Research on how proteins bind and work together. Covers membrane-protein assembly, viral infection, molecular imaging, and drugging difficult targets.
Researchers developed a new method to identify linear motifs in protein sequences, which interact with other molecules. The technique uses large-scale studies of protein binding and computer analysis to predict motif patterns.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine discovered that RNA splicing occurs in nerve-cell dendrites, which could relate to memory and learning. The discovery may also help understand cognitive dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers discovered that alpha-synuclein, a disease-causing protein, has a protective effect against nerve damage in Parkinson's disease. This finding was made by studying mutant mice that were bred to have different levels of alpha-synuclein and cysteine-string-protein-alpha, a co-chaperone.
Researchers developed a new method to identify novel drug targets for fighting malaria by comparing protein interactions in Plasmodium falciparum with other organisms. This approach could lead to the development of antimalarial drugs that exploit unique differences in protein wiring.
Researchers discovered that malaria parasite proteins exhibit unique interactions and functions by comparing them to those of yeast, fruit flies, roundworms, and Helicobacter pylori. The study highlights the power of proteomics in understanding complex biological processes and identifying potential targets for new treatments.
Researchers at UTMB use thermodynamic calculations to predict the ability of various osmolytes to protect proteins in cells under stress. This technique has significant implications for understanding protein folding and unfolding processes in disorders like Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys have visualized the 3D representation of myosin V 'walking' along actin filament, a key protein involved in motility and muscle contraction. This study provides detailed molecular knowledge of how myosin interacts with actin through the hydrolysis cycle.
Researchers uncover 65 protein tags that can be used to force proteins to the cell surface, potentially revolutionizing drug and vaccine development. The discovery may help overcome obstacles in studying important proteins, such as those detecting odors or faulty in cystic fibrosis.
Researchers at Scripps Research and GNF develop a strategy to identify functions of noncoding RNAs, which are abundant in human cells. The team screened a library of noncoding RNAs and identified eight that appeared to have functional roles, including one that regulates nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) signaling.
Scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding cell mutations that cause human diseases, particularly in children, by studying the C. elegans worm.
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is caused by a toxic buildup of the protein Ataxin-1, leading to damage in cerebellar Purkinje cells. Researchers discovered that glutamine repeats in the protein cause toxicity, which can also affect other neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington's and Parkinson's.
Scientists have identified a new mechanism by which Listeria invades non-phagocytic cells, revealing similarities between phagocytosis and endocytosis. Researchers found that Listeria uses endocytosis to transport tagged proteins inside the cell.
Research reveals that sticky mutant proteins in patients with inherited ALS cause the disease by promoting abnormal interactions with other proteins or membranes. The study suggests that understanding how tissues handle these protein forms could lead to new treatments for some forms of ALS.
Researchers have discovered the molecular mechanism of malaria parasite invasion into red blood cells, revealing a key protein-protein interaction known as the RII handshake. This finding suggests that blocking this interaction could be an effective strategy for preventing and treating malaria.
The W.M. Keck Foundation has awarded a total of $25 million to 10 young scientists for groundbreaking research on human disease mechanisms. The recipients include Dr. Lu Chen, who aims to create functional synapses to reverse age-related cognitive decline.
Researchers investigated the roles of PTEN and TSC2 in tumorigenesis and found that TSC2 can suppress specific tumors caused by Pten heterozygosity. However, PTEN is haploinsufficient for repression of carcinogenesis resulting from Tsc2 heterozygosity.
Researchers identified a key protein, coracle (4.1), that links receptors to cytoskeleton in nerve cells, enabling efficient neurotransmission. This discovery could help understand neurological diseases and develop drugs to manipulate problematic proteins.
Researchers at Arizona State University have created unique arrays of proteins tethered onto self-assembled DNA nanostructures. By controlling the exact position and location of chemical bases within a synthetic replica of DNA, a novel approach to attaching biomolecules has been achieved.
Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a device that can analyze proteins much faster, more gently, and at a lower cost. This innovation could significantly shorten drug development time and bring down the overall cost of protein analysis technology.
Research suggests that a variant form of abnormal prion protein lacking an anchor may be unable to signal cells to start the lethal disease process, leading to infection without symptoms. The study provides novel insights into how prion and other neurodegenerative diseases develop and hints at new approaches to prevent such diseases.
The Bcl-2 family of proteins regulates apoptosis and cell death in response to various cellular stressors. Members of this family include anti-apoptotic proteins such as Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, which inhibit caspase activation and promote cell survival.
Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science have discovered how fruit fly embryos maintain order during early development by regulating cell division and tissue formation. A key protein, HOW, plays a crucial role in this process by arresting RNA production and delaying cell division.
Studies in mice with genetically engineered mutant huntingtin protein found that widespread production led to locomotor problems, neurodegeneration, and abnormal brain connections. Conversely, restricted production showed little difference from normal mice, suggesting cellular interactions play a significant role in HD pathogenesis.
Researchers found a specific region of the receptor interacts with signaling lipid PIP2, leading to desensitization. This discovery provides critical information on temperature regulation and opens new avenues for investigating membrane protein functions.
UCSD medical researchers show that a protein called I-kappa-B kinase alpha (IKKa) is responsible for terminating an inflammatory response before it can damage cells and organs. IKKa's mechanism involves interacting with proteins RelA and C-Rel, which bind to genes mediating the inflammatory response for a short duration.
Fanning and Chazin found structural and biochemical evidence for the mechanism of ssDNA break free from its binding protein to allow repair or replication. The researchers developed a working model to answer how RPA gets dislodged, allowing enzymes access to DNA for processing.
Researchers from U of T mapped the role of Epstein-Barr virus in cancer, finding that EBNA1 protein disrupts natural cell growth regulation by binding to USP7, increasing cancer risk. This study provides a structural explanation for how EBNA1 impacts cell growth, paving the way for developing better methods to combat viruses like EBV.
Researchers at UCSD have identified a vital step in cellular migration that could lead to new therapeutic interventions for autoimmune diseases. The study found that alpha4 integrins recruit enzymes to block Rac activity only at the rear of a crawling cell, maintaining directional movement.
The study found a strong risk factor for AMD, caused by a single nucleotide polymorphism in the complement factor H gene. The genetic variation alters a protein that regulates the immune system's attack on foreign invaders and abnormal cells.
A Vanderbilt University Medical Center study has identified a crucial early step in the HIV assembly process, revealing how the Gag protein is directed to the multivesicular body. The discovery could lead to the development of new drugs targeting this step, potentially blocking viral replication.
Researchers discovered that sirtuin1 and PGC1-alpha proteins interact to trigger glucose production in the liver. Targeting this interaction could help control sugar production in people with diabetes, potentially leading to new treatment options.
Manuel Ares has developed a teaching exercise for undergraduate biology classes that helps students resolve conflicts in scientific data and apply processes used by scientists. The exercise involves laboratory experiments, literature searches, and presentations to develop a model of the system.
Scientists at EMBL have developed a new model for protein-complex interactions in yeast, revealing that key components are produced ahead of time and assembled as needed. This discovery sheds light on the dynamic behavior of cellular machines and offers potential applications in studying human and animal biological systems.
Qdot molecular imaging enables precise tracking of tumors, identification of cancer types, and real-time optical biopsy. The technology holds promise for a one-two punch approach to diagnose and treat cancer.
The Chicago Biomedical Consortium has awarded a $1.5 million grant to the University of Illinois Chicago for its Proteomics/Bioinformatics Demonstration Project. This project will utilize advanced technology, including a Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometer, to study proteins and their interactions.
The St. Jude team determined the shape of CbpA, a large protein used by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria to invade human cells. This discovery will guide researchers in developing a new vaccine that can trigger production of antibodies against the CbpA protein.
Researchers at Argonne National Lab have developed a new technique using WAXS to study ligand-induced structural changes in proteins, comparable to X-ray crystallography results but faster and cheaper. This method has the potential to identify lead drugs and analyze protein-ligand interactions more efficiently.
Scientists have determined how a specific protein blocks DNA replication, providing a key to designing targeted cancer therapies. By understanding the structure of this protein, researchers may also develop new forms of antibiotics.
Scientists have discovered a defense mechanism in certain plant species that were believed to be bred out of existence due to human selection. The study found that a specific enzyme and protein complex work together to defend against insect attacks, but their activity is suppressed in plants bred for desirable traits.
Researchers at The Wistar Institute have identified a protein called 53BP1, which recognizes molecular sites in chromatin to detect DNA breaks. This protein is responsible for activating the p53 cell-death program, preventing cancer, and has been found to work through a specific mechanism involving nucleosome structure.
Researchers have connected neuregulin-1 and postsynaptic density protein-95 to memory and hearing loss, suggesting that these proteins may play a crucial role in neural development and communication. The study's findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying age-related cognitive decline and hearing loss.
Researchers developed a new approach to block protein interactions, leading to reduced amyloid aggregation and toxicity in Alzheimer's disease. The 'Trojan horse' technique uses small molecules to target protein chaperones, preventing the formation of toxic aggregates.
A newly discovered protein, PICT-1, has been found to regulate PTEN stability by regulating phosphorylation. This discovery represents a huge breakthrough in understanding the tumorigenic pathways of breast and prostate cancers.
A Swedish study reveals that smoking substantially raises the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, particularly in individuals with the shared epitope gene. The research, published in Arthritis & Rheumatism, found a significant interaction between smoking and the SE gene, increasing the disease risk to 7.5 times.
Researchers at U-M used a technology called ubiquitin-mediated fluorescence complementation to study a cell-signaling mechanism. They discovered how ubiquitin modified protein Jun's function and location, and found that an E3 ligase binding enzyme called Itch played a key role in this process.
Researchers developed a new technique to predict which proteins are prone to misfold and at what point the folding process breaks down. This could help identify causes of amyloid-related diseases and provide insights into more prevalent conditions like cancer and heart disease.
Koller's research uses algorithms, probabilistic modeling, and Bayesian networks to represent complex information with high uncertainty. Her work has implications in artificial intelligence and genetic data analysis, and she is optimistic about identifying patterns of gene expression across species.
The grant aims to develop rapid, efficient methods for producing membrane protein samples for structure determination and physiological function investigation. Membrane proteins are a major target for many drugs on the market, and this research has significant medical potential.
A team from PNNL and USC has identified the region of a protein that interacts with crystals to form enamel, a material with entirely different properties from bone. The discovery explains how proteins can control crystal structure, enabling nano-patterning and nano-building.
Researchers successfully targeted the key HIV protein Nef using small molecules, disrupting its interaction with other proteins. This breakthrough may lead to new drug therapies with improved treatment options.
Researchers have developed a new dye that allows for direct visualization of activated proteins in living cells, enabling high-throughput drug screening. Cdc42, a key regulator of cell movement and proliferation, was visualized with the novel dye 'I-SO', which proved highly sensitive and required no protein over-expression.
A new class of compounds has been discovered to mimic the function of a protein called Smac, which promotes apoptosis in cancer cells. The compounds, known as Compound 3, were found to be effective at extremely low concentrations and showed potential as an anti-cancer therapy.
Researchers developed a novel peptide compound that triggers apoptosis in cancer cells, overcoming key obstacles associated with short peptides. The hydrocarbon-stapled alpha-helix peptide, SAHB, is more resistant to degradation and can be taken up by cells, making it a promising therapeutic agent.
Researchers identified human VPS37 proteins as crucial in HIV-1 budding and protein sorting. The discovery could lead to the development of drugs targeting these proteins to prevent infection spread. Human VPS28 was also found to bind to TSG101, essential for HIV-1 replication.
A team of scientists at PNNL has observed real-time interactions between single proteins, supporting the 'fly-fishing mechanism' theory. The technique used, single-molecule photon stamping spectroscopy, allows for dynamic measurements of protein dynamics.
YY1 regulates p53 at multiple levels, decreasing its amount in cells and blocking its interaction with cofactors. This discovery offers new targeting options for therapies to prevent transcription factors from interacting with other proteins.
Scientists have developed a technique to detect protein interactions using firefly luciferase. The method was tested on human proteins interacting with the antibiotic rapamycin and showed accuracy and selectivity. The technique also demonstrated its potential in studying other protein pairs linked to cell life cycle regulation.
A study reveals that the APOBEC3G gene, which edits DNA and RNA to prevent viral replication, has been under strong positive selection for 33 million years. This ancient defense mechanism may have evolved to counter human endogenous retroviruses before HIV existed.
Researchers have made significant progress in understanding how proteins interact with DNA. Using NMR spectroscopy, Rutgers chemist Babis Kalodimos determined how proteins find their specific sequences among millions of non-functional ones. This breakthrough offers valuable insights into protein-DNA interaction and gene expression.
A genetic model for hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) disease has been developed, showing that the spastin gene regulates microtubule stability to modulate synaptic structure and function. The study found that specific drugs can remedy defects in synaptic function caused by changes in neuronal spastin levels.