Molecular & Structural Biology

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The atomic-level structure of DNA polymerase delta – the enzyme behind DNA replication

A new study has revealed how the fundamental enzyme called DNA polymerase delta operates during DNA replication, making a copy of the genetic code that can be transmitted through the generations.

4 Oct 2019

Rapid progress in brain organoid research prompts ethical debate

A new paper has tried to address the ethical debate surrounding human organoids by evaluating the potential risks of creating “humanized” animals

4 Oct 2019

Mount Sinai researchers discover how DNA polymerase delta duplicates the genome

Mount Sinai researchers have discovered how the enzyme DNA polymerase delta works to duplicate the genome that cells hand down from one generation to the next. In a study published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, the team also reported how certain mutations can modulate the activity of this enzyme, leading to cancers and other diseases.

3 Oct 2019

Novel viral vector improves gene therapy for sickle cell disease

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have developed a unique, improved lentiviral vector for use in gene therapy for sickle cell disease.

3 Oct 2019

Fighting for Change: Detecting Fraudulent Honey using NMR

In this interview, Peter Awram discusses the benefits of NMR spectroscopy as an analytical technique for the honey industry, in the fight against fraud.

From Bruker BioSpin - NMR, EPR and Imaging 2 Oct 2019

Researchers observe the effects of two proteins responsible for metastasis

The research by Assoc. Prof. Nurhan özlü of Koç University Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics and her team recently published in Molecular & Cellular Proteomics has observed the effects of two proteins in the transition from the epithelial to the mesenchymal cell type, the latter of which has mobility.

2 Oct 2019

US Government to fund development of a 'universal flu vaccine'

The US government is to provide up to 400 million USD in funding to develop a “universal” flu vaccination at Duke University over the next seven years.

1 Oct 2019

New method for studying individual cells could lead to earlier detection of diseases

Researchers in Sweden and the U.S. have devised a new method for studying individual cells in human tissue, which could lead to even earlier detection of diseases such as cancer and ALS. The method offers a 1,400-fold increase in spatial resolution.

1 Oct 2019

Research reveals new mechanism which could lead to premature aging in mother cells

Researchers from the University of Seville and the Andalusian Center of Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, have discovered a new mechanism that makes it possible to understand premature aging in cells with asymmetrical cell division, as is the case with mother cells.

30 Sep 2019

Cellular aging associated with structural changes in the brain

Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that become shorter with each cell division. If they become so short that the genes they protect could be damaged, the cell stops dividing and renewing.

27 Sep 2019

Functional three-organoid stem cell system could lead to unprecedented advances for precision medicine

Using iPS cells, a Japanese research group has successfully grown a connected set of organs at the same time, including a liver and a pancreas connected by a bile duct.

27 Sep 2019

Scientists use ultrasound to detect active genes in live cells

A startling new study shows that ultrasound can help scientists to understand whether specific genes are in the active or inactive state in live cells.

27 Sep 2019

Closely spaced habitats are more likely to be used by mosquitoes to lay eggs

Patches of standing water that are close together are more likely to be used by mosquitoes to lay eggs in than patches that are farther apart, according to a new study from the University of Georgia. The findings, recently published in Oecologia, have implications for human and animal health.

26 Sep 2019

Mechanisms behind antibiotic resistance captured on video for the first time

Scientists have established the cause of antibiotic-resistance in bacteria on video, and the findings contradict previous beliefs.

26 Sep 2019

Temporal fluctuations in protein concentrations can determine fate of stem cells

How do temporal variations in protein concentrations affect biology? It's a question that biologists have only recently begun to address, and the findings are increasingly showing that random temporal changes in the amount of certain proteins play a direct and significant role on biological processes.

26 Sep 2019

Researchers identify novel genetic variants linked to plasma lipid levels and cardiovascular risk

An international research team has identified several novel genetic variants associated with plasma levels of lipid species and cardiovascular disease risk in humans.

26 Sep 2019

New technique can rapidly image synaptic proteins at high resolution

Our brains contain millions of synapses -- the connections that transmit messages from neuron to neuron. Within these synapses are hundreds of different proteins, and dysfunction of these proteins can lead to conditions such as schizophrenia and autism.

26 Sep 2019