Scientists at Scripps Research Institute developed a powerful new method to find drug candidates that bind to specific proteins. The technique can be applied to thousands of distinct proteins and has successfully identified selective inhibitors for two caspase enzymes, which play key roles in multiple diseases.
Researchers at UC Santa Cruz developed a new capping strategy to stabilize perovskite nanocrystals, overcoming instability issues with organometal-halide materials. The approach uses unique branched ligands to control particle size and improve photoluminescence quantum yield.
Researchers developed DNA-based tension sensors to study T cell interactions. They found that T cells use precise mechanical tugs to test whether a cell is a friend or foe, with stronger tugs indicating a foreign invader. This discovery could aid in the development of immune therapies for cancer and treatments for autoimmune diseases.
Researchers have identified 11 molecules capable of binding to the PSMA biomarker, making them potential treatments for prostate cancer. These ligands are suitable for synthesizing and have good pharmacokinetic parameters, increasing their effectiveness in clinical trials.
Scientists have determined the dynamical behavior of a water-soluble gold nanocluster's ligand layer, a crucial step towards understanding its interactions with the environment. This breakthrough enables precise control over the functionalization of ligated nanoparticles for various applications.
Researchers at Technical University of Munich create a highly active molecule that selectively targets the alphaVbeta6 integrin, a common marker in many types of cancer. This breakthrough could lead to patient-specific diagnoses and targeted therapies with minimal side effects.
Scientists found that nickel N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes decompose into initial reagent and nickel hydroxide when exposed to water. The rate of hydrolysis varies depending on the type of NHC ligand, with some complexes breaking down quickly while others remain stable for over a week.
Researchers have developed a biodegradable liquid metal technique that uses 'nano-terminators' to target cancer cells. The liquid metal drug carriers enhance the effectiveness of anticancer drugs while minimizing long-term toxicity.
Researchers developed polyMOCs, hybrid materials combining metallogels and MOCs, with tunable properties. These gels can be used for various functions, including controlled release of molecules and gas storage.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed techniques to control the shape and structure of DNA and RNA using charged gold nanoparticles. This breakthrough has significant implications for developing applications such as storing and transporting genetic information, creating custom scaffolds for bioelectronics, and c...
A RIKEN-led team has developed a large-scale map of primary cell-to-cell interactions, revealing common signaling routes between cells and new insights into receptor evolution. This data can contribute to the development of medical treatments by identifying potential targets for therapies in various diseases.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed nanoparticles that can interact with oil-water interfaces without clumping together. By measuring pressure and density, they've established universal rules governing the physics of these systems, which could lead to advances in nanomanufacturing, catalysis, and photonic devices.
Researchers found that limiting exposure to specific ligands in the thymus did not affect the mix of T cell types emerging. Instead, they discovered a difference in receptor overlap between weakly bound and strongly bound ligands, which may lead to new vaccine strategies.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have observed the direct formation of facets on platinum nanocubes, revealing that a long-held scientific principle breaks down at the nanoscale. This breakthrough enables the control of a nanocrystal's geometric shape and its subsequent chemical and electronic properties.
HHMI researchers have pinpointed a single-letter change in the genetic code that generates blond hair in humans. This variation is common in Northern Europeans and fine-tunes the regulation of an essential gene involved in hair color, showcasing how independent changes can be encoded to produce specific traits.
Berkeley Lab researchers found that hydroxyl groups from water bind to the surface of colloidal lead sulfide nanoparticles, explaining how they achieve balance of positive and negative ions. This discovery sheds light on the surface chemistry of nanocrystals and has implications for nanoparticle synthesis.
Scientists at Northwestern University have discovered that cancer cells rely on the FAS receptor and its binding component for survival, making them vulnerable to elimination. The team created a cancer cell completely devoid of CD95, which resulted in DNA damage and cell death, offering a promising new approach to kill cancer cells.
Researchers evaluated the effectiveness and safety of an anti-FGF23 antibody in patients with X-linked hypophosphatemia, finding improved renal phosphate reabsorption and increased serum phosphate levels. Additionally, studies on natural killer cells suggest that targeting specific ligands may enhance cancer therapies by protecting tum...
Researchers create method to pinpoint locations for single proteins and improve chromatography process, leading to faster and cheaper drug production. This breakthrough could widen bottleneck in pharmaceutical industry and expand application to other industries.
Researchers at the University of Oregon have captured fundamental new insights about the stability of gold nanoparticles, which could enhance or destabilize their properties depending on use. Smaller nanoparticles exhibit better structural integrity than larger ones, making them suitable for applications where stability is crucial.
Researchers at the Salk Institute created a new approach to determine the structure of key cellular receptors using artificial amino acids, revealing crucial details about their binding pockets. This breakthrough could aid in designing drugs that target diseases such as diabetes and osteoporosis.
Researchers have developed nanoscale patches that can be used to sensitize targeted cell receptors, making them more responsive to signals. This technology holds promise for promoting healing and facilitating tissue engineering research.
A UT Arlington professor will use a $450,000 NSF grant to study the interaction between metals and organic compounds, aiming to create more energy-efficient and sustainable chemical reactions. The research may lead to new technologies for producing valuable industrial chemicals such as ethylene oxide and alcohols.
Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have identified a synthetic ligand that reduces renal fibrosis in mice by inhibiting the TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway. This finding has implications for the treatment of patients with fibrotic diseases.
Scientists from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin used RIXS spectroscopy and ab initio theory to study the iron carbonyl complex. They discovered a strong orbital mixing between metal and ligands, weakening the chemical bond during excitation. This fundamental insight can help control catalytic properties and produce novel materials.
Researchers at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) have developed a novel method to synthesize hierarchically nanoporous frameworks of nanocrystalline metal oxides for CO2 adsorption. The material exhibits exceptionally high CO2 adsorption capacity, offering a potential solution to environmental pollution.
Scientists at USC have found a class of drugs, TSPO ligands, that can reduce measures of pathology and improve behavior in both young adult and aged mice with Alzheimer's Disease. The treatment showed promising results, including a significant decrease in symptoms and improvements in memory.
Researchers have identified a key piece of the Notch signaling pathway, specifically a domain within the Notch receptor that is crucial for determining which ligand to bind. This finding provides a molecular handle for future studies and potential therapeutic targets for diseases such as cancer.
Nobel laureates including Robert H. Grubbs and Richard R. Schrock present cutting-edge research on metathesis method and biodegradable polymers, advancing green chemistry and sustainable materials science. The presentations also explore innovative applications for plastics, medicines, and energy.
Researchers report the first structural study on the atomistic processes of a ligand-exchange reaction in well-defined gold nanoparticles. The study reveals that only 4 sites out of 44 possibilities showed occupation by the exchanged ligand, providing insight into the highly heterogeneous structure of the overlayer.
Researchers at The University of Nottingham have successfully created a stable version of the elusive 'trophy molecule' using a novel method. The team's achievement offers a viable alternative to current nuclear fuels, with superior high densities, melting points, and thermal conductivities.
Gold nanoparticles with a slight positive charge have been found to unravel DNA's double helix, enabling potential breakthroughs in gene therapy. The research also highlights the importance of characterizing nanoparticle characteristics for DNA-based electronics.
The researchers found that larger ligands produce smaller gold nanoparticles and that each type of ligand produces nanoparticles in a particular array of discrete sizes. This discovery advances the understanding of nanoparticle formation and provides a new tool for controlling the size and characteristics of gold nanoparticles.
Scientists at Berkeley Lab are developing a much more effective alternative to decontaminate a large number of actinides, including plutonium and uranium. The treatment can be administered orally in the form of a pill, resulting in approximately 90-percent actinide contaminant excretion within 24 hours.
Researchers have discovered that proteins and ligands engage in a complex dance-like interaction, influencing the binding modes of ligands and receptor dynamics. This finding has implications for designing future diabetes treatments.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital create drug delivery system that effectively targets prostate cancer cells, delivering high amounts of chemotherapeutic drugs. The innovative approach simplifies targeted nanoparticle development and broadens applications in cancer therapy.
Harvard researchers develop a single-layer quantum-dot light-emitting device (QD-LED) that enables more effective control over electrical current flow and allows for diverse applications. The new architecture uses an insulating egg-crate structure to optimize the device's performance.
Researchers developed a nanomedicine-based tool to target malignant melanoma, which showed promising results in preclinical studies. The system's ability to deliver targeted therapies with high affinity and selectivity holds great potential for improved diagnosis and therapy.
Scripps Research scientists have identified a specific region of the β2-adrenergic receptor where changes in structure lead to altered signaling function. The study's findings could lead to the development of highly selective therapeutic drugs targeting this receptor.
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a new method for producing antibody-like binding agents, called DNA synbodies, which can be rapidly optimized for high affinity. The technique uses pre-existing ligands to create artificial antibodies capable of detecting diseases, offering a promising alternative to traditional mo...
Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have successfully transformed a family of acid compounds into bases using boron-based ligands. This breakthrough enables a vast array of new catalysts for use in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and material manufacturing, with potential applications yet to be fully explored.
DNA can alter protein structure and function, leading to targeted therapies for diseases like osteoporosis and cancer. The study used HDX mass spectrometry to detect these long-range structural effects, revealing a complex biochemical dialogue between receptor, ligand, coregulatory proteins, and DNA.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a new method for creating uniform carbon nanofibers, which could enable precise scientific measurement tools and medical imaging devices. The technique uses nickel nanoparticles coated with ligand shells to grow carbon nanofibers of specific sizes.
Scientists have successfully characterised the absorption spectrum of a gold cluster, shedding light on its electronic properties. The research provides valuable insights for future applications in catalysis, sensing, and molecular electronics.
A Rice University lab has created a technique to disperse single-walled carbon nanotubes in water using ruthenium complexes, keeping their unique properties intact. The new approach allows for the simultaneous addition of functionalities, advancing applications in imaging sensors, catalysis, and solar-activated hydrogen fuel cells.
Scientists from Scripps Research Institute uncovered new evidence challenging the current theory of ligand-protein interaction in modern drug design. The study found that ligands can adapt to changing protein structures, binding productively to both active and inactive forms.
Scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute used nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to understand and improve an important protein purification process. The study validated the effectiveness of multimodal chromatography, a method that separates proteins from their surrounding materials using molecular glue.
Researchers suggest molecular structures involving transition metals could catalyze the synthesis of basic biochemicals, leading to the origin of life. The model proposes that simple transition metal-ligand complexes in hydrothermal ocean vents catalyzed reactions that gave rise to more complex molecules.
Researchers use a novel light activation technique to turn modest molecules into powerful protein destroyers, expanding the search for new therapies. The new technique, CALI, uses a 'warhead' molecule capable of inactivating nearby proteins when triggered by light.
Researchers found that Notch protein represses the pathway in cells emitting signals, but activates it in neighboring cells. This discovery may lead to more effective therapies against cancers such as leukemia and breast cancer.
Researchers at Scripps Institute create a novel screening technique for large compound libraries, enabling efficient identification of high-affinity protein ligands. The innovative approach combines bead display and microarray analysis, allowing for rapid comparison of binding affinity without tedious re-synthesis.
Scientists have found that activating Retinoid X Receptor (RXR) increases dopamine cell survival in models of Parkinson's disease, providing a novel strategy for treating the condition. The study used two cellular models to explore the neuroprotective function of RXR ligands LG268 and XCT.
Scientists at UNC and UCSF developed a computational method to compare drug structures with naturally occurring ligands, predicting potential new uses and unexpected side effects of approved drugs. The approach has been validated in wet laboratory experiments.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute will combine two advanced technologies to screen massive peptoid libraries in parallel fashion, increasing the rate of ligand discovery by several hundred times over current methods. The new technology has the potential to revolutionize the search for new therapies.
A decade-long debate has been resolved with the discovery that membrane-bound Fas ligand is essential for programmed cell death, protecting against cancer development and autoimmune diseases. Conversely, excessive secreted Fas ligand promotes tumour growth and autoimmunity.
The Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) regulates the expression of cystathionase, an enzyme involved in hydrogen sulfide production. FXR agonists may correct for altered endogenous vasodilator generation in chronic liver diseases.
A new study examines the role of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) genotypes in hepatitis C virus recurrence after liver transplantation and finds that mismatched KIR-HLA-C ligands increase the risk of fibrosis progression.
A new Web-based resource is being developed to provide molecular data needed for computer-aided drug design. The resource aims to improve the prediction of potential drug candidates and advance biomedical research.
An interdisciplinary team used computational methods to study myoglobin's structure and function, revealing that oxygen follows two pathways with branches, mainly through alpha helices. The simulations showed ligand migration is local and short-lived, and occurs between protein scaffolds.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a new method to self-assemble metals into complex nanostructures. This allows for the creation of more efficient catalysts for fuel cells and industrial processes. Additionally, it enables the development of microstructured surfaces to enhance conductor performance.