Molecular & Structural Biology

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New SIMPL2 platform revolutionizes the study of protein-protein interactions

A team led by researchers at the University of Toronto has created a platform, called SIMPL2, that revolutionizes the study of protein-protein interactions by simplifying detection while improving measurement accuracy.

23 Dec 2024

Linker histones found to regulate DNA transcription in apple cells

A cell protein previously believed only to provide a scaffolding for DNA has also been shown to directly influence DNA transcription into RNA – the first step of the process by which an organism's genetic code expresses itself.

23 Dec 2024

Generating mutated proteins through adversarial attacks on the AlphaFold2 model

Announcing a new publication for Acta Materia Medica journal. Proteins are essential macromolecules that perform functions according to their conformational dynamics.

21 Dec 2024

New synthetic biology breakthrough improves genetic circuit integration

The research team led by Professor Jongmin Kim from the Department of Life Sciences at POSTECH, along with graduate students Hyunseop Goh and Seungdo Choi, has successfully developed the 'Synthetic Translational Coupling Element (SynTCE),' significantly enhancing the precision and integration density of genetic circuits in synthetic biology.

20 Dec 2024

Brain tumors exploit body's daily rhythms to fuel growth

Scientists explore how daily glucocorticoid signaling influences glioblastoma growth and synchronizes its circadian rhythms with the host.

18 Dec 2024

Breakthrough discovery opens doors for targeting adhesion GPCRs with drugs

Almost 35% of drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration work by targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), proteins embedded in cell membranes that allow cells to communicate with each other.

18 Dec 2024

New discovery reveals twisting action of molecular motors in the DNA

Scientists from the Kavli Institute of Delft University of Technology and the IMP Vienna Biocenter discovered a new property of the molecular motors that shape our chromosomes.

16 Dec 2024

How brain connectivity and machine learning enhance understanding of human cognition

Researchers provide new insights into human cognition by prioritizing interpretability in predictive modeling of intelligence from brain connectivity

16 Dec 2024

Virus causes 20 million infections annually as study uncovers hidden drivers of its evolution

Researchers describe the evolutionary origins of hepatitis E virus in rodents.

12 Dec 2024

Reimagining axons with the pearls-on-a-string model

In a provocative new study, scientists challenge a fundamental tenet in neuroscience about the shape of axons -- the long, thin filaments radiating from nerve cells that transmit electrical signals from cell to cell – and propose a new model for understanding how information is transmitted in the brain.

6 Dec 2024

Cancer cells block T-cell activation, but new therapies restore immune defenses

Cancer cells impair monocyte-mediated T-cell activation by disrupting inflammatory pathways in the tumor microenvironment. Restoring balance through PGE2 inhibition and IFN-I enhancement could renew immune defenses and improve immunotherapy outcomes.

4 Dec 2024

New study sheds light on the molecular basis of gene expression

An international research collaboration has shed new light on the molecular basis of gene expression, the fundamental biological process that underpins how all organisms use their genetic information.

2 Dec 2024

Study challenges long-standing understanding of axon structure

Biology textbooks may need a revision, say Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists, who present new evidence that an armlike structure of mammalian brain cells may be a different shape than scientists have assumed for more than a century.

2 Dec 2024

Natural polyphenol boosts mitochondrial function and muscle performance during aging

Oleuropein enhances mitochondrial calcium uptake, reversing age-related declines in muscle function and energy metabolism, with promising clinical potential.

2 Dec 2024

New insights into how cells generate microRNAs

It's a big year for microRNAs. The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine went to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun, who discovered the first microRNA in 1993.

2 Dec 2024

Neural connectivity predicts deep brain stimulation success in essential tremor

Study unveils how specific cortico-thalamic connectivity patterns influence essential tremor suppression with deep brain stimulation (DBS). It highlights the contralateral thalamus as a pivotal driver of tremor modulation and potential pathways for enhanced intervention strategies.

1 Dec 2024

Fibroblastic reticular cells power immune defenses in lung cancer

Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) create T-cell-supportive niches within lung cancer tumors, facilitating T-cell migration, clustering, and activation. This study highlights FRCs' potential as therapeutic targets to boost anti-tumor immunity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

1 Dec 2024

Bacteria modify their ribosomes in response to the antibiotics

Bacteria modify their ribosomes when exposed to widely used antibiotics, according to research published today in Nature Communications. The subtle changes might be enough to alter the binding site of drug targets and constitute a possible new mechanism of antibiotic resistance.

29 Nov 2024