Molecular & Structural Biology

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Major soil organic matter compound battles chronic wasting disease

A major compound in soil organic matter degrades chronic wasting disease prions and decreases infectivity in mice, according to a study published November 29 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Judd Aiken of the University of Alberta, and colleagues.

3 Dec 2018

Study provides new insights into how prions enter the brain

The spread of prions to the brain does not occur by direct transmission across the blood-brain barrier, according to a study published November 29 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Annika Keller and Adriano Aguzzi of the University Hospital Zürich, and colleagues.

3 Dec 2018

New study could fine-tune the CRISPR gene editing process

The introduction of the tool for gene editing, the so-called gene scissors CRISPR, in 2007 was a revolution within medical science and cell biology.

30 Nov 2018

New Mainz-based Collaborative Research Center aims to explore DNA repair and genome stability

From January 1, 2019, the German Research Foundation will be funding the new Collaborative Research Center 1361 on Regulation of DNA Repair & Genome Stability.

29 Nov 2018

Sleeping sickness study could aid efforts to beat the disease

Key insights into how the parasites behind sleeping sickness boost their ability to spread could aid efforts to beat the disease.

29 Nov 2018

New strategy for developing cell replacement therapies to combat type 1 diabetes

Scientists have discovered the signals that determine the fate of immature cells in the pancreas. The research shows that they are very mobile and that their destiny is strongly influenced by their immediate environment.

29 Nov 2018

Scientists create mini-placenta's to study early stages of pregnancy

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have used organoid culture techniques to create a cellular model of the early stages of the placenta.

29 Nov 2018

New study solves longstanding mystery in innate immunity

UT Southwestern biochemist and Breakthrough Prize winner Dr. Zhijian "James" Chen's newest study answers a long-standing question in the field of innate immunity.

29 Nov 2018

Antibiotic could protect against age-related brain diseases

An antibiotic, minocycline, can increase the lifespan of roundworms by preventing the build-up of proteins during aging, a study in the open-access journal eLife reports.

28 Nov 2018

Study uncovers new chemical reaction key to cataract formation

Researchers working to understand the biochemistry of cataract formation have made a surprising finding: A protein that was long believed to be inert actually has an important chemical function that protects the lens of the eye from cataract formation.

28 Nov 2018

Discovery about DNA twists could be crucial in development of new antibiotics

DNA replication is vital to all lifeforms, but in some organisms, it can be prevented by twists in the DNA sequence, called 'supercoils'. If too many supercoils are allowed to build up, cells vital to sustaining life will die.

28 Nov 2018

Study reveals why mitochondria are often strangely shaped inside the brain

Columbia neuroscientists have discovered why mitochondria, tiny power generators that keep our cells healthy, are often strangely shaped inside the brain.

28 Nov 2018

Researchers map cells in the early human placenta to shed light on pregnancy complications

To treat and prevent pregnancy-related disorders, researchers must understand not only what can go wrong, but when. Complications, such as preeclampsia and pre-term birth, often occur in the second or third trimester, and most research to date has focused on those later stages of pregnancy. But the biological events that lead to these problems could start much earlier.

28 Nov 2018

Early-life stress in mice hinders neuron development, causing attention problems

Women are roughly twice as likely as men to develop depression, anxiety and other stress-related problems, including difficulty with attention, and new research from Brown University neuroscientists sheds light on the biological reasons why.

28 Nov 2018

Novel methodology for characterizing neurons could lead to better understanding of brain disease

It takes a lot of cells to make a human brain. The organ houses not only an enormous quantity of neurons (tens of billions), but also an impressive diversity of neuron types. In recent years, scientists have been developing inventories of these cell classes--information that will be essential for understanding how the brain works.

28 Nov 2018

Research reveals how a small molecule helps remove excess cholesterol

Scientists have determined the structure of the activated form of an enzyme that helps to return excess cholesterol to the liver, a study in eLife reports.

27 Nov 2018

Using Pre-Clinical Imaging to Detect Cancer

In this interview, Émilie Beaulieu Ouellet, Application Scientist for life science imaging at Photon Etc talks to New-Medical about their range of preclinical infrared imagers and how they can allow cancer detection.

From Photon etc. 27 Nov 2018

Discovery could be used to prevent viral infection and autoimmunity

Researchers have discovered that chemical changes to mRNA regulate the production of interferon beta, and hope to exploit this in new treatments.

27 Nov 2018

Scientists discover important hallmark of aging in neuronal cells

MIT researchers have discovered that free radicals cause a build-up of short RNA snippets which could contribute to neuronal ageing and cognitive decline.

27 Nov 2018

Scientists report novel combination transport system in E. coli

A general concept in biology is that cells use two different systems to transport substances across their membrane: selective pores, which allow passive transport driven by a concentration gradient, and active transport complexes, which use energy to transport substances against a gradient.

27 Nov 2018