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Conversations with plants: Can we provide plants with advance warning of impending dangers?

Scientists at University of Cambridge create Highlighter tool that uses specific light conditions to activate defense mechanisms in plants, allowing them to 'talk' to humans about impending dangers such as disease outbreaks and heatwaves. The system utilizes optogenetics technology to control biomolecular processes at the cellular level.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 21, 2023

Preventing the tissue's response to stiffness may be key to slowing the progression of breast tumors

A recent study led by IBEC demonstrates that laminin, a protein present in healthy breast tissues, prevents the effects of stiffening, protecting cells against tumor growth. The researchers observed that cells seeded on laminin-rich gel exhibited a significantly less pronounced mechanical response to substrate stiffness.

SourceInstitute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC)·JournalNature Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 14, 2023

Exposure to air pollution while in the womb is linked to adverse changes in cell processes in new-born babies

Research found alterations in proteins that can affect autophagy, a self-eating process of damaged cells. Healthy newborns showed individual responses to prenatal exposure to air pollution, with some more vulnerable than others. The study aims to understand the impact on breathing problems during infancy and childhood.

SourceEuropean Respiratory Society·TypeObservational study·DateSep 12, 2023

Editorial: Epigenetic aging in oocytes

The editorial discusses epigenetic mechanisms leading to oocyte quality loss, a significant factor in age-related fertility decline. Researchers highlight the importance of understanding this process to address the growing issue of advanced maternal age and its impact on reproduction.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalAging-US·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateAug 30, 2023

How pre-eclampsia accelerates aging in women

Research led by Vesna D. Garovic reveals that pre-eclampsia causes accelerated aging in women, leading to increased risks of cardiovascular and kidney disease. Women with a history of pre-eclampsia are more likely to develop chronic conditions at a younger age.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalEBioMedicine·DateAug 24, 2023

DNA breaking process revealed

A team of scientists studied the impact of radiation on DNA, revealing that damaged areas are separated by a critical distance before breaking. The study found an exponential increase in DNA breakage time with distance, providing crucial information for effective DNA repair processes.

SourceUniversità di Trento·JournalBiophysical Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 8, 2023

Cell biology: How cellular powerhouses call for help when under stress

A team of researchers from Goethe University Frankfurt has discovered a central switch point in the mitochondrial signaling chain under misfolding stress. The mitochondria send two chemical signals to the cell when protein misfolding stress occurs, triggering a protective response that reduces misfolded proteins and stabilizes membranes.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 28, 2023

Cognitive rescue in aging through prior training

A new study published in Aging (Albany NY) suggests that prior training can rescue cognitive decline in aging by improving task performance and strengthening memory processes. The research, conducted on rats, found that prior training enhanced short-term and intermediate memory, while also enabling encoding-boosted long-term memory.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalAging-US·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 19, 2023

Structural biology: Molecular scissors caught in the act

Researchers have successfully visualized the three-dimensional structure of human tRNA splicing endonuclease TSEN, a crucial enzyme in tRNA maturation. The study reveals how TSEN recognizes and excises introns from precursor tRNAs, shedding light on its role in neurodegenerative disorders like pontocerebellar hypoplasia.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 13, 2023

Innovative 3D drug screening system

A team led by Professor Timo Betz has developed a 3D cell culture chamber to grow muscle and other tissue using high-resolution microscopy. The new system will enable scientists to mimic the mechanical situations that confront various living tissues in serious conditions, reducing animal testing and costs.

Delivery of antioxidants to liver mitochondria

A research team at Hokkaido University has developed a system to deliver antioxidants to mitochondria in the liver, reducing oxidative stress and damaging caused by ROS. The system, called CoQ10-MITO-Porter, was found to be more effective when downsized particles were used.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 10, 2023

“We were dancing around the lab” – cellular identity discovery has potential to impact cancer treatments

Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have discovered a new process that explains why cells have unique identities. By studying Polycomb protein complexes, the team found that different forms of these proteins recruit distinct complexes to DNA, shedding light on cellular identity and its potential impact on cancer treatments.

SourceTrinity College Dublin·JournalMolecular Cell·DateApr 7, 2023

Scientists make a breakthrough in the cellular recognition of microplastics

Researchers at Ritsumeikan University have made a breakthrough in understanding how macrophages recognize microplastics, discovering an interaction between aromatic rings that drives this process. The study suggests that while microplastics may not induce acute inflammation, chronic exposure could lead to autoimmune diseases.

SourceRitsumeikan University·JournalScience of The Total Environment·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 29, 2023

Organelles grow in random bursts

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis demonstrated that eukaryotic cells can control organelle size by exhibiting random bursts of growth, maintaining a narrow window of precision within this noise., The study suggests a biophysical mechanism for the robustness and universality of organelle size control.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 6, 2023

Flip-flopping cholesterol in the cell membrane

Researchers at Kyoto University have discovered a vital role of two proteins, ABCA1 and Aster-A, in maintaining the asymmetric distribution of cholesterol within cells. This process allows for selective control over substances entering and leaving cells.

SourceKyoto University·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 15, 2022

Sites in the brain where RNA is edited could help to better understand neurodevelopment and disease, researchers have found

Mount Sinai researchers catalogued thousands of sites in the brain where RNA is modified throughout the human lifespan, increasing with age. This study provides a model depicting how A-to-I editing evolves over a lifetime, shedding light on its role in health and disease.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalCell Reports·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 1, 2022