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When polymers meet primitive membranes: how molecular cooperation may have helped life begin

Researchers found that fatty acids and hydroxy acids can combine to create stronger and more stable structures than either molecule can form alone. This cooperative effect suggests that simple molecules may have been helping each other create more organized chemical systems, which could eventually lead to the emergence of life.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2026

Editing Parkinson's Disease – KAIST makes world's first discovery of an inflammatory RNA editing enzyme​

Researchers at KAIST have identified a key mechanism behind neuroinflammatory responses in Parkinson's disease, which is regulated by an RNA editing enzyme called ADAR1. This discovery suggests that targeting this enzyme could serve as a novel therapeutic strategy for treating the disease.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 2, 2025

Molecular wires with a twist

Researchers at Osaka University have created molecular wires with periodic twists that increase electrical conductivity. The discovery could lead to the development of cheaper and biocompatible electronic devices.

SourceOsaka University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 20, 2024

Multiple health benefits of b-type procyanidin-rich foods like chocolate and apples consumed in right amounts

Researchers found that B-type procyanidins induce hormesis in hemodynamic and metabolic responses, with optimal doses triggering improved cognitive functions and stress resistance. The study suggests a link between B-type procyanidin intake and CNS neurotransmitter receptor activation.

SourceShibaura Institute of Technology·JournalFrontiers in Nutrition·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 5, 2022

Microbial juggling

Researchers discovered a soil microbe's enzyme that converts CO2 into carbon compounds 20 times faster than plant enzymes during photosynthesis. The enzyme uses pairs of molecules working in sync like jugglers, with a spot of molecular glue and twisting motion facilitating the reaction.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalACS Central Science·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 12, 2022

Storing energy in plants with electronic roots

Scientists have successfully stored energy in bean plant roots using conjugated oligomers, creating a new biohybrid system for sustainable energy storage. The research demonstrates that the roots of intact plants can function as networks of conductors, storing up to 100 times more energy than previous experiments.

SourceLinköping University·JournalMaterials Horizons·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 8, 2021

Jane Austen quote encoded in a polymer

Scientists have successfully encoded a passage from Jane Austen's Mansfield Park in a series of oligomers, allowing for efficient information storage. The technique uses urethane-like plastics and enables dense data storage without DNA-based approaches.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Reports Physical Science·DateApr 21, 2021

Origin of life -- Did Darwinian evolution begin before life itself?

Researchers demonstrate that basic features of simple polymers and prebiotic environment can give rise to selection processes that reduce disorder. They identify specific base sequences that enable oligomers to fold into particular shapes, leading to the emergence of catalytically active complexes like ribozymes.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 19, 2021

Dennis tamed the protein from hell in seven years

A team of researchers from Aarhus University successfully understood why a very extended structure is crucial for an essential protein from the human immune system. The study offers new opportunities to adjust the immune system's activity both up and down, with potential applications in cancer treatment and autoimmune disease therapy.

Development of plaques in Alzheimer's disease resolved

A team of researchers from Ruhr-Universität Bochum and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam have determined the development stages of Aβ fibrils, which form the basis of Alzheimer's disease plaques. The study provides new insights into the formation of oligomers, potentially harmful structures that contribute to the toxic effect of Aβ.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalActa Neuropathologica Communications·DateDec 21, 2020

Battling COVID-19 using UV light

Researchers at the University of New Mexico have found that combining certain polymers and oligomers with UV light can almost completely kill the coronavirus. This method provides a fast-acting and highly effective coating that reduces virus concentrations by five orders of magnitude.

SourceUniversity of New Mexico·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateDec 9, 2020

Right under your nose: A more convenient way to diagnose Alzheimer's disease

Scientists at DGIST discovered that specific proteins in nasal discharge can indicate the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease, providing a novel approach for early detection. The levels of two particular Aβ oligomers were consistently higher in patients with AD, allowing for non-invasive screenings to assess AD progression.

Scientists map toxic proteins linked to Alzheimer's

Researchers from McMaster University mapped a toxic protein linked to Alzheimer's disease, providing new insights into its behavior and interactions with neurons. The findings highlight the importance of understanding the structural features that differentiate toxic and non-toxic forms of amyloid beta.

SourceMcMaster University·JournalChemical Science·DateJun 20, 2019

Molecule flash mob

Scientists track movement of serotonin transporter proteins in cell membranes using 'single molecule microscopy' method. PIP2 binding is found to mediate stable oligomer formation of the transporter, with implications for psychostimulant effects.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 19, 2017

A twisted world -- chemists build a molecular banister

Researchers at the University of Basel have created a helical molecule with unique properties, where one strand winds around a central axis like a staircase banister. This 'twisted world' enables dynamic changes in chirality, opening up new possibilities for basic research and industrial applications.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateNov 12, 2014

Know your enemy

Oligomers are identified as the enemy that kills nerve cells and causes symptoms of Parkinson's disease. The study reveals two types of oligomers with different degrees of flexibility, which can link up to inhibit fibril formation.

SourceAarhus University·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateApr 25, 2014