Articles tagged with Protein Functions
Researchers at the University of Plymouth investigate why drugs used to treat other tumours are ineffective against NF2-related schwannoma and meningioma tumours. They explore repurposing clinically tested cancer drugs to target MDR mechanisms, which may lead to effective therapies for patients with these tumours.
A new iron transporter protein, OsIET1, has been identified in rice, crucial for delivering iron to young leaves. The study reveals OsIET1 mediates inter-vascular Fe transfer, promoting optimal plant growth and productivity.
A new study reveals that kinase inhibitors can accelerate the degradation of targeted proteins, which is not a rare quirk but a common mechanism. This discovery could help design better drugs that remove kinases altogether or explain unexpected effects of existing therapies.
A new technique has been developed to study interactions between drugs and ion channels, allowing for faster and more economical design of targeted therapies. The method has been tested on P2X7 receptors, which are therapeutic targets for depression, autism spectrum disorders, and certain types of cancer.
A new study from Johns Hopkins Medicine reveals that biliverdin reductase A plays a direct protective role against oxidative stress in neurons, independent of its role producing bilirubin. The enzyme modulates another key protein, NRF2, which regulates the levels of protective proteins and antioxidants in cells.
Researchers at Graz University of Technology have developed a new approach to understand protein function and stability, identifying amino acids crucial for both with high accuracy. The FSA method combines machine-learning-generated sequences with natural sequences, revealing functional and structural significance of amino acids.
Researchers at Institute of Science Tokyo developed a rapid cell-free method to capture detailed 3D structures of flexible sugar molecules, including the first atomic-resolution image of melezitose. The study offers a powerful tool for accelerating research in drug discovery and molecular biology.
Researchers have developed new calcium channels that can be precisely controlled to study cellular signaling. The channels, built using artificial intelligence, were designed to mimic natural calcium channels and demonstrate their potential as tools for biomedical research.
Researchers at Nagoya University have developed a new technology that improves protein production efficiency in E. coli by reducing ribosome stalling. By identifying short translational-enhancing peptides, they created an AI prediction model to accurately predict translation enhancement strength for all 160,000 possible tetrapeptides.
Scientists have identified a previously unknown genetic disease, MINA syndrome, which damages motor neurons and affects movement and muscle control. The disease is caused by a rare genetic mutation in the NAMPT protein, leading to symptoms such as muscle weakness, loss of coordination, and foot deformities.
Lehigh University researchers used machine learning to compare bone marrow extracted from the hip and shoulder, finding six proteins that distinguish between the two extraction sites. This study may lead to standardized BMAC extraction protocols and personalized treatments based on protein concentrations.
A new mathematical framework, STIV, can predict larger-scale effects like proteins unfolding and crystals forming without costly simulations or experiments. The framework solves a 40-year-old problem in phase-field modeling, allowing for the design of smarter medicines and materials.
A team of scientists has created a detailed model of how cells regulate traffic through the nuclear pore complex, revealing that flexible protein chains create an entropic barrier that admits only properly escorted cargo. This breakthrough sheds light on diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, and ALS, where this transport system fails.
Researchers at WashU have gained unprecedented views of a protein linked to ALS and FTD, revealing unique shapes that may contribute to disease progression. The discovery opens doors to new approaches for treatment and prevention, with the team planning further experiments to understand the protein's role in health and disease.
A major international study has identified two enzymes that play a crucial role in helping prostate cancer cells grow and survive. Blocking these enzymes can destabilize the androgen receptor, making tumours more vulnerable to existing therapies.
Researchers at ETH Zurich discovered how protein condensates contribute to cellular information exchange. The study found that P-body and Whi3 condensates work together to stop cell division when a cell becomes old, as well as control the cell's decision to abandon mating attempts in old age.
Researchers designed synthetic membrane proteins with enhanced stability using computer programs, revealing the structural basis of how some maintain their shape. The study provides new rules of sequence and atomic arrangements essential for membrane protein function and will help identify genetic mutations contributing to disease.
A new study reveals how pathogenic bacteria construct Eut microcompartments to digest ethanolamine, a nutrient commonly found in the gut. Understanding their assembly offers new targets for antimicrobial therapies.
Researchers at the University of Bath develop a peptide fragment that locks alpha-synuclein into its healthy shape, blocking toxic clumps that cause nerve cell death. The breakthrough demonstrates the potential of rational peptide design to transform large proteins into compact drug-like molecules.
Researchers developed a molecular tool called SCOPE that can capture proteins binding to DNA, enabling identification of protein regulators. The tool was used to discover new protein regulators of human stem cell-related genes, revealing the roles of two proteins in maintaining stem cells and one in inducing differentiation.
UCLA researchers have identified two key proteins, HuR and CEACAM1, that act as protective switches to prevent damage in damaged livers. By boosting this protection, organs deemed unsuitable for transplantation could be made suitable for use.
Researchers developed a novel biomaterial called elastin domain-derived protein (EDDP) that overcomes natural elastin limitations. EDDP promotes cell adhesion and growth, aiding tissue regeneration in damaged tissues like heart valves, blood vessels, or torn ligaments.
Researchers from EPFL and MIT discovered that amino acids have a fundamental stabilizing effect on colloids in solution, not related to biology but rather a general property of small molecules. This finding has implications for controlling molecular interactions and may lead to more precise predictions of protein stability.
Scientists have solved a mystery vexing biological chemists for over 30 years by determining 3D structures of blood clotting proteins using cryo-electron microscopy. The discovery sheds light on how the cascade of events that leads to blood clotting is triggered, with potential implications for anticoagulant drugs like Warfarin.
Researchers developed photo-inducible binary interaction tools (PhoBITs) to precisely control gene expression, cell signaling, and immune responses. PhoBITs enable targeted treatment with minimal side effects, opening new avenues for cancer therapy, immunotherapy, and regenerative medicine.
Researchers discovered that disordered regions enhance specific RNA interactions in FUS protein-RNA complexes, revealing a breakthrough strategy for nucleic acid binding. The study suggests that intrinsically disordered regions actively contribute to the RNA-binding mechanism.
A recent study uncovered the mechanism of action of PspA, a protective protein that actively reshapes cell membranes without requiring any external energy. The findings shed light on a fundamental biological repair process and may have potential biotechnological applications.
Researchers at Stockholm University have identified why certain nerve cells are resistant to ALS and what happens in sensitive nerve cells when they are affected. The study focuses on a hereditary form of ALS caused by mutations in the SOD1 gene, revealing distinct basal and induced gene activity in different nerve cells.
A University of Missouri-led study has uncovered how poplar trees can naturally adjust a key part of their wood chemistry based on changes in their environment, supporting improved bioenergy production. The discovery sheds light on the role of lignin and its potential to create better biofuels and sustainable products.
Researchers created a glycan-binding protein that can analyze and treat diseases via sugar patterns found on the surface of cells. The tool, named sCore2, was developed by retraining an enzyme to bind to specific sugars, providing a new way to study glycans and their role in disease.
Researchers found that Fen1 protein improves cell tolerance to alovudine by counteracting the toxic effect of 53BP1. This discovery promises new cancer treatments and biomarkers for cancerous cells with Fen1 deficiency.
Researchers at the Salk Institute have identified dozens of microproteins that play a crucial role in regulating fat cell proliferation and lipid accumulation. This breakthrough discovery offers new potential drug targets for treating obesity and metabolic disorders, building on recent advances in CRISPR gene editing technologies.
A new study by Stanford researchers reveals that declining proteostasis in the brain leads to increased protein aggregation, which is linked to neurodegenerative diseases. The findings were made using the turquoise killifish model, and shed light on the fundamental molecular principles of aging.
A recent study found that bacteria employ amyloids, a key driver of Alzheimer's disease, as a molecular suit of armor against predatory bacteria. By understanding this mechanism, scientists may develop new strategies to combat antibiotic-resistant microbes and potentially even neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
A University of Cincinnati researcher is investigating how excess sugar impacts cardiovascular structure and function in people with diabetes. The study focuses on a protein called GLUT1, which becomes overactive in diabetes, leading to harmful changes at the cellular level.
A team of researchers has identified a molecular mechanism regulating the activity of NMTs, enzymes that modify proteins to regulate biological functions. The study reveals a potential new starting point for developing improved drugs targeting certain types of cancer and viral infections.
Researchers have identified a hidden molecular mechanism involving two proteins that allows tumors to resist treatment. A new gelatin-based nanoparticle has been developed to shut down both proteins simultaneously, showing promising results in early studies with mice.
A team from Kyushu University has discovered that the smallest known protein-based tRNA-processing enzyme, HARP, forms a star-shaped complex to cut both ends of tRNA. This finding sheds light on how HARP processes the 5' leader sequence and reveals a new mechanism for RNA processing.
Researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding malaria parasite proteins that could lead to targeted therapies. Two key proteins, PfRAP03 and PfRAP08, regulate gene expression in the apicoplast, a unique organelle found in P. falciparum. The loss of either protein led to parasite death, confirming their essential roles.
A team of scientists has identified a new type of antimicrobial peptide found in human proteins that selectively eliminate multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria. The discovery could pave the way for more effective treatments against infections resistant to conventional antibiotics.
Researchers from Uppsala University describe a fundamental mechanism of antibiotic resistance, revealing how FusB works like a crowbar to rescue ribosomes from fusidic acid. The study provides new insights into the most prevalent type of fusidic acid resistance in Staphylococcus aureus.
Using a novel GPS NMR method, researchers tracked the motion of a key GPCR and found that it doesn't simply switch between two states. Instead, it exists in a dynamic conformational equilibrium between inactive, preactive, and active states.
Researchers discovered an ancient protein that can function in a mirror world, challenging the long-standing assumption that mirror-image proteins cannot bind to nucleic acids. The study found that a simple protein motif is capable of interacting with both natural and mirror-image nucleic acids.
Researchers at ETH Zurich created an atlas of protein interactions in different tissues, revealing that every fourth interaction is tissue-specific. This knowledge helps identify disease genes and develop targeted drugs with increased specificity.
Researchers found that silencing Mitch, a key regulator of mitochondrial fusion, increases cellular respiration and burns more fats and carbohydrates. In human cells, deleting Mitch leads to increased muscular endurance and a decrease in fat accumulation.
Researchers discovered two proteins, GSK3ß and ERK1, that regulate the movement of a toxic huntingtin protein in neurons. Inhibiting GSK3ß led to reduced axonal blockages and neuronal cell death, while inhibiting ERK1 had the opposite effect, increasing transport problems and cell death.
University of Oklahoma researchers discovered ZIP4 protein drives glioblastoma progression through extracellular vesicles and reprogrammed microglial plasticity. The study identifies ZIP4 and TREM1 as promising therapeutic targets for treating aggressive brain cancer.
Researchers have made significant discoveries about the role of GP38 in viral infections and pathogenesis, highlighting its potential as a target for vaccines and medical countermeasures. Non-neutralizing GP38-specific antibodies have shown protective efficacy against lethal challenge, reducing circulating GP38 and vascular leak.
Researchers developed new AI models, InstaNovo and InstaNovo+, to vastly improve accuracy and discovery in protein science. These models excel in tasks such as de novo peptide sequencing, identifying microorganisms, and discovering novel peptides, with implications for personalized medicine, cancer immunology, and beyond.
The Protein Society recognizes five award winners in 2025 for their groundbreaking research in protein science and technology. Professor Jan Steyaert receives the Christian B. Anfinsen Award for pioneering nanobody technology, while Dr. Brian Kuhlman wins the Emil Thomas Kaiser Award for novel protein design and structural modeling.
Jessica Lusty Beech wins award for understanding plastic-degrading Rieske iron oxidoreductase system, while Matteo Cagiada predicts absolute protein folding stability using generative models. The Protein Society recognizes their contributions to protein science.
Researchers at Aarhus University have mapped the precise structure of CD163 bound to haptoglobin-haemoglobin complex, providing unique insight into its function. This breakthrough connects earlier observations and opens up opportunities for studying the evolution of CD163's structure and interaction with other proteins.
Researchers used ancestral sequence reconstruction to study the evolution of enzyme thermostability and cold adaptation. They identified key amino acid substitutions that enhanced catalytic activity at low temperatures, revealing a structural shift between intermediate ancestral enzymes.
A new paper proposes that temperature plays a fundamental role in setting off shapeshifting in metamorphic proteins. Researchers analyzed differences in hydrophobic contacts and found significant temperature-dependent changes, supporting their theory.
Researchers at Institute of Science Tokyo designed a protein cage system that can control and visualize orientational changes in aromatic side chains through strategic binding of fluorescent ligands. This approach enables precise control over protein dynamics while enhancing fluorescence properties, with potential applications in biomo...
Researchers have discovered that girolline, a compound from the sea sponge Pseudaxinyssa cantharella, acts by modulating eIF5A activity, preventing ribosomes from stalling on difficult-to-translate amino acid sequences. This finding has implications for its potential as an antimalarial and anti-aging agent.
Researchers at Linköping University have developed a new version of AlphaFold that can predict the shape of very large and complex protein structures, integrating experimental data. This breakthrough aims to improve the development of new proteins for medical drugs.
Skirycz's five-year grant will support a novel method to characterize the 'dark matter' of the metabolome, identifying previously unknown functions of compounds. By comparing multiple interaction networks across different organisms, researchers aim to validate potential targets for understanding organismal health.
Researchers found that glycans attached to glycosylation enzymes' lectin domains inhibit the enzymes' activity, leading to self-regulation of their own biosynthesis. This unique mechanism sheds light on how glycosylation enzymes choose their substrate proteins in cells.
A new study in mice shows a unique mRNA delivery method can successfully edit faulty genes in fetal brain cells. The technology has the potential to stop progression of genetic-based neurodevelopmental conditions like Angelman syndrome and Rett syndrome before birth.