Articles tagged with Cell Membranes
Researchers at the University of Calgary have made a breakthrough discovery about how calcium channels regulate neuronal activity. The study reveals that a protein called beta subunit acts as a molecular switch to stabilize or remove calcium channels, controlling excitability in nerve cells.
Researchers have successfully demonstrated a solution-based method for inducing the self-assembly of flexible polymer membranes with highly aligned subnanometer channels. The new technique uses organic nanotubes and block copolymers to fabricate porous thin films with tailored channel sizes and shapes.
Signaling receptors recycle at a slower rate and in a more regulated manner than other classes of receptors. The researchers identified unique domains called Actin-Stabilized Sequence-dependent Recycling Tubule (ASSERT) domains that provide a scaffold for the receptors, slowing their release from the endosome.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory discovered that two non-coding RNAs, MENε and MENβ, trigger the formation of nuclear subcompartments called paraspeckles. Paraspeckles are believed to serve as storage depots for pre-made protein-coding RNA, allowing cells to respond faster to stress.
Rapid turnover of lipid membranes enables phytoplankton to adapt to phosphorus scarcity, potentially supporting further growth when conditions improve. The process occurs within 24 hours and is a physiological response by individual cells.
Stem cells can sense their environment through touch, with deeper penetration into compliant matrices. The study found that softer surfaces allow cells to feel further, while stiffer surfaces limit their reach.
EMBL scientists first to visualize the structure of a ribosome-protein complex involved in carrying nascent proteins out of the cell. The discovery could increase understanding of illnesses such as cystic fibrosis and Parkinson's disease, where improper protein targeting leads to harmful accumulation inside cells.
A new study reveals that aggressive tumor cells lack the strong molecular 'glue' responsible for binding normal cells together. This allows tumor cells to break away, detach from their neighbors, and spread to other regions of the body.
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory have unraveled the mystery of how lignin precursors are transported across cellular membranes, a crucial step in breaking down plant barriers for efficient biofuel production. The discovery reveals that ABC-like transporters play a key role in sequestering and transporting these precursors.
Researchers at UCLA discovered that randomly dispersed microparticles can self-assemble into a highly organized structure as they flow through microscale channels. This phenomenon is driven by hydrodynamic interactions between particles, fluid, and the conduit they flow through.
Researchers have developed a new X-ray microscope that delivers immediate 3D images of entire living cells, closing the gap between conventional microscopic techniques. The new method allows for high-resolution imaging without chemical fixation or labelling, enabling detailed study of cellular ultrastructure.
A new study reveals how HIV evades the body's natural defense system by hiding a critical protein from natural killer cells. The research opens up a promising new target for HIV drug therapies.
Scientists have developed a novel system called MultiLabel to efficiently label mammalian cells with multiple fluorescent markers, allowing for faster disease process analysis. This technique enables precise labeling of cellular components involved in various diseases, facilitating accelerated drug development and screening.
A preservative-free, acidified nasal spray was found to be safe and effective at maintaining sterility in a small-scale study. The researchers evaluated the spray's impact on symptoms and microbial growth, finding no significant differences between the preservative-free and preservative-containing options.
Researchers use a tightly focused, low-power laser beam to optically scan the area and identify target locations by minute changes in scattered light. This technique solves the 'needle in a haystack' problem of nanoscale microscopy, finding nanoscale objects with precision.
Researchers discovered that cell membranes behave as viscoelastic materials, bouncing back like rubber when quickly perturbed. This finding challenges the long-held notion of biological membranes being simple Newtonian fluids.
A team of researchers has created a technology to extract complex membrane proteins without distorting their shape, enabling scientists to better understand the properties and functions of these proteins. This breakthrough could facilitate research at the biomedical frontier.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have designed an electrical link to living cells, allowing for the transfer of electrons across a cell membrane. This breakthrough could yield cells that can read and respond to electronic signals, leading to new biotechnologies such as self-replicating solar batteries and more efficient energy production.
Scientists at Rice University and Argentina's National University of Rosario identified a key protein in bacteria's response to cold, which acts as a 'measuring stick' tuned to signal temperature drops. The study found that this protein triggers the release of cold-protecting chemicals when its tip is engulfed by the cell membrane.
Biologists at Tufts University have discovered that changes in membrane voltage in newly identified 'instructor cells' can cause stem cells' descendants to trigger melanoma-like growth in pigment cells. The researchers found that this metastatic transformation is due to changes in serotonin transport.
Bonn researchers have developed a method to trigger arrhythmia in mice using light stimulation, allowing them to study the condition with unprecedented precision. By selectively targeting specific areas of the heart muscle, scientists can induce ventricular fibrillation, a common cause of death after a heart attack.
The National Institutes of Health has awarded $11.5 million to a consortium of research institutions led by the California Institute of Technology for a center focused on studying membrane-protein structures, aiming to shed new light on basic biology and potential treatments for disease.
The NIH has awarded a $7.7 million grant to Arizona State University to unravel the structures of membrane proteins that play a key role in protecting against infectious diseases. The ASU center will target membrane proteins of key viral and bacterial pathogens, their infectious pathways and molecules involved in host defense.
Biophysicists at Ruhr-University Bochum discovered a proton diode in proteins that allows protons to pass through cell membranes in one direction. Water molecules play a crucial role in this process, supporting the hypothesis that protein-bound water molecules are essential for protein function.
Researchers at Technical University of Munich discovered that Hsp12, a stress protein, folds into helical structures to stabilize cell membranes against leaks and ruptures under various types of stress including heat shock, oxidative stress, and osmotic stress
A team of UC San Diego researchers has created a novel map of lipid locations in a single cell, providing insights into how lipids influence disease processes. The study identified over 220 individual molecular lipid species and found that numerous lipids change in abundance once a macrophage becomes active.
Scientists use cutting-edge microscope to measure how brain cells respond to pressure, finding that intermediate form of amyloid-beta peptide stiffens cells the most. This discovery could lead to new ways to screen drugs for Alzheimer's and similar diseases.
Researchers discovered that mutations in the 'Fritz' gene can cause cell movement problems and cilia malfunctions, leading to conditions such as mental retardation, obesity, and blindness. The findings shed light on mechanisms regulating cellular machinery during embryonic development and its link to human disease.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a theoretical method to calculate the time it takes for long-chain polymers to translocate through nanopore geometries, shedding new light on their transport. The study found that polymers pass more quickly when entering a composite pore through its wide end.
Scientists have developed a novel method to deliver therapeutic molecules, proteins, and DNA directly into living cells using laser-activated nanoparticles. The technique, which uses bursts of near-infrared light to create tiny holes in cell membranes, shows promise for gene-based therapies.
Researchers at the Energy Biosciences Institute developed a mechanistic model of enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose, improving understanding of enzyme-substrate interaction. The model tracks individual cellulases and key cellulose surface properties, revealing critical factors affecting enzyme activity and sugar production.
Penn State researchers discovered that retroviruses like HIV take a detour through the cell nucleus before assembling new virus particles. Understanding this process could enable the development of drugs to stop the spread of infection.
Researchers have successfully visualized lipid ordering in a whole, living vertebrate organism for the first time. The study reveals that membrane lipid order plays an important role in cellular processes and may be linked to human pathologies.
Researchers at University at Buffalo have developed a method to remotely control ion channels, neurons and animal behavior using heated magnetic nanoparticles. The approach could lead to innovative cancer treatments and therapies for neurological disorders.
The device mimics a human lung, detecting bacteria and activating an immune response. It also shows that mechanical breathing enhances nanoparticle absorption, increasing toxicity.
Research at Stanford University School of Medicine has pinpointed the molecular cause of Bardet-Biedl syndrome, a genetic disorder associated with obesity, retinal degeneration, and kidney cysts. The primary cilium acts as a communication hub where signaling pathways take place, influencing weight gain and fat storage.
Scientists identified a novel enzyme, PEAK1, that regulates cell proliferation, shape and migration. The discovery may provide a new target for future anti-cancer therapies.
Researchers at Genentech Inc. developed a way to specifically eliminate IgE-producing B cells, providing a new approach to treating asthma and other allergic diseases. The monoclonal antibody neutralizes the effects of soluble IgE molecules in the blood, reducing their levels and numbers.
Scientists have developed a fatty acid that enhances the delivery of an existing anticancer drug, increasing its effectiveness in treating certain types of blood cancer. By incorporating elaidic acid into azacytidine, researchers were able to improve the bioavailability of the agent and increase therapeutic efficacy.
Cells use a simple principle to control protein localization, ensuring high order and avoiding chaos. By adding a lipid anchor to proteins, cells direct them to specific destinations, and then remove the anchor to prevent misdirection.
Researchers from the University of Miami have discovered that purple bacteria adapt their cell designs to different light intensities, maximizing energy conversion. Their study develops a mathematical model to describe this phenomenon and predicts optimal conditions for solar panels.
Researchers developed a novel microscopy technique that reveals the mechanics of blood cell membranes, leading to a better understanding of deformability and its relation to morphology. This discovery has important implications for screening and treatment of blood-cell-morphology diseases such as malaria and sickle-cell disease.
A team of researchers at NIST developed methods to accurately measure the length of nanopores, which could enable rapid DNA analysis. They created 'molecular rulers' using exotic techniques, including a molecular-scale version of ice fishing, to calibrate tailor-made nanopores.
Researchers have successfully reproduced a key component of bacterial lipopolysaccharide structures, allowing for deeper understanding of their growth and potential antibiotic targets. The discovery could lead to the development of new treatments against Gram-negative bacteria.
Researchers discover chitosan can repair damaged spinal cord nerve cell membranes, reducing leakage and oxidative stress. The compound restores electrical signal transmission to the brain, offering hope for spinal injury patients.
Researchers found truncated peptides form active ion channels causing cell death and memory loss, contradicting previous effective treatments. A new approach aims to control these ion channels for an effective treatment.
Researchers have created a way to implant an inorganic device into a cell wall without damaging it, allowing for up to a week of observation. The 'stealth' probe mimics natural gateways in the cell membrane and integrates smoothly into membranes, enabling electrical access to the inside of cells.
Researchers studied scorpion venom's effects on cell release mechanisms, finding a protein production system targeted by the venom that may lead to pancreatitis. The study suggests potential treatments for viruses and advances in chemotherapy through targeted drug delivery.
Researchers at the US Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have discovered how the yellow-fever-transmitting Aedes aegypti mosquito detects the specific chemical structure of octenol, a compound emitted by mammals. The study shows that mosquitoes tap into the 'handedness' of molecules to detect this compound.
Researchers at Imperial College London discovered that natural killer cells use membrane nanotubes to ensnare and destroy tumour cells and virus-infected cells. This new mechanism increases the cells' chance of killing their target cells from a distance, significantly improving cancer treatment options.
Scientists have developed a revised model to better understand the transport of fluid constituents, which has important roles in biology, physics, and chemistry. The new model contradicts widely accepted models and provides an improved analysis of combined advection and diffusion.
Researchers at MDC Berlin-Buch discovered a protein filament that causes ion channels to open and shut in response to touch. The filament is 100nm long and links mechanosensitive ion channels to the extracellular matrix, rendering them highly sensitive to force.
Researchers found that softer surfaces lead to disorganized cytoskeletons, while stiffer surfaces promote larger traction forces and more developed cadherin adhesions. Inhibition of myosin II decreases traction forces and causes cadherin adhesions to disappear.
A defective signaling pathway for PPAR-γ contributes to cystic fibrosis disease severity. Correction of the pathway reduces symptoms in mice, suggesting a potential therapeutic target.
Researchers at Yale University have found that progesterone prevents apoptosis in fetal membranes, reducing the risk of preterm birth. Progesterone supplementation from weeks 16-20 may also prevent premature rupture of the fetal membranes.
Researchers have developed a broad-spectrum antiviral compound that can stop a wide range of highly dangerous viruses, including those causing HIV, Ebola, and hepatitis C. The compound works by altering the lipid envelope of enveloped viruses, making them unable to fuse with host cells.
Researchers have identified a broad-spectrum antiviral compound effective against HIV-1, influenza A, filoviruses, poxviruses, and other deadly diseases. The compound, LJ001, targets enveloped viruses by exploiting their biogenic reparative ability, resulting in permanent and irreversible damage.
Robert J. Lefkowitz, a leading expert on G-protein-coupled receptors, has been awarded the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award for his groundbreaking research. His work has led to the development of millions of drugs used to treat various diseases worldwide.
A new study from UC Davis reveals that Hsp70 proteins indeed chaperone chloroplast proteins across membranes, challenging prevailing wisdom. The research demonstrates the conservation of transport machineries across cellular bodies through evolution.
Researchers identified a novel class of compounds that inhibit HCV replication by disrupting a critical virus-initiated activity, offering a prospect for inhibiting viral replication with minimal toxicity. The compounds were found through an in vitro assay and demonstrated effectiveness against HCV's replication cycle.