Molecular & Structural Biology

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Macrophage-Specific MAFB Deficiency Leads to Poor Prognosis in Acute Kidney Injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with a poor prognosis, and no effective treatment has been established to date. Understanding the mechanisms that prevent the progression of AKI is crucial. In AKI, immune cells known as macrophages produce lipid mediators (LMs), which are lipids with significant physiological activity and play a pivotal role in promoting and suppressing inflammation. Thus, elucidating their function is of paramount importance.

30 Sep 2024

Insights into the Formation of Nascent Membrane Structures in Yeast Sporulation

Sexual reproduction, a common mode of reproduction among numerous species, involves gametogenesis in which offspring are produced through fertilization, conjugation, or mating. In plants and animals, eggs and sperm differentiate from germ cells to form gametes.

30 Sep 2024

Genomic Insights Reveal Path Forward for Inbred Red Fox Populations

A rescue effort can take many forms – a life raft, a firehose, an airlift. For animals whose populations are in decline from inbreeding, genetics itself can be a lifesaver.

27 Sep 2024

Study: Vaping Alters DNA in Ways Similar to Smoking

Young adults who vape show chemical changes in their DNA similar to those found in young adults who smoke -; changes known to be linked to the development of cancer -; according to a new study just published in the American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology.

26 Sep 2024

New AI Tool Revolutionizes Prediction of Rare Genetic Variant Effects

Whether we are predisposed to particular diseases depends to a large extent on the countless variants in our genome.

26 Sep 2024

Stem Cell Study Reveals Developmental Dance Behind Individual Variation

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have conducted a comprehensive analysis of the variations present in human stem cells. This study sheds light on how the unique “developmental dance” at the molecular level within an individual's cells can shape the formation of the brain and the body.

26 Sep 2024

Study Uncovers Cholesterol's Role in Membrane Structure and Function

A new study by Rice University researchers led by Jason Hafner could open new pathways for understanding how cholesterol influences cell membranes and their receptors, paving the way for future research on diseases linked to membrane organization.

24 Sep 2024

A Novel Function for STING in DNA Damage Response

A study published in the journal Molecular Cell has shed light on the multifaceted role of STING, a protein previously implicated in antiviral signaling pathways. The study reveals that STING also plays a crucial part in facilitating cellular stress resolution and promoting cell survival.

23 Sep 2024

A Computational Toolkit for Large-Scale Metabolomics Analysis

A computational workflow for analyzing massive data sets in metabolomics, the study of tiny chemicals found within cells, biofluids, tissues, and entire ecosystems has been developed by a research team led by experts at the University of California, Riverside.

23 Sep 2024

A New Understanding of How the Brain Adapts to Changing Situations

In a constantly changing world, animals, including humans, need to quickly adapt to their environment and learn to make decisions that lead to the best possible outcomes. In most cases, this type of learning happens through direct experience; when faced with a choice between two particular items or events, animals resort to previous experience involving the same options.

23 Sep 2024

Unveiling the Molecular Mechanisms of Shigella flexneri Infection

Virginia Tech researchers have learned how bacteria manipulate molecules to infect the host organism.

23 Sep 2024

A New Method to Correct Misplaced Proteins in Cells

Cells are highly controlled spaces that rely on every protein being in the right place. Many diseases, including cancers and neurodegenerative disorders, are associated with misplaced proteins. In some cancers, for instance, a protein that normally stands watch over DNA replicating in the nucleus is sent far from the DNA it is meant to monitor, allowing cancers to grow.

23 Sep 2024

AI-Driven Insights into Lasso Peptide Biosynthesis

Lasso peptides are natural products made by bacteria. Their unusual lasso shape endows them with remarkable stability, protecting them from extreme conditions. In a new study, published in Nature Chemical Biology, researchers have constructed and tested models for how these peptides are made and demonstrated how this information might be used to advance lasso peptide-based drugs into the clinic.

23 Sep 2024

A New Understanding of the Effects of Fever on Immune Cells

Fever temperatures rev up immune cell metabolism, proliferation and activity, but they also -; in a particular subset of T cells -; cause mitochondrial stress, DNA damage and cell death, Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers have discovered.

23 Sep 2024

Novel Tool Helps Identify Snake Venom Genes Across Species

Only about ten percent of the world's roughly 4,000 snake species have venom strong enough to seriously hurt a human, but that's enough for snake bites to be an important public health concern.

20 Sep 2024

The Role of Ancient Viral Sequences in Gene Regulation

For any organism to survive and thrive, its cells must tightly control which genes are activated when, and where.

19 Sep 2024

Early Detection of Off-Target Binding Could Improve Drug Safety

Integral Molecular, a pioneer in antibody discovery and characterization, has published new findings in the journal mAbs, revealing that up to one-third of antibody-based drugs exhibit nonspecific binding to unintended targets.

18 Sep 2024

Breakthrough Discovery on How TGF-Beta Communicates in Cells

Scientists discover how TGF-Beta, a crucial protein in development and cancer, sends its message even while tethered to the cell membrane.

17 Sep 2024

New Insights into How Mutant p53 Promotes Tumor Growth

Research from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and the National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging (INBEB) in Brazil has uncovered a critical mechanism by which mutations in the p53 protein-;a key tumor suppressor known as the "guardian of the genome"-;turn other proteins into cancer-promoting agents

17 Sep 2024

New Guidelines Enhance Accuracy of DNA-Protein Interaction Studies

Researchers at University of California San Diego have published new guidelines that could help scientists significantly improve their results when quantifying the interactions between DNA and proteins.

17 Sep 2024