Research on how proteins bind and work together. Covers membrane-protein assembly, viral infection, molecular imaging, and drugging difficult targets.
A new study identifies the cells responsible for producing the small protein Flowering Locus T (FT), which triggers the flowering process in plants. The research reveals an extensive intercellular signaling system that regulates FT production, shedding light on how plants control their flowering times.
Researchers solved the structure of a key nervous system protein in complex with various drugs, enabling precise targeting. The discovery aims to develop medications with regulated action and fewer side effects by controlling which proteins are affected.
A study has characterized the physical mechanism that enables a widespread bacterial pathogen to adhere to human host tissues. The researchers used atomic force microscopy and molecular dynamics simulations to reveal a unique cooperation of non-covalent hydrogen bonds in the adhesion process.
Researchers have discovered a detailed structure of ISRIB, a brain-boosting experimental drug that eliminates learning and memory deficits in mice with concussions. The new atomic-scale protein structure reveals how ISRIB interacts with its target, potentially leading to tailored treatment for cognitive disorders.
Researchers discovered a unique mechanism involving intrinsically disordered polypeptides in nuclear pore complexes that enable rapid recognition and binding of transport factors. This 'fuzzy' interaction allows for specific and speedy cell signaling, preventing DNA data breaches by viruses or faulty functioning.
Researchers at Penn State have identified key steps and proteins involved in cellulose synthesis, a crucial process for biofuels. The study's findings may lead to more efficient breakdown of cellulose for renewable energy production.
A team of scientists discovered a gene that helps rice plants grow in salty soil. The gene, STRK1, increases the plant's tolerance to salt stress by reducing reactive oxygen species.
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.
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.
Researchers discovered that Chlamydia trachomatis proteins interact with host cell proteins to regulate the bacterium's exit from infected cells via lysis or membrane-bound package. Calcium ion signaling plays a crucial role in this process, and disruptions to this pathway significantly inhibit extrusion.
SLU researchers determined the structure of calcium-independent phospholipase A2β, a key enzyme involved in the body's inflammatory response. This discovery opens up possibilities for developing new therapies for neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's disease.
Scientists have generated a vast library of unique cyclic compounds that can bind to their targets with stability and effectiveness. The new compounds have the capacity to interrupt specific protein-protein interactions that play a role in disease, offering potential therapeutic agents for various conditions.
Researchers at TSRI have discovered a path to treating Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease subtype CMT2D by restoring normal protein function in the nervous system using a small molecule. The study reveals that mutant protein interactions with HDAC6 are responsible for nerve damage, and blocking this interaction can restore proper nerve function.
Researchers at OHSU have discovered the atomic structure of acid-sensing ion channels, which play a role in pain sensation and psychiatric disorders. The study's findings could inform the development of new therapeutic agents targeting these channels for stroke and pain treatments.
Researchers discovered that membrane proteins can recruit their own lipid microenvironments through allostery, enabling new possibilities for pharmaceutical drug design and delivery. This finding is critical to understanding how the lipid environment influences protein structure and function.
Researchers have developed a straightforward modification to computer models of calcium ions that leads to highly accurate simulations. The new model can simulate calcium interactions with proteins and other molecules, providing powerful tools for studying biological processes.
Researchers at Lomonosov Moscow State University found that removing the caveolin-binding domain from Fas-ligand protein can prevent cell death. The study suggests a new strategy for cancer treatment, as this mechanism may cause malfunctioning cells to undergo apoptosis.
Researchers designed and expressed custom transmembrane proteins with new functions, overcoming challenges in studying these proteins. The advance enables the creation of multipass proteins with novel structures and functions.
The Scripps Research Institute has developed a new method for creating glycan arrays that can be used to study the interactions between glycans and proteins. The breakthrough, published in Nature Communications, uses enzymes naturally produced by cells to create branching glycans.
Researchers at UC Davis identified SynDIG4 protein as a crucial regulator of synaptic plasticity, enabling the formation and consolidation of new memories. The discovery sheds light on the molecular mechanisms underlying memory formation and could lead to novel therapeutic strategies for cognitive disorders.
Researchers developed a high-throughput imaging-based approach to investigate protein stability, identifying previously unknown human proteins targeted by HIV. The platform has broad applications in diseases such as Alzheimer's, cancer, and autoimmune disorders.
Researchers identified four new antibodies that bind to RSV's F protein, inhibiting the virus's ability to fuse with human cells. These findings could aid in vaccine development for two major viruses: RSV and its close relative hMPV.
Researchers used fruit fly hybrids to discover the proteome's plasticity during development, which may provide insights into rapid phenotypic variation and disease mechanisms. The study also sheds light on how proteins interact with each other and how the proteostasis network coordinates protein synthesis, folding, and degradation.
Scientists at the University of Zurich have discovered a novel interaction mechanism for proteins, which can bind together despite being unstructured. This breakthrough has significant implications for understanding cellular processes and developing new therapies.
A new study published in PNAS found that extreme-altitude birds on the Himalayan Plateau and Altiplano plateau evolved similar traits to capture oxygen, despite different molecular blueprints. The study identified multiple ways for closely related species to produce the same functional outcome.
Excess calcium levels can lead to the formation of toxic clusters with alpha-synuclein, causing brain cell death. Understanding this interaction may aid in developing new treatments for Parkinson's disease.
Researchers at the University of Illinois discovered how Ras protein binding to cell membranes impact the signaling pathways that cause cancer's uncontrolled growth. The study found that KRas4b binds more tightly to the cell membrane, but it needs to attach on the correct side.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara found evidence that the amino acid arginine was essential for protein-aptamer interactions, potentially altering our understanding of the origin of life. This discovery provides new insights into the ideal conditions for life to emerge, with implications for various hypotheses and experiments.
Mutations in p63 protein lead to severe genetic disease AEC syndrome, which resembles Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or ALS more closely than other syndromes. The research lays groundwork for causal therapies by showing that protein aggregates underlie the disorder.
Researchers have developed a new method to quantify protein-metabolite interactions, discovering hundreds of new interactions and binding sites. The approach has the potential to identify new regulatory mechanisms, enzymes, and metabolic reactions in cells.
Researchers at OHSU Vollum Institute discovered the atomic structure of the serotonin transporter bound to SSRIs, revealing a pathway for developing new therapeutic agents. The study provides insight into how chemically diverse antidepressants interact with the protein that transports serotonin in the brain.
Biologists from Konstanz, Ulm, and Karlsruhe decipher the biochemical mechanism of p53 and PARP-1 interaction, significant for tumour biology. The study reveals that the protein p53 is modified through interaction with the enzyme PARP-1, which has far-reaching implications for its regulation.
The protein 'smallish' plays a crucial role in regulating cell polarity, essential for shape generation and coordinated cell changes. Researchers found that smallish helps control the correct shape of cells, even when knocked out, due to stored proteins in egg cells.
The study observes actual chromatin motions using single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy approaches, revealing the internal structure and rapid dynamics of chromatin fibers. The researchers found that nucleosomes form short stacks that quickly fall apart and reform within milliseconds.
Researchers at Osaka University and The University of Tokyo describe the unique binding of RNF168 to lysine 63 chains, which is stabilized by hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. This study provides insights into the molecular interactions that assure the recruitment of DNA repair proteins.
Researchers found that DNA repair-related biomarkers, including BRF1, BRCA1/2, and MPO, can predict outcomes in gastric cancer patients who abuse alcohol. These biomarkers were associated with disease recurrence, survival rates, and response to chemotherapy.
Researchers describe two poly(A)-binding proteins that protect mRNA from translation in malaria parasites. The non-nuclear protein accumulates on the surface of sporozoites, suggesting a role in interacting with outside RNA and facilitating transmission.
Scientists at Tohoku University found that a protein called TRIM48 labels PRMT1 for destruction, leading to ASK1 hyperactivation and cancer cell death. This study reveals new potential therapeutic targets for treating cancers and neurodegenerative diseases.
The authors propose a scalable and cost-effective preparation protocol for low-dimensional polyion complex nanomaterials with tunable morphologies. The protocol, called PIESA, enables the synthesis of biorelevant nanostructures with controllable shape and charge state.
Researchers at University of Utah Health have found a way for cells to destroy viruses without harming themselves. The study reveals how the protein Dicer, which is part of normal cell function, uses a different mechanism to process viral dsRNA.
Scientists have determined the kinetic cycle of a potassium channel at atomic resolution, allowing for more precise targeting of specific spots within the channel structure. This breakthrough could lead to the creation of new drug molecules that can correct potassium channels dysfunction, addressing conditions such as epilepsy and diab...
A study published in PLOS Pathogens reveals the molecular binding partners of a chronic virus, providing new insights into the development of chronic viral infections and potential targets for treatment. The researchers mapped protein interactions using a novel approach, identifying essential proteins for viral survival and host defense.
The recipients are selected based on scientific merit and will present their research during the meeting, receive a travel grant, and be recognized at a reception. The awardees include students and postdoctoral fellows from various institutions.
The Biophysical Society has awarded travel fellowships to female postdoctoral fellows and mid-career scientists presenting at the conference. The recipients will receive a travel grant and be recognized at a reception on February 21, 2018.
Researchers at CRG discover a mechanism regulating alpha-synuclein protein linked to Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy (MSA). Two factors, TIAR and ELAVL1, are deemed crucial in neurodegeneration, offering potential biomarkers for early detection and new treatment targets.
The Biophysical Society has announced the winners of its 2018 Committee for Inclusion and Diversity Travel Awards, which aim to encourage participation at the Annual Meeting by underrepresented students and postdoctoral fellows. This year's recipients represent various universities and research institutions across the US.
The Biophysical Society has announced the winners of its international travel grants, chosen based on scientific merit and proposed presentation at the meeting. The recipients will be honored at a reception on February 18, 2018, in San Francisco.
Scientists at Salk Institute develop novel approach to discover critical contacts on proteins, uncovering new functions for well-studied proteins. The technique has significant implications for therapeutic drug development, which relies heavily on physical interaction with cellular targets.
A genetic mutation that occurred 700 million years ago may have facilitated the connection of gene networks involved in animal embryogenesis, leading to the formation of complex organs. This discovery highlights the importance of serendipity in evolution and the versatility of biological tools.
Researchers from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology discovered a new mechanism of action for DISC1, a protein linked to psychiatric disorders. The study found that DISC1 regulates Ndel1's kinetochore attachment during mitosis, leading to cell-cycle deficits in neuronal stem cells.
Researchers from Ural Federal University and Russian Academy of Sciences developed new methods to treat type 1 diabetes by using anti-diabetic chemical compounds. The study showed that these compounds can help reduce glucose levels and increase insulin production in lab rats with diabetes.
Researchers identify Protein Daple as crucial for both single-cell and organ-wide directionality in hair cells of the inner ear. Without Daple, mice exhibit developmental defects in hair bundles, affecting sound wave detection and processing.
A team of scientists led by Johns Hopkins University biologist Vincent Hilser has cracked the mystery of proteins that emerged as a distinct type less than 30 years ago. They discovered how these 'intrinsically disordered proteins' regulate their activities and interact with other proteins, constituting the majority of proteins involve...
Researchers found an intervention that normalizes multiple biological functions in FXS mice by targeting protein synthesis and actin dynamics. The approach offers a potential treatment for Fragile X syndrome by regulating specific proteins involved in these processes.
Researchers from Brazil and France identify a new target for developing antibiotics against highly resistant bacteria, inhibiting the interaction of two key proteins involved in cell wall elongation. The discovery paves the way for the development of antibiotics with a different action mechanism, offering hope in combating drug-resista...
Scientists have developed a new theory of molecular evolution that explains how genes function and why proteins evolve. The theory applies statistical mechanics to understand protein evolution at a basic level, revealing the importance of amino acid interactions and sequence entropy of folding.
A team of researchers has discovered a new function of the gene-regulatory protein CBP, which affects the recruitment and release of RNA polymerase from genes. This finding enhances our understanding of gene regulation and provides insights into why CBP is often affected in certain forms of cancer.
The AMOEBA force field provides a detailed understanding of protein-ion interactions by incorporating quantum methods. The model distinguishes selective ion binding in calcium and magnesium ions, shedding light on their role in various biological processes.
Researchers used advanced mass spectrometry technology to create a molecular model that can aid in designing new osteoporosis treatments. The study's findings provide insights into the structure of a key receptor regulating calcium levels, paving the way for more effective and safer therapies.
Researchers found that proteins remain fully or partially unfolded for parts of their lives, contradicting the long-held belief they must fold into complicated shapes to fulfill functions. The study suggests these unfolded proteins may reduce unwanted interactions by being expanded, potentially preventing dysfunction and disease.