Molecular & Structural Biology

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Llama ‘nanobodies’ have the potential to outwit human cytomegalovirus

Scientists have developed a 'nanobody' - a small fragment of a llama antibody - that is capable of chasing out human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) as it hides away from the immune system.

22 Jul 2021

Researchers identify immune protein linked to rare neurodegenerative disease

UT Southwestern researchers have identified an immune protein tied to the rare neurodegenerative condition known as Niemann-Pick disease type C.

21 Jul 2021

Scientists seek to block pathogen’s most reliable weapon to cause severe malaria

The parasites that cause severe malaria are well-known for the sinister ways they infect humans, but new research may lead to drugs that could block one of their most reliable weapons: interference with the immune response.

21 Jul 2021

IgA deficiency results in substantial intestinal inflammation, study reveals

While researchers have known for years that immunoglobulin A (IgA) is important for gut health, it has remained unclear exactly what role it plays in preventing infection and disease. But now, researchers from Japan have found that eliminating IgA disrupts the balance of the intestinal ecosystem, making it susceptible to disease.

20 Jul 2021

Scientists identify key role of p38-MK2 pathway in determining cell fate in response to stress

Living organisms are often exposed to stress stimuli generated either by external or internal factors, and they need to respond accordingly.

20 Jul 2021

Protein consumption at breakfast can increase muscle size and function, finds study

Proteins constitute an essential dietary component that help in the growth and repair of the body. Composed of long chains of amino acids, proteins promote the growth of skeletal muscles, the group of muscles that help us move.

20 Jul 2021

Chemical modification in RNA molecules may offer protection against liver disease

A chemical modification that occurs in some RNA molecules as they carry genetic instructions from DNA to cells' protein-making machinery may offer protection against non-alcoholic fatty liver, a condition that results from a build-up of fat in the liver and can lead to advanced liver disease, according to a new study by UCLA researchers.

19 Jul 2021

Scientists deconstruct the protein-based machine responsible for SARS-CoV-2 replication

In February 2020, a trio of bio-imaging experts were sitting amiably around a dinner table at a scientific conference in Washington, D.C., when the conversation shifted to what was then a worrying viral epidemic in China.

19 Jul 2021

Central amygdala micro-circuits play active role in regulation of fear responses

The brain mechanisms underlying the suppression of fear responses have attracted a lot of attention as they are relevant for therapy of human anxiety disorders.

16 Jul 2021

Research shows a direct link between SUV39H2 gene and autism spectrum disorders

New research from the RIKEN Center for Brain Science in Japan shows that a deficit in histone methylation could lead to the development of autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

16 Jul 2021

Virginia Tech researchers receive $2.7 million grant to study mosquito's biological timing

Mosquitoes may be small, but they are a formidable foe. Not only can they smell over 400 chemicals that we emit and detect the carbon dioxide we breathe out, but they can even adapt their daily behavior in response to our own.

16 Jul 2021

New live cell models lay the groundwork for studies into mitochondrial diseases

The mitochondrion has garnered quite the reputation for its role as the "powerhouse of the cell." These tiny, but mighty organelles play various life-sustaining roles, from powering our own cells and organs to fueling chemical and biological processes.

15 Jul 2021

A rapid, highly accurate test to detect antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in human serum

Scientists have developed a rapid, highly accurate test to detect antibodies against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 in human serum, opening a new avenue for understanding the full extent of the pandemic and evaluating the effectiveness of vaccines.

15 Jul 2021

Researchers study the role of subnuclear NSrp70 in T cell-mediated adaptive immunity

T cells are components of the body’s immune system. The ability of T cells to recognize diverse pathogens and mount a defense against them stems from the way proteins are spliced during their development and maturation.

15 Jul 2021

Study reveals key mechanisms of how physical load stimulates bone growth

When things get too much, we're often advised to "take a load off," but when it comes to bone maintenance, doing the opposite can be a good thing. Researchers from Japan have discovered some key mechanisms of how physical load stimulates bone growth.

15 Jul 2021

Research sheds light on a new mechanism for inhibitory synapse specificity in the cortex

Researchers at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience have discovered that the cell adhesion protein IgSF11 determines the layer-specific synaptic connectivity of a distinct class of cortical interneurons.

15 Jul 2021

Mass spectrometry: An important tool to unravel mechanisms underlying Huntington's disease

Mass spectrometry has emerged as an important analytical tool for gaining a better understanding of mechanisms underlying Huntington's disease (HD), alongside the increased availability of cell and animal models of the disease.

14 Jul 2021

Hematopoietic stem cells take advantage of 'junk' RNA to replenish the blood system

Chemotherapy is widely used to treat cancer patients. During the treatment, chemotherapeutic agents affect various biochemical processes to kill or reduce the growth of cancer cells, which divide uncontrollably in patients.

12 Jul 2021

Modular network organization critical for persistent neural activity and brain communication

Recall a phone number or directions just recited and your brain will be actively communicating across many regions. It is thought that working memory relies on interactions between these regions, but how these brain areas interact and properly represent memory has remained a mystery.

12 Jul 2021

New insights can guide precise personalized hepatocellular carcinoma medicine

A research group led by Prof. PIAO Hailong from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) identified hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) subtypes with distinctive metabolic phenotypes through bioinformatics and machine learning methods, and elucidated the potential mechanisms based on a metabolite-protein interaction network and multi-omics data.

12 Jul 2021

Molecular & Structural Biology

Llama ‘nanobodies’ have the potential to outwit human cytomegalovirus

Researchers identify immune protein linked to rare neurodegenerative disease

Scientists seek to block pathogen’s most reliable weapon to cause severe malaria

IgA deficiency results in substantial intestinal inflammation, study reveals

Scientists identify key role of p38-MK2 pathway in determining cell fate in response to stress

Protein consumption at breakfast can increase muscle size and function, finds study

Chemical modification in RNA molecules may offer protection against liver disease

Scientists deconstruct the protein-based machine responsible for SARS-CoV-2 replication

Central amygdala micro-circuits play active role in regulation of fear responses

Research shows a direct link between SUV39H2 gene and autism spectrum disorders

Virginia Tech researchers receive $2.7 million grant to study mosquito's biological timing

New live cell models lay the groundwork for studies into mitochondrial diseases

A rapid, highly accurate test to detect antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in human serum

Researchers study the role of subnuclear NSrp70 in T cell-mediated adaptive immunity

Study reveals key mechanisms of how physical load stimulates bone growth

Research sheds light on a new mechanism for inhibitory synapse specificity in the cortex

Mass spectrometry: An important tool to unravel mechanisms underlying Huntington's disease

Hematopoietic stem cells take advantage of 'junk' RNA to replenish the blood system

Modular network organization critical for persistent neural activity and brain communication

New insights can guide precise personalized hepatocellular carcinoma medicine

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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