Articles tagged with Membrane Proteins
Scientists at the University of Freiburg have elucidated the mechanism of protein insertion into the mitochondrial outer membrane. The discovery sheds light on the formation and function of mitochondria, which play a crucial role in cellular energy production.
Rice University researchers confirmed their theory on the mechanism behind a fluorescent biosensor that monitors neurons by sensing changes in voltage. They developed a method to test fluorescent biosensors using computer simulations, resolving a decade-long debate between scientists.
Researchers at Charité's NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence have identified a protein mechanism responsible for rapid signal transmission between nerve cells. The discovery, published in Nature Neuroscience, reveals that bridging by synaptotagmin allows high-speed transmission via synapse fusion.
Researchers discovered that an enzyme called squalene monooxygenase (SM) responds to increased cholesterol levels by being destroyed, reducing cholesterol production. This finding could lead to new treatments targeting SM, potentially decreasing cholesterol levels.
Scientists at the University of Washington have discovered that living yeast cell membranes can undergo phase separation, a process where distinct regions enriched in particular protein and lipid types arise. This discovery reveals that cells use demixing as a tool to shape membranes and their functions within a living system.
Researchers developed a computational simulation method to predict protein sequence changes for efficient membrane insertion, correlating improved insertion efficiency with increased protein yield. The new approach offers a way forward for membrane protein researchers struggling to express their proteins.
A team of researchers from Newcastle University discovered the MlaA protein, which removes lipids from the outer membrane to increase permeability for toxic compounds. This process could be exploited by drugs to decrease bacterial virulence and enhance antibiotic effectiveness.
Researchers have devised a new way of producing hydrogen fuel by combining a photosensitive protein with titanium dioxide particles in nanodiscs. The process, which uses sunlight to generate energy, results in the production of hydrogen at an efficiency rate of 45% or more.
Researchers from Oliver Daumke's group have uncovered the role of protein Mic60 in forming intricate folds in mitochondrial membranes. The discovery sheds light on how defects in membrane structure contribute to diseases like cancer and neurological conditions.
Researchers discovered iodide phasing is universally applicable to membrane protein structure determination, enabling a molecular-level understanding of biomolecules. This breakthrough accelerates computer-aided drug development and makes it cheaper.
Researchers create 'ImportOmics' method to identify proteins imported into mitochondria, uncovering new insights into cell function and potential disease causes. The study reveals over 1,120 mitochondrial proteins, including previously unknown associations.
The team developed a new chemical tool to reveal the topology of IMM proteins in live cells, confirming 58 topologies and determining 77 previously uncharacterized ones. This breakthrough will help speed the development of mitochondria-targeted therapeutics for various human metabolic diseases.
Researchers discovered a mechanism that controls the length of a bacterial flagellum's rod, which transfers torque to propel the bacterium. The study found that an outer membrane tethering protein plays a crucial role in regulating the flagellum's dimensions.
Researchers used supercomputers to simulate the behavior of K-Ras protein in cell membranes, discovering that certain lipids can turn the protein 'off' by changing its orientation. This finding suggests limiting concentrations of PIP2 in cell membranes could help prevent cancer progression.
A team of chemists from Konstanz University has made a significant discovery about the effects of selective mutations on the alpha-synuclein protein. By applying magnetic probes to the protein, they found that these changes disturb the binding of alpha-synuclein to membranes.
Researchers discovered proteasomes embedded in nerve cell membranes, degrading proteins and expelling peptides that carry essential signals. This finding suggests a new role for proteasomes in cell-to-cell communications and raises questions about neurological disease.
Researchers from MIPT and their international collaborators have developed a novel method to crystallize membrane proteins using synthetic patches called nanodiscs. This approach enables the transfer of membrane proteins into lipidic cubic phase for crystal growth, preserving their functional state and enabling high-resolution X-ray di...
EHD proteins assemble on the surface of cells to create vesicles, which are used to transport molecules and transmit neural signals. The molecular machines reorganize membrane structure through ring-like formations.
Researchers have found that cholesterol can regulate the activity of the adenosine receptor by accessing its active site, potentially leading to new treatments for diseases such as Alzheimer's. This discovery could also have implications for other central nervous system diseases where GPCRs play a key role.
Researchers at Umeå University discover a new mechanism for protein EHD2, which stabilizes the cell membrane by forming oligomers. This discovery sheds light on the role of caveolae in maintaining cellular structure and function.
University of Toronto scientists have discovered a better way to extract proteins from membranes, making it easier to study cell communication and human health/disease. Using a type of polymer, they stabilized proteins while keeping fatty molecules attached.
The study reveals differences in protein arrangement between immature Zika and other flaviviruses, shedding light on the virus's role in infection and disease. Understanding the structure of the immature form could help develop effective antiviral treatments and vaccines for diseases like microcephaly.
A new study identifies calciprotein particles as a culprit in premature birth, a leading cause of infant death and disability. The research suggests therapies or dietary supplements blocking these particle formations could prevent preterm birth.
Researchers have found a mechanism that explains how cells transport cargo efficiently and selectively within their boundaries. The discovery reveals that flexibility in large tether proteins plays a crucial role in initiating the fusion process.
Researchers have developed a lipid-like peptoid material that can assemble into a sheet thinner than a soap bubble, with properties similar to those of cell membranes. The material can withstand various liquids and repair itself after damage, making it suitable for water purification, sensors, drug delivery, and energy applications.
Biochemists at the University of California San Diego develop synthetic membranes that can grow and remodel themselves like living mammalian cells. This breakthrough enables researchers to better understand lipid remodeling and its applications in drug targeting and disease mechanisms.
Researchers developed a nanoparticle technology called Salipro to stabilize membrane proteins in a lipid environment, allowing for high-resolution studies of their structure and function. This enables the discovery of new drugs, therapeutic antibodies, and vaccines targeting these proteins.
Researchers discovered that multi-target antiarrhythmic drugs like amiodarone change cell membrane properties, altering the function of multiple proteins. This finding has implications beyond AF treatment, suggesting a general mechanism for drug-induced changes in membrane protein function.
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a simpler method to produce antibodies against a range of infectious agents using DNA-based genetic immunization. The technique successfully expressed membrane proteins in mice and induced the animals to produce critical antibodies to bacterial and viral targets.
A team of scientists has discovered that larger crystals of bacteriorhodopsin grow by consuming smaller crystals around them, creating a depletion zone. This phenomenon was observed using fluorescence microscopy over the course of a month, showing how the distribution of protein in the sample changed with time.
Mutations in the nuclear lamina have been linked to various diseases including muscular dystrophies, heart disorders, and premature aging. TSRI researchers aim to understand the nuclear lamina's composition and protein interaction network to develop therapies for these diseases.
Researchers at Kobe University and AIST in Japan developed a technology to select high-affinity proteins that bind with membrane proteins, a key feature in controlling physiological functions. This discovery has potential applications in the development of new biopharmaceuticals for various drug targets, including cancer treatment.
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a new technique for studying the interactions between small molecules and membrane proteins, allowing for precise control over binding kinetics. This breakthrough has broad implications for basic research and drug design, potentially reducing development time and cost.
Researchers at KAIST and UCLA developed a method to manipulate membrane protein folding in a natural environment, revealing cooperative folding behavior. The study used magnetic tweezers to induce unfolding and refolding, allowing for the mapping of folding energy landscapes and kinetic rates.
Scientists at the University of Basel create membrane gates made from chemically modified membrane protein OmpF, responding to changes in pH values. The gates open only when exposed to acidic environments, releasing active agents at targeted locations such as diseased tissue.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have clarified the mechanism of iridescence in squid skin, revealing that specific sequences of reflectins correlate with color output. The study identifies three major types of reflectins and their roles in static and tunable iridocytes.
Researchers discovered that the protein structure of a key membrane protein differs from a previously postulated model, providing a basis for new treatments. The study reveals how the protein pore opens and closes in response to substrate binding, offering insights into the pathogen's attachment mechanism.
Researchers have created a way to combine cells with a special scaffold to produce living tissue in the laboratory, overcame oxygen limitation problems for larger dimensions. The technology has potential applications in replacing diseased parts of the body and repairing severe joint damage.
Researchers discovered how bacteria rapidly replace outer membrane proteins in response to changing growth conditions. This mechanism involves the formation of 'OMP islands' that regulate protein insertion, allowing bacteria to change their outer membrane coat in just two generations.
Penn researchers have developed a novel model of artificial membranes with programmable surfaces, allowing for precise control over glycan structures. This breakthrough enables the study of membrane-sugar-protein interactions, which are crucial for understanding diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Researchers used advanced techniques to study single molecules and protein interactions on the cell membrane. The findings revealed that lipid rafts, previously thought to move within the membrane, do not exist. Instead, proteins may be anchored at specific positions on the surface, influencing cellular processes.
Chemists at the University of California, San Diego, have developed a simple modular system that can attach proteins to cell membranes with precise control. The system uses light-activated anchors and SNAP-tags to direct protein movements, enabling researchers to study cellular processes in unprecedented detail.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have discovered a critical relationship governing how cells ingest matter through endocytosis. By controlling membrane tension, they found that fewer proteins are needed to form a vesicle as tension decreases.
The Protein Society recognizes Chih-Chia Su and Minttu Virkki as the 2015 Best Paper Award winners for their research on Campylobacter jejuni CmeC outer membrane channel and aquaporin 1 folding, respectively. The award honors exemplary work of first authors and supports the next generation of protein scientists.
A microfluidic system enables serial formation of cell membranes and measurement of processes taking place on them. The system allows for the creation of stable and functional membranes, opening the road to high-throughput studies of cell membrane mechanisms.
Researchers found that plants compartmentalize repair processes in specialized photosynthetic membranes, allowing for efficient energy conversion and protein repair. This insight could lead to the development of crops with improved repair mechanisms for hot and bright climates.
Scientists have developed a technique to apply lipid membranes to synthetic surfaces, allowing for the precise positioning of functional biological molecules. This breakthrough enables the creation of novel hybrid bio-electronic devices and paves the way for the development of new drugs and disease treatments.
Atzberger's research focuses on the intersection of math and science, exploring how proteins move within lipid bilayer membranes. He developed a statistical mechanics description that captures essential features of membrane-protein dynamics, allowing for simple yet reliable calculations and simulations.
Researchers have developed a new technology to create artificial membranes on silicon surfaces, mimicking those found in living organisms. The process uses commercial chemicals and is the first time anyone has made an artificial membrane without mixing liquid solvents together.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have made a groundbreaking discovery in living cell signaling, finding that stochastic 'noise' is an important signaling factor. This breakthrough could lead to the development of treatments for various cancers and cellular disorders resistant to therapy.
Researchers found a teeth protein that signals bone growth and enhances tissue formation in rat models, offering potential for synthetic bone grafts. The breakthrough could benefit patients with osteoporosis or bone fractures.
Researchers have identified thousands of protein interactions between cell membranes and signaling proteins, revealing a complex network that enables communication within and across cells. This breakthrough has implications for plant and animal sciences, potentially leading to discoveries that improve crop yields.
Researchers at the University of Bristol and EMBL have identified the 'holo-translocon' as the machinery responsible for inserting proteins into cell membranes. This breakthrough could lead to the design of new anti-bacterial drugs and applications in synthetic biology.
Researchers have determined the complex structure of a key cell membrane protein involved in sterol metabolism and resistance in a yeast model. The study's findings provide new insights into mechanisms underlying fungal resistance to triazole drugs, which can help develop new broad-spectrum drugs with minimal side effects.
Researchers at Duke University have determined the structure of a key part of the HIV envelope protein, gp41 membrane proximal external region (MPER), which previously eluded detailed structural description. This discovery will help focus HIV vaccine development efforts.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a three-dimensional 'force microscope' that enables real-time study of membrane proteins in conditions similar to those found in the body. This innovation could lead to faster development of drugs and increased understanding of protein structures and functions.
Engineers have created a biological nanopore that acts as a selective door for DNA molecules to enter cells, potentially revolutionizing gene therapy and targeted drug delivery. The nanopore can be controlled to allow specific genetic information in specific cells, opening new possibilities for precision medicine.
A new tool has been developed to resolve the structure of membrane-embedded and membrane-associating proteins by exploiting the unique water dynamics gradient across and above the lipid bilayer. This breakthrough can help determine the location and structure of protein segments at the surface of membranes.
Researchers discovered that BAR domain proteins induce strong clustering of phosphoinositides, generating extremely stable protein-lipid scaffolds on the membrane. These scaffolds may contribute to diverse cellular processes by creating lipid phase boundaries and trapping membrane-associated receptor and cargo molecules.
Researchers combine protein sequencing, amino acid composition and RNA analysis to develop unique materials with self-healing properties. Novel proteins like Suckerin-39 allow for reshaping and remolding of elastomers.