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New study: Half of Americans living with diabetes may be consuming less than the recommended amount of protein, which is associated with greater physical limitations

A new study published in Nutrients highlights the importance of adequate protein intake for adults living with diabetes. The research found that nearly half of US adults with diabetes did not meet the daily recommended protein intake, leading to greater physical limitations and potentially increasing the risk of muscle loss.

SourceGCI Health NY·JournalNutrients·DateJul 29, 2021

Mechanical force controls the speed of protein synthesis

Researchers discovered that mechanical forces control protein synthesis speeds by influencing ribosome tunnel geometry and protein segment movement. This finding may lead to a better understanding of disease mechanisms linked to defective protein synthesis.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMay 16, 2018

Scientists can now measure activity of key cancer cell-survival protein

Researchers have developed a new way to measure the activity of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), a protein associated with poor prognosis in cancer patients. By identifying specific client proteins tied to Hsp70 activity, scientists can now develop potential therapies by testing small molecules in real-world environments.

SourceAmerican Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateFeb 6, 2018

New research shows that proteins are 'virtually' knotted

New research by University of Bristol physicists shows that protein molecules can be understood using virtual knots, a branch of knot theory previously considered abstract. This approach captures the essential ambiguity of where protein curve ends are, providing a more detailed understanding of their three-dimensional structure.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalScientific Reports·DateFeb 13, 2017

Pharmaceuticals from a coal mine?

Researchers at the University of Kentucky have discovered ten previously unknown microbial natural products from an abandoned coal mine in Kentucky. The compounds include four new geldanamycin variants and four McCrearamycins, which contain a cyclopentenone ring. These findings suggest that small structural variations can impact cell u...

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateFeb 6, 2017

Proteins 'ring like bells'

Researchers at the University of Glasgow discovered that proteins like lysozyme can vibrate at frequencies similar to a few terahertz, allowing for efficient biochemical reactions. This 'ringing' motion enables proteins to morph quickly and bind with other molecules, critical for life's biological functions.

SourceUniversity of Glasgow_·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 3, 2014

Biophysicists manipulate 'zipper,' reveal protein folding dynamics

Researchers at TUM have successfully manipulated a single 'zipper' protein molecule to map changes in its energy landscape during folding and unfolding. This breakthrough provides higher-resolution measurements of protein folding dynamics, shedding light on the chain of events leading from DNA coding to biological function.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 18, 2010

Tucson researcher receives national award

Chemist F. Ann Walker received the Francis P. Garvan-John M. Olin Medal for her research on heme proteins, including nitrophorin, a molecule found in kissing bugs that releases nitric oxide to facilitate feeding. Her work provides insight into the function of heme proteins and their role in the immune system.

Untangling The Protein Folding Problem

Protein folding research is undergoing explosive growth, revealing secrets of spontaneous self-assembly process, according to an editorial by Jay Winkler and Harry Gray. The study focuses on chemical kinetics and includes real-time observations, advancing efforts to design new drugs and decode genetic information.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalAccounts of Chemical Research·DateNov 12, 1998

Engineering New Enzymes

Researchers successfully engineered a hybrid enzyme with improved substrate specificity, demonstrating the potential of recombining subdomains to generate novel functions. The study presents a method for generating hybrid genes by combining subdomain segments from diverse proteins.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 2, 1998

Rewiring The Brain

A protein called osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1) may speed the recovery of stroke patients by rewiring damaged brain cells. The experiment used rats and showed that OP-1 helped them recover lost movement in their limbs quickly, outperforming those in a control group.

SourceNew Scientist·JournalThe New Scientist·DateJun 17, 1998

Bless You

Scientists have found that parts of the protein shell of the common cold virus flap open in a motion called "breathing", which can be stifled by compounds that stop viruses from infecting cells. This discovery could lead to rapid screening methods for antiviral drugs.

SourceNew Scientist·JournalThe New Scientist·DateJun 17, 1998