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Peptide being tested to treat atherosclerosis inhibits ovarian cancer growth

A study found that a peptide being tested to treat atherosclerosis significantly inhibited the growth of ovarian cancer in human cell lines and mouse models. The peptide, an apoA-I mimetic, was shown to be effective when administered via injection or ingestion, with minimal side effects.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 1, 2010

Tips from the American Journal of Pathology

Researchers found that transforming growth factor-β1 contributes to kidney disease by inducing fibrosis and nephron degeneration. Meanwhile, a new diagnostic criteria for T-cell lymphoma was discovered using mast cells and Th17 cells. Additionally, a novel peptide ASARM may implicate in impaired dentin mineralization in rickets.

SourceAmerican Journal of Pathology·JournalAmerican Journal Of Pathology·DateJul 28, 2010

Research from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute professor offers clues to Alzheimer's disease

A study by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute professor Peter M. Tessier has found that an organic compound in red wine, resveratrol, can neutralize the toxic effects of proteins linked to Alzheimer's disease. The research provides insights into the structural differences between toxic and benign peptide arrangements.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateJun 22, 2010

Insulin peptide may point to a solution for type 1 diabetes

Researchers at National Jewish Health and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have identified a precise protein fragment that can trigger diabetes in mice. The finding contradicts conventional wisdom and suggests that poorly presented peptides may cause autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes.

SourceNational Jewish Health·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 16, 2010

Manmade antibodies hold biomedical promise

Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a method to create synthetic antibodies that can bind with human proteins with high affinity and specificity. This technique, called synbody construction, involves combining random amino acid sequences to form a binding molecule that can target specific proteins.

SourceArizona State University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 19, 2010

Peptides may hold 'missing link' to life

Researchers at Emory University have discovered that simple peptides can organize into bi-layer membranes, a 'missing link' between pre-biotic Earth's chemical inventory and the scaffolding essential to life. This finding may also shed light on protein assemblies related to Alzheimer's disease, Type 2 diabetes, and other serious ailments.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateMay 6, 2010

Designer threads: New insight into protein fiber assembly

Researchers have gained new insight into protein fiber assembly, providing a potential route to temporal control of fibers with future applications in biotechnology and nanoscale science and medicine. By manipulating conditions, they were able to demonstrate the ability to manipulate fibrous structures with some precision.

SourceCell Press·JournalBiophysical Journal·DateApr 20, 2010

Scientists watch as peptides control crystal growth with 'switches, throttles and brakes'

Researchers produced single-molecule resolution images of peptide-mineral interaction, revealing mechanisms that molecules use to bind to surfaces. Peptides slow down or speed up crystal growth depending on conditions, offering potential solutions for pathological mineralization and kidney stone treatment.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 23, 2009

An atomic-level look at an HIV accomplice

Scientists at the University of Michigan have determined the atomic-level structure of a SEVI precursor and found it damages cell membranes to make them more vulnerable to HIV infection. The study provides insights into how SEVI interacts with cell membranes, which may help in developing new treatments for AIDS.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateNov 19, 2009

New scientific study indicates that eating quickly is associated with overeating

A recent study published in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that eating quickly can lead to overeating by curbing the release of hormones that signal fullness. Researchers discovered that subjects who took their time consuming a meal had higher concentrations of appetite-regulating hormones,...

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateNov 4, 2009

NIST quantifies low levels of 'heart attack risk' protein

Researchers at NIST have developed a method to quantify extremely low levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a molecule that indicates cardiovascular disease risk. The new certified reference material will improve the accuracy of clinical laboratory tests for CRP, enabling more precise detection of individuals at high risk of heart attack.

New method may accelerate drug discovery for difficult diseases like Parkinson's

A rapid and inexpensive drug-screening method developed by Whitehead Institute scientists uses baker's yeast to synthesize and screen molecules, cutting testing time to weeks. The technique targets protein-protein interactions found in cellular processes, offering new potential for treating diseases like Parkinson's.

SourceWhitehead Institute for Biomedical Research·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateJul 13, 2009

Stanford Alzheimer's research pinpoints antibodies that may prevent disease

Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a wide range of antibodies in healthy people and Alzheimer's patients that target protein aggregates, including those found in plaques. These findings suggest that these antibodies may play a role in slowing or preventing the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

SourceStanford Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 6, 2009

4-in-1

Researchers have developed a four-in-one agent that can detect, target, and disable tumor cells while also making them visible through MRI and microscopic imaging. The agent uses siRNAs to suppress specific genes in cancer cells, providing a new approach to targeted gene suppression in cancer treatment.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateMay 7, 2009

Enzyme with a sugar antenna

Researchers achieve semisynthesis of homogeneous glycoproteins, a complex task in biomedical studies. They used a novel strategy to synthesize ribonuclease C, a glycosylated bovine pancreatic enzyme with a unique sugar component.

SourceWiley·DateJan 30, 2009