Articles tagged with Structural Biology
Pamela J. Bjorkman, K. Christopher Garcia, and Ian A. Wilson receive inaugural prize for their groundbreaking research in structural immunology, which has paved the way for novel disease treatments and revealed new insights into the immune system.
Researchers developed a flexible-yet-sturdy morphing structure inspired by the starfish skeleton with 4D morphing features. The structure exhibits self-locking, continuous bending, self-healing, and shape memory features, making it suitable for industry applications in robotics, aviation, and biomedical devices.
Researchers from PSI and ETH Zurich studied connexin-36 gap junction channels and found that antimalarial drug mefloquine binds to the channels, potentially explaining its severe side effects. The study provides new insights into how drugs interact with connexins and may lead to the development of therapies for neurological diseases.
Researchers discovered that enzyme METTL6 interacts with tRNA synthetase to recognize specific tRNAs, enabling precise modification and potential application in cancer treatment. This discovery provides new insights into the molecular machinery of protein production.
A new study developed an AI-based approach, DiffPALM, to predict protein interactions with high accuracy, outperforming traditional methods. This advancement has significant implications for drug development and disease treatment, and the researchers have made it freely available for further research.
Scientists have identified a mechanism that enables enzymes to communicate and produce organic molecules with disease-fighting properties. This breakthrough could aid in the discovery of new drugs by allowing researchers to design or modify enzymes to create novel natural products.
Scientists have identified a new mechanism by which cells counteract a key cancer-promoting protein using an 'invisible' protein called RAI2. In cancer cell lines and patient samples, RAI2 levels are reduced in more severe and treatment-resistant forms of prostate cancer.
Researchers developed tricks to slow down the receptor's closure and speed up freezing process, capturing critical images of kainate receptor in open configurations. These images provide information for drug developers to design more precise medicines for patients.
Four new research papers demonstrate progress in germline-targeting HIV vaccines, which could offer broad protection. The approach involves priming young B cells to produce broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV, a crucial step towards developing an effective vaccine.
The IRIS beamline at BESSY II has been extended with a nanoscope, enabling the imaging and spectroscopy of structures smaller than a thousandth of a human hair. This upgrade allows researchers to study biological systems, catalysts, polymers, and quantum materials with unprecedented resolution.
A research team has made a significant breakthrough in understanding the GPR156 receptor protein's role in maintaining auditory function. The study reveals that GPR156 exhibits sustained activity even without external stimuli, highlighting its potential as a target for treating congenital hearing impairments.
The study found that crowding and salt enhance the aggregation of alpha-synuclein, while also stabilizing the resulting aggregates. The simulations revealed that certain amino acids exist to prevent aggregation and that proteins orient themselves to minimize interactions between these residues.
Scientists have developed a method to measure pH in cell condensates, a crucial step in understanding their physical and chemical properties. The study reveals that nucleolar proteins exhibit distinct acidic profiles, which create a proton motive force facilitating RNA and protein molecule movement.
TMEM16F, a transmembrane protein, exhibits a wide range of structural conformations that enable its diverse functions. The study reveals unexpected changes in dimerization interface and subunit arrangements, suggesting a dynamic and versatile mechanism for lipid scrambling and ion movement across the cell membrane.
Researchers developed cresomycin, a conformally restricted antibiotic molecule that optimizes for ribosomal binding, inhibiting Gram-negative and positive bacteria, including multi-drug resistant strains. The findings portend favorably for the future discovery of antibacterial agents broadly effective against antimicrobial resistance.
Scientists at UIC and Harvard developed an antibiotic that effectively suppresses pathogenic bacteria resistant to many commonly prescribed antimicrobial drugs. The new antibiotic, cresomycin, binds strongly to ribosomes, disrupting their function and overcoming several common types of drug resistance.
Researchers at ISTA have discovered the composition of poxviral cores, a key factor in their infectivity. The study's findings could lead to the development of new therapeutics targeting the viral core.
Researchers at Duke University have discovered a critical structure on the HIV virus that plays a crucial role in its infection process. By understanding this structure's dynamics, scientists may be able to design broadly neutralizing antibodies for an AIDS vaccine.
Researchers have discovered the atomic structure of an RNA replicase using cryogenic electron microscopy, shedding light on a primordial 'RNA world' that kick-started evolution. The study provides structural insight into an ancient RNA machine thought to reside at the origin of life.
Scientists at the Advanced Science Research Center used X-ray crystallography with elevated temperature and pressure to observe distinct shapes in a protein molecule. The study reveals how proteins change shape to bind metabolites or other proteins, offering insight into disease treatment and development of novel drugs.
Scientists in Germany developed a new analytical method to precisely elucidate the size of particles, structure, and RNA molecules in pharmaceutical products. This information can help evaluate product quality, enabling improved development of new products.
Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz discovered a unique cryptochrome protein in marine bristle worms that distinguishes between sunlight and moonlight. The protein's structure reveals an unusual light-induced change from dimer to monomer arrangements, allowing it to synchronize reproduction with lunar phases.
The COVID Moonshot Consortium has discovered novel noncovalent and nonpeptidic inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease, with promising bioavailability and antiviral activity. The open-science project has yielded a wealth of data on the virus's main protease, paving the way for future therapeutics.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have determined the structure of vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), a protein crucial for packaging and releasing neurotransmitters in neurons. The study provides critical information for drug development to treat hyperkinetic disorders like Tourette syndrome.
Scientists have discovered two 'switch' regions in the structure of the K-Ras protein that are affected by dangerous mutations. These regions, located near a protein loop, can amplify cell division and lead to cancer. Researchers say their findings provide new insights into the mechanisms of these mutations and potential drug targets.
Rice University scientists developed a tiny CRISPR-Cas13 system to shred viruses by targeting RNA. The system's unique mechanism and three-dimensional structure were mapped using cryo-electron microscopy, allowing researchers to engineer it for improved precision and specificity.
The team created a proof-of-concept nanocapsule capable of delivering specific payloads to targeted locations, with potential applications in drug delivery, nutrient transport, and other fields. By using calcium metal ions as building blocks, they can generate identical reservoirs for different substances.
AlphaMissense, a machine-learning algorithm, uses structure prediction to classify missense mutations and predict disease-causing genes. The tool has been shown to accurately predict the pathogenicity of 71 million possible single amino acid changes across 19,233 human proteins.
Researchers have discovered how plants pass along chemical markers that instruct cells on using DNA codes, a process known as epigenetic inheritance. The study reveals the role of protein DDM1 in making way for enzymes that add regulatory marks to new DNA strands, preserving genetic controls across generations.
A new technique combining ultrafast physics and spectroscopy reveals the dance of molecular 'coherence' in unprecedented clarity. This shows a vibrational effect, rather than motion for the functional part of the biological reaction that follows.
A team of scientists has successfully elucidated the structure and function of LITE-1, a biomolecule used by Caenorhabditis elegans to detect danger. The researchers used artificial intelligence to predict the structure of LITE-1, which is a channel protein that forms a pore in the cell membrane allowing charged particles to pass through.
Researchers at the University of Oxford have developed a nanopore-based method to detect post-translational modification variants in proteins. The technique uses directional water flow and measures electrical current disruptions, enabling precise analysis of complex biological processes.
Researchers reconstructed six states of a rotary sodium ion pump using cryo-electron microscopy. The study found non-uniform rotation behavior due to structural interference between the rotor and stator components. This reveals a unique molecular mechanism of the rotary sodium ion pump.
Researchers analyzed photographs of honeybee and wasp nests containing over 22,000 cells. They found that both species used similar building techniques at the transition between small and large cells, including the construction of intermediate-sized hexagonal cells and pairs of pentagonal and heptagonal cells.
Researchers have captured never-before-seen images of the CALHM1 pore, which assembles into a circular channel with flexible arms resembling octopus tentacles. The discovery reveals how fatty molecules stabilize and regulate the channel, offering potential insights into its role in taste perception and Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers identify at least 10,000 novel foldable αβ-folds, expanding our understanding of the protein universe. The discovery has significant implications for fields like drug development and enzyme design.
Researchers used cryo-electron tomography to study the dynein motor protein, revealing new details about how it generates force and coordinates with other proteins. This knowledge may help develop treatments for diseases related to cilia dysfunction, such as fertility issues and lung disease.
A new study from the Gibson Lab at Stowers Institute for Medical Research sheds light on how some of Earth's earliest animals evolved. Researchers discovered that a common genetic toolkit is deployed in different ways to drive embryological development, producing diverse adult body plans.
Scientists at Scripps Research have determined the structure of the critical protein complex that lets Lassa virus infect human cells, identifying new antibodies and vaccine targets. The research also found a high level of conservation across different lineages of the virus, paving the way for more effective vaccines and treatments.
Luis Cuello, a professor at TTUHSC, has developed a method to express human potassium channels in bacteria, allowing for large-scale biophysical studies. This technology will be used to target several channels relevant to diseases such as epilepsy, arrhythmia, and diabetes.
Researchers have developed TomoTwin, an AI-based software that accurately identifies and localizes proteins in cells using electron cryo-tomography. This innovation expands the potential of cryo-ET to decipher biomolecule functions and unveil disease origins.
The Spitrobot simplifies sample preparation for time-resolved crystallography, allowing non-specialist groups to conduct experiments that previously required expert expertise. This technology accelerates research in enzymatic mechanisms and enables broader applications in biotechnology and disease-related problems.
Researchers discovered that a certain short-wave or blue sensitive cone circuit is absent in marmosets and differs from the macaque monkey's circuit. This finding suggests that humans have unique neural wiring for color vision that may be linked to recent evolutionary adaptations.
A new study reveals that a Cas protein and a membrane protein work together to enhance anti-viral defense in bacteria. The team found that the membrane protein forms a pore-like structure that disrupts energy production and hinders virus replication, effectively 'pulling the plug' on viral infections.
Researchers discovered a protein involved in membrane remodeling in cyanobacteria, structurally similar to eukaryotic membrane proteins, suggesting it may be the oldest known bacterial ancestor. The protein, SynDLP, was found to have structural properties that match those of eukaryotic dynamin.
Researchers from Penn State and Ohio State University used structural biology, biophysics, and cell biology to understand how pioneer factors interact with nucleosomes. They found that a specific region of the protein helps it access DNA, making it accessible for proteins involved in gene expression.
Human ribosomes decode messenger RNA (mRNA) 10 times slower than bacterial ribosomes, but do so more accurately. This slow-down adds accuracy due to human ribosomes being known to be more accurate at translating the code than bacterial ribosomes.
Researchers from PSI deciphered the structure of an ion channel found in the eye while interacting with calmodulin, a protein that enables cell response to calcium fluctuations. This interaction is believed to be responsible for achieving remarkable sensitivity to dim light.
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory have produced the first atomic-level structure of an enzyme that selectively breaks carbon-hydrogen bonds, suggesting ways to engineer it for producing desired products. The detailed structure reveals how the enzyme operates under ordinary conditions and produces few unwanted byproducts.
A WPI-led team used computational modeling to create a detailed picture of the SARS-COV-2 virus envelope, revealing its elliptical shape and changing structure. This discovery could lead to more effective therapies and vaccines, as well as a better understanding of the virus's properties.
Researchers study DNA minicircles using hydrodynamic measurements to understand their behavior under twisting, revealing unique shapes and compactness. The investigation combines theoretical approaches with experimental methods to elucidate dynamic hydroelastic effects in DNA.
A team of scientists has successfully tested a method to measure biomolecules' precise dimensions and comparability. They used single-molecule FRET analysis to measure distances in proteins with precision, observing structural changes on time scales of less than a millisecond.
Researchers found that chloride ions bind to sweet taste receptors and evoke a taste sensation. The study suggests that low concentrations of Cl- can produce a 'light' sweet taste sensation via the T1r in the taste buds.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Rockefeller University have gained a better understanding of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). The new findings reveal how CFTR functions mechanistically and how disease mutations affect its function, paving the way for more effective therapies.
A study reveals an extremely long tail on a bacteriophage that allows it to infect tough bacteria in hot springs. The 'Rapunzel' virus has a nearly 1-micrometer-long tail and uses a unique 'ball and socket' mechanism for stability.
Researchers have developed a robotic system called AngleNet that measures leaf angles on corn plants, providing plant breeders with accurate data more quickly. The technology uses stereo vision and deep convolutional neural networks to capture images of leaves at different heights, enabling 3D modeling and precise measurements.
Researchers at the University of Bath developed a new theory that unifies conflicting viewpoints on lane formation, predicting curved and straight lanes in crowded spaces. The study reveals a new class of structures in daily life that may go unnoticed.
Scientists at Aarhus University and Berkeley Laboratory developed a method called RNA origami to design artificial RNA nanostructures. The technique allowed for the discovery of rules and mechanisms for RNA folding that will make it possible to build more ideal RNA particles for use in RNA-based medicine.
Transparent ocean creatures use reflective cells to hide from predators, featuring tunable and compact photonic glass. Scientists have discovered the structure of these 'eyeglitter' reflectors, revealing new possibilities for photonic innovation in solar energy, communications, and more.
The São Paulo School of Advanced Science on Cryogenic Electron Microscopy will be held at the University of São Paulo from July 10-27, 2023. The event will cover theoretical and practical foundations of advanced CryoEM techniques, featuring renowned researchers and hands-on practical sessions.