Articles tagged with Molecular Structure
Scientists develop novel materials for stem cell therapy by combining peptide amphiphiles with hyaluronic acid, resulting in self-assembling sacs that can encapsulate human stem cells and deliver growth factors. The structures also exhibit unique physical properties and can be tailored to release cells at specific injury sites.
Researchers identified key elements of dynein's structure and its winch-like mechanism, correcting some mistaken ideas. Dynein is responsible for transporting molecular cargo within cells, powering movement of sperm and eggs, and helping cells divide.
Scientists have obtained the first 3D images of the Mcm10 protein, which is essential for DNA replication in eukaryotic cells. The structure reveals unique features that allow it to interact with single-stranded DNA and position other proteins on the DNA strand.
Scientists have determined the structures of two important plant viruses, revealing their spiral-shaped structure featuring around nine molecular subunits per turn. This discovery may lead to new ways to protect crop plants from viruses and other forms of damage, as well as engineer molecules to interfere with virus infections.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have obtained detailed information about the structure of flexible filamentous viruses, responsible for over half of all virus damage. The findings could lead to new ways to protect crops from these viruses and potentially use them as agents of biotechnology.
A new study suggests that processing red tomatoes with heat and fat can increase the absorption of lycopene, a naturally occurring pigment linked to cancer prevention. The researchers found that the bent molecular form of lycopene is more easily absorbed into the bloodstream than its linear form.
The Protein Data Bank has reached a significant milestone with its 50,000th molecule structure archived. The archive now contains vital information for pharmacology, bioinformatics, and education.
Researchers have uncovered the structure of a protein complex responsible for adding sugar molecules to proteins, crucial for many protein functions. The discovery may help understand diseases resulting from faulty glycosylation processes.
Scientists have developed a method to produce rigid DNA nanorings with a tailored gap, allowing for the incorporation of functional molecules. The rings can be equipped with desired properties, such as anchors that precisely bind them to other components.
Scientists at Argonne's Advanced Photon Source have mapped the molecular structure of collagen fibrils, revealing how they bind to enzymes that regulate growth and development. This breakthrough could lead to the creation of inhibitors to prevent cancerous tumors or rheumatoid arthritis.
Researchers have identified the proteins forming the structure of carboxysome microcompartments, a key step in understanding their role in bacterial protection. The discovery may lead to new strategies for targeting these structures, potentially rendering bacteria harmless.
Scientists have determined the three-dimensional structure of human kynurenine aminotransferase II, an enzyme regulating glutamate activity. The discovery provides insight into biochemical regulation and may lead to treatments for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
Researchers at Northwestern University successfully synthesized a new natural compound that exhibits promising anti-cancer properties, outperforming existing treatments. By identifying the correct molecular structure, the team is now poised to develop more effective and selective cancer therapies.
Aperiodic materials exhibit unusual behavior during phase transitions, which could have significant implications for research and technology. Studying these systems helps better understand symmetry breaking in aperiodic materials.
A team of Ames Laboratory scientists has offered a new model explaining the structure and function of proton exchange membranes in fuel cells. The model proposes a network of densely packed, parallel cylindrical water channels that help explain how water and protons diffuse through the membrane.
Texas A&M researchers Frank Raushel and Ricardo Marti-Arbona use molecular docking to predict enzyme function based on structure alone. The team's method ranks molecules by fit and scores them for physical testing, offering a faster alternative to existing methods.
Scientists observe molecular-level observation of self-selection, demonstrating fundamental step in biological evolution. The study reveals promising nanostructures for catalysts and nanotechnologies.
UWM researchers have devised a method for creating hybrid structures by coating CNTs with aerosol nanoparticles, producing low-cost
Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a powerful analytical tool capable of measuring molecular structures quickly and accurately, capturing intermediate steps of protein folding and revealing clues to type II diabetes. The technique uses two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy and has potential applications in...
A new highly sensitive NMR technique using a microscopic detector decreases protein sample size by several orders of magnitude, making it possible to diagnose diseases like Alzheimer's and Huntington's at an early stage. The technology could lead to the development of tabletop NMR devices in every research laboratory and medical office.
Researchers at University of Sheffield have developed a new technique to enhance x-ray microscope images, enabling the capture of high-resolution 3D images of any molecular structure. They aim to develop the ultimate x-ray microscope with computer-aided image processing and potentially replace lenses with solid-state optical microscopes.
Gold nanorods spontaneously form rings due to condensation of water droplets on their surface, changing optical and electromagnetic properties. The discovery could lead to development of novel nanodevices such as highly sensitive sensors and invisible objects.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new patterning method called Dip-Pen Nanolithography (DPN), which allows for the simultaneous creation of 55,000 identical nanoscale patterns on substrates. This breakthrough enables mass production of nanoscale patterns, paving the way for miniaturized gene chips and electronics.
Renowned scientist Roger D. Kornberg will deliver a lecture on chromatin and transcription at Science2006, exploring breakthroughs in gene regulation and protein synthesis. The event, which showcases the University of Pittsburgh's academic strengths in science and medicine, is free and open to the public.
A team of scientists has shed light on the molecular mechanism of Dicer, an enzyme involved in RNA interference, a process that governs key developmental events. The study reveals that Dicer not only cleaves RNA but also measures and snips it into precise increments.
Researchers at Ohio State University have calculated the structure of CH5+, a molecule known as 'the scrambler,' which has hyperactive atoms and a unique spectrum. The team's work provides new insights into the molecule's properties and may help astronomers identify its presence in interstellar clouds.
Researchers at Duke University used DNA self-assembly to mass-produce grids with infinitesimal patterns, down to nanometers. By specifying the sequence of bases for each DNA strand, they could create trillions of identical grids with specific letter patterns.
Researchers have determined the structure of pre-fibril assemblies, smaller assemblies that may be toxic culprits in Alzheimer's disease. The findings provide a new clue to understanding how these molecules interact and may lead to designing molecules that prevent misfolding proteins.
Mark A. Johnson, a Yale professor of physical chemistry, has been awarded the 2006 Earle K. Plyler Prize for Molecular Spectroscopy for his research on water's microscopic scale applications and solvation of protons and hydroxide anions.
Researchers at University of Illinois developed a DNA delivery system using naturally occurring anionic lipids, creating controllable and efficient gene expression. This method could lead to new possibilities in treating hereditary and acquired diseases.
Scientists observed a chemical reaction in liquid methanol after hitting a molecule with a short laser pulse. The research confirms a long-standing hypothesis regarding the evolution of the molecule, providing new insights into chemical reactions in liquids.
Researchers at Yale University have identified unique infrared laser spectrum signatures for free protons associated with one to three water molecules. The study reveals that the proton's vibrations are driven by changes in its hydration environment, leading to significant shifts in spectral signatures.
Researchers at Purdue University have determined the combined structure of Coxsackievirus A21 and ICAM-1, a receptor molecule that enables the virus to infect host cells. The study reveals how the virus recognizes and anchors to the cell, providing insights into the initial stages of infection.
Researchers discovered three distinct scattering patterns as alky-thiol density increased, indicating different degrees of molecular order. The tilted phase exhibits crystalline patterns despite the disordered liquid nature of the underlying mercury.
Researchers at the University of Oregon have discovered a way to build a molecular 'claw' that can grab onto arsenic and sequester it, potentially leading to improved treatments for arsenic poisoning. The molecules developed by the team are known as chelators, which enable them to trap and immobilize heavy metal atoms like arsenic.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab found that most liquid water molecules interact with only two other water molecules, contrary to the traditional picture of four hydrogen bonds per molecule. The study used a unique experimental technique and measured the energy required to distort hydrogen bonds in solid and liquid water.
Scientists use 'targeted mutagenesis' to make proteins more amenable to crystallization, shedding light on the plague and other diseases. The technique has already solved the structures of stubborn proteins like V antigen of Yersinia pestis.
Harvard chemist Harold Corey has made thousands of complex chemical structures, leading to medicines like Celebrex, Singulair, and Xalatan with sales over $10 billion annually. His approach of mentally dissecting molecules into simple building blocks is now a standard in academic and commercial research.
Researchers successfully doped C60 molecules with potassium atoms using atomic precision, increasing their electric charge and altering molecular orbital states. This breakthrough offers a new way to control electronic properties of individual molecules, with potential applications in nanotechnology and electronics.
The Protein Data Bank (PDB) has received a $30 million grant from the federal government to continue its work in unlocking biological secrets. The PDB, an internet-accessible repository of 3-D models of proteins and other macromolecules, will help design new drugs that interact with these molecules.
Researchers solved the structure of aquaporin Z, a water channel found in Escherichia coli that conducts only water at high rates. The protein's unique architecture and strategically positioned amino acid residues restrict the flow of larger molecules, allowing it to maintain osmotic equilibrium.
Researchers have developed a new hybrid material with superior insulating properties, which could help address the performance limitations of smaller chip components. The material, called three-ring periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO), is a porous solid that combines organic and inorganic parts to create a stable molecular assembly.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed an algorithm that provides fast and accurate structure determination for organic compounds with a center of symmetry. The new approach reformulates the phase problem into an integer programming problem, allowing for rapid solution finding using off-the-shelf optimization software.
A renowned chemist has won a prestigious award for his groundbreaking work on creating molecules found in nature, including lapidilectine B. He developed a new method to build nitrogen ring structures and successfully recreated the molecule step-by-step in the laboratory.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed a new cryptand compound that forms stronger non-covalent bonds than traditional host crown ethers. The improved association constants enhance the recognition and attraction between host and guest molecules, paving the way for potential applications in medicine.
Nicolaou and his graduate student Phil Baran have synthesized highly complicated compounds from a species of juniper, showing potential as cholesterol-lowering and anti-cancer drugs. The breakthrough was achieved in an international race to synthesize CP molecules, showcasing the team's expertise in organic synthesis.
Researchers have successfully created a giant self-assembled liquid crystal lattice using hundreds of thousands of highly branched molecules. The structure, which consists of discrete microscopic spheres linked together, has a repeat unit size comparable to spherical virus particles isolated from plants.
Researchers discovered a molecular phase when a cluster of atoms develops into a solid structure, revealing the smallest size of functional molecules. The study also suggests a limit on the tiniest size that electrically conductive molecules can be constructed.
Researchers have isolated polyoxomolybdate molecules from molybdenum blue solutions and used laser light scattering to decipher their structure. The findings reveal hundreds of individual POM molecules forming stable, hollow spheres that remain suspended in solution.
Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a self-assembly technique that mimics natural processes to build designer polymers from modular parts. This method enables the rapid synthesis and modification of complex materials with predictable physical and chemical properties.
Researchers at Purdue University develop self-assembling nanotubes that can be easily manipulated to create custom-built molecular wires and components. The nanotubes, stable under high temperatures, may pave the way for designing new materials and electronic devices.
Researchers have developed a robust DNA mechanical device that can manipulate movement within individual molecule pairs without affecting others. This breakthrough paves the way for nanorobotic applications and demonstrates a new level of control over molecular-scale devices.
Researchers have created a zeolite material that expands when subjected to increasing pressure, allowing it to trap larger molecules and pollutants. This unusual property has potential applications in controlling chemical or radioactive pollutants by locking them inside the expanded pores.
Researchers at Ohio State University have successfully created protein-like molecules using dendrimers, which can perform tasks such as delivering medicine to tumors and acting as catalysts for chemical reactions. The molecules are designed to open and close on cue, allowing them to respond to stimuli like light.
The Penn team aims to study how simple biological molecules organize themselves into complex structures and develop synthetic self-assembling molecules with similar properties. Their goal is to create new products such as microscopic capsules for drug delivery, strong carbon fibers, and artificial proteins with improved functionality.
Researchers have found a new bonding arrangement for carbon molecules, which could shed light on how carbon bonds with atoms to form molecules. The discovery challenges traditional understanding of carbon's basic structure and opens up new ideas about life's most basic element.
Researchers at Georgia Tech, HP Labs, and UCLA receive the Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology for their work on building devices with atomic precision. The team, led by Uzi Landman and R. Stanley Williams, successfully created a molecular switch, a key step towards building entire memory chips at the nanoscale.
Researchers have determined the 3-dimensional structure of a Rosetta Stone protein, which may help scientists understand how cells are programmed to die and shed light on the role of loss in cancer. The human Fhit protein is encoded at the most fragile site in the genome and is lost in many human cancers.
Researchers have solved the crystal structure of the cytoplasmic-facing portion of voltage-dependent potassium channels, controlling potassium flow out of cells. The findings shed light on the attachment mechanism of a key protein subunit to the channel's complex structure.
Researchers at Purdue University have solved the structures of two large icosahedral viruses, providing insights into their assembly and potential applications in antiviral agents. The viruses' shells are made up of large building blocks joined primarily in clusters of three, forming stable and highly symmetrical structures.