Articles tagged with Protein Functions
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Researchers from Delft University of Technology have unraveled the mechanism of the antibacterial function of human GBP1 proteins, forming a protective coat around bacteria to break their membrane. This discovery could aid in developing medications and therapies for individuals with weakened immune systems.
Scientists at Stanford University have developed a new method to relocalize misplaced proteins in cells, which could lead to therapeutic treatments for diseases. The team created a class of molecules called TRAMs that convince natural shuttles to take cargo like proteins to different parts of the cell.
A recent study by Nara Institute of Science and Technology reveals a new mechanism for dynamic gene silencing and reactivation, highlighting the intricate roles of proteins like SDG7. The research team identified a competitive interaction between SDGs and PRC2 at PREs, allowing for efficient gene activation through H3K36 methylation.
Researchers from Japan have discovered that Exportin-5 interacts with a broader spectrum of RNAs, including tRNAs, miRNAs, lncRNAs, and specific mRNAs. This study sheds light on the unique roles of Exp5 in RNA export within Drosophila cells.
Researchers investigated peptide clumping behavior using molecular dynamics simulations and AI techniques. They discovered that aromatic amino acids enhance aggregation, while hydrophilic ones inhibit it, offering insights into peptide structure and function.
Researchers investigated the relationship between protein aggregation and liquid-liquid phase separation, finding that droplet formation may actually protect against aggregation. The study, led by Paul Scherrer Institute, used over 500 conditions to test the behavior of alpha-synuclein proteins.
A multidisciplinary team developed GeneMAP to probe gene function in metabolism. They identified SLC25A48 as necessary for mitochondrial choline transport and associated it with eight human diseases.
Researchers at Colorado State University used human stem cells to study synaptic connections in the brain, focusing on GABAergic synapses. They found that Gephyrin promotes autonomous assembly of these synapses, which can develop independently of neuronal communication. This understanding could lead to new treatments for neurological d...
A study by TUM researchers discovered four subtypes of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) with different molecular processes, including sex differences. The findings suggest repurposing an approved cancer drug targeting the MAPK pathway as a promising therapeutic approach for ALS.
Dorothee Dormann and Edward Lemke propose a new concept to measure the individual risk of getting age-related diseases by analyzing protein clumps in cells. This 'protein aggregation clock' could help diagnose age-related diseases at early stages or identify people at higher risk.
A team of researchers from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University has engineered a short sequence of artificial DNA to target the mutant protein p53-R175H, linked to lung, colorectal, and breast cancers. The new molecule, dp53m, inhibits cancer cell growth and increases sensitivity to chemotherapy agent cisplatin.
Scientists identify ZIP7 as a key player in reducing ER stress, which is responsible for misfolded protein accumulation. Overexpressing ZIP7 restores cell mobility, suggesting its potential as a therapy target for degenerative diseases.
A research team has made a significant breakthrough in understanding the GPR156 receptor protein's role in maintaining auditory function. The study reveals that GPR156 exhibits sustained activity even without external stimuli, highlighting its potential as a target for treating congenital hearing impairments.
Emerging from a need to understand organelle interactions, researchers have developed OrthoID, a novel strategy that refines protein identification at organelle contact sites. This method uses mutually orthogonal binding pairs to label and isolate proteins involved in cellular communication.
Two new Review articles explore AI's application in early cancer detection, highlighting its potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy and improve treatment selection. The articles emphasize the need for a robust, multi-disciplinary approach to integrate AI into medicine.
Researchers at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University developed a new method that enables the efficient production of cysteine-rich peptides and microproteins in their naturally folded 3D structure. The approach uses organic solvents to mimic nature's oxidative folding process, resulting in speeds of over 100,000 times faster than aqueous...
A new tool using electrocatalysis enables precise modification of site-specifically incorporated 5-hydroxytryptophan residues on many different proteins, including full-length therapeutic antibodies. The eCLIC method has potential applications in developing novel biotherapeutics and protein-based research tools.