Molecular & Structural Biology

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Computational tools reveal how blood enzyme works at the atomic level

Membrane-associated proteins play a vital role in a variety of cellular processes, yet little is known about the membrane-association mechanism.

3 Jan 2022

T-cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant confer protection to vaccinated individuals

Researchers ascertain whether the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant evades cellular immunity.

3 Jan 2022

Research provides new insights on the architecture of yeast nuclear pore complex

Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are massive multi-protein complexes that act as passageways for the transport of molecules into and out of the nucleus.

3 Jan 2022

New study targets the methylation profile of microglia from human brain

In the central nervous system, microglial cells play critical roles in development, aging, brain homeostasis, and pathology. Recent studies have shown variation in the gene-expression profile and phenotype of microglia across brain regions and between different age and disease states.

29 Dec 2021

Study suggests spike mutation makes SARS-CoV-2 Omicron milder

The Omicron spike is relatively poorly cleaved and impaired in mediating cell-cell fusion and syncytia formation, contrary to predictions.

28 Dec 2021

LJI researchers discover how loss of TET enzymes can lead to B cell lymphoma

Scientists at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology have uncovered how loss of TET enzymes can lead to B cell lymphoma. Their research, published in Nature Immunology, could potentially open opportunities for designing drug treatment strategies to target malignant cells in many cancers.

24 Dec 2021

Flexibility may maximize the potency of peptides used to treat Type 2 diabetes

A little wiggle room might be just what the doctor ordered. New research suggests that the peptides -; short chunks of protein -; used to treat Type 2 diabetes may be more effective if they're able to flexibly move back and forth between different shapes.

23 Dec 2021

Cryo-EM of Omicron variant reveals antibody evasion by spike-ACE2 complex

Researchers compare the obtained binding affinities to wild-type and Delta spike proteins to determine the impact of Omicron mutations.

23 Dec 2021

Researchers identify a key influenza epitope that can targeted for developing universal vaccines

A team led by scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine, Scripps Research and the University of Chicago has identified an important site of vulnerability on influenza viruses—a site that future influenza vaccines and antibody therapies should be able to target to prevent or treat infections by a broad set of influenza strains.

23 Dec 2021

New study shines light on how brain cells die in prion diseases

Prion diseases, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), are fast-moving, fatal dementia syndromes associated with the formation of aggregates of the prion protein, PrP.

22 Dec 2021

Researchers identify new mechanism for DNA invasion of adenoviral COVID-19 vaccines

Adenoviruses have a linchpin protein that stabilizes their DNA until it reaches the infected cell's nucleus. The protein then detaches from the viral genome, and the virus uncoats. Only then are the genes released into the nucleus, which is necessary for the production of new viruses.

22 Dec 2021

Deletion of autism-linked gene diminishes myelin in mice

Myelin, a sheath of insulation around nerves that enables electrical impulses to efficiently travel through the central nervous system, is diminished in mice that have a gene deletion associated with autism spectrum disorder, new research finds.

21 Dec 2021

How the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant spike protein is changing

The study assesses the degree to which the D614G mutation in the SARS-CoV-2 RBD allows access of spike protein trimers to LA-binding-like conformations.

21 Dec 2021

Research reveals the structure and function of a bifunctional protein that transports heme

Heme is an essential part of the protein hemoglobin, which colors human blood red. Heme also is crucial for cytochrome proteins, which power the cell. Humans, animals, plants and bacteria all use heme.

21 Dec 2021

Study analyzes the role of circular RNA in ALS pathology

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as ALS, is a neurodegenerative disorder which affects motor neurons. These are the neuronal cells responsible for muscle innervation, whose degenerations leads to progressive paralysis culminating with motor and respiratory failure.

21 Dec 2021

New study shows how regular exercise protects against fatty liver disease

Exercise not only trains the muscles but can also prevent the development of fatty liver. A new study by the German Center for Diabetes Research, Helmholtz Munich and Tübingen University Hospital shows which molecular adaptations, in particular of the liver mitochondria, can be observed in this process.

20 Dec 2021

U-M scientists develop a cell-free artificial cortex to study how cells divide

Animal cells are bound by a structure called a cell cortex—and this structure, researchers say, is a bit like a tent.

20 Dec 2021

UBR7 protein acts as a histone chaperone during DNA replication, study finds

The protein UBR7 acts as a histone chaperone, regulating histone re-deposition at specific sites during DNA replication, according a recent study published in The EMBO Journal.

20 Dec 2021

Researchers identify a transporter protein in the brain that plays a vital role in habituation

In habituation, an organism gets so used to a ubiquitous sight, smell, sensation or sound that it virtually disappears. Runa Hamid of the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology in Hyderabad, India, and colleagues have identified a transporter protein in the brain that plays a vital role in habituation, which they report in a new study publishing December 16th in the journal PLOS Genetics.

17 Dec 2021

Study: Common gene mutation for Parkinson's disease drives mislocalization of iron in the brain

A common gene mutation for Parkinson's disease drives mislocalization of iron in activated microglia, according to a new study publishing December 16th in the open-access journal PLOS Biology, by Mark Cookson of the National Institute on Aging and colleagues

17 Dec 2021

Molecular & Structural Biology

Computational tools reveal how blood enzyme works at the atomic level

T-cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant confer protection to vaccinated individuals

Research provides new insights on the architecture of yeast nuclear pore complex

New study targets the methylation profile of microglia from human brain

Study suggests spike mutation makes SARS-CoV-2 Omicron milder

LJI researchers discover how loss of TET enzymes can lead to B cell lymphoma

Flexibility may maximize the potency of peptides used to treat Type 2 diabetes

Cryo-EM of Omicron variant reveals antibody evasion by spike-ACE2 complex

Researchers identify a key influenza epitope that can targeted for developing universal vaccines

New study shines light on how brain cells die in prion diseases

Researchers identify new mechanism for DNA invasion of adenoviral COVID-19 vaccines

Deletion of autism-linked gene diminishes myelin in mice

How the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant spike protein is changing

Research reveals the structure and function of a bifunctional protein that transports heme

Study analyzes the role of circular RNA in ALS pathology

New study shows how regular exercise protects against fatty liver disease

U-M scientists develop a cell-free artificial cortex to study how cells divide

UBR7 protein acts as a histone chaperone during DNA replication, study finds

Researchers identify a transporter protein in the brain that plays a vital role in habituation

Study: Common gene mutation for Parkinson's disease drives mislocalization of iron in the brain

Small solutions for big problems in drug discovery and delivery

Professor Nancy Ip: Pioneering New Paths in Neurodegenerative Therapy

Utilizing process Raman in optimizing cultivated meat production

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