Articles tagged with Cell Membranes
Researchers at the University of Virginia have discovered how plants make cellulose, a key component of cell walls. Cellulose is created through molecular machinery that produces three chains, which are then transported to the cell surface and assembled into microfibrils for added strength.
A team of researchers identified how a single-celled organism produces flashlights in response to mechanical forces, shedding light on the underlying physics. The study showed that the brightness depends on both the depth and rate of deformation.
Researchers at Tokyo Tech developed a synthetic channel that can mimic natural ion channels, demonstrating self-assembling and functionally active orientation of artificial molecules in membranes. The study shows promising results for biomimetic regulation and potential applications in sensing and separation devices.
Researchers develop new method to study α-synuclein protein's interaction with cell membranes, revealing damage occurs at very low concentrations. The method uses lipid vesicles as mimics of cellular membranes and shows that α-synuclein binds to and destroys mitochondrial-like membranes.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute identified a novel drug that can protect the brain during and after a stroke. The study shows that injured neurons can remain viable if prevented from following biochemical pathways leading to cell death.
Researchers have identified a new mechanism of toxicity in Alzheimer's disease, where Aβ protein assemblies disrupt the neuronal membrane, leading to cell death. The study provides insight into the atomic structure of these assemblies and proposes targeting membrane pores to prevent neurotoxicity.
The new technology uses low-frequency ultrasound to detonate tumor-targeted microbubbles, destroying up to 80% of cancer cells. An immunotherapy gene is co-injected to enhance the immune response, targeting and destroying remaining cancer cells.
Researchers from Kanazawa University purified and characterized Monalysin, a pore-forming bacterial toxin, to study its interaction with the innate immune system. The study revealed that activated Monalysin forms pores in cell membranes, leading to cell death, and that it preferentially inserts into curved parts of membranes.
Researchers have developed a method to label and image cell surface receptors on live cells with two different colors, allowing for the study of receptor dynamics and pharmacology in their native setting. This innovation expands the possibilities for studying G-protein coupled receptors and other important drug targets.
A simple epithelium modelled as a layer of interconnected polyhedra reveals an inherent mechanical instability that leads to cell extrusion. Small changes in density or topology can trigger extrusion without additional forces, generating forces within the layer that direct further extrusions.
Researchers developed tiny, decoy 'sponges' that attract and neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 virus, preventing it from replicating in lung cells. The nanotechnology could be adapted to combat other viruses like influenza or Ebola.
Researchers have created nanosponges that can soak up SARS-CoV-2 by mimicking its natural entry points. The nanosponges successfully neutralized the virus and prevented it from infecting cells in a lab setting, offering a potential new treatment for COVID-19.
Researchers discovered how viruses exploit lipid rafts in the cell membrane to trick receptors into binding, allowing the virus to enter the cell. The study may suggest new strategies for preventing or combating diseases like SARS and Covid-19 by understanding the interactions between viruses and host cells.
New research investigates how viruses trick cells into forming lipid rafts, allowing them to enter and infect the human body. The study suggests that understanding this process could lead to innovative approaches to fight viral infections.
Plant cells use mechanosensitive ion channels to sense cell swelling and induce programmed cell death. This regulatory mechanism protects the plant from damage. The discovery provides insight into how plants respond to mechanical signals, such as cell swelling, rather than chemical signals.
A study published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters found that halogenated flame retardants from old TVs can be transferred to hands, cell phones, and indoor air, posing a health risk. Frequent handwashing is essential to reduce exposure to these toxic chemicals.
Researchers developed single-cell yolk-shell capsules with high biological activity and stability, addressing limitations in industrial reactors. The capsules exhibit size-dependent permeability and molecular recognition abilities, enabling enhanced cell survival and viability.
Researchers found that RSV manipulates two gene receptors in cells to gain entry and infect. The discovery sheds light on how the common respiratory syncytial virus breaks into cells, a key step in infection. Current treatment options are limited, but blocking the interaction of the virus with the receptor may prevent infection.
A new MRI technique has been developed to improve the detection of tumors by enhancing the accuracy of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements. The technique uses a phantom designed to assess imaging quality and simulate hindered and restricted diffusion, allowing for more precise tumor differentiation.
Research by Liao Chen reveals significant differences between simple and realistic models of aquaporins and glucose transporters, leading to a better understanding of their biological functions. The study's findings have implications for diseases such as de Vivo's syndrome and multiple forms of cancer.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute discover that anesthetics trigger brain loss of consciousness by perturbing lipid clusters in the cell membrane, leading to changes in consciousness. This breakthrough solves a century-old scientific debate and opens up new avenues for understanding brain functions.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered the mechanisms behind cell fusion, a crucial process in multicellular organisms. The study found that actin and dynamin proteins interact to form long projections that invade other cells, leading to their fusion.
Researchers have visualized the single-molecule level operation of cellulosomes during cellulose degradation using time-lapse atomic force microscopy. This breakthrough provides new perspectives for applications in industrial biorefineries by exploiting the synergies between cellulosome and free enzymes.
The study successfully captured images of the sodium pump in action, documenting molecular changes necessary for sodium transport. The findings have implications for advancing optogenetics and improving experiments in neurobiology.
Researchers at Kyoto University have created a coordination polymer glass membrane that functions similarly to liquid-based counterparts but offers improved mechanical and thermal stability. The new membrane enables efficient proton movement under dry conditions, leading to higher voltage production in hydrogen fuel cells.
The new method transforms electrospun nanofibers into complex 3D shapes with controlled pore sizes, allowing cells to seed and penetrate, and exhibits superelasticity and shape recovery. The technique has significant potential for applications in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and tissue modeling.
Scientists at the National MagLab used a powerful magnet to detect oxygen signals in proteins, revealing that water wires play a more significant role in cellular function than previously thought. This discovery has widespread ramifications for understanding how proteins interact with each other.
Researchers at the University of Bonn discovered that gamma-secretase, a protein shredder, indirectly regulates fat metabolism in brain cells. This process can lead to adiposis, disrupting cellular functions, while also having potential benefits against cancer by inhibiting tumor cell division.
Researchers developed open-source software PCAlipids to analyze individual lipid molecules, highlighting the effects of temperature and cholesterol on their behavior. The study aims to better understand the mechanisms behind these interactions.
Researchers develop synthetic chloroplasts using microfluidics and spinach thylakoid membranes to mimic complex natural photosynthetic processes. The system enables light-powered CO2 fixation with potential applications in small-molecule synthesis and carbon sequestration.
A new study by University of California, Riverside engineers shows that two microscopic bubbles penetrate soft materials better than one, creating long, fine jets with only five pulses. This breakthrough could lead to compact, device-free alternatives for needle-free applications.
Researchers used CRISPR/Cas9 to search for genes related to Alzheimer's disease and found that low levels of CIB1 lead to high amyloid beta production. The study suggests that regulating CIB1 and gamma secretase could be a new target for Alzhemier's disease therapy.
Plant cells must balance trade-offs between communication, resource exchange, and protection against pathogens like fungi and bacteria. Researchers discovered that chitin perception in plasmodesmata triggers specific signaling pathways that allow cells to isolate themselves, regulating vital processes independently of immune responses.
Scientists developed a new technique to image proteins in 3D with nanoscale resolution using lanthanide-binding tags, enabling researchers to identify precise protein locations within individual cells. This breakthrough provides new insights into disease mechanisms and potential treatments.
Researchers at MIT discovered that the waves produced on an egg's surface during fertilization are similar to those found in ocean and atmospheric circulations, as well as quantum fluids. The study reveals a universal wave pattern that helps organize cell division and formation of an organism.
Researchers at Penn State developed a laboratory method to create membraneless compartments within a liquid, allowing them to segregate and concentrate components for important cellular functions. The findings could provide insight into how cells use these compartments to perform different tasks in different locations, with potential a...
Researchers at TUM designed an artificial binding protein with a unique chemical composition to bind to biological sugar structures. This protein has superior affinity to natural lectins and can inhibit cell growth, making it a potential therapeutic agent for conditions like cancer and infectious diseases.
Researchers discovered that keratohyalin granules, which form through phase separation, carry molecular messages that prompt skin cells to flatten and die. This process is crucial for maintaining the skin barrier against pathogens.
Scientists have developed a rapid and efficient delivery method that uses the power of a tiny fluid vortex to deform cell membranes, allowing for the delivery of nanomaterials such as DNA, proteins, and drugs. The device, called a spiral hydroporator, can deliver nanomaterials into around one million cells per minute with up to 96% eff...
Researchers uncovered how approximately 80% of screened cytotoxic compounds rely on solute carriers for activity, providing insights into drug mechanisms and SLC biology. The study also highlights the need for systematic surveys of transporter-drug relationships to develop more effective precision therapies.
Researchers have developed a nanoscale 4D printing technique that combines nanolithography, microfluidics, and organic chemistry to create synthetic surfaces with precise structures and tailored chemical composition. This technology has potential applications in drug research, biosensor development, and advanced optics.
The μMap technology uses a photocatalyst to identify spatial relationships on cell surfaces, enabling precise mapping of protein micro-environments. This breakthrough could impact proteomics, genomics, and neuroscience, with potential applications in fundamental biology.
Scientists used computer simulations to study the interaction between actin and cell membranes, revealing that calcium ions play a key role in binding. The results provide new insights into the fundamental process of actin binding to membrane lipids.
Researchers have developed high-resolution images of 'invisible' cell pores, shedding light on their role in regulating water flow and molecule passage. The discovery could lead to new classes of drugs targeting these pores.
Computational simulations show that azotosomes, a proposed alternative to cell membranes, cannot form under Titan's extreme conditions. This challenges the possibility of life on Saturn's largest moon, which has liquid methane and ethane lakes and seas.
Researchers found cancer cells can override mechanical regulation of energy use by sequestering TRIM21 protein, preventing its degradation and keeping metabolism high. This discovery could help understand how cancer cells adapt to their environment and lead to new therapeutic strategies.
Scientists at the University of Groningen mapped the structure of a transport complex in bacteria, revealing that it works very efficiently using three independent lifts. This discovery has implications for human brain cells, where a similar transporter plays a vital role in signal transduction.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute have achieved unprecedented control over the shape transformations and division process of artificial cells by anchoring low densities of proteins to the cell membranes. This simplified mechanism does not depend on precise molecular interactions, making it a promising tool for synthetic biology.
Researchers discovered that inner mitochondrial membranes constantly change their structure every few seconds in living cells, increasing energy performance. This dynamic adaptation process is enabled by the MICOS complex and allows cristae membranes to exist as isolated vesicles before re-fusing with the inner membrane.
A new microscopy technique allows researchers to follow individual proteins over long periods of time as they move along and inside live cells. The technique, called interferometric scattering (iSCAT) microscopy, can track proteins with microsecond speeds for extended periods.
Researchers from Ruhr-University Bochum successfully detect protein structures in Escherichia coli bacteria using EPR spectroscopy and nanobodies. They can measure distances between proteins within native membranes, opening up new possibilities for studying membrane protein dynamics and functions.
A team of Thomas Jefferson University researchers identified a specific region on brain-cell receptors that helps dock proteins at synapses, potentially leading to better treatments for chronic pain and other diseases. The discovery opens the door for developing new medical interventions by targeting this docking site.
A team of researchers has refuted a 50-year-old theory on cell membrane regulation by discovering that the packing density of lipid atoms determines sensor activation. This finding challenges the long-held assumption that sensing membrane fluidity is crucial for adaptability.
Scientists have found that autophagosomes produce their own membranes locally, rather than reusing existing components. This discovery could lead to a better understanding of how autophagy works and potentially improve health in old age.
A multidisciplinary team of engineers and scientists has developed high-performance filtration membranes that demonstrate higher density of pores than commercial membranes and can be produced much faster.
Researchers create new model to study lipid rafts in living cells, revealing the role of cholesterol in their formation and behavior. This breakthrough sheds light on diseases like Parkinson and Alzheimer, where lipid rafts are thought to play a key role.
Researchers conducted a global census of diverse proteins on the outer membrane of cells, governing their interactions and assembly into organs. The study's agnostic approach revealed 20 new cell surface proteins important for brain wiring in fruit flies.
Researchers have discovered that the force each cell applies to the surface beneath it primarily controls its shape and motion in a collective cell migration. This finding provides new insights into how cells rearrange and migrate as a group, which could lead to the development of new treatments to speed up wound healing.
Researchers report that the leaves of the floating fern Salvinia molesta can efficiently recover air mattress trapped in microstructures due to interconnected wedge-shaped grooves. Artificially fabricated leaf surfaces also exhibit air mattress recovery and could prove useful in various underwater applications.
Membrane TNFR1 receptors exist as monomers and dimers in the absence of TNFα, but form trimers and oligomers upon activation. The study reveals new insights into the physiology and patterns of TNFR1 in the cell membrane, which could be relevant for cancer and inflammatory diseases.