Articles tagged with Cell Walls
Researchers have identified and grouped the genes responsible for cell wall development in maize, enabling better study of biomass production. The discovery expands their ability to discover ways to produce biomass suitable for biofuels production.
Researchers have identified a three-pronged mechanism of the human immune system attacking fungal yeast cells, including recognition of specific cell wall components and glucan targets. Understanding these interactions could lead to effective immunotherapy and new treatments for patients with weakened immunity.
A study published in Nature Cell Biology has shed light on the protein network that provides scaffolding for cell-wall structure and delivers growth-promoting molecules. The research discovered a novel mechanism by which microtubules guide cellulose synthase complexes to their place of action.
Researchers have developed a new approach for treating pneumococci by emulating the choline architecture of their cell walls. This method traps critical pneumococcal proteins, preventing bacterial growth and toxin release. The resulting CBP inhibitor has a suitable dosage range for pharmaceuticals.
Researchers at the University of Notre Dame have made significant discoveries about bacterial cell wall recycling. The study reveals that a specific enzyme, M1tB, plays a crucial role in breaking down the cell wall, leading to pro-inflammatory events associated with bacterial infections.
Emerging genomic technologies are transforming the biofuels industry by enabling the domestication of energy crops and optimizing their conversion into suitable biofuels. Genomics also informs the design of microbial biomass breakdown strategies, including the use of fungi to degrade lignin and yeast to ferment xylose.
Researchers have discovered two new β-Lactam antibiotics that target MRSA, a major global health threat responsible for approximately 20,000 US deaths annually. The novel compounds interact with the MRSA cell wall enzyme PBP 2a, inhibiting its function and leading to bacterial cell death.
Researchers discovered Vibrio cholerae interacts with chitin in aquatic environments, influencing survival, spread, and human infection. This knowledge can inform risk assessments and develop new responses to combat pathogens.
Researchers found that SWCNTs can kill bacteria like E. coli by severely damaging their cell walls, and this effect is only seen when there is direct contact between the nanotubes and the bacteria.
Researchers developed a method to penetrate plant cell walls using nanotechnology, enabling simultaneous delivery of DNA and chemicals. This breakthrough enables precise control over gene expression in plants, opening up new possibilities for agricultural biotechnology.
Researchers are studying how unicellular micro-algae, known as diatoms, create complex cell walls and aim to learn from their intricate micro-architectures. Genetic engineering of diatoms using microparticle bombardment enables the insertion of mutated or foreign genes into the genome, potentially leading to novel silica nanostructures.
Scientists identify AbNPS2 gene crucial to fungal spore cell wall integrity, impacting viability and host plant damage. Disruption of the gene leads to structural changes, decreased germination rates, and reduced survival under adverse conditions.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital found that pieces of cell walls from Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria hijack a protein on blood vessel lining and enter the brain and heart. Antibiotic therapy contributes to this damage by shedding more cell wall pieces.
A new protein, Lyz, has been discovered to transform into a different structure, enabling medical researchers to design drugs that can turn proteins on or off at the cellular level. This discovery could lead to treatment for difficult-to-cure diseases such as cancer and HIV.
Purdue University researchers found a new twist in a plant formation biochemical pathway, decreasing two acids in plant cell walls to enhance digestibility. This could lead to more nutritious livestock feed and improved crop yields.
Purdue University scientists discovered that simple sugars, particularly galactose, are essential for maintaining plant cell wall strength. The study found that enzymes break down xyloglucan polymers during growth, allowing microfibrils to separate and new fibers to be integrated, preventing the cell wall from becoming too thick.
Scientists at Purdue University have cloned a gene that improves the digestibility of food for livestock and enhances the stress tolerance of plants. The study's findings have potential applications in breeding more productive and resilient crop varieties.
Researchers will use infrared spectroscopy to identify mutant genes affecting plant cell wall architecture in Arabidopsis and maize. The goal is to determine the function of all genes involved in plant cell walls, potentially leading to improvements in food-derived health benefits and product durability.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have successfully simulated the movement of water molecules through aquaporins, ensuring only water passes between cells. The study reveals that water molecules pass single-file and reverse orientation midstream, preventing ion conduction and maintaining cell metabolism.
Scientists have discovered that a complex carbohydrate, RG-II, plays a crucial role in regulating plant growth by forming a network in the cell wall matrix through boron cross-links. The ability of RG-II to cross-link with boron enables normal plant expansion and prevents dwarfing in mutants without sufficient boron or fucose.
Researchers at Rockefeller University have identified two genes responsible for producing branched muropeptides, essential for pneumococcus survival in the presence of penicillin. Inactivating these genes restores penicillin's potency, opening the door to new drugs that target this newly discovered mechanism.
A team of researchers from the University of Georgia has discovered that plant cells can substitute one sugar for another in their cell walls, a process previously thought to be essential for survival. This finding suggests that oligosaccharins play a role in regulating cell wall growth and development.