Molecular & Structural Biology

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Mice study opens new avenues to develop therapies for growth disorders

Maintaining equal growth rates in opposing limbs is crucial for animals to achieve a symmetrical adult form; what happens if something goes wrong with one limb during development?

27 Jun 2018

Scientists create microparticles that mimic human T cells

Researchers have developed synthetic microparticles with properties and behaviors that closely mimic human T cells.

27 Jun 2018

Error in most widely used method in epigenetics can cause misleading results

An error in one of the most widely used methods in epigenetics, DIP-seq, can cause misleading results, researchers at Linköping University, Sweden, have shown. This may have major significance in the research field, where "big data" and advanced methods of DNA analysis are used to study vast amounts of epigenetic data.

26 Jun 2018

MIT researchers decode structure of molecule that gives tissues their elasticity

The stretchiness that allows living tissues to expand, contract, stretch, and bend throughout a lifetime is the result of a protein molecule called tropoelastin. Remarkably, this molecule can be stretched to eight times its length and always returns back to its original size.

26 Jun 2018

Lund researchers develop fluorescent variant of a molecule that inhibits cancer stem cells

A team of researchers at Lund University in Sweden has developed a fluorescent variant of a molecule that inhibits cancer stem cells.

25 Jun 2018

Researchers use gene editing to reduce autism symptoms in mice

Researchers have used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to treat symptoms of autism in mice. It is hoped that the tool could one day be used to help humans.

25 Jun 2018

Study: Inner nuclear envelope plays role in lipid metabolism

The cell nucleus is an organelle, in which the DNA of an organism is protected and duplicated. The nucleus of this organ-like structure in the cell plasma is surrounded by an outer and an inner nuclear envelope, which is penetrated by openings - so-called nuclear pores.

22 Jun 2018

Researchers diagnose cerebral palsy using AI and next-generation sequencing

Researchers have shown that patients with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) can be identified using DNA methylation patterns in circulating blood cells.

22 Jun 2018

Investigating the Unique Nanomechanical Properties of Tooth Enamel

My background is in tribology, which is the science of the interactions between surfaces in relative motion. This involves looking at behaviour, such as friction, wear and lubrication, and the relationships between them.

From Bruker Nano Surfaces and Metrology 22 Jun 2018

Scientists identify gene that triggers senescence

Scientists seeking to unlock the secrets of cellular aging have identified a gene that triggers senescence, a phenomenon in which cells stop dividing.

22 Jun 2018

Scientists discover the molecular trigger of necroptosis

Researchers have uncovered a trigger for an immune-related cell death pathway called necroptosis. The discovery could be used to develop new treatments for cancer and immune disorders.

21 Jun 2018

USC study reveals how the cell launches emergency response to repair damaged DNA

The cell has its own paramedic team and emergency room to aid and repair damaged DNA, a new USC Dornsife study reveals.

21 Jun 2018

Researchers develop reliable DNA barcodes for biomedical research

Researchers have developed a new way of correcting the errors previously seen in DNA barcodes, yielding more reliable results for biomedical research.

21 Jun 2018

New studies on molecular and cellular proteomics

Researchers at the Karolinska Institute were using a proteomic screen to determine the mechanism by which cancer drug candidates killed cells when they realized a potential flaw in the standard experimental design.

21 Jun 2018

New computational method identifies molecular signatures that distinguish individuals

EMBL researchers have designed a computational method to jointly analyze multiple types of molecular data from patients in order to identify molecular signatures that distinguish individuals.

21 Jun 2018

Scientists explore interactions between chromosomes 12 and 17

How are chromosomes arranged in the cell nucleus? Is it possible that they communicate with one another by "touching" each other?

21 Jun 2018

Study provides insights into how components of different cells in the brain are altered

Scientists have revealed that protein molecules in the brain are broken down and replaced at different rates, depending on where in the brain they are.

20 Jun 2018

Increasing biodefense risks posed by synthetic biology

A US Department of Defense commissioned study has found that there are several genetic-engineering tools that could be used to devise biological weapons in a short amount of time.

19 Jun 2018