Molecular & Structural Biology

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Studies on evolutionary origin of teeth, vertebra illuminate human link to marine organisms

Two new studies on the evolutionary origin of teeth and of vertebra further illuminate the human connection to marine organisms that goes back millions of years.

23 Nov 2017

Study finds sensors to detect biomarkers

A new study conducted at Purdue University suggests that small vibrating sensors or microelectromechanical resonators can be used to identify biological markers in small amounts of blood. This method is expected to be useful for detecting a myriad of diseases, infections, and different medical conditions in their early stages.

21 Nov 2017

New mechanism in cancer cells to disarm attacking immune cells, study reveals

A new study, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, identified a substance Gdf-15, which is secreted by pancreatic cancer cells and shields cancerous cells from attack by immune cells known as macrophages.

21 Nov 2017

Probing living cells with AFM

An interview with Prof. David Alsteens, Université Catholique de Louvain conducted by April Cashin-Garbutt, MA (Cantab).

From Bruker Nano Surfaces and Metrology 21 Nov 2017

Simple mirror technique boosts the performance of diSPIM, study says

Researchers from the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) have significantly improved the efficiency, resolution, and speed of a light-sheet microscope, by using a simple mirror technique and not-so-easy computational analysis, with a wide range of applications for better imaging of embryos and live cells.

20 Nov 2017

Study records video of colliding organic nanoparticles

A new study conducted at the Northwestern University, published today in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, captured a video of organic nanoparticles colliding and fusing together, a breakthrough in nanotechnology.

20 Nov 2017

Leaf-eating ability of beetle largely due to bacteria inside the insect

A leaf-eating beetle has evolved a symbiotic relationship with bacteria that allows the insect to break down pectin -- part of a plant's cell wall that is indigestible to most animals.

17 Nov 2017

Biologists resolve immune protein structure to provide insight into pathogen-defense strategies

Biologists have resolved the structure of a ring of proteins used by the immune system to summon support when under attack, providing new insight into potential strategies for protection from pathogens.

17 Nov 2017

Researchers map first-ever proteome of healthy human heart

A healthy heart beats about two billion times during a lifetime – thanks to the interplay of more than 10,000 proteins. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry and the German Heart Centre at the Technical University of Munich have now determined which and how many individual proteins are present in each type of cell that occurs in the heart.

17 Nov 2017

CRISPR shows potential to reduce diseases spread by mosquitoes

Research at the University of California, Riverside, have shown that it is possible for transgenic mosquitos to stably express the Cas9 enzyme in their germline. Cas9 addition will allow the utilization of the CRISPR gene editing tool to carry out efficient and highly targeted changes to the DNA of the mosquitoes.

16 Nov 2017

Applying AFM to study the viscoelastic properties of cells

An interview with Prof. Manfred Radmacher, Universität Bremen conducted by April Cashin-Garbutt, MA (Cantab).

From Bruker Nano Surfaces and Metrology 16 Nov 2017

Tulane professor wins Department of Defense grant for research into arteriovenous malformations

Tulane University's Stryder Meadows, a cell and molecular biology professor, received a $1.7 million grant from the Department of Defense to study how arteriovenous malformations (AVM), which are defects in arteries, veins and capillaries, form Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT), a genetic disorder that affects about 1 in 5,000 people.

14 Nov 2017

High-speed video capillaroscopy system enables accurate measurement of red blood cell velocity

Scientists from ITMO University created a high-speed video capillaroscopy system that enables direct measurement of red blood cell velocity.

14 Nov 2017

Dresden researchers develop molecular smoke alert for key human cancer gene

If it burns in a house smoke detectors alert us hence protecting life. A molecular smoke alert has now been developed by Dresden researchers for the TP53 gene, the most important human cancer gene. The alert goes on if the TP53 gene is mutated in cells.

14 Nov 2017