Articles tagged with Cell Membranes
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Researchers have developed a nanopipette pH biosensor that can detect changes in extracellular pH with high sensitivity and spatial resolution. The device uses a zwitterionic membrane to enable faster responses and has been tested on live cancer cells, showing its potential for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted therapies.
A team of researchers at Penn State developed protocells with enzymatic activity, actively moving independently like living cells. High ATP concentrations surprisingly suppress protocell movement by binding to the ATPase enzyme.
A recent study reveals that the Golgi organelle is crucial for maintaining endosome function, contradicting conventional knowledge. The research used genetic mutations and drugs to inhibit transport processes, showing that Golgi transport is necessary for optimal endosome maintenance.
Scientists discovered that white blood cell envelopes' molecular order and electric charge protect cytotoxic lymphocytes from harm. This finding could help explain why some tumours resist certain cancer treatments.
Researchers at the University of Freiburg have discovered a mechanism by which actin filaments are formed in the nucleus, controlling chromatin dynamics and influencing genome readability. Physiological messengers trigger the assembly and disassembly of actin filaments, regulating the density of chromosomes.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have created a protective membrane made of cellulose that significantly reduces fibrotic tissue formation around cardiac pacemaker implants. The membrane's unique surface structure impedes protein deposition and cell adhesion, leading to reduced tissue growth and improved surgical outcomes.
Researchers used smFRET to study the MhsT transporter and discovered that different cargo have distinct rate-limiting steps. This finding reveals the presence of secondary binding sites on transporter proteins, crucial for regulating activity.
Researchers found that beta-blockers can cause psoriasis by interfering with the breakdown of defective cell components and disrupting autophagy. This leads to the release of inflammatory messengers, resulting in skin problems. The study suggests that fat-soluble beta-blockers are more likely to cause inflammation.
Researchers discovered that Chlamydia pneumoniae uses a protein called LIPP to transport phosphatidylserine, normally found on the inner membrane leaflet, to the outer surface of human cells. This transport mechanism helps Chlamydium enter cells more easily and avoids triggering cell death.
Researchers solved the three-dimensional structure of potassium chloride cotransporter 1 (KCC1) using cryo-electron microscopy. The study's findings provide new insights into the protein's role in regulating cell volume, particularly in the kidneys and brain, and shed light on potential treatments for hereditary epilepsy.
Researchers identified specialized 'adventurer' cells in Vibrio parahaemolyticus that facilitate its dissemination and prevalence. These cells enable the bacterium to colonize new habitats and spread disease globally.
Researchers at the IPC PAS have discovered how beta-amyloid molecules interact with cell membranes, revealing that small oligomers destroy the membrane and large ones aggregate to form fibrils. Their research may lead to new treatments by modifying amyloid interaction with membranes.
The October issue of SLAS Discovery features a two-part special issue on membrane proteins, highlighting the importance of these targets for novel drug design. The issue includes reviews and original research papers on various aspects of membrane protein biology, such as targeting specific transporters and channels.
A new study shows that X-ray crystallography can provide inaccurate information about critical cell membrane proteins, leading to poor drug design. Researchers used supercomputing to simulate molecular dynamics of a membrane protein and found that unresolved loops can stabilize the protein despite apparent lack of structure.
A European research team has developed a method to track the HI virus's spread between living cells using superresolution STED fluorescence microscopy. The study reveals that the HIV pathogen creates a specific lipid environment for replication, providing a potential target for antiviral drugs.
Researchers observed flavobacteria forming tubes and then strings of pearls, which capture and break down laminarin sugar for nutrition. This ecological strategy appears successful, as the bacteria are found in large numbers after algal blooms.
Researchers at SMART developed a new confocal reflectance interferometric microscope to study nuclear membrane mechanics in intact cells. This label-free technology has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of metastatic cancers and genetic illnesses, enabling the identification of stem cells for therapeutic applications.
Engineered cell sheets have been designed to effectively treat open skin areas after surgeries, addressing a major challenge in post-operative care. The method involves scanning the surgical site, designing and printing a 3D mold, coating it with gold, seeding cells, and growing a custom-made cell sheet that can be transplanted into mice.
A new study reveals the narrow escape problem, a classic math puzzle, plays a key role in determining immune responses. The unique shape of T cells creates a close-contact zone for triggering molecules, and the size of this zone depends on the surface protrusions, keeping the process sensitive to invaders.
Researchers at Kaunas University of Technology and Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin created a tandem perovskite-CIGS solar cell with an efficiency of 23.26%, shattering the previous record value. The cell's intermediate layer of organic molecules enables self-assembling on rough surfaces.
The study reveals that complexin cannot be the fusion clamp in mammals, but syt-1 is, preventing errant signals across synapses. The discovery highlights the importance of fusion clamps in the nervous system's speed and accuracy, with implications for neurological diseases.
Researchers create a novel method using magnetic tweezers to study the mechanical forces that activate proteins like VWF, which initiates blood clots. The technique reveals the unfolding of VWF dimers under low forces, shedding light on the first step in blood coagulation.
A study from Aarhus University has found that fat pumps in cell membranes create an electrical current, which may play a role in controlling essential processes in the body. This discovery highlights the importance of flippases in maintaining cellular function and suggests potential connections to neurological diseases and Alzheimer's.
TTUHSC researchers engineer mutant channels to capture atomic resolution pictures of ion-bound configurations, providing evidence for the canonical model proposed by Nobel laureate Roderick Mackinnon. This discovery could lead to developing new drugs targeting K+ channels for treating life-threatening conditions.
Researchers at the University of Delaware have made significant progress in developing a cost-effective fuel cell technology utilizing ammonia, a nitrogen-based liquid fuel. Ammonia has been identified as the lowest-cost fuel produced from renewable energy, with potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and improve efficiency.
A team of researchers has created the first comprehensive map of the behavior of Kv channels, a crucial step towards developing improved models for ion channel research. The dataset, known as Channelpedia, provides access to over 9,000 cell recordings and will enable scientists to develop more accurate drug discovery models.
Researchers report that prebiotic amino acids can stabilize prebiotic fatty acid membranes in the presence of magnesium ions or sodium chloride. The findings propose how the first cell membranes might have formed and how key cellular components might have co-localized.
A team of researchers has successfully demonstrated that potassium ions migrate through the selectivity filter of potassium channels without water molecules in between. Their study, published in Science Advances, utilized solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to provide conclusive evidence under natural conditions.
Purdue researchers transformed cell membranes to create parallel nanoscale architectures for computing, using water as a surprise ingredient. The breakthrough aligns with sustainability efforts and paves the way for more efficient next-gen computer devices.
The study reveals the largest real-time structural changes in a molecule ever, showing how bacteriorhodopsin pumps protons from inside to outside through the cell membrane. This process creates a concentration gradient that the cell uses to gain energy for its metabolism.
Harvard University researchers have developed a new method to create thousands of nanowires that can record electrical chatter inside live cells. This breakthrough allows for the simultaneous recording of multiple cells, enabling researchers to study complex neural networks and interactions. The 'combing' process of nanowires untanglin...
Researchers from Aarhus University have determined the first structures of a lipid-flippase using cryo-electron microscopy. This breakthrough provides new insights into how cells work and stay healthy, and can eventually lead to increased understanding of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
A robotic gripper developed by researchers at UC Davis and Carnegie Mellon University can 'taste' for specific chemicals using engineered bacteria. The device is a proof-of-concept for biologically-based soft robotics and has potential applications in repair, energy generation, and biosensing.
Researchers at ETH Zurich discover that T cells can activate using either SHP-2 or SHP-1 when PD-1 is inhibited, highlighting the need for dual-targeted therapies in cancer immunotherapy. The study provides new insights into the biochemical signaling pathway of PD-1 and its implications for immunology.
A research team created an artificially produced antibody fragment that successfully blocks the transport of antibiotics and chemotherapy agents out of cancer cells. By binding to a specific protein, the fragment prevented the protein from splitting ATP, thus stopping the transport process.
A new study suggests that increased levels of the protein sarcospan improve cardiac function by reinforcing cardiac cell membranes, which become feeble in patients with DMD. Sarcospan could also act as a scaffold that supports other essential proteins at the cell membrane.
A team of researchers at the University of Missouri created a microscopic topographic map of cellular function, revealing how proteins move out of cells. The study found that cells adjust their protein transfer mechanisms depending on the type of protein being transported.
Researchers at the University of Basel have developed a DNA-encoded chemical library of over one million macrocycles, which can be used to identify new medicines. The library is rich in diversity and includes elements commonly found in natural biologically active macrocycles.
Researchers have created a graphene-based sandwiched superstructure that enables efficient transport of nanoparticles inside cell membranes, outperforming traditional carriers in anti-cancer efficacy. This discovery could significantly improve cytotoxicity effects and pave the way for novel membrane-specific drug delivery modes.
Scientists have identified the entry portal for C. difficile toxin A and found that it can be blocked with molecules already in development. The study's results provide hope for new treatments that don't rely on antibiotics, a leading cause of severe diarrheal illness.
Researchers found 69 metabolites changed significantly when air pollution fluctuated during the Beijing Olympics, affecting systems like cardiovascular and nervous systems. The study identified two major metabolic signatures, including lipids and dipeptides, which were involved in oxidative stress, inflammation, and other processes.
Lugdunin, a cyclic peptide with strong antimicrobial properties, works by proton transport across bacterial membranes. The researchers discovered that the thiazolidine group in lugdunin forms a critical part of its structure and is essential for its antibacterial activity.
A team of UD engineers has developed a fuel cell system that can efficiently remove carbon dioxide from an air stream, making it possible to use fuel cells in transportation applications. The system uses an electrochemical pump to capture CO2, allowing for the production of a CO2-free air stream suitable for fuel cells.
New research reveals distinct features of membrane channels in skeletal and heart muscle cells, shedding light on the mechanisms behind inherited arrhythmias and providing a promising avenue for targeted drug development. The study also highlights the vital role of phosphatidylethanolamine in mitochondrial energy production.
Researchers developed cell membrane-coated nanocarriers to overcome immune clearance and biotoxicity issues. These biomimetic hybrids achieve improved biocompatibility, circulation time, and therapeutic efficiency.
Researchers at University of Helsinki found that MDGI protein plays a key role in regulating lysosomal membrane stability. Inhibiting this protein causes glioblastoma cell death, particularly with antihistamine clemastine, which can cross the blood-brain barrier.
Researchers at IST Austria discovered that combined pulling and pushing forces within the embryo facilitate the segregation of cytoplasm from the yolk granules. Actin flows towards the animal pole drag along cytoplasm, while comet-like actin structures push yolk granules towards the vegetal pole.
A team of researchers at the University of Münster discovered a mechanism that triggers subsequent lamellipodial cycles in cells, allowing them to maintain direction over time. This discovery sheds light on how cells navigate their environment without external signals.
A team of biophysicists has discovered the correct structure of the KR2 rhodopsin protein under physiological conditions, which is crucial for understanding its mechanism and potential applications in optogenetics. The study reveals that the protein forms a stable pentamer when functioning correctly.
Cells lacking CD13 protein can't move normally, hindering their ability to repair wounds and metastasize. Researchers discovered that CD13 acts as an organizer, gathering recycled integrin proteins at the cell membrane to enable movement.
Researchers found that autophagy helps build and break down plant oils by delivering fatty acids from membrane recycling to lipid droplets. By manipulating this process, scientists may be able to drive up oil accumulation in bioenergy crops.
Researchers describe violacein's mechanism of action against bacteria, including its ability to kill drug-resistant pathogens and disrupt membrane organization. The study's findings suggest violacein's potential as a target for future antimicrobial research.
Researchers at PSI have produced the most detailed image to date of a type of membrane protein involved in signal transmission. They discovered that this protein inhibits itself, preventing overproduction of cAMP, an important secondary messenger in cell signaling.
Scientists created smart glues from human stem cells that can repair chronic wounds, protecting the cells from aggressive environments. The new technology uses natural enzymes to grow artificial extracellular matrices, paving the way for tissue engineering advancements.
Researchers at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology identify molecular mechanism behind Bombinin H2 and H4 peptides' antimicrobial properties. The peptides inhibit microbial activity by creating holes in cell membranes, ultimately killing microorganisms.
A research group has identified the gene responsible for the formation of nanopores in fruit flies, allowing them to detect chemicals in the air. The gore-tex gene plays a crucial role in envelope curvature and odor receptivity, essential functions for insects.
An international team of researchers discovered a pair of residues acting as a gate in the archaeal Na+/H+ antiporter PaNhaP. The gate's mutation speeds up the transporter twice as much as the wild type, suggesting a balance between fidelity and efficiency.
The US Department of Energy has awarded 86 grants totaling $95 million to small businesses in 21 states. These Phase II research and development grants will support scientific innovation and create jobs. The selected projects include advanced materials, energy storage, and IoT applications.
A collaboration of researchers from ICIQ and ICMAB-CSIC investigated the impact of changing Hole Transport Materials in perovskite solar cells. They found that the surfaces and interfaces created in the solar cell stack have a crucial role in functional device performances.
The University of Delaware team created poly(aryl piperidinium) polymers for hydroxide exchange membranes, achieving record power density and stability. This breakthrough enables the development of more efficient and cost-effective fuel cells for eco-friendly vehicles.