Biochemistry

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Mirror molecules behave differently under drought stress

Worldwide, plants emit about 100 million tonnes of monoterpenes into the atmosphere each year. These volatile organic molecules include many fragrances such as the molecule pinene – known for its pine fresh scent.

From The Max Planck Institute 8 Sep 2022

Chemical prevents 'evil' weevils from destroying California's avocados

UC Riverside scientists are on the hunt for a chemical that disrupts "evil" weevils' mating and prevents them from destroying California's supply of avocados.

6 Sep 2022

Unraveling the mysteries of cell factories, courtesy of new algorithm

Living cell factories can manufacture custom drug compounds and biofuels using biological enzymes.

2 Sep 2022

Yeast platform for the production of plant-derived anti-cancer drug

The supply of a plant-derived anti-cancer drug can finally meet global demand after a team of scientists from Denmark and the U.S. engineered yeast to produce the precursor molecules, which could previously only be obtained in trace concentrations in the native plant.

1 Sep 2022

Researchers identify a gene responsible for differential accumulation of cadmium in rice

Rice is a staple food for nearly half the world's population. However, it accumulates more cadmium from the soil than other cereals like barley and wheat.

1 Sep 2022

Detecting multiple food poisoning bacteria based on color differences in scattered light from metals

Osaka Metropolitan University scientists have developed a simple, rapid method to simultaneously identify multiple food poisoning bacteria, based on color differences in the scattered light by nanometer-scaled organic metal nanohybrid structures (NHs) that bind via antibodies to those bacteria.

30 Aug 2022

A more environmentally friendly way to produce widely used artificial organic dyes

Organic, i.e. carbon-containing dyes have important roles in nature. For example, they are responsible for transporting oxygen and other gases in the body (as part of hemoglobin) and converting solar energy into chemical energy in photosynthesis (chlorophyll).

22 Aug 2022

BIDMC researchers develop a transformative approach to make more of beige adipose tissues

Once considered an inert tissue, fat – or adipose tissue – is now known to play an active role in the body's critical functions by secreting hormones that regulate hunger and body temperature.

18 Aug 2022

Extract from the roots of Rhodiola rosea may be effective for managing type 2 diabetes

A team of researchers led by the University of California, Irvine has discovered that treatment with an extract from the roots of the Rhodiola rosea plant might be effective for helping manage type 2 diabetes, showing promise as a safe and effective non-pharmaceutical alternative.

16 Aug 2022

Exploring how young soils can support plant life

In order to grow well, plants need a place to grow, access to nutrients, and in most cases sunlight. A rich soil provides that home and a good supply of nutrients.

16 Aug 2022

Interseeded cover crops provide nitrogen services in organic corn systems

Fields of amber grain may be the poetic image of American farmland. And it's true that the U.S. grows plenty of wheat. But fields of yellow grain – corn – may be more accurate.

11 Aug 2022

Research reveals the secrets of photosynthesis in the shade

Plants and algae use green-tinted chlorophyll to convert high-energy sunlight into food via photosynthesis.

10 Aug 2022

UF scientists know why 'aromatic' blueberries taste good

They may be called "aromatic" blueberries, but they don't just smell nice -- they taste good.

9 Aug 2022

Study proposes a systematic engineering approach of optimizing protein-fortified food inks

As the global population continues to age and grow, the demand for protein-rich food is also expected to increase concurrently.

8 Aug 2022

Study finds a nutrition-based solution to restore milk production during warm weather

Rising temperatures pose major challenges to the dairy industry – a Holstein's milk production can decline 30 to 70% in warm weather – but a new Cornell University-led study has found a nutrition-based solution to restore milk production during heat-stress events, while also pinpointing the cause of the decline.

8 Aug 2022

Study shows factors that influence the production of distinctive quality coffee

Most Americans wake up to coffee every morning. In fact, the National Coffee Association says that 70% of Americans drink coffee every week (62% drink it every day!)

4 Aug 2022

Researchers succeed in automating an established method for the isolation of volatile food ingredients

A group of scientists from the Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich (LSB) has automated a tried-and-true technique for the delicate, artifact-free isolation of volatile food ingredients.

1 Aug 2022

New method can easily convert commercially available DNA chips into RNA chips

Biochips (microarrays) are modern analytical tools that allow thousands of individual detections to be performed simultaneously in a small amount of sample material. A team led by Mark Somoza from the Faculty of Chemistry at the University of Vienna has now presented a new method in "Nature Communications".

27 Jul 2022

Membrane-based separation method for milking molecules from cultured microbes

A sustainable chemical separation method that uses membranes, microalgae and artificial intelligence has been developed by a team drawn from different KAUST groups whose members have diverse specialties in bioengineering, membranes and water reuse and recycling.

26 Jul 2022

Researchers produce a molecular electric motor using the DNA origami method

A research team led by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has succeeded for the first time in producing a molecular electric motor using the DNA origami method.

22 Jul 2022