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New membrane lipid measuring technique may help fight disease

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have created a biosensor to measure membrane lipid levels, which can act as switches turning on or off protein-protein interactions. This technique allows for real-time quantification and monitoring of lipid molecules, potentially leading to new pathways for disease treatment.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalNature Chemistry·DateOct 9, 2011
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

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New data obtained on liposomes employed in drug encapsulation and gene therapies

Researchers from the University of Granada and CSIC have made significant progress in understanding lipid membranes used in drug products and gene therapies. The study discovered how certain membranes can invert their surface electrostatic charge, allowing them to function as positive charges in specific circumstances.

SourceUniversity of Granada·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 8, 2011

Cell membranes behave like cornstarch and water

Researchers discovered that cell membranes behave as viscoelastic materials, bouncing back like rubber when quickly perturbed. This finding challenges the long-held notion of biological membranes being simple Newtonian fluids.

SourceUniversity of Oregon·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 3, 2010

Researchers discover novel mechanism protecting plants against freezing

Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered a novel mechanism that protects plants from freezing temperatures, which could also help understand drought tolerance. The discovery was made in Arabidopsis thaliana, a common mustard weed, and involves the formation of a lipid that retains membrane integrity.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalScience·DateAug 26, 2010

Where the fat's at

A team of UC San Diego researchers has created a novel map of lipid locations in a single cell, providing insights into how lipids influence disease processes. The study identified over 220 individual molecular lipid species and found that numerous lipids change in abundance once a macrophage becomes active.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalJournal of Lipid Research·DateAug 25, 2010
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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University of Washington professor garners Avanti Young Investigator Award

Keller's groundbreaking studies on membrane lipids have revealed how lipid composition affects cell membrane physical parameters and protein activity. Her work has opened a new area of study, with colleagues praising her thorough analyses and phase diagrams as the gold standard in membrane research.

SourceAmerican Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·DateDec 10, 2009

UC nanotech researchers develop artificial pore

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have successfully developed an artificial pore that can transmit double-stranded DNA through a membrane. The engineered channel was created by inserting the modified core of a nanomotor into a lipid membrane, allowing for the movement of single- and double-stranded DNA.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateSep 28, 2009

Nanoelectronic transistor combined with biological machine could lead to better electronics

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory researchers have devised a versatile hybrid platform that uses lipid-coated nanowires to build prototype bionanoelectronic devices. The platform enhances biosensing and diagnostic tools, advances neural prosthetics such as cochlear implants, and could increase the efficiency of future computers.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 10, 2009
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

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Scientists fool bacteria into killing themselves to survive

Researchers at the University of Illinois and Massachusetts have found a way to target a bacteria's evolutionary machinery, programming its own death. The synthetic antimicrobial depends on phosphoethanolamine lipids in bacterial membranes.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 16, 2008

Liquid or solid? Charged nanoparticles in lipid membrane decide

Researchers at the University of Illinois have discovered a new way to stimulate patchiness in phospholipid membranes using charged nanoparticles. This phenomenon allows the membrane to coexist in two phases - solid and liquid - depending on what binds to it, offering a new mechanism for modulating stiffness in membranes.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 10, 2008

Researchers discover how stealthy HIV protein gets into cells

A multidisciplinary team from the University of Illinois has solved the mystery of how the HIV virus's TAT protein crosses cell membranes. The findings reveal that the protein creates a 'saddle splay curvature' in the membrane, making it porous and allowing molecules to pass through.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateMar 17, 2008
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On the (sound) track of anesthetics

Denmark's researchers claim anesthetics are based on sound pulses rather than electrical impulses. The membrane of the nerve is similar to olive oil and can change state with temperature, allowing concentrated sound pulses to propagate without heat.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen·JournalBiophysical Journal·DateMar 6, 2007

Biophysical Society announces winners of 2007 International Travel Awards

The Biophysical Society has announced the winners of its international travel grants to attend the 51st annual meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. The awards recognize outstanding biophysicists from countries experiencing financial difficulties and honor their scientific merit and proposed presentations at the meeting.

SourceBiophysical Society·DateJan 5, 2007
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Studying membranes at the nanoscale

Scientists have successfully mapped the chemical composition of lipid membranes at the nanoscale, shedding light on their dynamic behavior and structural organization. This breakthrough uses Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) to analyze membrane components, offering new insights into cell function and vulnerability to viruses.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalScience·DateSep 28, 2006

Novel virus entry mechanism could lead to new drugs against poxviruses

Researchers discovered a novel biological process that allows poxviruses to enter cells by disrupting their outer membrane. Polyionic compounds can be used to treat poxvirus infections, even days after infection has started, making antiviral antibodies more effective.

SourceImperial College London·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 12, 2006

Nanomaterials to mimic cells

Scientists at UC Davis create porous aerogel supports to study artificial membrane systems, aiming to replicate biological membranes. This breakthrough could lead to new insights into how real cell membranes behave in platelet cells that form blood clots.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·DateAug 23, 2005
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Macromolecules on surface control mobility in phospholipid bilayers

Researchers at the University of Illinois discovered that macromolecules on the surface can modify the mobility of underlying lipids in phospholipid bilayers. The adsorption of larger polymers slows down lipid movement, while smaller ones have a minimal effect.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 20, 2005

Topic of ASBMB-Avanti Award Lecture will be lipid-protein interactions

The ASBMB-Avanti award recognizes Dr. Dowhan's work on lipid-protein interactions, which has expanded our understanding of lipids' roles in cellular processes. His research has established the molecular basis for new lipid functions and impacts a wide range of investigators.

SourceAmerican Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·DateJan 31, 2005
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Artificial cell gets light-powered nanopump for calcium ions

Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a light-powered molecular pump that shuttles calcium ions through a phospholipid membrane. The operation is controlled by an artificial reaction center molecule, which donates and reabsorbs electrons in response to light. This innovation could be used for various applications, incl...

SourceArizona State University·JournalNature·DateNov 27, 2002

Clotting cells switched on by cold

A study has shown that chilling causes changes in the platelets' outer membrane, leading to the formation of lipid rafts. This process is a general first step in platelet activation, which can lead to blood clots and heart attacks.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalJournal of Cellular Physiology·DateMar 18, 2002