Research on how proteins bind and work together. Covers membrane-protein assembly, viral infection, molecular imaging, and drugging difficult targets.
Researchers have discovered that isoforms from Novel Structure Proteins (NSPs) could be involved in apoptosis, a process of programmed cell death. The NSPs were found to interact with the protein B23, and silencing their expression led to increased cell viability but reduced apoptosis.
Mutations in PS1 and PS2 proteins disrupt calcium ion flow, leading to increased amyloid beta production. The study identifies the inositol trisphosphate receptor as a potential target for new therapeutic options.
Ahi1 and Hap1 form a stable complex in mouse brain, but truncated Ahi1 fails to stabilize Hap1; this affects TrkB levels crucial for nerve and brain development. The study provides insight into Joubert syndrome mechanisms.
A new approach to archiving human genetic information is introduced through Gene Wiki, an online repository of human genes stored within Wikipedia. This community-annotated system allows for a flexible and organic accumulation of science, enabling all readers to edit and add to the gene wiki pages.
Researchers at IRB Barcelona have performed the first computational analysis of transient interactions between proteins, unveiling molecular mechanisms involved in specificity. The study reveals that contextual residues determine protein recognition, with implications for drug design and cellular network resilience.
Researchers at MIT have developed a novel technique to measure the strength of protein bonds using optical tweezers. The technique allows for precise measurement of forces holding proteins together, which is crucial in understanding cell structure and function.
Paramutations, a process where one copy of a gene can alter the expression of another, have been found in plants and may be important for introducing changes under environmental stress. Researchers studying paramutations in maize identified genes and mechanisms involved in this epigenetic process.
Researchers have designed a new probe to image thousands of protein interactions inside living cells, giving them a tool to untangle signaling pathways. The probes are derived from an enzyme and its peptide substrate, allowing for easy detection of protein interactions.
Researchers have discovered that naturally occurring nanotubes can form tunnels to protect retroviruses and bacteria from diseased to healthy cells. The nanotubes, which are recognized as tiny but important bodily channels, also aid in transporting bacteria to their doom and facilitating information exchange between cells.
Dr. Franceschi is being recognized for his scientific contributions to mineralized tissue research, including the discovery of vitamin D regulation targets and the development of gene therapy approaches for bone regeneration. He will receive the award at the IADR 86th General Session & Exhibition in Toronto on July 2, 2008.
Researchers at Indiana University and Harvard University have discovered a protein called EpsE that acts like a clutch to temporarily stop the rotation of a bacterium's flagellum. The discovery sheds light on how bacteria balance movement and biofilm formation, which can be crucial in combating bacterial infections.
Researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine identify adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) as a central organizer of neuronal cholinergic synapse assembly. This discovery sheds light on the mechanisms directing synapse formation, potentially shedding new insights into learning and memory disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and schi...
MIT researchers deciphered bacterial communication pathways, identifying specific amino acids that govern signaling specificity. This breakthrough enables engineering of bacteria as biosensors for detecting chemical pollutants.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge and Bristol have successfully maintained membrane complexes intact in a mass spectrometer, enabling the study of previously unexplored interactions. This breakthrough discovery has significant implications for understanding cellular security and drug resistance.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have developed a method to align large groups of molecules using lasers, allowing for atomic-level resolution imaging without crystallization. This breakthrough could enable the study of thousands of human proteins important for drug interactions.
A team of Canadian researchers has completed a massive survey of the network of protein complexes that orchestrate the fundamental processes of life. The study reveals protein complexes never before observed, including those implicated in diseases such as cancers and degenerative neurological disorders like Alzheimer's and Huntington's.
Researchers used computer simulations to study the effects of a minor genetic mutation on Alzheimer's disease. The mutation, which affects a protein fragment, alters its shape and increases the likelihood of toxic clumps forming in brain cells.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have discovered a link between the BACE1 enzyme and schizophrenia-like behaviors in mice lacking this enzyme. The study found that these mice exhibited deficits in social recognition and other schizophrenia-like traits, which improved with treatment with antipsychotic drug clozapine.
Researchers at Penn State have discovered how a mole develops into melanoma by showing the interaction of two key proteins involved in 60-70 percent of tumors. Targeting these proteins is necessary for effective drugs to treat melanoma, and personalized cancer treatment could be more effective with fewer side effects.
Researchers at UC Berkeley developed a method to image carbohydrates inside living cells using glow-in-the-dark fish. This technique allows study of carbohydrate coating on cell surface, shedding light on stem cell development and disease markers.
Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have discovered aggregates of red and white blood cells in patients with sickle cell disease. These clumps may play a role in blocking small blood vessels, causing sudden painful episodes.
Researchers at UMass Chan Medical School, led by Shan Lu and Katherine Ruiz De Luzuriaga, have received a $1 million grant to develop a pediatric HIV vaccine. The team will study regulatory T cells in infants, breast milk antibodies, and the impact of feeding on infant susceptibility to HIV infection.
The use of cell-based assays is increasing in early drug discovery work to test toxic effects, according to Genetic Engineering News. The technique offers a faster and lower-cost alternative, with market estimates projecting over $230 million by 2015.
Researchers at NIST developed a device that creates nanodroplets for studying individual proteins under conditions similar to those found in cells. This technique mimics the crowded environment of cells, allowing researchers to study protein dynamics and structural changes without interfering with or damaging the proteins.
Scientists at Georgetown University Medical Center have identified a small molecule that can block the action of the EWS-FLI1 fusion protein responsible for Ewing's sarcoma. This breakthrough could lead to the development of a targeted therapy for this rare and aggressive cancer.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University developed a coarse-grained computer model to simulate cell membrane dynamics, allowing for the observation of membrane behaviors at hundreds of nanometers. The model reveals a purely physical mechanism that enables vesiculation, a critical process for cellular survival.
Recent advances in mass spectrometry have expanded knowledge of protein networks inside cells and their regulation. Researchers successfully identified over 5,000 proteins in embryonic stem cells using mass spectrometry, creating the largest quantified protein map to date.
Researchers at Yale University found that exposure to DES alters HOXA10 gene expression, leading to uterine cancer and fertility problems in female offspring. Long-term effects of similar substances like BPA on reproductive health remain a concern.
Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory discovered that protein Pum helps build memories by selectively altering individual synapses in fruit flies. The study, published in PLOS Computational Biology, used computational analysis to predict the interactions of Pum with other genes and confirmed its role in memory formation.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have designed a small molecule that activates the p53 protein to kill tumor cells without causing damage to normal cells. The new drug, MI-219, is highly effective in cell cultures and appears safe for use in animals.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have identified a protein, ISG15, that slows down the spread of Ebola virus by blocking its ability to escape from cells. This finding offers promise for future treatments against Ebola outbreaks.
Researchers have developed a new statistical model to clean up low-quality HLA data, enabling easier and more cost-effective individual immune system analysis. This advancement has significant implications for transplant medicine, disease diagnosis, and understanding viral evolution.
A researcher at Johns Hopkins has led an international effort to compile a massive online encyclopedia of human proteins, dubbed Human Proteinpedia. The platform allows researchers worldwide to contribute and share experimental data, speeding up their work.
Researchers identified a region on HIP1 that could bind HIPPI, potentially leading to the degeneration of nerve cells. By targeting this interaction, they hope to design a drug that can prevent the disease.
UT Southwestern researchers have determined the specific way in which PCSK9 disrupts LDL receptor activity, leading to increased 'bad' cholesterol levels. By designing targeted antibodies to disrupt this interaction, they aim to develop a new class of drugs to lower cholesterol.
Researchers found common properties among successful drugs, including high precision, specific connectivity, and tissue specificity. These characteristics can help pharmaceutical companies select promising targets and reduce the cost of drug development.
Researchers have discovered a new ALS drug target by identifying an unexpected protein-protein interaction between SOD1 and Rac1. This interaction, which is impaired in familial ALS, leads to excessive ROS production and oxidative stress, contributing to the disease's progression.
Researchers have identified 30 new proteins that interact with the amyloid precursor protein, shedding light on its functional role in Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, a study found low variation in platelet protein expression within the elderly population, suggesting potential for clinical biomarkers.
Twenty research projects have been awarded access to Argonne's 556-teraflops IBM Blue Gene/P supercomputer through the Innovative and Novel Computational Impact on Theory and Experiment (INCITE) program. Researchers will conduct cutting-edge simulations in fields such as nuclear simulation, high-energy physics, and climate modeling.
A recent Argonne National Laboratory study found that proteins can move in more configurations than previously thought, especially in dilute solutions. The researchers discovered that environmental conditions influence which state a protein prefers to enter, and this knowledge may help understand how proteins interact with drugs.
Researchers found that TRADD is essential for the transformation of B lymphocytes by Epstein-Barr virus, and that it can be targeted for cancer treatment. The study reveals a unique interaction between the viral protein LMP1 and TRADD, which masks its apoptotic activity.
Researchers found that BERT and ERNI proteins interact to temporarily stop neural cell development, giving other cells a head-start in forming organs and skin. This discovery advances knowledge of stem cell behavior, with potential implications for medical research.
Research by University College London scientists reveals that BERT and ERNI proteins control brain development timing in vertebrates. By binding to the Sox2 gene, these proteins create a timing mechanism that gives the green light for neural cells to form the brain and nervous system.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have created a three-dimensional picture of the PIK3CA enzyme, often mutated in various cancers. The study reveals how mutations affect the enzyme's activity and interactions with other proteins.
Hydrogen peroxide plays a crucial role in cell health, but excessive levels can damage DNA and proteins. Researchers have identified a key protein, Prx, that helps control hydrogen peroxide levels by acting as a sensor, warning the cell to respond when levels become too high.
The Biophysical Society has announced the recipients of its international travel grants, who will attend the Joint Meeting in Long Beach. The award aims to foster interaction between American biophysicists and scientists in financially difficult countries.
The Biophysical Society has announced the winners of the 2008 Minority Travel Awards, which support participation at the Annual Meeting by minority students studying biophysics. The awards are given to ten recipients from universities across the US.
University of Michigan scientists have identified a previously unknown link in the biochemical reactions implicated in some forms of heart disease. The discovery provides a new target for future drug therapies and could potentially treat cardiovascular disease.
The Rong Li Lab has achieved a quantitative measurement of protein-protein interactions in the MAP kinase cascade, a critical pathway for growth and differentiation decisions in eukaryotic cells. This discovery was made possible by advanced biophysical techniques applied to live yeast cells.
Researchers found that a specific protein-protein interaction, involving the rogue Ras protein and its binding partner Raf, blocks the switch from being turned off, leading to uncontrolled cell proliferation. The study resolves a paradox in the behavior of Ras mutants in cells versus solution.
A team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine has identified the pathways that lead to the production of Interleukin 10 (IL-10), a major anti-inflammatory factor. Modulating messenger molecules like IL-27 and IL-6 could increase IL-10 concentrations, tempering overactive immune responses.
Researchers at UAB have provided physical proof that two proteins involved in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) interact closely enough to cause a biochemical imbalance. This discovery may aid in understanding the biological underpinnings of CF and speeding up the development of new drugs to treat or cure the disease.
Researchers from EMBL have visualized proteins responsible for cell-cell contacts for the first time, revealing the molecular organization of skin. The technique, called cryo-electron tomography, allows for the first 3D image of human skin at molecular resolution.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory report that a missing brain protein may be one of the culprits behind autism and other brain disorders. They found that an enzyme called Cdk5 plays a critical role in recruiting key scaffolding proteins to develop synapses.
Researchers identified a role for OX40 in TSLP-induced allergic reactions, finding that blocking its interaction reduced allergic responses in mice and monkeys with asthma. The study suggests OX40-OX40L interactions as a promising therapeutic target for treating allergic diseases.
Researchers at EMBL and AMOLF discovered a new experimental approach to study microtubule end tracking proteins, which are crucial for cell shape development. The study sheds light on the interaction between proteins and the cell's skeleton, revealing how +TIPs recognize dynamic microtubule ends.
Researchers have discovered a potential therapeutic approach to prevent the accumulation of toxic protein plaques in the brain, which are a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. The study suggests that binding cystatin C to soluble amyloid beta prevents its aggregation into insoluble plaques.
Researchers directly observed how water molecules link with proteins, enabling movement and function. The study challenges conventional wisdom and provides new insights into protein-water interactions.
Researchers have identified a key pathway involved in autoinflammatory diseases, including arthritis and certain types of cancer. Mutant forms of the PSTPIP1 protein can activate pyrin, leading to excessive IL-1 beta production and inflammation.
A new technology developed at Yale allows researchers to detect and identify protein interactions within living cells without disrupting them. The method uses small molecule probes that bind to specific amino acid tags, enabling the visualization of protein conformations at high resolution.