Articles tagged with Amino Acids
Tianbo Liu finds that molecules with electrical charge self-recognize left-handed and right-handed pairs to form large assemblies, simplifying the mystery of homochirality. This discovery emphasizes nature's simplicity in creating life.
Scientists have created a novel biocontainment method by making genetically modified E. coli dependent on a synthetic amino acid, which can only be obtained from laboratory cultures. This approach aims to prevent the bacteria from surviving in open environments and potentially causing ecological harm or contamination.
Researchers at Whitehead Institute have discovered a trio of poorly understood growth regulators called the Sestrins that play a crucial role in regulating mTORC1 signaling. The study found that the Sestrins work cooperatively to inhibit mTORC1 signaling by interacting with GATOR2, suggesting new potential targets for drug development.
Researchers from Max Planck Institute and Cornell University detect iso-propyl cyanide, a branched carbon molecule, in a giant gas cloud called Sagittarius B2. The discovery opens a new frontier in the complexity of molecules found in regions of star formation.
Researchers at the University of Leicester have developed a breakthrough technique to generate synthetic amino acids and designer proteins, which can be used to develop innovative new protein drugs for cancer and Alzheimer's disease treatment. The discovery opens up new avenues for drug discovery with potentially highly potent drugs an...
A new study confirms that achalasia is an autoimmune disease, with a specific genetic variant linked to the condition. The researchers identified 33 genetic variants associated with achalasia, all located in the MHC region of chromosome 6.
Researchers analyzed Stanley Miller's old samples and replicated his 1958 experiment, finding peptides formed under basic conditions. This discovery suggests a new path to the formation of proteins and enzymes necessary for life.
Researchers analyzed amino acids in shell beads to determine their origin, revealing a locally sourced alternative to the Mediterranean thorny oyster. The study uses a multidisciplinary approach, combining techniques from archaeology, chemistry, and physics.
Research suggests that high-altitude weight loss is linked to the release of ketones and amino acids, which protect cellular components from low oxygen damage. This adaptation may also benefit critically ill patients by preserving muscle mass.
A study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology found that a soy-dairy protein blend prolongs amino acid delivery to muscles for an hour longer than whey alone. The blend also sustained a greater positive net amino acid balance, suggesting less muscle protein breakdown.
Researchers at DRI found that certain bacteria can consume and convert left-handed amino acids into right-handed forms, which would otherwise be toxic to plants and animals. This discovery suggests that these bacteria play a crucial role in detoxifying the environment by consuming D-amino acids produced through geochemical transformation.
A team of MIT chemists has designed a way to manufacture peptides in mere hours, which could have a major impact on peptide drug development. The new system can assemble an entire peptide in under an hour, allowing for rapid testing and design of new peptides.
Researchers have developed a new technique for making unnatural amino acids, which are sought after by the pharmaceutical industry for their medical uses. The method employs special ligand compounds to enhance the ability of a palladium catalyst to break carbon-hydrogen bonds.
Researchers have identified the first structure of one of eight human amino acid transporters, known as HATs. This breakthrough provides new insights into their functions and opens up possibilities for developing drugs to tackle various diseases associated with HATs.
Researchers at the University of Leicester have found two versions of a protein called Cryptochrome in wild populations of fruit flies, both with different amino acids that affect the circadian clock. The study suggests that this variation is functionally important and actively maintained by natural selection.
Researchers at Duke University found that individuals can be very different in the way they activate their smell receptors, leading to unique perceptions of odor. The study identified 27 new receptors with significant responses to odor molecules, doubling the known number to 40.
A study found that branched chain amino acids improved wakefulness and restored orexin neurons in mice with mild TBI, suggesting a potential dietary supplement to address sleep disturbances and cognitive problems
Researchers evaluated camelina expeller digestibility in pigs, comparing them to canola meal. The study found that some camelina expeller sources had comparable amino acid digestibility to canola meal, suggesting their use in pig diets may be possible. However, other sources showed lower digestibility values.
Researchers have identified that seasonal flu escapes immunity by making just a single amino acid substitution, occurring at seven specific places on its surface. This new understanding could lead to more effective flu vaccines.
Researchers from Yale and Harvard successfully recoded the E. coli genome, enabling it to resist viral infection by limiting natural protein production. The new genetic code also allows for the creation of potent proteins with novel functions.
Researchers at McMaster University have developed a novel approach to find new antibiotics by targeting the processes that bacteria use to produce essential vitamins and amino acids. The study identifies chemical compounds that block these processes, potentially providing much-needed therapies to address antibiotic drug resistance.
Chemists at IRB Barcelona and PharmaMar develop synthesis method for pipecolidepsin A, a compound active against eleven types of cancers. The new approach simplifies production, reducing time and cost to produce large quantities of the molecule.
Researchers at Columbia University have developed a new technique to visualize protein synthesis in live cells, enabling the study of complex biological processes such as long-term memory and disease mechanisms. The method harnesses deuterium-labeled amino acids to track newly synthesized proteins, providing unprecedented insights into...
Researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute have uncovered a new metabolic pathway that regulates cell growth and responds to nutrients such as amino acids and glucose. The pathway involves the protein p62 and its interaction with TRAF6, which activates mTORC1 in response to nutrient signals.
Researchers found that gastric bypass surgery increases insulin and GLP-1 levels after meals, helping patients manage type 2 diabetes. The study used catheters to mimic pre-operative digestion and compared hormonal activity post-surgery.
A three-year study by Professor Michael Blaber and his team suggests that proteins, not RNA, were the first molecules to form life. The researchers found that 10 prebiotic amino acids could be folded into complex protein structures in a high-salt environment, supporting a 'protein-first' view of abiogenesis.
Researchers found that the sticky nature of opaline, not its chemical composition, is responsible for reducing sensory responses in lobsters. The study suggests that sea hares can escape predation by using opaline to inactivate a lobster's sense of smell and ability to feed.
Researchers demonstrate that mechanical forces control the depolymerization of actin, a critical protein in cells, affecting cellular growth and processes. The study uses atomic force microscopy to show that tensile forces create catch bonds, prolonging bond lifetimes.
Researchers discover that specific aromatic amino acids are necessary for bacterial nanowires to conduct electricity, enabling potential applications in fuel cells and bioelectronics. The study shows that removing these key components renders the wires non-conductive.
Researchers found that mutations in MECP2 gene at specific locations influence disease symptoms and progression. Mice studies revealed a difference in symptoms between mice with mutations at amino acids 270 and 273.
Study highlights importance of analyzing ancestral molecules in understanding adaptive evolution and natural selection. By examining changes in visual pigments over time, researchers can gain insights into how environmental factors drive vision adaptations.
Mice with Alzheimer's-like pathologies showed improved memory and slower disease progression on a low-protein diet supplemented with specific amino acids. The study found reduced levels of IGF-1 and increased blockade of its effects, suggesting potential non-invasive treatments.
Researchers at the University of Jyvaskyla have solved two acute problems in chemical catalysis using a novel intramolecularly assisted catalyst for beta amino acid synthesis. They also identified a new mechanism for the amine-catalysed Michael addition reaction between aldehydes and nitroalkenes.
Researchers used zebrafish to test genetic mutations that affect human skin color and found that some mutations had no effect on the fish's skin color. This approach may be useful in identifying which genetic mutations can be ignored and which require attention, potentially aiding personalized medicine.
A new CU-Boulder study found that consumer preferences and willingness to pay are influenced by the depth of explanation about novel products. 'Explanation foes' prefer shallow explanations, while 'explanation fiends' require deep details.
Comet impacts may have delivered the building blocks of life to Earth, with amino acids forming peptide bonds despite intense heat and shock. This research provides further support for the comet delivery scenario, suggesting multiple deliveries of seedlings of life through comets, asteroids, and meteorites.
Researchers found amino acids in 14 carbon-rich meteorites with high temperatures, suggesting high-temperature Fischer-Tropsch reactions created them. These reactions produce prebiotic components of life using hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen.
Researchers discovered that a precise 24-hour rhythm, known as circadian rhythm, controls nitrogen balance in mammals. Disruptions can lead to life-altering diseases, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Researchers have identified a promising strategy for HIV vaccine design using mathematical techniques also used in quantum physics and stock market analyses. They found high-order evolutionary constraints in the Gag region of HIV, which could be targeted by vaccines.
Manan Mehta developed a method to create circularly permuted proteins, which are useful for studying molecular evolution and designing biosensors. The new technique uses transposase engineering to create diverse protein variants with great control.
Researchers create specially engineered mammalian cells with a chemical handle to label proteins of interest efficiently without disrupting their function. The new approach enables fast, high-yield protein labeling and has advantages over existing methods.
Researchers at the University of York have successfully recreated a process that could be responsible for the origin of carbohydrates in life. By using simple left-handed amino acids as catalysts, they produced predominantly right-handed sugars, shedding light on how these building blocks came to dominate nature.
Scientists have developed a fast and reliable scientific test to authenticate the age and authenticity of priceless silk tapestries and treasures. The new method tracks time-related deterioration in silk protein, providing accurate measures of age within 50-100 years.
Researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute have identified a new component of the cellular machinery that senses dietary amino acids, which is essential for mTORC1 activation. This finding provides new information about mTORC1 and its role in cellular metabolism in both normal cells and cancer cells.
The Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute has developed a fast and reliable method to date silk using capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry. This technique measures the natural deterioration of silk's amino acids to determine its age, providing a scientific clock for estimating silk's age.
Researchers built upon a previous study to demonstrate how naturally occurring sugars and amino acids can form the building blocks of life. They found that adding simple amino acids allowed only the natural, stable form of RNA precursors to be generated.
Researchers develop new method to link climatic records with plant and animal responses to climate change, enabling precise dating of archaeological sites. This breakthrough enables detailed analysis of human occupation patterns in Britain during the Ice Age.
Researchers developed genome-scale editing tools, replacing instances of a stop codon in E. coli with another, creating novel cell strains with increased functionality and safety. The new method, CAGE, surpasses current methods by two orders of magnitude.
Developing better modeling techniques for protein folding is vital to creating effective pharmaceutical treatments for diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The new algorithm can predict protein folding in 10 minutes on a laptop, improving upon classical methods that required hundreds of thousands of CPU hours.
A team of scientists at A*STAR have discovered a way to convert proteins involved in controlling genes into other types of cells by changing a single amino acid. This breakthrough has implications for generating stem cells more efficiently and could help develop treatments for diseases such as diabetes and Parkinson's disease.
Researchers have reanalyzed Stanley Miller's 1958 'primordial soup' samples and found a diverse array of organic compounds, including sulfur amino acids. The discovery supports the hypothesis that volcanoes and lightning played a key role in creating the building blocks of life on Earth.
Scientists at TUM create customized fluorescent proteins in various colors for future applications by incorporating a genetically encoded non-natural amino acid into widely used natural proteins like GFP. The new bio-molecule exhibits a pseudo-Stokes shift, allowing it to be excited with commercially available black-light lamps.
Researchers at the University of Illinois found that fermented and enzyme-treated soybean meals can replace fish meal in weanling pig diets without sacrificing digestibility. These new sources are cheaper alternatives to traditional fish meal, which has seen a significant price increase.
A team of researchers found excess left-handed isovaline in a wider range of carbon-rich meteorites, suggesting conditions on asteroids favored the creation of left-handed amino acids. Liquid water appears to be key to this process, and its amplification may have perpetuated a bias toward left-handed life.
Researchers used X-rays to pinpoint locations of more than 50 mutations in the ryanodine receptor, a protein associated with calcium-related diseases. The study provides insights into how these mutations contribute to disease and could lead to new therapeutic targets for heart disease.
McGill researchers discovered how cells identify and recycle proteins by capturing an image of the UBR box component. This finding holds promise for understanding and treating Johanson-Blizzard syndrome, a rare disease causing deformations and mental retardation.
Research found that extracellular proteins require less energy to produce than their cellular counterparts, even though they are lost to the environment. Microbes like E. coli and Pseudomonas syringae have optimized their protein synthesis to reduce energy costs, with over 100 proteins being more economical in nature.
Scientists have identified six critical amino acids in the TRIM5α protein that enable it to destroy HIV. Altering these amino acids in human cells renders TRIM5α ineffective against HIV-1 infection, highlighting a potential target for therapy development.
Researchers at Michigan State University found that protein diffusion is slower than previously thought, which could lead to new therapeutic strategies for diseases such as Alzheimer's, ALS, and cystic fibrosis. The discovery provides a fundamental understanding of the pre-folded state of proteins.
A team of Vanderbilt chemists has developed a novel method for synthesizing peptides that incorporates non-natural amino acids. The technique streamlines the process, making it easier to create diverse peptides and proteins, which have highly specific biological activity associated with low toxicity.