Articles tagged with Serine
Ancient human genomes showed differing functional PSPH gene variants, with modern-day phosphoserine phosphatase having the greatest function. The study highlights potential in combining evolution-guided variant prioritization for uncovering functional differences.
Researchers discovered a low-dose mixture of zinc, serine, and branch-chain amino acids can alleviate behavioral deficits in mouse models of autism by promoting neuronal communication and improving social behaviors. The combination was found to be effective at low doses, whereas individual supplements had no effect.
Researchers developed a small-molecule substrate-based fluorescent probe to visualize the nanoscale organization of glucose and serine transporters in breast cancer cells. The study found that SerT clustering correlates positively with function and is crucial for maintaining cellular serine homeostasis.
Researchers found that low levels of serine trigger a process that turns hair follicle stem cells into skin repair specialists, potentially accelerating wound healing. By manipulating serine levels through diet or medications, it may be possible to speed up the healing process.
Overexpressing hepatic SLC7A11 leads to glutamate and serine deficiency, promoting MASLD progression through ferroptosis. Serine supplementation rescues the disease phenotype.
Researchers discovered that serine inhibits the cell wall remodeling necessary for Clostridium perfringens to form spores, preventing food poisoning. The study provides insights into the underlying mechanism of spore formation and may lead to new strategies for preventing foodborne illnesses.
Researchers found that physically fitter patients with metastatic lung cancer live longer and respond better to chemotherapy. The study identified biomarkers in blood plasma that can indicate which patients are most likely to respond to treatment.
Researchers found a significant reduction in serine racemase protein levels in the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampal subfields of aged rats compared to young rats, suggesting a role in age-associated decline of NMDA receptor function. No sex differences were observed in serine racemase expression.
Researchers discovered two distinct subtypes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and developed a risk score model predicting patient prognosis. The study identified potential drugs associated with prognostic genes, providing a novel model for HCC treatment.
Researchers discovered that certain bacteria, including Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli, are attracted to human serum, which contains the amino acid serine. This phenomenon, known as bacterial vampirism, allows the bacteria to navigate towards the source of blood in under a minute.
Researchers at Kyoto University developed a new reactant demonstrating efficacy on proteins with drug-resistant mutations. The new inhibitor, ArNASA, reacts with lysine residues and is highly stable in physiological environments.
Researchers found that enhancing NMDAR function via increased serine racemase expression improved attention and cognitive flexibility in middle-aged rats. Upregulating serine racemase in the medial prefrontal cortex also increased glutamatergic synaptic transmission, including NMDAR activity.
Researchers have identified serine as a key contributor to peripheral neuropathy in diabetes, a condition that affects approximately half of people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Supplementing diabetic mice with serine alleviated neuropathy symptoms, suggesting a potential treatment option.
Researchers found that overexpressing matriptase reduced myeloma cell proliferation and inhibited migration. Matriptase also blocked Src kinase activation, supporting its potential as a tumor suppressor in multiple myeloma. The study provides new insights into the role of matriptase in hematological malignancies.
A new study suggests that exercise training is crucial for individuals with diet-resistant obesity, improving skeletal muscle metabolism and enhancing weight loss capacity. The research challenges the one-size-fits-all approach to treating obesity and has the potential to help reshape the science of weight-loss programs.
A new study found a consistent increase in PHGDH expression among Alzheimer's patients and asymptomatic individuals, suggesting increased serine production in the brain. The findings prompt caution against taking serine supplements for Alzheimer's disease treatment or prevention.
Researchers link ALS to a unique genetic mutation affecting lipid metabolism, providing clues for a novel therapy and understanding the disease's progression. The study reveals slower symptom onset and longer survival rates in children compared to adults with ALS.
A new study identifies gene variants that cause a metabolic deficiency in the eye, linking it to a rare eye disease called macular telangiectasia type 2. The research found that most patients have a serine deficiency that leads to toxic lipid accumulation, causing damage to retinal cells.
Scientists have discovered over a dozen gene variants causing the rare eye disease MacTel, which leads to progressive retinal degeneration. The study identifies PHGDH as a key enzyme essential for serine production, whose partial loss contributes to MacTel's development.
A study analyzed 4,225 protein-coding genes in the Escherichia coli genome to understand the evolution of genetic codons. The researchers discovered a disproportionate use of specific serine codons, suggesting their independent emergence during evolution.
A team of scientists from UC San Diego identified a metabolic switch that decreases tumor growth in mice by restricting dietary amino acids. They found that restricting serine and glycine led to the production of toxic lipids that slow cancer progression.
The study identifies the proteins that make up the venom of the Hispaniolan solenodon, a rare and endangered species. The research reveals that these toxins are likely used to cause drops in blood pressure in vertebrate prey, and have evolved independently on at least four occasions in eulipotyphlan mammals.
Research reveals that E. coli bacteria gain a competitive advantage over beneficial microbes in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by adapting their dietary preferences to amino acids, particularly serine. This finding suggests that a low-serine diet may help control the overgrowth of pathogenic E. coli.
Research discovered that cancer cells with SF3B1 mutations are dependent on external sources of amino acid serine, which can be exploited through a patient-specific 'oncology diet'. A diet low in serine may help shrink tumors in mice with myeloid sarcomas.
Researchers at the Lowy Medical Research Institute have discovered that MacTel is caused by low blood levels of serine, leading to toxic lipid accumulation and photoreceptor cell death. This breakthrough has implications for other retinal eye diseases and may lead to new treatments.
Scientists discovered differences in Müller cell shape and biology between the retina's macula and peripheral regions, shedding light on the eye's defense mechanism against disease. The study found that macula Müller cells produce more serine, a protective amino acid, but are more susceptible to stress when this production is blocked.
Researchers at Kyoto University have made a breakthrough in understanding the root cause of abnormal sperm morphology in infertile mice. By modifying a single amino acid on a key protein, they were able to restore fertility in test mice, opening up new possibilities for treating infertility.
Scientists discovered a yeast species that randomly translates DNA codons as either serine or leucine, breaking the universal genetic code. This unique trait has been retained for 100 million years and may provide benefits in rare occasions.
Scientists identified a calcineurin variant CnAβ1 that reduces cardiac hypertrophy and improves heart function by preserving mitochondrial ATP production. This study may lead to new treatment strategies for conditions like aortic stenosis.
A new study from Aarhus University provides mechanistic insight into how protein dynamics control the activity of serine proteases, crucial in blood coagulation and tissue remodeling. The research offers a basic understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying these vital physiological processes.
Researchers found that removing serine and glycine from the diet of mice slowed lymphoma and intestinal cancer development. The special diet also made some cancer cells more susceptible to reactive oxygen species, which could boost conventional treatments' effectiveness. Next steps include clinical trials with cancer patients.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have identified a new target for improving cardiac output in heart failure patients by modifying a specific protein. Modifying the serine 302 amino acid on myosin binding protein-C (MyBP-C) can significantly enhance cardiac function, providing a promising therapeutic approach.
Researchers from DTU Biosustain have engineered E. coli cells to produce large amounts of serine, a compound used in detergents and pharmaceuticals. The cells can tolerate high concentrations of serine and produce up to 250-300 grams per kg of sugar added.
A study led by SUNY Downstate researchers found that inhibiting liver sphingolipid de novo synthesis in early life impairs adherens junctions and promotes tumorigenesis. Sphingomyelin supplementation partially corrects the defect, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for metabolic diseases.
Researchers developed Camelid antibodies against serine proteases to study catalysis and inhibition. These findings have significant implications for disease treatment and diagnosis involving these enzymes.
Scientists at Scripps Research Institute have identified a novel drug candidate that targets serine biosynthesis in cancer cells, inhibiting their growth. The new compound, CBR-5884, specifically targets the enzyme PHGDH, which is responsible for serine production, and shows promise in treating breast cancer, lung cancer, and melanoma.
Scientists at Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology have discovered a new serine protease, neutrophil serine protease 4 (NSP4), which forms part of the antibacterial defense arsenal of neutrophil granulocytes. NSP4 could provide a new target for treating diseases involving an overactive immune system.
Researchers from Scripps Research Institute identify a class of compounds that powerfully block serine hydrolase activity without affecting other enzymes. The discovery opens up new avenues for studying these enzymes and developing treatments for various diseases.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have discovered the chemical basis for why cells develop extra checkpoints to correct errors during protein production. The study reveals that the active site of a key enzyme, AlaRS, is flexible and can bind both larger and smaller amino acids, explaining the 'serine paradox'.
Researchers identify serine proteases and PAR2 as therapeutic targets for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) pain. The study found increased levels of these enzymes in colonic biopsies and washes from individuals with IBS, leading to increased pain responsiveness in mice.
A new study reveals that arthropod mitochondrial genomes exhibit nonstandard codes, including AGG translating to both serine and lysine. The research suggests that these changes may have occurred due to pairing disadvantages, potentially leading to the evolution of multiple alternative codes.
Researchers have identified 16 new serine protease inhibitors in the saliva of medical leeches, which could be used to treat cardiovascular disease. The compounds may inhibit thrombus development and are a promising lead for anticoagulant and fibrinolytic drugs.
Recent research by Purdue University scientists suggests that the first building blocks of life were left-handed and that a single amino acid called serine set the standard eons ago. This led to all living things evolving using only amino acids of the left-handed variety, forcing other biological molecules to follow suit.
Scientists have solved the three-dimensional molecular structure of matriptase, a newly identified serine protease target for breast and prostate cancer drug development. This structural information is expected to facilitate the design of drugs that block or exploit the activity of matriptase and related proteases.