Articles tagged with Rna Structure
Scientists have found a mechanism that explains how the protein-making machinery chooses which alternative start sites to use for protein synthesis. The discovery reveals that RNA structure plays a crucial role in determining these start sites, and could lead to new therapies or medications for diseases such as cancer.
New research found that replication under low RNA conditions alters disease features when transmitted back to hamsters, suggesting that RNA levels during replication influence prion adaptation. This study's findings may improve understanding of cross-species prion transmission and disease in mammals.
Researchers developed bpRNA, a big-data annotation tool for secondary RNA structures, featuring the largest and most detailed database to date. The tool enables statistical analysis of RNA structure formation and may shed light on disease-associated mutations in noncoding RNAs.
A team of researchers has found that RNA molecules recognize specific 3D shapes to condense into the same droplet. This mechanism is essential for forming RNA-protein condensates that may serve as 'crucibles' for enhancing biological reactions. The discovery provides insight into the formation of liquid droplets in cells and their pote...
Researchers have determined the molecular target and mechanism of action of fidaxomicin, a front-line antibiotic for treating Clostridium difficile infections. The study reveals that fidaxomicin inhibits bacterial RNA polymerase through a unique binding site and mechanism, allowing it to target resistant strains.
Researchers have discovered a key link between RNA cytosine methylation, methyltransferases, and chromatin structure in regulating 5-azacytidine response in leukemia. The study's findings offer new insights into predicting drug resistance and potential therapeutic targets for patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myelo...
The study reveals that water molecules at the RNA surface perform tipping motions, known as librations, which influence the structure and dynamics of RNA. The findings show a complex scenario where water fluctuations are transferred to RNA vibrations, essential for avoiding local overheating.
A new study develops an innovative simulation model to predict the three-dimensional conformation of ribonucleic acid molecules, overcoming limitations of existing models. The model shows promising results in predicting RNA structures, with potential implications for basic research and medical therapies.
Researchers have developed a novel approach to design complex single-stranded DNA and RNA origami that can autonomously fold into diverse, stable structures. This enables the production of large nanostructures at low cost and high purity, opening opportunities for applications in drug delivery and nanofabrication.
A team of researchers at Penn State University has discovered a new pathway for nonstandard RNA transcription using high-resolution crystal structure. This finding provides insights into the mechanism of reiterative transcription, which plays a key role in controlling gene expression.
Ouyang aims to decipher RNA structure's role in post-transcriptional regulation, providing insights into health and diseases. He plans to develop a precise genomic blueprint for clinical diagnoses and prognoses, as well as new therapies for cancer and other diseases.
Researchers from the University of Seville and Cabimer have identified a new element responsible for chromosome instability. Chromatin structure changes cause DNA breaks, leading to mutations and replication stress. The findings suggest that chromatin plays a key role in certain DNA mutations, particularly those controlled by RNA.
Researchers uncover how a fruit fly protein binds to multiple types of RNA, revealing new insights into its multifunctional role. The study may help explain the diverse functions of RNA-binding proteins implicated in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have discovered that plants can recognize friendly RNAs by breaking down those without a nucleotide 'tail' using the immune system. This breakthrough paves the way for future biotechnological techniques to modify crops.
Scientists have found that the Zika virus uses a complex molecular process to produce disease-causing small RNAs. The researchers used x-ray crystallography to understand the structure of these RNA segments, which interact with and block cellular enzymes.
An international team has developed a new method to analyze RNA structures linked to cancer. The research aims at understanding how four-stranded RNA structures called G-quadruplexes affect cellular processes such as RNA splicing, which is essential for producing proteins.
Scientists investigate RNA's ability to replicate itself under prebiotic conditions, revealing unexpected non-Watson-Crick pairings that might have hindered early replication. The findings suggest a more trial-and-error approach to the emergence of life.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a technology platform that provides high-resolution representation of RNA folding during synthesis. This breakthrough allows for the study of RNA folding in unprecedented detail, potentially leading to discoveries in basic biology, gene expression, and disease.
Researchers at MIT deciphered the structure of a long noncoding RNA and found that it interacts with a protein to control heart muscle cell development. The study reveals the importance of RNA structure in understanding its function, which could lead to new therapeutic approaches for cardiovascular disease.
Researchers at TSRI successfully created a ribozyme capable of synthesizing complex RNA molecules with mixed sequences, showing promise for replicating the ancient RNA world. The new ribozyme can perform both RNA synthesis and replication, a crucial step towards creating a self-sustaining RNA-based life form.
A new analytical tool for detecting double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) has been developed, exhibiting sequence-selective fluorescence upon binding. This probe offers a significant improvement over conventional methods by allowing single-base pair resolution and preferential binding to dsRNA over dsDNA.
A new study reveals that DNA, but not RNA, can contort itself into different shapes to absorb chemical damage and maintain genome stability. Researchers used advanced imaging techniques to visualize these tiny changes in DNA's double helix.
Scientists mapped all RNA structures of a diarrheal pathogen at once, identifying temperature-responsive structures that sense temperature changes. These 'RNA thermometers' can reveal gene sequences and proteins controlling disease progression.
Researchers have created a drug candidate that targets and neutralizes the RNA structure causing an incurable progressive disease, spinocerebellar ataxia type 10. The compound, 2AU-2, improves several aspects of cells taken from patients with SCA10, offering new hope for treating dozens of incurable diseases.
Researchers used RNA simulations to understand how viruses fold into specific shapes, offering potential targets for treating retroviral diseases. The study's findings provide valuable information on the thermodynamic stability of RNA molecules and their behavior in different environments.
The team determined the three-dimensional structure of RlmN protein from Escherichia coli bacteria, capturing it during a normally transient event. The discovery sheds light on RlmN's function in modifying RNA molecules that are crucial for bacterial infections and potential antibiotic resistance.
Researchers from SISSA have developed a novel technique to visualize RNA dynamics using stop-motion animation, based on a huge international database of crystallographic images. This approach allows for the creation of coherent sequences of conformations, providing valuable insights into molecular transitions and dynamics.
Researchers have solved the first three-dimensional structure of a deoxyribozyme, a flexible DNA molecule that can act as an enzyme. This breakthrough challenges the long-held perception of DNA's stiffness and has significant implications for understanding molecular reactions and potential applications in medicine.
The protein NPM1 is revealed as the 'glue' that holds proteins and RNA together in the nucleolus, enabling phase separation and retention of key molecules. This structure makes it ideal for its role in ribosome assembly.
Researchers found that symmetrical RNA structures are harder to design, contradicting conventional thinking. The study uses data from over 100,000 players of the Eterna online game to develop a new rating scale for RNA-design difficulty.
A study reveals the key structure of telomerase, an enzyme that enables cancer cells to proliferate indefinitely. Researchers have discovered how the enzyme carries out its crucial function in protecting chromosome ends.
A new study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has linked a vaccine targeting cancer cells with an altered enzyme that breaks apart RNA, causing cell death. The vaccine targets a carbohydrate called Globo H, which is abundant in many tumors.
Researchers at Gilead Sciences and Beryllium published structural data on HCV polymerase during RNA replication, shedding light on the NS5B catalytic mechanism. This information will be useful in identifying replication inhibitors of other pathogenic viruses in the Flaviviridae family.
Researchers found no knots in RNA structures among 6,000 known chains. Instead, naturally occurring RNAs tend to form simple geometric configurations.
A team of SISSA scientists developed a new geometrical model to analyze RNA structure, which is simpler and faster than traditional methods. The method has been effective and robust in tests, performing well in some cases even better than conventional methods.
Researchers create RNA origami structures by encoding folding recipes into single-strand RNAs, allowing for self-folding and organization of molecules on the nanoscale. The method has potential applications in cellular engineering, biochemical factories, and molecular scaffolds.
A team of scientists has revealed the molecular mechanisms underlying Roquin's role in preventing autoimmune diseases. The study found that Roquin recognizes a range of RNA binding partners to control T-cell functions, regulating a larger number of genes than previously thought.
Researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine have solved a biochemical mystery surrounding viral RNA molecules. The study reveals how these molecules mimic cellular RNAs as part of their strategy to infect cells and multiply, offering insights into potential treatments or vaccines against infectious diseases.
Researchers at Aarhus University discovered that enzyme DDX6 regulates toxic RNA aggregates in muscular dystrophy patients. The study found that increasing DDX6 levels reduces RNA aggregates, while decreasing them leads to more aggregates.
Researchers at the University of Kentucky have discovered methods to build heat-resistant RNA nanostructures and arrays, showcasing its potential as a stable alternative to conventional polymers. The breakthrough offers new possibilities for controlling RNA nanoparticles for therapeutic applications.
Researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine have identified a target for treating Dengue fever and other flavivirus diseases. The team discovered that the virus produces a unique RNA molecule with an unprecedented 'knot-like' structure, making it resistant to an enzyme that normally destroys RNA.
Researchers found that a hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene creates G-quadruplexes, hairpins, and bulges that disrupt RNA function, leading to toxic RNA buildup and protein misfolding.
Berkeley researchers provide detailed picture of Cas9's three-dimensional shape, showing radical change in structure upon binding to guide RNA. This breakthrough enables rational design of new and improved versions of Cas9 enzymes for basic research and genetic engineering.
Researchers have developed a powerful technique to visualize the shape and motion of RNA at the atomic level using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). This allows for better understanding of RNA's structure and function, which can lead to the development of new drugs for diseases with genetic bases such as cancer.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have discovered the atomic-level structure of a genetic defect causing myotonic dystrophy type 2, allowing them to design compounds that improve disease-associated defects in treated cells. The study's findings hold promise for treating this rare form of muscular dystrophy.
A new method enables more accurate prediction of how ribonucleic acid molecules (RNAs) fold within living cells, shedding light on how plants respond to environmental conditions. The tool has implications for human health, such as understanding the effects of infection-induced fever on RNA structures.
Researchers at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München have solved the structure of RNA polymerase I, a crucial enzyme in cell growth. The study reveals details on how the enzyme regulates protein synthesis and provides potential targets for cancer treatment.
Researchers at EMBL have determined the 3D structure of RNA polymerase I, revealing a unique 'Swiss-army knife' strategy that allows it to produce RNA molecules faster than its counterpart, RNA polymerase II. The protein's larger size and efficiency are due to its built-in modules, which prevent the need for external recruitment.
Researchers from McGill University have confirmed a 50-year-old hypothesis on the RNA double helix structure, revealing its potential applications in biological nanomaterials and supramolecular chemistry. The discovery may lead to new possibilities for genetic information storage and treatment of diseases like HIV and AIDS.
Researchers found two new mechanisms governing RNA editing in a key neurodevelopmental gene in living fruit flies. The mechanisms involve newly discovered sequences and structures far away from the editing sites, which can be controlled like a tuning knob to increase or decrease editing.
Australian scientists discovered that up to 30% of the human genome is conserved in RNA structure, contrary to previous estimates. This finding suggests that non-coding DNA may play a crucial role in regulating gene expression and development.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota created an artificial enzyme through directed evolution, a method that mimics natural selection and evolution. The new enzyme functions similarly to its natural counterparts despite its unusual structure and dynamics.
The study determines the three-dimensional structure of the transcription initiation complex, revealing how the molecular machine recognizes and binds to specific sites on DNA. This breakthrough provides a foundation for understanding bacterial transcription initiation and developing new antibacterial agents.
Scientists created primitive cell-like structures that infused with RNA, demonstrating how molecules react under conditions similar to early Earth. The model showed increased chemical reactions by up to 70-fold when RNA was densely packed, highlighting the importance of compartmentalization in early life forms.
Researchers have discovered smallest and fastest-known RNA switches, which could provide new targets for drug development. The newly found excited states of RNA molecules offer potential for disrupting HIV replication and interfering with protein assembly in bacterial ribosomes.
Researchers develop ultrastable RNA nanoparticles that can regulate cell function, bind to cancer cells, and deliver therapeutic molecules. The stable nanoparticles display favorable attributes, including polyvalent nature, modular design, thermodynamic stability, and chemical stability.
Molecular biologists at the University of Texas at Austin have discovered that DEAD-box proteins, ancient enzymes found in all forms of life, function as recycling 'nanopistons' to unwind RNA. This mechanism has implications for treating cancer and viruses in humans.
Researchers found that iron can substitute for magnesium in RNA binding, folding and catalysis, enabling more diverse structures and functions. This discovery suggests that life evolved in the presence of iron and is optimized to work with it.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have solved the atomic structure of a human protein bound to a microRNA guide, revealing its biological mechanism of action. The discovery could aid in understanding gene function and advancing RNAi as a therapeutic strategy.
Researchers have determined the three-dimensional atomic structure of Argonaute2, a key 'gene silencer' protein involved in regulating cell activities. This discovery paves the way for understanding RNA-silencing and harnessing it to treat diseases by designing better therapeutic guide RNAs.