in men, with faulty variants of three genes linked to higher BMI in women. Age-specific factors also emerged, with genes OBSCN and MADD associated with childhood body size and fat.
A recent study published in Immunity has found that ketone bodies, produced by the liver during fasting or low glucose levels, power immune cells and improve T cell function. This discovery may pave the way for personalized dietary recommendations to augment treatments for infection, cancer, and other diseases.
Researchers at UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center confirmed genetic variants of unknown significance are verified mutations that increase the risk of kidney cancer. The findings could lead to new treatment options for people with hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC).
A new special issue of Calcified Tissue International & Musculoskeletal Research explores how the skeleton functions as both a secretory organ and an endocrine target tissue. Researchers discuss key avenues in this area of research, including deciphering hormone messages encoded in bone cell secretory products.
Researchers discovered that FDA-approved HDAC-inhibitors can impact energy metabolism in solid tumor cells, including glioblastoma. The combination of HDAC-inhibitors and imipridones may synergize to enhance killing of GBM cells by reversing cellular respiration.
Researchers have highlighted the importance of stromal vitamin A pathway in regulating IL-6 expression in colorectal cancer-associated fibroblasts. The study found that disrupting retinol-mediated IL-6 expression could be a potential approach to target CAFs during CRC treatment.
A study by IMBA researchers links muscle degeneration to a deficiency in the enzyme PCYT2, essential for lipid synthesis. PCYT2 depletion affects mitochondrial function and muscle energetics, highlighting the importance of lipid balance in muscle health.
Scientists at the University of Utah Health have discovered a complex network of protein-metabolite interactions within cells that enable them to respond to environmental cues and maintain homeostasis. The study, published in Science, highlights the importance of these interactions in regulating metabolic processes and preventing disease.
Researchers at the University of Groningen discovered that cells separate essential biochemical reactions into different time periods. This separation explains metabolic oscillations leading up to cell division and has implications for our understanding of cellular physiology, cancer, and aging.
A new study suggests that intensive blood pressure treatment may slow the accumulation of toxins in the brain's perivascular spaces, a dynamic area involved in brain clearance. This finding is significant for understanding the relationship between high blood pressure and cognitive decline.
Researchers studied cavefish metabolism to understand how humans might adapt over long periods of inactivity, finding genetic changes that enable muscle endurance and efficient energy storage. The study suggests potential implications for understanding and mitigating the negative effects of sedentary lifestyles on human health.
Researchers found that certain gene signaling pathways, such as interferon γ and beta-catenin, can lead to tumor hyperprogression after immunotherapy. Targeting these pathways may prevent hyperprogression in preclinical models.
Researchers found that dendritic cells in meninges produce mediators causing pain hypersensitivity after nerve injury. The kynurenine pathway, primarily driven by IDO1, is involved in pain production.
Researchers identified key metabolic pathways in tumor-associated macrophages that contribute to cancer development and progression. Targeting these pathways may provide a new perspective for immunotherapy-based cancer treatments.
Researchers elucidated the coca-derived tropane pathway, identifying a specific enzyme responsible for the carbomethoxy group, a key contributor to cocaine's euphoric properties. The study also reveals that tropane biosynthesis has independently evolved at least twice in flowering plants.
A new study reveals that exercise training has opposite effects on muscle and fat tissues compared to high-fat diet-induced obesity. Exercise is found to down-regulate extracellular matrix-related pathways, while obesity up-regulates them. Conversely, exercise up-regulates circadian rhythm pathways, which are reversed by obesity. This ...
A new study identified distinct metabolic profiles in women with Idiopathic Intercranial Hypertension (IIH), a condition characterized by raised brain pressure. Weight loss programs showed positive effects on results, suggesting that metabolism plays a role in disease development.
Researchers discovered that vitamin K acts as an antioxidant, inhibiting ferroptotic cell death and identifying FSP1 as the warfarin-insensitive enzyme responsible. This finding has implications for treating Alzheimer's disease and acute organ injuries.
A team of researchers developed a model system to study individual differences in metabolism using C. elegans worms. They identified a novel metabolic condition linked to variation in the hphd-1 gene, which has implications for personalized medicine and tailoring dietary advice and disease treatment to an individual's genome sequence.
A team of researchers at Max-Planck-Gesellschaft developed METIS, a modular software system for optimizing biological systems using machine learning. The tool allows users to optimize their already discovered or synthesized biological systems and can be used with different lab equipment.
A mouse study found significant changes in the infant gut microbiome associated with maternal oxycodone exposure. These bacterial changes are linked to alterations in metabolic pathways, suggesting a potential connection between prenatal opioid exposure and long-term health consequences.
A new study reveals that inhaled fine particles can take a direct route from lungs to brain through blood circulation, potentially contributing to brain disorders. The particles were found to stay longer in the brain than in other organs, raising concerns about the long-term effects of air pollution on cognitive function.
Researchers discovered a potential pathway linking early life infections to cardiovascular disease risk later in adulthood. High rates of infant infections were associated with elevated inflammation markers and changes to metabolic profiles.
Researchers discovered that elevated blood fats in people with metabolic diseases create stress in muscle cells, leading to cell death and worsening the illness. Ceramides, a signal created by stressed-out cells, can be passed on to other cells, increasing the risk of severe symptoms.
Researchers at Scripps Research have identified an experimental compound called IXA4 that activates a natural signaling pathway to protect against obesity-driven metabolic changes. This approach shows promise for preventing or treating type 2 diabetes.
The study found that efficient metabolic processes and recycling of components used by the enzyme RuBisCO significantly speed up photosynthesis in Chlorella ohadii. This discovery could lead to improving photosynthesis efficiency in other plants, developing new engineering tools for sustainable food production.
Researchers from Duke-NUS Medical School found that Zika virus infection disrupts the glucose metabolism pathway in infected foetuses, leading to birth defects and death. A potential supplement, pyruvic acid, may protect foetuses from these impacts.
Researchers developed a kinetic hypothesis governing the evolution of the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA) based on simulation experiments. They discovered a kinetic factor that governs the flow of chemical reactions in the TCA cycle, validating their hypothesis for deep-branching bacteria and archaea.
Researchers found that people with ALS have higher levels of arachidonic acid, a lipid involved in inflammation, and that tampering with this pathway can reduce muscle-weakening symptoms. The study suggests that targeting the arachidonic acid pathway may offer potential new therapies for Lou Gehrig's disease.
Recent clinical and experimental data suggest that vascular calcification and bone loss share common pathophysiological mechanisms. The International Osteoporosis Foundation's new review elucidates the key associations between the two disorders.
Researchers have identified a novel estrogen compound that provides benefits similar to hormone replacement therapy but without the risk factors associated with it. The compound has been shown to reduce excess lipid deposition in the liver and prevent the progression of fibrosis, which can lead to liver failure and metabolic problems.
A recent study by the University of California - San Diego team discovered that glycogen regulates and promotes fat metabolism, helping to balance energy intake and expenditure. The research suggests modulating glycogen metabolism in fat cells could provide new approaches for weight loss and improved metabolic health.
A comprehensive review reveals how excessive fructose intake can disrupt metabolic pathways, leading to diseases such as diabetes, fatty liver disease, and heart disease. The study highlights the role of protein transporters, gluconeogenesis, and gene-level changes in regulating fructose metabolism.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis used comparative metabologenomics to study the genomes of Streptomyces bacteria and identify key factors that influence drug production. The study found that fine-tuning of specific nucleotides can control antibiotic production, offering new insights for next-generation drug discovery.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital identified a metabolic control pathway that regulates T follicular helper cells, offering targets for drugs to stimulate the adaptive immune response and treat autoimmune diseases such as lupus. The finding holds promise for developing new vaccines and treatments.
Researchers used biochemical metabolic networks and evolutionary trees to analyze 1,089 bacterial genomes, predicting the biochemistry of LBCA. The analysis reveals that LBCA was likely rod-shaped and had the acetyl-CoA pathway for carbon fixation, similar to LUCA.
Researchers applied CRISPRi technology to understand metabolic robustness in E. coli, revealing mechanisms that buffer enzyme knockdowns. The study identified specific buffering mechanisms across multiple metabolic pathways, paving the way for developing industrially useful microbes with controlled metabolism.
A study published in PNAS reveals that fruit development rewires the central metabolism pathway in tomatoes via increased sensitivity to gibberellin. The role of this hormone in fruit-setting ovaries was previously unknown and has significant implications for breeding parthenocarpic fruits.
Researchers at Fujita Health University have discovered a potential biomarker for early-stage depression, highlighting increased levels of anthranilic acid in the blood. This finding shows a strong correlation between serum anthranilic acid levels and the severity of depression.
The study analyzed how enzymes work and reconstructed the evolutionary history of metabolic networks, showing they became less random and more organized over time. The researchers created a database called MANET, which revealed that early metabolic pathways were more random and less efficient than present-day ones.
Two metabolic pathways, NAD+–SIRT1 and FAD–LSD1, play a role in regulating energy metabolism and tissue development. These pathways are controlled by dietary vitamins and hormones, leading to the induction of fat accumulation and obesity.
A recent Illinois study provides a global view of plant cold stress by examining the entire collection of genes, metabolites, pathways, and reactions. This approach identifies significant metabolites associated with important traits and offers a step forward in metabolic profiling techniques.
Engineered E. coli strains have successfully produced extracellular free haem using a novel strategy, overcoming previous limitations in production efficiency and yield. The optimized metabolic pathway enables high titer production of haem, paving the way for its use as a bioavailable iron-supplying agent in medical applications.
Scientists at Osaka University identified RELCH as a crucial protein facilitating non-vesicular transport of cholesterol within cells. This discovery may lead to better understanding and treatment of cholesterol-related disorders.
Researchers found that clipping plants can trigger an increase in defensive chemistry, leading to greater reproductive success. By manipulating a molecular pathway, the team was able to enhance seed production and defensive compound expression in plants.
Researchers used systems biology approaches to study the emergence of life and found that a few simple compounds could support a phosphate-free metabolism. This discovery challenges the current understanding of life's origin and suggests that an early self-sustaining metabolic network predated the emergence of nucleic acids.
DBA's molecular mechanisms involve ribosomal protein deficiency, leading to p53 pathway activation and microRNA34A-mediated decreased red blood cell formation. Exogenous nucleosides may alleviate symptoms by reducing DNA damage response and increasing energy metabolism.
Scientists have discovered a major metabolic pathway in cyanobacteria that can efficiently convert carbon dioxide into organic compounds. The pathway, led by NREL scientists, has the potential to produce chemicals and biofuels from CO2 or plant biomass, reducing reliance on natural gas.
BIDMC researchers have discovered a novel vitamin B3 pathway that regulates liver metabolism and improves metabolic health. The study found that nicotinamide N-methyltransfersase (NNMT) plays a key role in this pathway, increasing Sirt1 protein levels and suppressing triglyceride and cholesterol synthesis.
Research has linked kisspeptin signaling to increased weight gain and glucose intolerance in mice lacking the pathway. This study found that reduced metabolism and decreased energy led to excess weight gain, not increased food consumption. The findings have potential for treating human obesity.
Researchers developed a computational pipeline system to analyze plant genomes, revealing unusual properties in genes producing specialized metabolites. These findings offer an innovative strategy for discovering novel compounds with wide-ranging implications for agriculture, biotechnology, drug discovery, and synthetic biology.
A study has identified a metabolic network associated with Huntington's disease progression, allowing for predictive assessment of time to symptom onset. This discovery provides biomarkers for evaluating disease progression in carriers and supports the incorporation of this assessment into clinical trials.
A recent study by University of Illinois researchers identified behavioral subtypes within a modeled Escherichia coli population based on gene regulation and protein distributions. The findings suggest that tracking specific genes may be sufficient to capture most of the metabolic variability in the entire population.
Researchers aim to improve biosynthetic yield of valuable natural products using metabolically modified bacteria with optimized MEP pathways. The goal is to produce high-quality substances efficiently, reducing labor and costs in the process.
The Plant Metabolic Network has launched four new online databases for corn, soybeans, wine grapes, and cassava, providing a comprehensive view of their biochemical pathways. The databases will aid researchers in increasing crop production, developing biofuels, and exploring novel medicines.
Researchers found that single-celled organisms spontaneously silence large numbers of metabolic reactions to optimize growth, with around 300 active reactions for all four organisms under optimal conditions. This finding provides new insights into the interplay between metabolic network activity and biological function.
A new synthetic chemical entity activates the SIRT1 pathway, improving glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and exercise endurance in mice fed a high-fat diet. The study demonstrates that this activation primarily promotes fat consumption in skeletal muscle, liver, and brown adipose tissue.
A Northwestern University research team found that cell metabolisms have evolved to be exceptionally robust, adopting organizational structures that minimize the impact of gene deletions and mutations. This could lead to improved understanding of how to design synthetic networks with similar robustness.
The Plant Metabolic Network (PMN) is a web-based resource dedicated to understanding plant metabolism, providing researchers with essential information to engineer crops for food, biofuels, and medicines. The database currently contains over 500 biochemical pathways from 290 plant species.