Molecule News and Research

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New simplified approach for producing pharmaceutical substances

Tetrahydroisoquinolines (THIQ) are organic compounds, whose structure includes a benzene ring merged with a nitrogen-containing cycle.

11 Feb 2021

Light-activated protein can be used to study single synapses of neurons

Neurons are the primary cells of the nervous system, and the signals that are transmitted between them are responsible for all our actions and our cognitive ability.

10 Feb 2021

Study uncovers how cells actively seek information to make better collective decisions

Cells, like humans, cast votes to make decisions as a group. But how do they know what to vote for? Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and King's College London have uncovered how cells actively seek information in order to make faster and better collective decisions to coordinate the growth of new blood vessels. This provides a new basis for understanding intelligence in cells.

9 Feb 2021

$1.8 million NIH grant supports research on extracellular vesicles

Scientists have known for decades that our cells constantly shed tiny pieces known as extracellular vesicles (EVs), but until relatively recently they believed that this process was merely a way for cells to rid themselves of material that was no longer needed.

8 Feb 2021

Vaccine based on virus-like particle could generate antibodies to prevent malaria

An inexpensive, long-lasting and easy-to-administer vaccine against malaria could be a game-changer for millions of people living in countries where the mosquito-borne disease is endemic.

5 Feb 2021

Hyperactive RANK protein could trigger autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune diseases, in which the body's own immune system attacks healthy tissue, can be life-threatening and can impact all organs.

3 Feb 2021

Synthetic biomolecule resembles dual stimuli-responsive channel

For the first time, researchers from the Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) and the University of Tokyo in Japan have produced a new artificial transmembrane ion channel—based on a naturally found transmembrane channel that plays a role in neuron signaling—that reacts to both electrical and chemical stimuli.

2 Feb 2021

Noncoding RNA plays key role in sepsis, regulates inflammatory gene expression

Sepsis can result when the body’s immune response to a specific infection gets out of control.

From University of California Santa Cruz 2 Feb 2021

Yale scientists discover novel metabolic gatekeeper mechanism for leukemia

In a new study led by Yale Cancer Center, researchers have discovered a novel metabolic gatekeeper mechanism for leukemia. This mechanism depends on a molecule called PON2, which could lead to a new treatment for the disease. The findings were published online today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

2 Feb 2021

Researchers identify key molecule involved in immune regulation

The majority of the molecules in human bodies support the immune system to keep individuals healthy but they do so without reacting excessively, as this may otherwise drive the immune cells to cause problems, like autoimmune disorders.

29 Jan 2021

Study shows TALEN is five times more efficient than CRISPR-Cas9 tool

Using single-molecule imaging, scientists have compared the CRISPR-Cas9 and TALEN genome editing tools.

28 Jan 2021

Study shows how stem cell niche maintain their self-renewal capacity

A typical trait of all stem cells is their potential to renew on their own; however, scientists are unsure about how this ability is sustaining throughout life.

28 Jan 2021

Study shows why obese mothers tend to have children susceptible to metabolic diseases

A Brazilian study published in the journal Molecular Human Reproduction helps understand why obese mothers tend to have children with a propensity to develop the metabolic disease during their lifetime, as suggested by previous research.

27 Jan 2021

Single-dose universal vaccine could protect against many types of leptospirosis bacteria

Scientists have designed a single-dose universal vaccine that could protect against the many forms of leptospirosis bacteria, according to a study published today in eLife.

27 Jan 2021

New perspectives challenge diet-heart-hypothesis

In science, sometimes a new perspective can turn our interpretation of the data upside-down, and necessitate a paradigm shift.

25 Jan 2021

Immunity of COVID-19 patients may rely on antibodies from previous coronavirus infections

The results of a study led by Northern Arizona University and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), an affiliate of City of Hope, suggest the immune systems of people infected with COVID-19 may rely on antibodies created during infections from earlier coronaviruses to help fight the disease.

22 Jan 2021

COVID-19 virus triggers antibody response from prior coronavirus infections

According to the results of a study, the immune systems of COVID-19 patients may depend on antibodies that were produced during infections from previous coronaviruses to help combat the disease.

20 Jan 2021

Study reveals unusual chemical steps involved in the synthesis of antibiotics

Pictures of a protein that plays a key role in the production of a potent antibiotic have disclosed the first unusual steps involved in the synthesis of antibiotics.

From Penn State University 19 Jan 2021

Study shows how AFV3-109 protein with slipknot structure folds and unfolds based on temperature

Scientists from the Pacific Quantum Center of Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) figured out how the AFV3-109 protein with slipknot structure folds and unfolds depending on temperature. The protein is typical for the viruses of the oldest single-celled organisms that can survive in the extreme conditions of underwater volcanic sources - archaea. The research outcome appears in PLOS ONE.

15 Jan 2021

UT Southwestern biochemist is honoured for breakthrough metabolic research

UT Southwestern Biochemist Benjamin Tu, Ph.D., is the recipient of the 2021 Edith and Peter O'Donnell Award in Science from TAMEST (The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas). He was chosen for his pioneering research on cellular roles of small molecule metabolites that may have relevance for cancer treatments and other diseases.

15 Jan 2021