Articles tagged with Chemical Biology
Researchers developed fluorescent molecular probes to detect glucose levels in living animals, enabling real-time visualization of sugar uptake. The technology also enables the detection of elevated glucose in living systems, including zebrafish with diabetes-like mutations.
A study by IRCCS Fondazione Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta and Politecnico di Milano demonstrates that innovative materials can coat mitochondria without compromising their function. The coating method retains the mitochondria's ability to produce energy.
Finalists in the 2026 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists have been recognized for their groundbreaking research in Life Sciences, Chemical Sciences, and Physical Sciences & Engineering. The 18 Finalists will compete for three $250,000 Laureate prizes, with the remaining 15 receiving $15,000. The Awards aim to support innova...
Researchers found that dissolved black carbon's electron-shuttle ability depends on both redox activity and diffusivity, which can alter microbial metabolism and contaminant transformation rates. Higher-temperature DBC exhibited greater electron-shuttle ability and faster apparent diffusion.
A new study found that proteins with a certain type of structure are more likely to misfold and be targeted for removal, yet nearly half still evade the cellular maintenance crew. This can disrupt protein production and recycling, potentially contributing to aging and disease.
Researchers have documented glycan-glycan interactions between gangliosides and their impact on EGF receptor dimerization and activation. This study provides a new mechanism regulating EGFR activity, which may have implications for future cancer research.
A team of Penn State researchers has developed a synthetic enzyme mimic that can drive chemical reactions using oxygen, producing only water as waste. This breakthrough could potentially be used in sustainable industrial chemical syntheses and pharmaceutical drug development.
A new review reveals that selenium metabolism governs ferroptosis sensitivity through a broader network of selenoproteins and antioxidant defense systems. This discovery expands our understanding of ferroptosis regulation and has implications for cancer treatment and other diseases.
Researchers at Texas A&M University develop a laser technique called TRIP to directly measure quantum forces shaping proteins, enabling accurate prediction of how pharmaceutical drugs interact with them. This breakthrough could lead to the design of medicines tailored to specific diseases, revolutionizing precision medicine.
Researchers found that glutamine is not the primary amino acid for muscarine biosynthesis, but rather a triple methylation of L-lysine and later L-alanine. This discovery could lead to the identification of further intermediates with pharmaceutical potential.
Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center have uncovered promising combination therapies for a rare childhood brain tumor by analyzing patient samples, cell models, and laboratory data. The study found that cancer cells can develop workarounds to evade targeted RAS therapies, highlighting the need for new treatment strategies.
The new edition of the Wiley Registry of Mass Spectral Data 2026 expands compound coverage to over 915,500 reference spectra, strengthening a foundational layer of scientific data and research intelligence. This expansion enables researchers to identify unknown chemical compounds and materials faster with confidence.
Research finds estrogen plays a powerful role in regulating liver health, inflammation control, and energy processing, which become disrupted when levels decline. Restoring estrogen reverses many effects, suggesting targeting inflammatory pathways may prevent heart disease in women after menopause.
Researchers discovered over 400 proteins with modified states affecting drug binding, including KRAS and NPC2. PTMs may influence therapy selection and combination, offering new opportunities for targeted treatments. The study could reshape cancer treatment and lead to more effective therapies.
Complex systems exhibit emergent properties due to water's unique polarity, enabling DNA to store information and proteins to adopt specific structures. This order forms the basis for complex molecules to develop unpredictable properties, driving the evolution of life.
Researchers have finally understood why reinforced rubber is so tough and durable, with tiny particles forcing the material to fight against its own incompressibility. This breakthrough could improve tire design and lead to safer, longer-lasting products.
Scripps Research scientists develop a new approach to building branched molecular structures, overcoming a technical obstacle that limited chemists' ability to assemble complex molecules. The method, using metal hydride selection, produces more than 50 new branched compounds with an unusually high degree of control.
Researchers redesigned a key component of lipid nanoparticles to steer particles toward lymph nodes, reducing off-target delivery. This advancement could make mRNA vaccines more efficient, potentially achieving strong immune protection at lower doses.
A recent study at the Universities of Bonn and Freiburg has discovered a previously unknown mechanism by which mitochondria influence lipid storage in cells. The molecular machine MIM complex and enzyme Ayr1 play key roles in this process, which affects cellular lipid metabolism.
Four NYU faculty members have been awarded Sloan Research Fellowships for their groundbreaking work in brain injury, organic chemistry, computing, and software. Since 1955, 102 NYU faculty members have been selected as recipients, including this year's 126 fellows.
The B-STING silica nanocomposite acts as a nanofactory of reactive oxygen species, activating itself in response to changes in the chemical environment. This material can be used to create biocidal coatings that are safe, durable, and resistant to dirt, with potential applications in medicine and other industries.
Researchers discovered that a significant drop in calcium levels in the ocean led to a massive decrease in carbon dioxide, driving global cooling and ending the planet's greenhouse era. The study suggests that changes in seawater chemistry played a key role in shaping climate history.
Researchers at NTU Singapore have found that a common bacterium produces reactive oxygen species that impairs wound healing. Neutralizing this process with an antioxidant enzyme restores skin cells' ability to migrate and heal, offering a potential solution to tackle antibiotic-resistant strains.
Researchers at Colorado State University used AI to modify antibodies into stable intrabodies that can visualize histone modifications in real-time. This allows for better understanding of gene expression and its relationship with cancer and other disorders. The team created 19 new antibody-based probes with a 70% success rate, signifi...
Researchers at Umea University have identified two autophagy protein complexes as the long-sought sensors of lysosomal damage. These proteins respond to protons or calcium leakage, initiating the repair system that seals the hole, thereby preventing inflammation and cell death.
Researchers from Tokyo University of Science developed an efficient strategy to synthesize PROTACs using a three-step click chemistry method. This approach rapidly assembles functional molecules, enabling the easy introduction of ligand components and probe functionalities.
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University engineered yeast to produce 122 times more 2,3-butanediol in high-concentration environments. Gene expression analysis revealed the crucial role of proteasome and peroxisome activation in tolerance.
Researchers have developed a new method for human identification using proteomics, which could be used in scenarios where DNA evidence is unavailable or degraded. This technique relies on the detection of genetically variant peptides in single hair strands to create a unique profile for each person.
Scientists at NRL and FIU create a new method for detecting trace levels of fentanyl without direct contact using a silicon nanowire array. This breakthrough offers first responders a faster, safer way to identify fentanyl and its related synthetic opioids.
Researchers at Chiba University developed a novel isotope-based method to detect and identify selenium-containing compounds, revealing new biological roles of selenium. The technique uses multiple isotopic signatures simultaneously, reducing errors and improving detection reliability.
Researchers discovered that NDRG3 slows down cellular transport to conserve energy during low-oxygen conditions. The protein acts as a sensor for lactate, which accumulates in cells when oxygen is limited.
The COP6 decision sets a new timeline for the phase-out of dental amalgam, giving countries until 2034 to adapt national strategies. A key exemption ensures that practitioners can continue using dental amalgam when necessary for patient care.
Researchers have developed an efficient way to synthesize valuable compounds using alcohol dehydrogenase enzymes. The enzymes catalyze the formation of amides and thioesters from alcohols and amines or thiols, offering a clean alternative to traditional methods.
A new study reveals the rules of protein tolerance to dehydration and rehydration, identifying key traits such as surface chemistry and function. The research enables novel protein design and potential applications in biotechnology, including extended shelf life for therapeutics and food.
A new MOF, APF-80, enables the crystalline sponge method to capture and analyze nucleophilic compounds like alkaloids. This development opens possibilities for structural analysis in drug development and biochemistry.
The Blavatnik Regional Awards recognize exceptional postdoctoral researchers in Life Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering, and Chemical Sciences. Veena Padmanaban, Valentin Crépel, and Xiao Xie are this year's winners, honored for groundbreaking discoveries in cancer cell biology, condensed matter physics, and chemical biology tools.
This review summarizes progress in dynamic biomacromolecular modifications, regulatory mechanisms, and chemical interventions. It highlights newly emerging chemical tools and technologies for precise labeling, detection, and functional regulation of dynamic modifications.
A new study has revealed chemical signatures of ancient Martian microbial life in the Bright Angel formation, a region of Jezero Crater known for its fine-grained mudstones rich in oxidized iron and organic carbon. The findings suggest that early microorganisms may have played a role in shaping these rocks through redox reactions.
Researchers developed a new test to measure calcium digestibility in poultry feed, reflecting results of an older method, and found that both tests offer reliable results. The study's findings could help poultry producers optimize feed efficiency and reduce losses by millions of dollars.
A new 'dual-mode' tracer agent shows promise in helping surgeons image and plan prostate cancer procedures while also providing guided surgery with real-time radiation detection. The tracer targets PSMA, a protein highly expressed on prostate cancer cells, offering high-resolution visual guidance and targeted radiation density detection.
Researchers at Syracuse University found that slow-moving tissues generate mechanical forces that help sculpt developing organs, such as the zebrafish's body symmetry. This discovery could lead to a better understanding of organ formation and inform treatments for birth defects and other conditions.
Researchers created a glycan-binding protein that can analyze and treat diseases via sugar patterns found on the surface of cells. The tool, named sCore2, was developed by retraining an enzyme to bind to specific sugars, providing a new way to study glycans and their role in disease.
Researchers at Penn State have simulated a new class of protein misfolding using atomic-scale models, revealing a type of entanglement that disrupts protein function and persists in cells. The findings support the existence of this long-lasting type of misfolding, which is thought to contribute to aging and disease.
Researchers at Syracuse University have identified a new target for treating obesity and diabetes, reducing nausea and vomiting associated with existing treatments. A molecule called tridecaneuropeptide (TDN) produced by brain support cells suppresses appetite and improves glucose processing without adverse effects.
Researchers have developed a new measurement method to accurately quantify allergy-triggering proteins (ATIs) in barley. Analyzing over 180 barley accessions from around the world, they identified ten barley-specific ATI types for the first time, revealing varying content between 1.1 and 5.2 milligrams per gram of flour.
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a novel method to generate metal carbenes, highly useful for drug synthesis and materials development. The new approach is 100 times better than previous methods, making it easier and safer to produce these short-lived carbon atoms.
ADLM 2025 will tackle urgent topics like clinical AI integration and fake medical news, as well as leveraging genomics for personalized healthcare. The meeting also explores the health threat of plastics and microbiome medicine to combat diseases.
Researchers at the University of Konstanz and Queen Mary University of London have made a significant breakthrough in artificial blood production by identifying the molecular signal CXCL12 that triggers the expulsion of the nucleus in red blood cells. This finding could lead to more efficient artificial blood production and has far-rea...
Insilico Medicine's latest Pharma.ai updates showcase advancements in Biology42 and Chemistry42, enhancing antibody design and omics data analysis. The company's AI software suite has demonstrated significant efficiency improvements in practical applications, setting a benchmark for AI-driven drug research.
A novel fluorescent probe, SLY, has been developed to precisely identify hepatocellular carcinoma tissue using sialylated glycans on the cell surface. The probe outperforms conventional methods by clearly distinguishing tumor margins within liver tissues.
A study by Arc Institute and Stanford University scientists reveals that the target site of a popular STING inhibitor lacks a pocket found in mouse STING, making it challenging to develop effective human treatments. The research proposes targeting STING by preventing oligomerization, a key checkpoint prior to activation.
Researchers have elucidated the molecular composition of a pigment produced by anaerobic bacteria, revealing its role in cellulose degradation. The pigment shows mild antibiotic activity against Gram-positive bacteria.
A USC-developed shipboard system using limestone and seawater can remove up to half of carbon dioxide emitted from shipping vessels, cutting maritime CO2 emissions by 50%. The process mimics a natural chemical reaction in the ocean, where CO2 is absorbed into water pumped onboard and then neutralized through a bed of limestone.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science have turned a deadly fungus into a potent cancer-fighting compound. The new compound, called asperigimycins, has shown promising results against leukemia cells, rivaling FDA-approved drugs.
Researchers developed an automated program to rapidly identify anti-glycation active compounds in natural resources. The CTM-AM strategy accelerates the discovery of natural products with anti-AGE activity.
Researchers found that eukaryotes could survive in shallow pools of water atop ice sheets, similar to modern-day meltwater ponds in Antarctica. These environments supported diverse communities of early complex life, influenced by salinity levels.
The DFG is establishing 13 new Collaborative Research Centres (CRC) to tackle innovative, challenging and long-term research projects. The CRCs will focus on circadian medicine, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, heterostructures of molecules and 2D materials, and criticality.
Researchers at Politecnico di Milano have developed a system that allows bacteria to sense light and convert it into electrical signals without genetic modification. This method has the potential to develop next-generation antimicrobial platforms and biocompatible 'bacterial robots' for targeted drug delivery.
Scientists on IODP³-NSF Expedition 501 aim to validate hypotheses about water origin and better understand offshore aquifer systems. The expedition will collect sediment samples and water from beneath the ocean floor, shedding light on the dynamics of these groundwater systems.
The study investigates how early membranes may have selected the right-handed sugars and left-handed amino acids used in all life today. The researchers found that right-handed DNA and RNA sugars more easily passed through membranes with properties similar to those of archaea.