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Revealing the structure of axons

French researchers combine optical and electronic microscopy to observe axonal rings at the molecular scale. They discover that these rings are formed by long braided actin filaments, providing new understanding of axonal architecture.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 20, 2019

Hiring antibodies as nanotechnology builders

A team of researchers at the University of Rome Tor Vergata has developed a novel approach to build and dismantle DNA nanostructures using antibodies. They engineered DNA bricks with recognition tags that assemble in the presence of specific antibodies, enabling the creation of intelligent nanostructures with potential applications in ...

SourceUniversità Roma Tor Vergata·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 3, 2019

Uncovering the principles behind RNA folding

A Northwestern University research team discovered similarities in RNA folding among riboswitches, which could impact the design of future RNA-specific therapeutics and synthetic biology tools. The findings could also inform efforts to treat diseases triggered by RNA-level misfolding.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateOct 21, 2019

Strained, symmetric, and new

Tetravinylallene, a highly unsaturated molecule with two adjacent double bonds, has been synthesized for the first time, offering a new approach to constructing complex molecular frameworks. Its symmetry enables chemists to perform multiple reactions in one step, making it a potent tool for synthesizing natural products and drugs.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateSep 30, 2019

Catch-22 in graphene based molecular devices resolved

A research team has found a way to overcome the limitations of graphene-based molecular devices, creating structures that are both electrically and mechanically stable at room temperature. The breakthrough, published in Nature Nanotechnology, uses a combination of covalent binding and large ۆ-conjugated head groups to achieve stability.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateSep 16, 2019

Skoltech scientists found a way to control the electrical characteristics of optical memory devices

Researchers from Skoltech have identified relationships between photochromic material structure and device electrical performance. The study found that certain molecular structures improve switching speed and reliability, paving the way for the development of new organic memory elements.

SourceSkolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)·JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry C·DateJun 28, 2019

Synthesis of helical ladder polymers

Scientists have successfully synthesized helical ladder polymers using a novel electrophilic aromatic substitution method. The resulting molecules exhibit well-defined right-handed helical geometry and can be modified to create nanoscale architectures for various applications.

SourceKanazawa University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMay 20, 2019

Identifying the molecular structure of one of Alzheimer's stickier culprits

A team of researchers has mapped the molecular structure and dynamics of an aggressive protein modification linked to Alzheimer's disease. The study found that this modification accelerates disease progression, causing toxic protein fragments to aggregate into sticky plaques that disrupt brain cell communication.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Denver·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 16, 2019

Inner electrons behave differently in aromatic hydrocarbons

A new study investigates the Auger effect in aromatic hydrocarbons, revealing that molecules with pi electrons have a lower double ionization threshold. This finding favors Auger decay over saturated hydrocarbons, with potential applications in cancer treatment and atomic identification.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateApr 11, 2019

Illuminating water filtration

A team of researchers has revealed the molecular structure of membranes used in reverse osmosis, a leading method of purifying brackish water into drinking water. The study found that the perpendicular packing motif is better correlated with optimal filtration properties and may be related to how water pathways are oriented.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalACS Macro Letters·DateMar 28, 2019

Chemical synthesis of nanotubes

Researchers at the University of Tokyo successfully synthesized a phenine nanotube with intentional periodic defects, which imbue it with semiconductor characters. The discovery uses a novel process starting with benzene and platinum atoms to create a controlled defect structure.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScience·DateJan 10, 2019

Self-sorting through molecular geometries

Researchers discovered that specific pentagonal and hexagonal molecular building blocks can self-sort through geometric complementarity. This phenomenon allows for the creation of nanostructures with predictable geometries, such as tubular structures with pentagonal pores.

SourceKanazawa University·JournalCommunications Chemistry·DateJan 9, 2019

Decoding the structure of an RNA-based CRISPR system

Researchers at the Salk Institute have discovered the molecular structure of CRISPR-Cas13d, a promising enzyme for emerging RNA-editing technology. This breakthrough enables scientists to visualize how the enzyme guides and targets RNA, paving the way for new strategies to treat RNA-based diseases.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalCell·DateSep 20, 2018

What's that smell? Scientists find a new way to understand odors

Researchers at Salk Institute and Arizona State University develop mathematical model to organize odor molecules by frequency of co-occurrence in nature, mapping pleasant directions. This breakthrough enables construction of artificial pleasant odor mixtures, with potential implications for understanding diseases like Parkinson's.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 29, 2018

Hybrid catalyst with high enantiomer selectivity

Researchers at Hokkaido University have developed a hybrid catalyst that combines simple rhodium and organic catalysts to selectively produce molecules with high enantiomer selectivity. This technology is expected to assist in rapid and low-cost drug synthesis, particularly for nucleotide medicine.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalNature Catalysis·DateAug 9, 2018

Building bridges with water molecules

A team at TU Wien has uncovered the mystery behind water molecule structures on iron oxide surfaces, revealing complex bridge-like structures that play a significant role in chemical reactions. These findings have wide-ranging implications for processes such as corrosion and catalyst function, and pave the way for further research into...

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 28, 2018

Researchers develop molecular assembly method for cancer therapy and diagnostics

A team of researchers has developed a method to modify the surface of micro- and nanoparticles with biological molecules, enabling them to serve as both therapeutic and diagnostic agents. The particles can deliver drugs to cancer cells while providing diagnostic information, opening up new possibilities for targeted therapy.

SourceMoscow Institute of Physics and Technology·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateJun 14, 2018

Switching with molecules

Researchers have developed molecular nanoswitches that can switch between two states using an applied voltage, enabling the development of novel electro-optical devices. This breakthrough could replace silicon-based components with organic molecules, reducing component sizes in electronics.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMay 24, 2018

Bringing biology and mathematics together

The NSF-Simons Center for Mathematical and Statistical Analysis of Biology at Harvard University will focus on three fundamental questions: molecular networks, sophisticated structures, and organisms' adaptability. The center aims to integrate mathematical, statistical, and engineering approaches with biology.

Combining GANs and reinforcement learning for drug discovery

The Adversarial Threshold Neural Computer (ATNC) model, a proof-of-concept, combines Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) with Reinforcement Learning (RL) to generate novel small organic molecules. The GAN-RL architecture demonstrated the ability to produce valid and unique molecular structures, paving the way for future drug discovery.

SourceInSilico Medicine·JournalMolecular Pharmaceutics·DateMay 10, 2018