Articles tagged with Protein Folding
A crowdsourcing game called Foldit allows players to design protein structures that are reproduced in labs, showing their accuracy. Researchers also discovered how cooking affects the gut microbiome and found a new material to remove toxic sulfur dioxide gas.
Biomedical engineers at Duke University have developed a new method to create stable IDP-based materials by controlling environmental triggers. This allows researchers to harness the phase transition properties of IDPs to build novel materials for drug delivery, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.
Researchers used NMR spectroscopy and hydrostatic pressure to study the impact of internal cavities on protein stability. They found that filling these cavities with water destabilizes the protein, which has significant implications for industrial enzymes and biological drugs.
Researchers add archaeal DNA to mouse models' genes to assess resistance to retinal degeneration and potentially develop new methods to prevent incurable eye diseases. The goal is to understand how molecular chaperones can help avoid misfolded proteins that cause blindness.
Researchers found that exposure to BMAA, a toxin produced by algae, can alter the structure of protein SOD1, leading to neurodegenerative disease ALS. The study suggests that studying patterns of SOD1 modifications may aid in developing lifestyle and preventative interventions for sporadic ALS.
LMU biologists have identified a general alarm signal that activates the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) in mitochondria, ensuring protein degradation and restoring normal cell function. The signaling pathway is triggered by a decline in mitochondrial membrane potential and involves transcription factor ATFS-1.
University of Alberta researchers found a critical protein called PEX3 in the cells of a deadly infectious parasite, opening the door to less harmful treatment options for millions suffering from diseases. The discovery could lead to effective drug treatments that target and kill parasites without harming human hosts.
Researchers reveal precise three-dimensional structure of amyloid fibrils from PI3K SH3 domains, shedding light on protein folding and misfolding processes. The findings have significant implications for understanding the causes of neurodegenerative diseases.
Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists have developed a new quantum computing algorithm to investigate the quantum-to-classical transition in systems like biological proteins. The algorithm allows for the search for classicality in quantum systems, providing insights into how quantum mechanics applies to large-scale objects.
A computational model has been developed to understand the mechanism of prion replication, which replicates in absence of genetic material. The study proposes a novel architecture consistent with recent experimental data and allows for the reliable prediction of protein conformational transitions.
Researchers found that ATL-mediated membrane tethering plays a critical role in maintaining cargo mobility and COPII formation in the ER. In ATL-deleted cells, cargo packaging into COPII vesicles was significantly reduced, highlighting the importance of ATL in regulating membrane trafficking.
Frequency combs are widely-used tools for measuring and detecting different frequencies of light. Researchers from Harvard SEAS have found that some lasers use a variational principle to maintain constant intensity in the face of changing frequencies.
A team of researchers collaborated with Foldit players to design synthetic proteins, with 56 of the designed proteins found to be stable. The designs were able to adopt their intended structures, suggesting that the gamers had produced realistic proteins.
Researchers studied over 8,000 genes and proteins in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) patients, finding abnormal DNA folding and gene activity. This discovery could improve understanding of hyperdiploid childhood leukaemia and develop more effective treatments.
A Harvard Medical School scientist has developed a new approach using deep learning to predict protein structure from amino acid sequence. This method achieves accuracy comparable to current state-of-the-art methods but at speeds upward of a million times faster.
Researchers develop a new method to create detailed structural models of proteins using force-driven simulations, reducing computational power requirements. The technique, inspired by metallurgy, allows for faster computation and more accurate results than existing approaches.
This year's awards recognize Professor Minoru Kanehisa for his work on the KEGG database, Professor Anthony Kossiakoff for his technological achievements in protein structure and function, Professor Hao Wu for her groundbreaking signal transduction research, Professor Shahriar Mobashery for his discovery of new antibiotics, and Profess...
Franz-Ulrich Hartl and Arthur L. Horwich's pioneering discoveries on assisted protein folding highlighted the importance of cellular quality assurance. They elucidated key aspects of the chaperone machinery and its role in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's dementia and Parkinson's disease.
Researchers have identified a key pathway, ufmylation, that regulates plasma cell development and antibody production. By targeting this pathway, scientists hope to develop more effective vaccines and treatments for autoimmune diseases like lupus and arthritis.
Researchers have obtained the highest-resolution structure of the fungal protein Hsp104, a hexameric AAA+ protein that helps repair misfolded proteins. The study's findings reveal a helical structure for Hsp104 hexamers, contrary to previous beliefs, and provide new insights into its function.
Researchers developed a method using fluorescent compound AggTag to identify intermediate forms of proteins that misfold and aggregate in live cells, which are believed to contribute to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The method allows for simultaneous detection of multiple proteins with distinct colors.
Researchers surveyed known enzyme structures and found that active sites often have conflicting instructions, allowing for a balance between stability and functionality. This 'extended frustration' extends beyond the first shell of amino acids, supporting catalytic ability and enabling enzymes to modify target molecules efficiently.
Researchers discovered that specific RNAs interact with multiple proteins, promoting aggregation and altering RNA splicing. This finding has implications for understanding complex diseases like Fragile X Tremor Syndrome.
The discovery of glucose-regulated protein GRP94 as a chaperone assisting proinsulin folding has significant implications for understanding insulin production. Removing GRP94 from beta cells impaired insulin secretion, suggesting its specialized function in maintaining cellular response to misfolded proinsulin.
Researchers discovered a new class of complex folding molecules that form spontaneously without evolution or design. The molecules' unique structure suggests that complexity can emerge on its own, potentially revolutionizing our understanding of molecular folding and the origin of life.
New research allows for fully automated design of DNA staple sequences, enabling the creation of complex nanostructures with ease. This breakthrough advances the field of DNA origami, opening up new possibilities for applications in material science and medicine.
Researchers found significant differences between bacterial and eukaryotic Hsp70s, including variations in binding interfaces and cycles of domain docking and undocking. These findings suggest that eukaryotic Hsp70s have evolved to be more flexible and efficient in their function.
A study published in Science Translational Medicine found that removing the appendix early in life can lower the risk of developing Parkinson's disease. The appendix acts as a reservoir for disease-associated proteins, and appendectomy delays disease progression by an average of 3.6 years.
The Biophysical Society has honored 10 distinguished members as 2019 Society Fellows for their groundbreaking work on cytoskeleton filaments, protein folding, single-molecule methods, and cellular dynamics. These individuals have made significant contributions to the field of biophysics.
The FAT10 protein has a unique structure with two domains and a flexible linker, allowing it to regulate degradation in an efficient manner. This finding has significant implications for potential cancer therapies, as FAT10's presence is associated with aggressive tumor growth.
Scientists at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München have created novel DNA aptamers that enable the use of smaller fluorescent labels in super-resolution microscopy. This breakthrough allows for high-resolution imaging of protein networks within individual cells, paving the way for new insights into biological processes.
A team of researchers from Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine has discovered a weak link in the flu virus protein hemagglutinin that could be targeted by therapeutic drugs. By analyzing the protein's mechanism of attachment to host cells, they propose a new approach for developing universal vaccines.
Researchers have successfully measured biomolecule folding in water using a new technique, providing insights into protein structure and folding in environments similar to those in cells. The technique could lead to better understanding of diseases such as Alzheimer's, which are related to incorrect protein folding.
Researchers propose native state is a 'fortunate trap' that prevents spontaneous folding into fibril state, associated with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The amyloid state is more stable thermodynamically, but kinetic barriers prevent its formation.
A Kanazawa University-led team used high-speed atomic force microscopy to study GroEL's mechanism, finding two alternative pathways for the protein-GroES interaction. The research suggests a more active role for the football-shaped structure in protein folding, challenging conventional models of molecular chaperone function.
Scientists create three-dimensional maps of DNA in cells to understand genome organization and gene expression. The study reveals that genes cluster together around specific nuclear bodies, influencing gene activity.
Rice University researchers develop a molecular modeling framework that combines experimental data with coarse-grained simulations, enabling more accurate protein dynamics modeling. The technique reveals unanticipated molecular properties and can be scaled up to larger systems, reducing simulation time by hours.
Researchers have identified a disproportionate number of sialic acid-containing glycans in lancehead viper venom, which may aid in venom solubility and increase toxin half-life. This discovery could lead to the development of more effective antivenom treatments for snake envenoming.
Researchers have developed a new tool that can work in both non-reproductive cells and egg-producing cells using the Gal4/UAS two-component activation system. The UASz vector has been shown to express about 4 times higher than UASp in the egg-producing system, overcoming previous limitations.
Researchers from Medical Research Council crack how first life on Earth replicated itself using a new type of genetic replication system. The system uses a triplet code to copy folded RNA, enabling the replication of ribozymes and supporting simple living systems.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have detected CWD prions in soil and water samples from sites where deer congregate. The study suggests that environmental reservoirs of prions could serve as an additional transmission route for CWD, highlighting the need for further research on the disease's spread and persistence.
The Biochemical Society has announced the winners of its annual awards, recognizing established and early-career researchers in cell biology, endocrinology, and plant sciences. The award recipients include Dr Melina Schuh, Professor Dame Caroline Dean, and Professor R. John Ellis.
Researchers at LMU München have developed a synthetic DNA sequence that can inhibit the activities of several DNA-processing enzymes, including HIV integrase. The artificial DNA mimic successfully competes with its natural counterpart, demonstrating potential for new treatments of retroviral diseases.
Scientists have developed a way to stabilize proteins outside of their native environments, creating mats that can trap chemical pollution. The research demonstrates a unique path toward exploiting protein power in synthetic systems.
The Protein Society has awarded three researchers with prestigious prizes: Jane and Dave Richardson, Yifan Cheng, and Susan Marqusee. The winners have made groundbreaking contributions in protein structure determination, cryo-EM, and protein folding. Their work has significantly advanced our understanding of biology.
Researchers at CSIRO Australia and Deakin University have successfully replicated a unique protein in platypus milk that has antibacterial properties. The discovery could help combat superbugs and save lives.
Elevated GRP78 expression is linked to resistance to chemotherapy and poor prognosis in various cancers. The unfolded protein response regulates cell survival through GRP78, which modulates the PI3K/AKT pathway.
Researchers at Penn develop a technology to track protein shape changes, which could lead to improved drug treatments and earlier detection of neurodegenerative diseases. By labeling proteins with probes, they can observe movement and create computational models for atomic-level detail.
The study reveals the importance of sugary appendages on protein surfaces, which differ in composition and branching. The researchers discovered the three-dimensional structure of oligosaccharyltransferase, providing insight into eukaryotic N-glycosylation.
Researchers have identified a key gene, Ufbp1, that helps maintain healthy Paneth cells in the small intestine, which are essential for a balanced gut microbiome. The study found that when this gene is knocked out, Paneth cells die and good bacteria levels decrease, leading to inflammatory bowel disease.
Misfolding proteins accumulate in the pancreas, killing cells. Researchers use nanodiscs to study these proteins at the atomic level, gaining insights into their toxicity. This work may lead to the development of new drugs targeting incorrectly folding proteins.
Researchers have created large-scale, programmable self-folding DNA and RNA structures using user-friendly software tools. The new nanostructures can be successfully cloned and amplified inside living cells, offering a low-cost high-scale production strategy for manufacturing the nanostructures.
The protein Trigger factor recognizes a partner with unstable domains to form a stable protein duo. Chaperones like TF help folding of other proteins.
A new algorithm can speed up protein-folding simulations, allowing researchers to model phenomena that were previously out of reach. This technique can help scientists better understand and treat diseases like Alzheimer's, which is associated with amyloid-beta protein fragments forming hard plaques that disrupt neurons.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals that membralin plays a crucial role in regulating the cell's machinery for producing beta-amyloid, the protein responsible for neuronal death in Alzheimer's disease. The researchers found that membranes with lower levels of this protein are associated with increased neurodegeneration a...
Researchers develop a novel method for folding and protecting recombinant proteins using a protein-in-a-protein technology. This innovation improves functional protein yields and protects against various denaturants, offering potential applications in the biologics and pharmaceutical industries.
Researchers at RUDN University have synthesized new compounds with potential antitumor and antiviral activity from isoxazoles. The compounds, which include a central five-membered heterocycle, exhibit varying properties depending on the arrangement of substituents.
An international team of experts has made a fundamental discovery by transforming amyloid fibrils into crystals, a process previously thought to be impossible. The transformation involves untwisting the fibril to form an elongated, matchstick-like crystal with unprecedented stability.
Researchers at CRAG have discovered a key gene (HsfA2) that activates chaperone synthesis to rescue cells from toxic effects of misfolded proteins. This mechanism is similar to those found in human nerve cells and may help understand and treat protein-misfolding diseases.
A team of scientists at the University of Arizona has discovered that a newly evolved yeast protein can fold into a compact three-dimensional structure, contrary to the long-held assumption that such proteins are incomplete and 'works-in-progress',