Articles tagged with Cell Membranes
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A multidisciplinary team from VIB-KU Leuven has developed a novel technique called QuASIMoDOH to analyze changes in cell membranes. The method can map out polar distributions, allowing researchers to study alterations caused by diseases like cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.
Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center have captured images of the vitamin A transporter protein STRA6 using electron microscopy. The images revealed that STRA6 transports vitamin A through an intermediary protein, providing new insights into cellular function and potentially leading to the development of therapeutic targets.
Researchers have designed a smart membrane that stops battery discharge when not in use, allowing for rapid recharging. The technology aims to improve the range of electric cars by tens of miles per minute, outpacing the current limit of 0.4 miles per minute.
The National Institutes of Health awards a four-year grant to analyze the molecular signals influencing gene-expression patterns that can lead to heart disease. The research aims to understand the mechanisms of cardiac diseases and identify potential therapeutic targets.
A team of Penn researchers has created a computer model that accounts for thermal fluctuations and surface undulation, enabling more accurate targeting of cancer cells. The new model can aid in custom designing nanocarriers with specific molecules for personalized medicine.
A team of researchers has developed a hybrid method to study the critical HIV protein Nef, which compromises the immune system. By combining two biophysical techniques, they gained insights into how Nef changes structure to interact with host proteins and evade the immune system.
Scientists at EMBL discovered that cell contraction strength determines whether cells move inwards to form the embryo or stay on the surface to become the placenta. The study found that unequal inheritance of apical proteins affects cell contraction, leading to the formation of either embryonic or placental tissues.
Scientists create synthetic diacylglycerols that can be controlled by UV light, revealing new insights into cellular signaling networks. The findings enable precise regulation of metabolic processes such as insulin secretion and nerve signal transmission.
Air plasma technology has been shown to effectively kill bacteria and biofilms on the surfaces of perishable fruits, significantly extending their shelf life. The reactive species generated by plasma can penetrate into the cavity of the biofilm, causing damage and killing the bacteria within.
Honey bees can manipulate the shape of their abdomens by curling in one direction due to asymmetrical membranes connecting abdominal segments. This unique movement is made possible by a thin, flexible layer of cells called the folded intersegmental membrane (FIM), allowing each segment to slide into the next one.
Scientists from Kazan Federal University and Louisiana Tech University created a 'smart dress' for oil-degrading bacteria by coating them with magnetic nanoparticles. The modified bacteria retained their ability to form biofilms, crucial for attaching to oil droplets in natural environments.
Researchers have developed a lipid-like peptoid material that can assemble into a sheet thinner than a soap bubble, with properties similar to those of cell membranes. The material can withstand various liquids and repair itself after damage, making it suitable for water purification, sensors, drug delivery, and energy applications.
A study by Duke Health and Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School reveals bladder cells' secreted chemicals can clear urinary tract infections. The research suggests new targets for developing remedies and provides insights into the herb Forskolin's impact on UTIs.
Biochemists at the University of California San Diego develop synthetic membranes that can grow and remodel themselves like living mammalian cells. This breakthrough enables researchers to better understand lipid remodeling and its applications in drug targeting and disease mechanisms.
A team of researchers at UCSF and UC Berkeley identified duramycin as an effective blocker of Zika virus infection in human cells. The study reveals two potential routes for the virus to reach the fetus and shows that duramycin can prevent birth defects associated with microcephaly.
Researchers found that a western-style high fat diet can affect the immune system prior to weight gain, altering T cell responses and potentially leading to autoimmune disease. The study revealed that dietary lipids directly influence T cell activation and responsiveness by changing the composition of the T cell membrane.
Researchers at the University of Basel have identified a protein called gasdermin D that drives immune cells to pyroptosis, a form of programmed cell death. This process allows macrophages to burst open and expose pathogens, which can then be targeted by the immune system.
Researchers identified a limit where dehydration kills cells due to trehalose network rigidity and mechanical force. The study suggests a new working hypothesis for cell injury during dry preservation.
Scientists have created a detailed structural model of aerolysin, a bacterial toxin that causes gastroenteritis and sepsis. The high-resolution imaging reveals the toxin's mechanism of action, including its formation of a pore in target cells.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have isolated and cultured the elusive archaeon Nanopusillus acidilobi from a hot spring in Yellowstone National Park. This achievement provides valuable insights into the evolution and mechanisms of complex systems, and has significant implications for understanding microbial diversity.
Researchers developed a method to study cellular response by capturing individual cells in microscopic gel beads, allowing for manipulation of the external environment and observation of regenerative ability. This tool promises to shed light on single cell biomechanics and unravel the nuances of micromechanics within plant cells.
Scientists have created a tiny, soft, and wirelessly functional biomaterial that can be injected into the body to stimulate nerve cells and manipulate muscle behavior. The material degrades naturally after a few months, eliminating the need for surgery.
Scientists studied how cancer cells divide in capillaries using transparent nanofilms. Cell structures changed significantly, with membrane blebbing helping keep genetic material stable for healthy cell division.
A study published in The Journal of General Physiology found that two specific mutations in the Cx26 protein cause distinct symptoms in KID Syndrome patients. Hemichannels containing the N14Y mutation showed lower ion conductance, while those with the N14K mutation were more stable and allowed robust ion conductance.
Researchers at WPI and Penn used laboratory experiments and computational modeling to study the interactions between molecular motors, filaments, and membranes. They found that a single myosin-1 molecule is not enough to generate sufficient force against slippery membranes, requiring up to 124 molecules working together.
Researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt discovered how yeast cells measure and adapt to the availability of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in foodstuffs, which opens up new possibilities to understand membrane lipid production and distribution. This finding paves the way for targeting hormone-producing cells with more precision.
Research at ASM Microbe meeting reveals a new way bacteria can cause dramatic changes in human cells, leading to contact lens wear complications and inflammation. The study identifies key genes responsible for bleb formation, which may lead to novel therapies to prevent infection-associated inflammation.
Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have developed a new method to distinguish real protein clusters from single blinking molecules in superresolution microscopy. The study reveals that many studied proteins do not form clusters as previously assumed, challenging the theory on protein distribution on cell membranes.
A UK research team has discovered that proteins are exported from cells while preventing them from re-entering via a molecular turnstile. This discovery provides a solution to an outstanding problem in the protein transport field and may have implications for the development of new drugs.
HUMIRA enhances the function of TNF in rheumatoid arthritis patients by increasing its expression on monocytes and promoting membrane-bound TNF-RII binding. This leads to the activation of anti-inflammatory T cells that can suppress inflammation.
Researchers at Penn State have developed a custom 3D photolithographic printing process for patterned membranes, which can improve ion transport and mitigate fouling. The new method enables rapid prototyping and testing of polymer membranes with complex patterns.
Researchers at NCBS discovered Septin 7 as a 'molecular brake' regulating Orai proteins and maintaining dopamine levels. This discovery could lead to therapies for neurodegenerative disorders and immune system dysregulations.
Researchers at Houston Methodist created nanoparticles called leukosomes that target inflamed tissues using a patient's own immune cells. The treatment shows promise in resolving inflammation and reversing the immune response, suggesting potential applications beyond cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
A new method enables the rapid release of intact cell sheets from a culture dish to damaged tissues, revolutionizing tissue repair. The technique leverages Slippery Liquid-Infused Porous Surfaces (SLIPS) to induce slipperiness and detach cell sheets in just five minutes.
Researchers discovered a eukaryote that lacks mitochondria and uses a cytosolic sulfur mobilization system to function. The organism, Monocercomonoides, is related to human pathogens and lives in low-oxygen environments.
Researchers have found the lock for a cellular 'trap door' that could lead to more efficient and less harmful delivery of proteins into cells. This breakthrough has potential applications in treating diseases such as HIV, cancer, and regenerative medicine.
Scientists recreate aspects of bacterial design in synthetic systems, discovering that strain in complex fluids can shape the properties of soft materials. The study reveals previously unappreciated parameters governing the behavior of biological membranes and opens up new avenues for designing synthetic materials.
Physicists have found a novel pattern-forming mechanism in biological systems, with the discovery of a crucial protein that forms ring-shaped filaments to constrict bacterial cells. At high concentrations, FtsZ polymers self-organize into ring-like structures, leading to the formation of Z-rings and daughter cells.
Scientists have discovered that cells can perceive their own shapes, specifically curvature of the cell membrane, through a protein-based mechanism. This ability allows cells to organize themselves in response to changes in their environment.
Researchers from Lomonosov Moscow State University develop method to suppress fungal resistance to antifungal drugs by targeting ABC-transporters. The discovery has potential to improve effectiveness of antifungal medications and combat growing multidrug-resistant fungal strains.
Researchers elucidated the first ever computer simulation of a notoriously elusive serotonin receptor involved in fast signal transmission and various disorders. The discovery reveals how serotonin binds to the receptor, opening its ion channel's gate and transmitting electrical signals.
Researchers developed a synthetic cell model to investigate fundamental principles of cellular mechanics, revealing the interplay between cytoskeleton and cell membrane is key to changes in form. The model cells demonstrate that protein interactions are essential for biological functions and can alter shape through deformation mechanisms.
Researchers successfully designed and built a molecule that mimics the behavior of rhodopsin, a crucial protein in vision. This breakthrough could lead to new technologies by bypassing cell communication mechanisms.
Researchers have successfully observed raft domains in live cells using new fluorescent probes, revealing dynamic interactions between gangliosides and cholesterol. The findings open up new avenues for investigating how toxins, bacteria, and viruses invade cells through these membrane structures.
Researchers reconstruct cell surface from scratch using a mixture of fats and proteins to test theories on cell surface dynamics. The 'active composite model' predicts the behavior of cell surface molecules, which were confirmed through microscopic techniques.
Scientists create high-resolution maps of samples without altering them, enabling noninvasive exploration of electrochemical phenomena and living cell membranes. This breakthrough method uses microwaves and a scanning probe to image nanoscale systems in liquids.
EPFL scientists have created an implantable capsule that can deliver antibodies to target and clear amyloid beta protein plaques in the brain, potentially treating Alzheimer's disease. The device has been tested on mice with great success, reducing Abeta plaque load and phosphorylation of tau protein.
Researchers used optogenetics to manipulate bioelectrical signals in cells, preventing tumor formation and inducing regression. This breakthrough provides proof of principle for a new class of therapies that use light to target tumors, potentially avoiding toxic chemotherapy.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital discovered a way primitive cells could maintain constant internal conditions despite external changes. The team found that the dilution of internal contents increases enzyme activity, ensuring activity remains steady relative to cellular volume.
The first vertebrate to be sequenced in Spain, the Turbot has a highly developed sense of sight due to adapting to low light conditions. Its genes show high levels of fat in cellular membranes for cold tolerance, and researchers aim to use this knowledge for genetic selection programs and possible vaccines.
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 discovered that multi-target antiarrhythmic drugs like amiodarone change cell membrane properties, altering the function of multiple proteins. This finding has implications beyond AF treatment, suggesting a general mechanism for drug-induced changes in membrane protein function.
Researchers found that carbon nanomaterials, like C60 molecules, can enter immune cell membranes without triggering a response. This passive entry allows the materials to escape and evade the cell's disposal mechanisms.
A team of scientists from Singapore and France has revealed the underlying mechanism for the formation and growth of epithelial tubes. They found that the shape and size of these tubes are governed by mechanical forces arising from cell interaction with the extracellular matrix, influencing lumen morphology and elongation direction.
Researchers at the University of Southern California have developed a method for manufacturing nanoparticles on a large scale, using microfluidics technology. This innovation enables the cost-effective production of gold nanoparticles with unique properties, making them ideal for applications in medicine and other fields.
Wyss Institute researchers create protein actuators that can mechanically puncture cell membranes and release beneficial molecules. The system, inspired by bacterial R bodies, uses pH levels to extend and retract the nanoneedles, enabling precise control over cell delivery.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have identified a novel regulatory mechanism governing levels of calcium inside cells. The discovery may help scientists understand and target molecular components regulating calcium flux in various diseases.
A team of scientists has identified a unique immune mechanism, microptosis, that targets and kills intracellular parasites. This process involves the release of three proteins: perforin, granulysin, and granzymes, which work together to induce programmed cell death in both the parasite and infected host cells.
Researchers have discovered the structure of TRPV2, a protein linked to pain and heat perception, which could lead to new treatments for chronic pain. The study found that TRPV2 has an in-between state where it becomes desensitized to repeated stimuli, suggesting a potential way to alleviate chronic pain.
Researchers demonstrate that fast molecules in the vicinity make blood cell membranes wriggle, but cells also become active when they have enough reaction time. The study reveals a balance between thermal fluctuations and internal forces causing the cells to change shape.