Molecular & Structural Biology

RSS

Study unveils new molecular switch protecting cells from death

Researchers at LMU University Hospital have discovered a new molecular switch that protects against cell death.

12 Oct 2024

Innovative nanodiscs offer less invasive method for deep brain stimulation

Novel magnetic nanodiscs could provide a much less invasive way of stimulating parts of the brain, paving the way for stimulation therapies without implants or genetic modification, MIT researchers report.

12 Oct 2024

New study reveals unique metabolic function of lung-resident NK immune cells

Trinity College Dublin researchers, based at St James's Hospital have provided important insights into the behavior and metabolic function of a previously largely unknown, but crucial 'natural killer' (NK) immune cell resident in the lungs.

12 Oct 2024

AI-driven approach reveals hidden protein relationships

In a recently published article in Nature Communications, a team of researchers from the University of Virginia -; including Phil Bourne, dean of the School of Data Science, Cam Mura, a senior scientist with the School, and Eli Draizen, a recent UVA alumnus-; offer an AI-driven approach to explore structural similarities and relationships across the protein universe.

10 Oct 2024

CKMT2 regulates mitochondrial function and energy metabolism in type 2 diabetes

Creatine kinase M2 (CKMT2) plays a key role in mitochondrial dysfunction in type 2 diabetes, affecting energy metabolism in skeletal muscle.

10 Oct 2024

Decoding Cannabis: Differentiating Hemp and Marijuana

In this interview conducted at Pittcon 2024 in San Diego, Rabi Musah delves into her innovative use of DART-HRMS and chemometric analysis to differentiate between hemp and marijuana varieties of Cannabis sativa, exploring the forensic and legal implications of these findings.

From Pittcon 10 Oct 2024

Transposable elements found to be dysregulated in Alzheimer's brains, revealing potential targets for therapy

Study reveals widespread dysregulation of transposable elements (TEs) in aging human brains with Alzheimer's disease, using advanced techniques like CRISPR interference to identify TE-related risk genes.

9 Oct 2024

Liver X receptor beta offers new hope in treating depression and anxiety

Liver X receptor beta (LXRβ) shows potential in reducing depression and anxiety by improving neurogenesis, reducing neuroinflammation, and enhancing cognitive and emotional function. More research on LXR agonists could reveal new treatments for mental health disorders.

8 Oct 2024

Breakthrough in detecting adulteration in ginseng supplements

Rosalee Hellberg, an associate professor in Chapman University's Food Science Program, and her research team have made a significant breakthrough in the fight against adulteration in dietary supplements.

8 Oct 2024

Understanding proteasome function in Trichomonas vaginalis for drug development

Researchers from IOCB Prague are furthering the understanding of how medicines work and what it takes to develop their most effective variants.

8 Oct 2024

Overcoming CRISPR's side effects for therapeutic applications

CRISPR is a revolutionary tool that allows scientists to precisely modify the genome and gene expression of cells in any organism. It's a reagent-;a substance that facilitates a reaction-;that combines an enzyme with a programmable RNA capable of locating specific genetic sequences. Once guided to the correct spot, the enzyme acts like a pair of scissors, cutting, replacing, or deleting sequences of DNA.

7 Oct 2024

Schizophrenia-related hallucinations linked to disrupted motor-sensory signals

Researchers identified that impaired corollary discharge (CD) and noisy efference copy (EC) in schizophrenia disrupt self-monitoring, leading to auditory hallucinations. A computational model revealed how these motor-to-sensory dysfunctions contribute to hallucinations.

6 Oct 2024

New X-ray technique reveals metal ion role in antibiotic efficacy

Researchers from City St George's, University of London have used a new ultra-high precision x-ray scattering technique to unveil the location and identity of metal ions in bacteria that are crucial for antibiotics to work optimally.

4 Oct 2024

Researchers unveil complete neuronal map of fruit fly brain

Researchers map the whole brain of Drosophila melanogaster, or the fruit fly, which comprises about 140,000 neurons and over 50 million synapses.

4 Oct 2024

Understanding the brain’s process of dividing experiences into events

The moment a person steps off the street and into a restaurant-;to take just one example-;the brain mentally starts a new "chapter" of the day, a change that causes a big shift in brain activity. Shifts like this happen all day long, as people encounter new environments, like going out for lunch, attending their kid's soccer game, or settling in for a night of watching TV.

3 Oct 2024

Unlocking the mystery of the fruit fly's internal compass

For decades, researchers had a theory about how an animal's brain keeps track of where it is relative to its surroundings without outside cues – like how we know where we are, even with our eyes closed

3 Oct 2024

Dietary zinc may reduce plasmid transfer in gut microbes

Genes responsible for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can spread from microbe to microbe through circular genetic material called plasmids, and this lateral transfer occurs in the gut.

3 Oct 2024

New pathway linking neuron selectivity to cognitive disorders uncovered

Neuroscientists from Johns Hopkins Medicine say they have determined how a brain cell surface molecule shapes the way certain neurons behave.

3 Oct 2024

Study highlights the role of genetic factors in COVID-19 thrombosis and inflammation

Despite global vaccination efforts, COVID-19 continues to pose significant risks, leading to severe complications and fatalities. These risks are driven by disrupted coagulation, impaired fibrinolysis, which is the process of breaking blood clots, and heightened inflammatory responses.

3 Oct 2024

Inflammatory proteins linked to higher risk of endometrial cancer

Study identifies key inflammatory and immune response proteins linked to endometrial cancer risk through both observational and Mendelian Randomization analyses, revealing the roles of IL-6 and HSD11B1.

1 Oct 2024