Articles tagged with Cell Surface Receptors
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have discovered that a brain protein called Arc controls how brain cells learn and associate behaviors, leading to improved long-term memory. The study also sheds light on the mechanisms behind certain addictive behaviors, such as drug addiction.
Researchers discovered that HIV's surface glycoprotein interacts with CXCR4 on uninfected CD4+ T cells, triggering autophagy. This interaction leads to the death of uninfected bystander cells, contributing to the depletion of immune system cells in AIDS patients.
Researchers discovered that nicotine activates specific receptors in dopamine-producing neurons, leading to increased responsiveness and triggering exploratory behaviors. The study suggests a hierarchical role of two receptor subunits in regulating the response to nicotine.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have developed a new PET radioligand, [11C]JHU75528, which allows for noninvasive visualization of central cannabinoid CB1 receptors in the human and animal brain. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new medications for treating obesity and drug dependence.
A study published in The Journal of Neuroscience found that high temperatures can reduce the number of GABA-A receptors on nerve cells' surfaces, making them more susceptible to seizures. This discovery may lead to new approaches for preventing recurrent febrile seizures in vulnerable children.
Researchers at UCSF have discovered that the brain refreshes its supply of memory-making molecules by migrating receptors along neurons to synapses. This process supports rapid changes in the number of receptors during learning and memory formation, contradicting previous assumptions about receptor replacement.
Researchers have discovered a synthetic protein, P60 PLAD, that powerfully inhibits arthritis symptoms in mice. The study suggests that this protein could represent an advantage over current treatments, which directly block tumor necrosis factor alpha by binding to both TNFRs and inhibiting beneficial actions mediated by TNFR-2.
Scientists at WashU Medicine found that natural killer cells become more capable of attacking invaders after encountering a specific molecule on the surface of other cells. This process, known as licensing, has important implications for understanding persistent viral infections and bone marrow transplants.
Researchers identify a new marker, CD150, that helps distinguish hematopoietic stem cells from progenitor cells. The discovery uses the SLAM family of genes to precisely identify stem cells in tissue sections.
Researchers discovered two proteins that chaperone odorant receptors to the surface of olfactory nerves in mice, enabling them to match nearly 1,000 different mouse odorant receptors with specific chemicals. This breakthrough opens up new possibilities for understanding the mechanisms underlying our sense of smell.
Researchers discovered that HER-2 protein receptors can travel into the nucleus and turn on genes associated with different carcinogenesis pathways, including COX-2. This finding may change treatment strategies and open up new avenues of research.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center discovered molecular portals in dendritic spines of neurons that facilitate endocytosis of receptors. This finding reveals a previously unknown level of organization in the brain, with implications for understanding neural connections and memory.
The event honored Dr. Steven Almo, Dr. Sunney I. Chan, Dr. Ronald W. Davis, Dr. Pehr A. B. Harbury, and Dr. Robert J. Lefkowitz for their outstanding contributions to biochemical and molecular biological research. Dr. William L. Smith also received the ASBMB-Avanti Award in Lipids.
Researchers determined the structure and behavior of a protein receptor complex in E. coli, revealing a 'two-receptor approach' to bring substances into the cell's cytoplasm. This discovery could provide insights into cellular metabolism and how proteins are transported across membranes.
A Salk Institute research team has discovered a receptor-protein interaction that guides nerve cells along specific pathways. The binding of protein Wnt5 to receptor Derailed prevents nerve cells from entering the wrong pathway, ensuring accurate connections.
Researchers at Duke University have uncovered a new role for beta-arrestin in regulating cyclic AMP levels by recruiting phosphodiesterases to the membrane. This finding highlights the complex interplay between these two mechanisms, which were previously thought to be distinct and unrelated.
Researchers discovered specialized domains on nerve cell surfaces that regulate the entry of molecules, revising a long-held theory. These 'endocytic zones' control receptor transport and are also entry points for nutrients and pathogens, offering new insights into brain development and neurological disorders.
Researchers found that the Hrs protein regulates cell proliferation by tagging receptors for degradation through a process called endocytosis. This finding could lead to new cancer treatments targeting the Hrs protein.
Researchers explored the anti-inflammatory properties of apoptotic bodies in various diseases, including IBD and osteoarthritis. They found that these bodies can modulate immune responses and reduce inflammation, offering new therapeutic targets for treating chronic inflammatory conditions.
Researchers have discovered that a specific cell surface molecule senses runaway inflammation and tissue damage, allowing the body to limit excessive inflammation. The study found that the adenosine receptor plays a central role in controlling inflammation, and its dysfunction may lead to impaired inflammation regulation.
Researchers at the University of Washington have discovered a potential non-toxic cancer treatment using a wormwood derivative. The compound, artemisinin, selectively targets breast cancer cells by exploiting their high iron concentrations.
Two groups of researchers identify how anthrax toxin destroys cells and how to prevent it. They discovered a protein on the surface of animal cells that acts as a receptor for the toxin, and a way to attach the toxin to its target molecule inside cells, leading to cell death.
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory discovered that coxsackievirus forms pairs on the surface of human cells, increasing the likelihood of infection. The study reveals hidden binding sites on the virus that evade the immune system, making it hard to defeat.
Researchers have identified a new fast serotonin receptor in the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans that can inhibit neuronal activity. This discovery raises hopes for developing new treatments for disorders caused by serotonin imbalance, such as mood disorders and obesity.
Researchers at The Wistar Institute have identified an intracellular target for an antimicrobial molecule, which may lead to the development of new antibiotics tailored to specific disease-causing bacteria. The discovery provides hope for combating antibiotic resistance, a growing threat to human health.
Researchers at UCSF and Compugen identified a new chemokine CXCL16 that recruits immune cells to sites of infection. The novel molecule binds to the CXCR6 receptor, which is exploited by HIV viruses for entry into human cells.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have identified a protein ligand-receptor pair that plays a crucial role in plant cell development. The discovery, led by Steven Clark, could lead to breakthroughs in increasing flower and fruit production, as well as controlling fruit timing.
Researchers identified a new axon guidance receptor, Dscam, found in the tips of growing neurons that can exist in over 38,000 different forms. This unprecedented diversity may provide a fundamental code for precise wiring of trillions of neurons in the brain.
Researchers at McGill University have identified a novel receptor combination that could lead to new treatments for various neurological disorders. The discovery involves the interaction between dopamine and somatostatin receptors, which can produce synergistic responses when activated simultaneously.
Scientists have identified a family of candidate genes in humans and mice that code for receptors detecting bitter and sweet tastes. The discovery provides new tools to trace the wiring of the taste perception pathways into the brain, shedding light on how we perceive different tastes.
A new study reveals that the LDL receptor plays a key role in reducing the production of LDL cholesterol and removing it from the blood, providing insights into familial hypercholesterolemia. The research also explains how statins lower blood cholesterol levels by increasing LDL receptor activity.
Philip Portoghese, a medicinal chemist at the University of Minnesota, has received the Alfred Burger Award in Medicinal Chemistry from the American Chemical Society for his work on opioid receptors. His research reveals how drugs such as morphine interact with these receptors, enabling the creation of new, more effective drugs.
Scientists have discovered a new family of bitter taste receptors that can detect different forms of bitter and are found in the cells of taste buds. These receptors were found to be highly discriminative and appear to play a crucial role in an animal's survival.
Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center discovered a secondary retroviral receptor, dubbed FELIX, crucial for feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection. This discovery may provide a window into the pathway of retroviruses like HIV and potentially lead to therapies that disable the virus.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have found a cellular communication method in the brain that could lead to improved treatments for schizophrenia and addiction. The study demonstrated how proteins can modify each other's function, including the ability of neurons to accept or reject dopamine and other neurochemicals.
A research group from Purdue University analyzed the interaction between poliovirus and its receptor, finding that it uses a similar site to bind as human rhinoviruses. The study provides new insights into how viruses selectively attach to receptors and may suggest ways for developing drugs to prevent illnesses caused by viral pathogens.
Researchers link myxoma poxvirus to HIV-like immune deficiency in rabbits, supporting a new theory on the origins of HIV resistance. The discovery strengthens the hypothesis that smallpox may have imposed selective pressure for the CCR5 receptor mutation to persist.
Scientists have relieved pain in rats by dispatching molecular 'smart bombs' to selectively destroy certain nerve cells in the spinal cord, targeting faulty signaling by a small group of neurons. This approach targets just those nerve cells that send pain messages to the brain without causing side effects like morphine or surgery.
Researchers have discovered a new target for treating chronic pain by disabling specific nerve cells that send pain signals to the brain. The study found that combining substance P with saporin can significantly reduce pain sensitivity, even when administered after neuropathic pain has developed.
Researchers have identified an enzyme, PKCe, that could be a target for treating alcoholism. Mice genetically engineered to lack the enzyme were less likely to drink and showed increased sensitivity to alcohol and benzodiazepines in the brain.
Researchers found that a muscle protein rapidly disappears from synapses when not receiving nerve signals, supporting the idea of rapid molecular changes in learning. This discovery may explain why withdrawal of certain agents can be fatal to patients on respirators.
Researchers at the Weizmann Institute have developed a new treatment for a myasthenia gravis-like disease in rats by administering genetically engineered receptor fragments through the nose. The approach may serve as a basis for treating this autoimmune disease in humans, where symptoms can be life-threatening.
Dopamine receptor biology discovery may open new treatment avenues for conditions like schizophrenia and ADHD. The study shows a connection between dopamine, folate, and nerve cell membrane fluidity critical for normal cognition.
Scientists found a biochemical link between IgE antibody levels and immune cell receptor count, stanching allergic symptoms. When the drug reduced IgE, new receptors sprouted on immune cells, confirming this link.
Researchers reveal that the Type III TGF-beta receptor plays a crucial role in transforming heart cells and forming valves, providing new insights into congenital heart defects. The discovery could lead to improved treatments for children with heart defects.
A new type of molecular cue, Slit, has been discovered that repels growing neurons and triggers them to sprout new connections in the developing nervous system. The discovery opens a promising new pathway to understanding how the brain and nervous system wires itself.
Scientists discover that the sense of smell in mammals uses a combinatorial code to recognize and process odors, allowing for the detection of thousands of scents with relatively few odor receptors. The study reveals that different combinations of receptors are used to describe various smells.
Researchers at UNC Chapel Hill discovered molecular changes in nerve cells that may play a role in causalgia, a painful medical syndrome. The study found that nerve fibers affected by injury become supersensitive to norepinephrine, leading to persistent burning pain.
Researchers at Oregon Health Science University have uncovered a mechanism used by certain leukemia viruses to attach themselves to cell surfaces and sneak into cells. They've also developed a rapid cloning method for human genes encoding viral receptors, which could lead to new treatments for viral diseases.
Researchers identify receptor on egg surface that binds to sperm surface protein, offering new avenue for contraception. The target, alpha-6/beta-1 integrin, could be used to deceive an egg into changing its outer coat to keep sperm out.
A new study reveals that alpha V beta 5-integrins on cell surfaces facilitate the entry of genetically engineered AAV viruses into cells, allowing for efficient gene delivery. This understanding can lead to improved gene therapy methods and enhanced chances of successful treatment outcomes.
The Northwestern University-led study determines the precise shape of the high-affinity immunoglobulin-E receptor, a trigger for allergic responses. The structure's discovery could lead to the development of targeted therapies blocking the receptor's binding to antibodies.
A team of Australian scientists has made a world-first discovery by describing the structure of a vital receptor found on the surface of body cells in all animals, including humans. This breakthrough has major implications for understanding growth and development, as well as diseases such as diabetes and cancer.
Scientists have identified a new molecular target that could lead to novel therapies for ischemic cardiovascular disease. The A3 adenosine receptor has been found to exert sustained protection against injury during exposure to ischemia, suggesting potential for drug development.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have developed a new gene therapy technique that efficiently delivers genes to targeted cells by linking viruses with specific receptors. The technique, which uses a protein bridge made of growth factor EGF and ALV receptor proteins, allows for precise targeting of cell types, including cancer cells.
Research reveals that glutamate receptors, key mediators of brain cell communication, form tetramers similar to voltage-gated potassium channels. The discovery challenges previous theories on how ligand-gated receptors become activated by neurotransmitters.
A new protein called HveC has been discovered that allows both Herpes Simplex-1 and -2, as well as animal herpesviruses, to infect human cells. This receptor has the broadest activity among the identified co-receptors, enabling entry of multiple strains of herpesviruses into various cell types.
Researchers identify neurotransmitter-triggered electrical activity as a key signal for synapse formation in embryonic spinal cord neurons. The activity is necessary for clustering glycine receptors, which are essential for inhibitory neurotransmission in the spinal cord.
A Purdue University research team has solved the structure of a receptor used by the common cold virus, providing potential insights into developing new treatments. By understanding how the virus enters human cells, scientists may be able to block its interaction with receptors, potentially reducing the incidence of colds.
Dystonia results from a deficiency in dopamine receptors, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine. A study found that dopamine levels were 97-98% lower on the treated side of the brain during dystonic symptoms.