Articles tagged with Protein Functions
Dr. Chris Morrison's research aims to understand how the brain detects changes in protein intake and adapts to dietary protein restriction. The study will focus on a specific population of neurons in the hindbrain that respond to FGF21, a hormone produced by the liver in response to protein restriction.
The University of Melbourne has joined the Structural Genomics Consortium to develop AI-powered tools for drug discovery, targeting rare diseases. The new SGC-Melbourne facility will generate large-scale datasets on protein-molecule interactions, enabling the creation of high-quality data needed for AI to predict new molecular tools.
Researchers have discovered a new mechanism that helps cells protect genetic information during DNA replication, preventing errors and preserving genome integrity. This discovery could have implications for precision oncology and our understanding of the molecular machinery responsible for copying DNA.
Researchers identified 3,775 proteins in red blood cells and mapped thousands of physical interactions, revealing a dynamic network that adapts quickly to low-oxygen conditions. The study provides new insight into how red blood cells respond to high-altitude exposure and strenuous exercise, as well as pathological hypoxia.
A newly developed drug molecule binds to its target protein by causing it to change shape, creating an unusually snug fit. The molecule's unusual binding strategy offers a new approach to drug design and may provide a starting point for developing a new cancer treatment.
Scientists at Salk Institute create first microprotein atlas of human frontal cortex with and without Alzheimer's disease, identifying 1,067 new microproteins and a potential link to immune cell dysfunction in Alzheimer's. The atlas provides a system for investigating microproteins in aging and neurodegeneration, bringing scientists cl...
Pennington Biomedical researchers propose a new understanding of how protein restriction promotes healthy aging and extends lifespan by triggering a coordinated whole-body response. The response connects cellular nutrient sensing with hormones, brain function, and changes throughout the body, influencing healthy aging and longevity.
Elke Deuerling, a renowned molecular biologist, has been awarded the Sir Hans Krebs Medal 2027 for her groundbreaking research on protein balance and proteostasis. Her work focuses on deciphering the molecular processes that maintain cellular protein levels, ensuring the health and viability of organisms.
A team of researchers has shed light on the mechanism of outer membrane protein assembly in bacteria, revealing key conformational changes made by a chaperone protein. The study's findings may help identify new targets for antibacterial agents and improve our understanding of Gram-negative bacteria's resistance to antibiotics.
UM171 molecule helps retain stem cell properties, stimulating multiplication, and exploits protein KBTBD4 to break down important protein structure CoREST. This mechanism is also affected by mutations in KBTBD4 gene, linked to aggressive brain tumours in children.
Researchers at Salk Institute develop novel 'dye-cycling' strategy to measure RNA polymerase movement along DNA with unprecedented lengths of time. This breakthrough provides critical mechanical insights into how genes are transcribed in cells, shedding light on the fundamental processes of life.
Scientists discovered that ribosomes struggle synthesizing transmembrane proteins, triggering quality control mechanisms to eliminate defective proteins. This new insight sheds light on a novel role of protein quality control at the ribosome, potentially leading to treatments for genetic diseases like cystic fibrosis.
Researchers have developed a technique that can map protein movements over time, revealing dynamic behaviors in molecules with similar structures. This insight improves understanding of protein function and paves the way for training AI models to predict protein behavior.
A new review reveals that heme converts tiny chemical changes into larger biological responses, regulating functions from microbial metabolism to mammalian signaling. Labile heme, a small and dynamic fraction of heme, plays a crucial role in this process, allowing for finely tuned sensitivity to environmental conditions.
Researchers found specific combinations of blood proteins from western diamondback rattlesnakes provided unprecedented neutralizing power against multiple dangerous snake species. Combining several FETUA proteins dramatically increased ability to neutralize venom's damaging effects.
Northwestern University chemists have developed a new approach that replaces traditional trial-and-error methods with intentional design using flexible DNA strands. The strategy enables precise control over protein connections, creating soft, flexible crystals with high structural order. This breakthrough simplifies one of structural b...
Researchers have developed a tool to design synthetic disordered proteins, untangling their functionality. This innovation accelerates the exploration of biology's vast and underexplored area.
Researchers at Nagoya University discovered that complement C3 protein acts inside tumors to prevent immunosuppressive cells, improving cancer immunotherapy effectiveness. Higher levels of C3 in tumor tissue were associated with better treatment outcomes and survival rates in patients.
Researchers have identified a widespread source of error in a popular genome study method and created a machine-learning tool to correct it. PATTY uses machine learning to reduce artifacts while preserving real signals in noisy data, giving researchers a clearer view of gene activity control.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have found a potential therapeutic target that can improve the potency of decitabine, a chemotherapy commonly used to treat bone marrow disorders and acute myeloid leukemia. By blocking DCTPP1's function with newly identified inhibitors, cancer cells become more susceptible to decitabine's ability ...
Researchers discovered branched O-mannose glycans play a crucial role in maintaining nodes of Ranvier and efficient nerve signaling. The study found that these sugar structures help preserve the narrow architecture required for fast and reliable communication.
Researchers discovered a new signaling pathway allowing plants to adjust protein production in minutes, not hours. Short sequence elements in messenger RNA act as molecular switches, enabling direct regulation of protein synthesis.
A new study from the University of Georgia suggests marigold flowers contain similar amounts of protein as quinoa, making them a potential plant-based protein source. The flower's proteins also exhibit unique properties, such as stability at high temperatures and umami flavor, which could make it ideal for baking and food formulation.
Researchers at Texas A&M University develop a laser technique called TRIP to directly measure quantum forces shaping proteins, enabling accurate prediction of how pharmaceutical drugs interact with them. This breakthrough could lead to the design of medicines tailored to specific diseases, revolutionizing precision medicine.
Researchers seek to understand the biological mechanisms behind Ewing sarcoma's rapid growth and spread, developing new tools to visualize DNA structures and regulate gene expression. This could lead to personalized cancer treatments targeting specific molecules for improved patient outcomes.
Scientists discovered that internal structure of polymer nanoparticles plays a key role in controlling ice growth, contrary to previous designs that focused on surface interactions. Changing the inner core's chemistry can effectively inhibit ice recrystallisation.
Researchers developed a novel gene therapy platform that successfully restored muscle function in preclinical models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy by delivering full-length mRNA of the DMD gene via engineered extracellular vesicles. The treatment showed improved muscle strength, endurance, and function without serious side effects.
Researchers have uncovered the structural basis of Argonaute assembly, revealing that chaperone proteins hold it in an open conformation allowing miRNA loading. The study also found that RNA plays a key role in guiding Argonaute folding.
Researchers found that condensing into droplets optimizes biochemical conditions for kinases to catalyze reactions and activate cell signaling pathways. This phenomenon helps control growth signals and could lead to new strategies for cancer drug development by interfering with the ability of enzymes to form droplets.
Researchers discovered that overproduction of a DNA repair protein creates DNA damage mimicking BRCA mutations, which may respond to targeted treatments. Tumors with high levels of EXO1 protein exhibit characteristics similar to BRCA-mutant cells, suggesting personalized therapies could be effective.
Researchers identify energetic frustration in p53's sequence as a key factor in its fragility. The study shows that p53's flexibility comes at a high cost, allowing it to perform roles but making it prone to misfolding and aggregation. This knowledge offers a roadmap for cancer treatment by targeting specific regions sensitive to water.
A team of scientists has uncovered more than 1,700 new proteins known as peptideins, which are smaller than traditional proteins and may have unique biology. These proteins were found in the 'dark proteome', a section of DNA previously overlooked, and could have implications for human diseases like cancer.
The UK-led OpenBind initiative has released its first publicly available dataset and predictive AI model, accelerating the discovery of new medicines using artificial intelligence. The release showcases high-quality, standardized experimental data and a trained predictive model, enabling researchers worldwide to drive the next generati...
Researchers discover zinc levels control endoplasmic reticulum redox enzymes necessary for proper protein folding. Zinc surge disrupts oxidative folding, leading to protein misfolding and cellular defects.
Researchers have captured the most detailed structural images to date of a specific type of protein's DNA repair process, revealing key steps in its repair activities. The findings provide insights for drug targets that could halt the process in cancer cells empowered by mutated BRCA genes.
Neutron scattering reveals a new type of protein motion that depends on the surrounding environment within assemblies. The observed behaviour, known as non-Fickian diffusion, shows that molecular motion can no longer be described by a single uniform rule across the whole system.
A study at University at Buffalo found that L-arginine enhances protein droplet stability, preventing fibril conversion and preserving microtubule assembly. This naturally occurring small molecule may help guide therapies targeting fibril formation in Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers developed a machine-learning model to predict protease behavior, enabling more precise and effective treatments. The ProSSpeC calculator suggests engineered synthetic proteases that outperform widely used enzymes.
Researchers at NUS have developed a paired protein language model (PPLM) to predict protein interactions, improving accuracy by up to 17% over leading methods. The model has strong performance across multiple tasks and can capture biologically meaningful relationships between proteins.
Scientists at the University of Virginia Health System have developed a suite of AI-powered tools, called YuelDesign, YuelPocket and YuelBond, to transform how new drugs are created. These tools can design drug molecules tailored to fit their protein targets exactly, even accounting for protein flexibility.
A research team has discovered how mechanosensitive ion channels trigger the selective breakdown of damaged ER fragments via calcium signaling. This process involves the coordinated action of ER-phagy receptor FAM134B and lipidated LC3, and has implications for understanding diseases associated with ER dysfunction.
Researchers have repurposed a bacterial DNA synthesis system to enable DNA to act as an active 'field agent' inside living cells. This allows for the creation of programmable DNA fragments that can regulate gene expression and control protein behavior.
A team from Emory University developed a simple method to test the accuracy of protein language models, which are used to analyze complex biological data. By comparing how these models 'embed' natural proteins versus synthetic ones, researchers can estimate their reliability and improve their performance.
A large-scale computational study found that point-of-origin effects significantly influence protein diversification, with relatively small divergence seen from ancestral proteins. The research reinforces existing theories on initial protein formation and highlights the limitations of modern AI protein design methods.
Huntington's disease is caused by a toxic protein that builds in brain cells and spreads to other cells through tunneling nanotubes. Disrupting this pathway reduces the spread of the disease-causing protein, suggesting a new target for therapy.
BRIGHT at DTU joins forces with Novonesis to develop microbes that can efficiently utilize acetic acid produced from captured carbon, enabling the production of sustainable protein. The collaboration aims to accelerate microbial fermentation and reduce costs, ultimately contributing to a circular bioeconomy.
Cells use a previously unknown molecular mechanism to protect host organisms from disease, revealing a 'beautiful' ring structure on the cell membrane that enables targeted cell death. This discovery has implications for biological resilience, immunity, and potential applications in plant resilience and human medicine.
A recent study at the Universities of Bonn and Freiburg has discovered a previously unknown mechanism by which mitochondria influence lipid storage in cells. The molecular machine MIM complex and enzyme Ayr1 play key roles in this process, which affects cellular lipid metabolism.
Researchers at the Institute for Glyco-core Research discovered how FUT8 is regulated by proteases SPP and SPPL3, essential for core fucosylation. This understanding may lead to new treatments targeting this cellular pathway, particularly in cancer and immune disorders.
Researchers developed a free-to-use software tool, PSBench, to verify the accuracy of artificial intelligence-based protein structure predictions. The database includes 1.4 million annotated protein models, verified by experts, and provides reliable information for building more accurate AI systems.
Actin filaments and a fast plant motor protein called Chara corallina myosin XI (Cc XI) were combined to observe spontaneous ring formation. The rings rotated continuously in one direction and remained fixed, even as individual filaments moved within them.
Researchers discovered that levetiracetam prevents the production of toxic amyloid-beta 42 peptides and plaques in neurons. Administering the drug to high-risk individuals may slow cognitive decline and prevent Alzheimer's symptoms if started early, possibly up to 20 years before symptoms appear.
Researchers have developed a new class of engineered nanoparticles that can bind to and degrade specific disease-related proteins. This technology has the potential to treat diseases such as dementia and brain cancer by eliminating harmful proteins.
Researchers at Colorado State University used AI to modify antibodies into stable intrabodies that can visualize histone modifications in real-time. This allows for better understanding of gene expression and its relationship with cancer and other disorders. The team created 19 new antibody-based probes with a 70% success rate, signifi...
Researchers uncover a key ion channel, TRPM4, that regulates intestinal fluid balance and identify a new druggable site. This discovery provides a blueprint for designing targeted treatments for gastrointestinal disorders.
A high-protein diet rich in casein and wheat gluten can significantly reduce the amount of cholera bacteria able to infect the gut. The study found that these dietary components can suppress a key structure on the surface of cholera bacteria, making it difficult for the pathogen to colonize and cause harm.
Researchers at Northwestern University discovered a hidden molecular control switch inside the protein TRPM5, which regulates taste, blood sugar control and gut health. The switch can be activated or inhibited by small molecules, unlocking new opportunities for therapeutic development.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev identified SIRT6 as a critical upstream drug target for combating neurodegenerative pathology. By reprogramming gene expression, SIRT6 prevents the production of neurotoxic tryptophan metabolites and promotes protective neurotransmitters.
The NAC protein complex regulates protein synthesis by slowing down the early stages of protein formation to ensure a smooth process. This optimization allows for reduced risk of collision and coordinates subsequent folding and logistics processes.
A study published in Science Signaling has identified the MRAP2 protein as a key player in supporting the function of appetite-regulating proteins MC3R and MC4R. The findings suggest that mutations in this protein may contribute to reduced energy balance and obesity risk.