Research on how proteins bind and work together. Covers membrane-protein assembly, viral infection, molecular imaging, and drugging difficult targets.
Researchers at the University of Missouri identified 46 specific mutations in the Omicron variant that enable it to evade pre-existing antibodies. These mutations are particularly prevalent in the region where antibodies bind to the virus, making them a key target for future antiviral treatments.
A team of Weill Cornell Medicine investigators created a comprehensive atlas, called Tau interactome, that maps all the Tau protein's interactions with other proteins in human neurons. They found that mutations diminish Tau-mitochondrial protein interaction may hamper energy production and lead to cognitive decline.
Scientists at Scripps Research have devised a method that can rapidly characterize antibodies using high-resolution, low-temperature electron microscopy (cryo-EM). This technique enables the identification of specific antibodies in fraction of time needed for traditional approach.
Northwestern University scientists have identified a key mechanism used by the Zika virus to evade the antiviral response of host cells. The study reveals how the virus suppresses interferon signaling to gain access to cells, providing a new target for antiviral therapeutics.
Researchers found that knocking down LCDR in lung cancer cells promotes apoptosis, providing a potential new target for diagnosis and treatment. Additionally, targeting LCDR shows promise as a therapeutic strategy and has diagnostic value for lung adenocarcinoma.
Biologists at the University of Leeds created high-resolution images of the foot-and-mouth disease virus, revealing fibril structures that play a key role in replication. These findings could lead to new antiviral treatments for diseases caused by the virus.
Scientists have discovered a new layer of regulation in plant-microbe interactions using peanut studies. An antisense long-noncoding RNA, DONE40, was found to bind to a protein involved in epigenetic control, suggesting a conserved function across plants and animals.
Researchers at VTC have developed a promising three-pronged approach to treating glioblastoma, a lethal brain cancer. By inhibiting two specific proteins with temozolomide, they created an effective 'triple combinational therapy' that overcame chemoresistance.
Researchers have discovered a new mechanism for regulating organelle contacts, essential for producing specific lipids in nerve cells. The study reveals that phosphorylation of a protein at the peroxisomes can block interaction with the endoplasmic reticulum.
An AI-driven solution identifies sites on RNA and DNA molecules where interaction with potential drug candidates can occur. This allows pharmaceutical companies to discover new medications in a more focused and efficient manner.
Scientists have successfully engineered protein needles that can self-assemble into lattice structures and ordered monomeric states. The study's findings provide insights into protein-protein interactions and could lead to the development of biocompatible materials and targeted drug transports.
Plants respond to heat stress by activating a molecular defense pathway involving brassinosteroids, which increase heat stress resistance. Researchers at TUM discovered the role of transcription factor BES1 in this process.
Researchers found that the Alpha variant produces a protein to stifle infected cells' immune signals, allowing it to evade detection and accelerate transmission. Similar mutations exist in Omicron, suggesting potential strategies for developing drugs to help the immune system fight SARS-CoV-2.
Researchers at PSI have developed a platform to measure biased signalling in G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), enabling selective therapeutic effects and fewer side effects. By testing specially designed bivalent ligands, they can bias signalling towards desired pathways.
A special form of four-stranded DNA has been found to interact with the gene that causes Cockayne Syndrome when faulty. G-quadruplexes, which form knot-like structures in DNA, specifically bind to a protein called CSB, affecting its function and potentially leading to premature ageing.
A deep-learning model called D-SCRIPT predicts protein-protein interactions from primary amino acid sequences with high accuracy. The model enables the detection of functional subnetworks and can be applied to many species, including those with rare or lacking PPI data.
A research team developed an AI framework that analyzes protein interactions to predict effective and low-toxicity cancer drug combinations. The framework, GraphSynergy, outperforms conventional models in identifying synergistic combinations.
The study uses a new barcode system to track complex signaling activities in cancer cells and identify key protein interactions. The technique enables real-time analysis and synchronization of protein activity over time.
A new computational tool allows precise prediction of protein interfaces for COVID-19 and human interactions. This breakthrough enables researchers to better understand virus development, identify high-risk populations, and develop targeted drugs.
Researchers have discovered protein communities, like villages, serving cells by combining protein localization and inter-protein interactions. This breakthrough reveals new functions of proteins involved in ribosome production, essential for cell survival and disease prevention.
Scientists have clarified phytochrome's atomic-scale resolution, unlocking its role in regulating bacterial pathogenicities. The study provides a new photoactivation model explaining the signaling mechanism of black rot disease.
Researchers at MIT discovered how molecular clusters in the nucleus interact with chromosomes, forming small, stable droplets that give the genome a gel-like structure. This interaction helps control gene expression and maintain stable interactions between distant regions of the genome.
A new study uses deep learning to build three-dimensional models of protein interactions in eukaryotes, revealing hundreds of previously unknown complexes. This research has significant implications for understanding cellular processes and developing new medications for various health disorders.
A University of South Florida Health-led team discovered a lead candidate that selectively relaxes airway smooth muscle cells with no detectable drug desensitization. The biased beta-agonist, C1-S, offers a therapeutic option for asthma and obstructive lung diseases without the rapid loss of effectiveness seen with traditional β-agonists.
Cryo-EM study reveals details of DNA repair mechanism translesion synthesis (TLS), allowing cells to survive with mutations. Key protein complex Pol K - PCNA interaction modulated by ubiquitination facilitates recruitment of TLS polymerase to damage sites.
A recent study by Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute has discovered a conserved syndecan protein that coordinates communication between the germline and the rest of the body. This mechanism is required for germ cells to divide correctly, generating offspring.
USP8 activity regulation has been decoded, revealing an autoinhibitory region that interacts with its catalytic region and enhances deubiquitinating activity in Cushing's disease. This discovery could lead to targeted therapy for the condition.
Researchers have used advanced microscopy to study the ultrastructure of huntingtin inclusions, revealing different mechanisms of aggregation that lead to distinct biochemical properties. The findings suggest targeting inclusion growth as a potential therapeutic strategy for slowing Huntington's disease progression.
Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology developed a new peptide sensor to detect and quantify water-soluble synthetic polymers in wastewater. The technique uses machine learning algorithm to identify and discriminate between different polymers.
A study at Weill Cornell Medicine reveals how drugs can affect membrane-spanning proteins, causing unwanted side effects. The researchers found that membrane-associated drugs can interact with these proteins in multiple ways, leading to changes in membrane characteristics.
Researchers developed a compound that regulates a biological channel linked to pain, reducing the sensation of pain in rodents. The compound, dubbed 194, successfully targets sodium ion channels and promotes pain relief by activating the body's endogenous opioid system.
A new multiplex network developed by Jörg Menche's research group maps all genes and their interactions, improving the identification of genetic defects and assessing their consequences. The network increases the probability of finding the crucial gene aberration threefold compared to separate networks.
A study has identified a specific protein, PHF3, that plays an important role in transcription and modulates the reading process of DNA. The absence of PHF3 or its binding site SPOC may lead to neuronal production defects, which could be linked to autism and glioblastoma.
Researchers aim to make drug purification more efficient and scalable by understanding unwanted element interactions. They explored ligand-surface interactions using NMR spectroscopy and simulations.
A research team led by Associate Professor Akira Kakugo of Hokkaido University has provided direct evidence that microtubules function as mechanosensors, slowing down kinesin movement when bent. This phenomenon is attributed to enhanced interaction energy between kinesin and deformed microtubule structural units.
Researchers have developed Mass-Sensitive Particle Tracking (MSPT) to analyze proteins on biological membranes in real-time. The method enables the determination of protein location and size changes without labeling, providing valuable insights into dynamic processes at the membrane.
Researchers at UMass Amherst discovered that molecular chaperones display 'selective promiscuity', enabling them to play a crucial role in maintaining healthy cells. This property allows chaperones to help many different proteins, which is essential for cell health.
A new study by Okayama University scientists shows that proteins' hydrophobic parts do not repel water as previously thought. The researchers used computational methods to find that the van der Waals force between hydrophobic parts stabilizes the unfolded structure, leading to folding.
Researchers at MUSC have discovered that hnRNP E1, a tumor suppressor protein, not only binds RNA but also DNA to maintain genome integrity and sense or prevent DNA damage. The protein's binding is sequence- and structure-specific, suggesting its potential role in preventing cancer metastasis.
Researchers identify structure and interaction between HCV E2 protein and CD81 receptor, revealing acidic conditions enhance binding and facilitate cell entry. This discovery provides new leads for developing an HCV vaccine by targeting specific antibodies against the virus.
Researchers at the University of São Paulo found that a hypertonic saline solution can inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication by up to 88% in human epithelial lung cells. The study suggests that the use of such a solution could contribute to the development of novel prophylactic interventions or treatments for COVID-19.
Researchers designed novel molecules that bound tightly to SARS-CoV-2's molecular scissors, inhibiting the virus's replication. The breakthrough could lead to new treatments for COVID-19.
A study found that microgravity significantly impacts P-glycoprotein expression and function in rats, with higher levels of P-gp expression in long-term microgravity exposure. The researchers identified 26 proteins interacting with P-gp, which regulated ATP hydrolysis-coupled transmembrane transport and other functions.
Researchers used complex computer simulations to study the attachment of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants to human cells. They found that the virus has two main locations where it grabs onto the host cell receptor ACE2, with early strains having a slippery interaction at one region that becomes less slippery as variants evolve.
Researchers found that saliva protein adsorption is influenced by biomaterial surface properties, countering previous studies. The study lays groundwork for improving medical and dental implants' success by controlling the adsorption of proteins from blood plasma.
Researchers at McGill University identified proteins that drive cancer stem cells in brain tumours. Targeting the protein galectin1 may provide a more effective treatment for glioblastoma when combined with radiation therapy. The study found significant improvement in tumour response to radiation therapy, resulting in expanded lifespan.
Researchers identified two lectins, Clec4g and CD209c, that strongly bind to the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein, blocking viral entry into cells. These findings hold promise for developing robust therapeutic interventions against circulating variants.
Researchers have developed a neural network model called BiteNetPp to detect protein-peptide binding sites, enabling the design of peptide-based drugs. The model consistently outperforms existing methods and can analyze a single protein structure in under a second, making it suitable for large-scale studies.
Researchers discovered a novel centromeric functional protein, Apolo1, which regulates PLK1 kinase activity and ensures accurate chromosome segregation. This discovery provides insights into maintaining genomic stability and stem cell proliferation.
The study describes the three-dimensional structure of the MUTYH protein and its interaction with PCNA, a key player in DNA replication. The researchers found that mutations in the MUTYH gene reduce its binding affinity to DNA and destabilize its structure, leading to decreased DNA repair activity.
Researchers found that a protein activator clamps down the active center of GTPase Ran, allowing efficient hydrolysis. This discovery may lead to the development of cancer drugs blocking this process.
Researchers identified a specific interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and G-quadruplexes in human cells. Using G4 ligands, they showed antiviral activity against the virus.
Researchers identified an immune component, STING, linked to Niemann-Pick disease type C, a condition with no effective treatments. The discovery suggests a new therapeutic target for the disease and offers hope for treatment with immune inhibitors.
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed RoseTTAFold, a freely available AI tool that can predict protein structures in just 10 minutes. This breakthrough accelerates research into cancer, COVID-19, and other diseases, and has already been used by over 140 independent research teams.
A blood test that measures ACE2 protein and fragments can track SARS-CoV-2 infection evolution, according to a study. Patients with COVID-19 show reduced full-length ACE2 protein levels and increased lower molecular mass fragments.
Researchers from Osaka University found that protein phosphatase 1 binds to RIF1 at broken DNA ends, blocking proteins that create single-stranded DNA tails, and promoting the non-homologous end joining repair pathway. This novel mechanism helps protect double-strand breaks from developing a tail, which is what Shieldin binds to.
Researchers identified 421 previously unknown interactions between Salmonella proteins and host cell proteins, including those involved in cholesterol trafficking. This approach sheds light on how Salmonella survives inside host cells by manipulating protein machineries and pathways.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham have developed a new screening method to test therapeutic molecules designed to bind proteins together. The method uses mass spectrometry to measure the precise mass of proteins and their 'glue' compounds, identifying the strongest glue to treat diseases.
A Mount Sinai study reveals the complex mechanisms of Ebola virus evasion, highlighting the critical role of VP24 protein in disrupting the nuclear envelope. This disruption compromises cell function, DNA leakage, and antiviral immunity, ultimately contributing to disease severity.
Researchers have determined the structure of a nanomachine essential for mTOR functioning, shedding light on its role in cancer and vital processes. The study opens up possibilities to interfere with these processes for therapeutic purposes.