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Buzzed flies reveal important step to intoxication

Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have identified an important intermediate step in how alcohol intoxication occurs. The enzyme phospholipase D2 links ethanol molecules to lipid membranes, triggering a metabolite called phosphatidylethanol that causes nerves to fire more easily, leading to hyperactivity in flies.

SourceScripps Research Institute·JournalJournal of Molecular Biology·DateDec 26, 2018

The secret contamination of polar bears

Scientists discover hundreds of unrecognized halogenated contaminants in polar bear serum, including polychlorinated biphenyls and perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids. The study reveals increasing levels of these pollutants over the past two decades, posing potential health risks to the Arctic ecosystem.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateDec 3, 2018

Illinois study provides whole-system view of plant cold stress

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.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalFrontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology·DateOct 29, 2018

Substance in hair may be a marker for alcohol consumption

A new study found that measuring ethyl sulphate in hair can assess alcohol consumption and detect a wider time frame of drinking behavior. Researchers successfully applied this method to patients with alcohol use disorders, highlighting the potential of hair as a non-invasive testing matrix.

SourceWiley·JournalDrug Testing and Analysis·DateJun 20, 2018

Are you sticking to your diet? Scientists may be able to tell from a blood sample

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have developed a method to determine diet adherence from a blood sample. By analyzing small molecules called 'metabolites' in the blood, they found that levels differed significantly between participants following a prescribed diet and those not adhering to it.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·DateJun 19, 2018

Success of blood test for autism affirmed

A new blood test for autism has been validated for its exceptional success, predicting autism spectrum disorder with 88% accuracy in a second trial. The test uses an algorithm to analyze metabolites in a blood sample, offering a potential solution to lower the age of diagnosis and improve treatment outcomes.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalBioengineering & Translational Medicine·DateJun 19, 2018

Real-time coverage of inside of the brain made possible

Researchers at Nagoya University have developed a new analytical system for real-time monitoring of metabolites in the brain, overcoming previous limitations in sensitivity and invasiveness. The system, combining probe electrospray ionization (PESI) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), successfully monitored cerebrum metabolites with ...

SourceNagoya University·JournalAnalytical Chemistry·DateMay 1, 2018

The coffee cannabis connection

A Northwestern University study found that coffee consumption decreased endocannabinoid system metabolites, which regulate stress response, cognition, and appetite. The study also suggests coffee may facilitate the excretion of steroids, potentially affecting diseases such as cancers.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJournal of Internal Medicine·DateMar 15, 2018

New link between gut bacteria and obesity

Researchers at Lund University found that certain amino acids in blood are connected to obesity and gut microbiome composition. The study analyzed 674 participants and identified metabolites linked to BMI, including glutamate and BCAA, which interact with intestinal bacteria.

SourceLund University·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateFeb 23, 2018

Metabolic modelling becomes three-dimensional

Researchers have developed the first three-dimensional computer model to represent human metabolic processes. This new tool, Recon3D, integrates structural data on over 4,000 metabolites and nearly 13,000 proteins, allowing for more accurate simulations of metabolic reactions and better understanding of diseases such as Parkinson's.

SourceUniversity of Luxembourg·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateFeb 22, 2018

Measuring molecular interactions

Researchers have developed a new method to quantify protein-metabolite interactions, discovering hundreds of new interactions and binding sites. The approach has the potential to identify new regulatory mechanisms, enzymes, and metabolic reactions in cells.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalCell·DateFeb 1, 2018

All in the family: Focused genomic comparisons

A team of researchers sequenced and annotated the genomes of six Aspergillus species, identifying biosynthetic gene clusters for secondary metabolites of interest. The study highlights a new analysis method that pinpointed candidate genes for diverse compounds, providing potential tools for improving biofuel production.

SourceDOE/Joint Genome Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 11, 2018

A visual database of human plasma compounds

Researchers at Tohoku University have created a visual database of metabolites from over 5,000 Japanese volunteers, offering valuable insights into how specific compounds relate to each other. The jMorp database contains information on 306 metabolites and 256 common proteins, with graphical correlation tools to facilitate further study.

SourceTohoku University·JournalNucleic Acids Research·DateDec 22, 2017

Nanofractionation platform with parallel mass spec to ID cytochrome CYP1A2 inhibitors

A new methodology for correlating compound identity to CYP1A2 potency of inhibitors in metabolic mixtures has been developed, providing direct identification of compounds with inhibitory properties. This approach allows for rapid assessment of pharmacokinetic properties of drugs and their metabolites, improving drug development.

Metabolic markers accurately diagnose typhoid fever

A metabolomics approach has identified a unique metabolic 'signature' that can accurately distinguish typhoid from other tropical diseases, providing a new approach for typhoid diagnostics. The study found excellent predictive power in distinguishing culture-positive typhoid patients from those with other diseases.

SourceeLife·DateMay 9, 2017

One step closer to finding out how wine may protect your neurons

Researchers found that wine-derived human gut metabolites are protective against neuronal death in human cells under stress conditions. The exact composition of these metabolites depends on the individual's gut microbiota, highlighting the importance of personalized nutrition in preventing neurodegenerative diseases.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Nutrition·DateMay 3, 2017

The clever cell

The University of Konstanz's biological chemistry working group has decoded a molecular mechanism that inhibits bacterial populations' swarming motility. This mechanism enables bacteria to produce various natural substances using minimal resources, which may aid in combating infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalCell Chemical Biology·DateApr 26, 2017