Biochemistry

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Replacement bisphenols cause reproductive defects in lab mice

Twenty years ago, researchers made the accidental discovery that the now infamous plastics ingredient known as bisphenol A or BPA had inadvertently leached out of plastic cages used to house female mice in the lab, causing a sudden increase in chromosomally abnormal eggs in the animals.

14 Sep 2018

Discovery of unusual biosynthetic pathways could aid in the search for new natural products

Bacteria are master engineers of small, biologically useful molecules. A new study in Nature Communications has revealed one of the tricks of this microbial trade: synthesizing and then later inserting a nitrogen-nitrogen bond, like a prefabricated part, into a larger molecule.

12 Sep 2018

Study opens up new possibilities for designing novel medicines

A study by the Computational Biochemistry Research Group of the Universitat Jaume I of Castellón, Spain, shows that enzyme activity depends on electrostatic properties, as opposed to mechanical ones.

11 Sep 2018

Chemical signals influence guest-host protocell interactions

Resident artificial cells shown to leave their protocell hosts when triggered by a chemical signal that causes them to behave antagonistically.

7 Sep 2018

Researchers synthesize new antibacterial polymers without hydrophobic alkyl chains

Artificial polymers, like antibiotic peptides, need both hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains in their molecular structure to exert antibacterial activity.

7 Sep 2018

Low doses of common pesticide impact vertebrate neurodevelopment

New research published in Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry reveals that low doses of a commonly used pesticide potentially harm the Northern Leopard frog by inhibiting their brain development.

6 Sep 2018

Breakthrough fluorine discovery may impact how pharmaceutical companies develop new drugs

A groundbreaking discovery by chemists at The University of Texas at San Antonio will have a significant impact on how pharmaceutical companies develop new drug treatments.

6 Sep 2018

Researchers develop new DNA-based test to detect trace amounts of peanuts in foods

For people with severe peanut allergies, eating even miniscule amounts of the legume can trigger anaphylaxis --- a life-threatening condition characterized by dizziness, breathing difficulties and, sometimes, loss of consciousness.

5 Sep 2018

Reducing Anemia in Developing Regions with Point of Care Analysis

Reducing anemia in developing regions is a key strategic health goal with a prevalence of more than 60% in some developing countries.

From EKF Diagnostics 5 Sep 2018

Biophysicists propose new way to identify crucial factors for protein folding

A protein's folding patterns help them perform their dedicated tasks. As the real "doers" of the cell, even a tiny alteration in a protein's amino acid backbone can cause misfolding and hinder the protein's functionality or cause disease.

5 Sep 2018

Image Cytometry Technology and Tissue Analysis

Image cytometry or tissue cytometry, not only measures the size, diameter and shape of a cell, but quantifies the molecular marker expression.

From TissueGnostics 4 Sep 2018

CSIRO project seeks to clear the air over potentially life-saving noble gases

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, partnered with world leader in medical gases, Air Liquide Healthcare, to reveal how the noble gases’ interactions with proteins could one day be used to treat a variety of health issues.

4 Sep 2018

UTA scientists map function of enzymes to provide keys for developing new drugs

UTA biochemists are mapping the function of specific enzymes which may facilitate development of new drugs to fight bacterial infection, cancer and potentially neurodegenerative diseases like autism, Down syndrome, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's.

30 Aug 2018

Scientists introduce bioinspired enzyme model with redox switch

Coupled oxygen transfer and electron transfer reactions that use cofactors are enzymatic reactions of crucial significance to all lifeforms from bacteria to vertebrates. In the European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, scientists have introduced a model for the enzyme sulfite oxidase.

28 Aug 2018

Changes in TRPV3 genes may have helped mammoths withstand lower temperatures

Columbia University biomedical researchers have captured close-up views of TRPV3, a skin-cell ion channel that plays important roles in sensing temperature, itch, and pain.

25 Aug 2018

Chemists synthesize garlic ingredient from readily available components

Fresh garlic extracts contain a variety of healthy organosulfur compounds, among which ajoene forms a major oil-extractable ingredient.

24 Aug 2018

Researchers engineer peptide nanoparticles to outsmart biological system and target kidney cells

Remember the scene in the movie Mission: Impossible when Tom Cruise has to sneak into the vault? He had to do all sorts of moves to avoid detection. That's what it's like to sneak a targeted drug into a kidney and keep it from getting eliminated from the body.

22 Aug 2018

Researchers create the world’s first artificial retina

Scientists have developed an ultrathin artificial retina that could provide a superior alternative to the visual implants currently available to the blind.

20 Aug 2018

Saliva could modify dietary choices

Saliva is crucial for tasting and digesting food, but scientists have now found that it may have another, more subtle role.

20 Aug 2018

Vaping may modify DNA

The popularity of electronic cigarettes continues to grow worldwide, as many people view them as a safer alternative to smoking. But the long-term effects of e-cigarette usage, commonly called "vaping," are unknown. Today, researchers report that vaping may modify the genetic material, or DNA, in the oral cells of users, which could increase their cancer risk.

20 Aug 2018