Molecular & Structural Biology

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Harnessing Gut Microbiome Compounds to Reduce Inflammation

Researchers at the University of Toronto have found naturally occurring compounds in the gut that can be harnessed to reduce inflammation and other symptoms of digestive issues.

6 May 2024

Targeting RNA Modifications: A Novel Approach for Neuroblastoma Treatment

Neuroblastoma is a common pediatric cancer that originates in developing nerve cells outside the brain.

6 May 2024

Protein Complex Movement May Regulate Cell Division, Impacting Disease Research

Scientists at Umeå University in Sweden have found that the movement of a unique protein complex known as the Mediator along DNA genes may affect the process of cell division.

6 May 2024

Unlocking Brown Fat's Potential: Study Reveals Key Protein in Obesity Regulation

Brown fat, also known as brown adipose tissue (BAT), is a type of fat in our bodies that's different from the white fat around our belly and thighs that we are more familiar with.

30 Apr 2024

Mapping Small Molecule-Protein Interactions for Drug Development

For most human proteins, there are no small molecules known to bind them chemically (so called "ligands"). Ligands frequently represent important starting points for drug development but this knowledge gap critically hampers the development of novel medicines.

30 Apr 2024

New Technique Reveals Plant's Defense Mechanism

Researchers at the Danforth Plant Science Center and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, working with Tessa Burch-Smith, PhD, are breaking new ground in their investigation of how viruses, essential molecules, and information are transferred between cells in plants.

30 Apr 2024

Study Reveals Molecular Assembly of One of the Most Common Anti-Phage Systems

One of the many secrets to bacteria's success is their ability to defend themselves from viruses, called phages, that infect bacteria and use their cellular machinery to make copies of themselves.

29 Apr 2024

Epigenetics May Spark Tumors Without DNA Mutations

Scientists from the CNRS are part of a research team that has found that epigenetic changes, or modifications that affect the regulation of gene expression, can be the sole cause of cancer, one of the world's leading causes of death.

25 Apr 2024

PI3K Enzyme's Dual Accelerator and Brake Mechanisms Uncovered

A group of researchers have expanded conventional knowledge on a critical enzyme that controls cell migration. In a recent publication in the journal Nature Communications, they reported that phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) not only acts as an accelerator to prompt cell motility, but it also has a built-in brake mechanism that impedes migration.

25 Apr 2024

Hydrogel Therapy: A Novel Defense Against Viral Infections

Vaccines remain the gold standard of protection against dangerous pathogens, but take considerable time and vast resources to develop.

24 Apr 2024

Small RNA-Binding Protein Promotes Prime Editing Efficiency

Through years of engineering gene-editing systems, researchers have developed a suite of tools that enable the modification of genomes in living cells, akin to 'genome surgery'.

23 Apr 2024

Localized Delivery Minimizes Side Effects of Immunotherapy

Cancer is the monster of the society.. The American Cancer Society reports that over 600,000 Americans lost their lives to cancer in the previous year. Medical progress has been shaped by the unwavering quest to understand this complex disease, leading to the development of less invasive yet highly effective treatment procedures.

22 Apr 2024

Unveiling Cannabinoid’s Potential for Treating Age-Related Brain Degeneration

Scientists at the Salk Institute observed the neuroprotective effects of cannabinol in fruit flies and discovered cannabinoid analogs that may prove to be promising future treatments for Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and traumatic brain injury.

18 Apr 2024

U of T Scientists Make Breakthrough Discovery in DNA Repair Mechanism

Researchers at the University of Toronto have discovered a DNA repair mechanism that advances understanding of how human cells stay healthy, and which could lead to new treatments for cancer and premature aging.

18 Apr 2024

New Method Reveals Dynamic Protein Structures in Real Time

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have developed a powerful, new technique to generate "movies" of changing protein structures and speeds of up to 50 frames per second.

17 Apr 2024

Placenta's Role in Gestational Diabetes Revealed

A recent study led by the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute has discovered that a deficiency in placental expression of the gene insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGFBP1) and low circulating levels of IGFBP1 are linked to insulin resistance during pregnancy, indicating a potential risk factor for the onset of gestational diabetes.

17 Apr 2024

Visualizing the Molecular Interaction of Formins with Actin Filaments

Actin is a highly abundant protein that controls the shape and movement of all our cells. Actin achieves this by assembling into filaments, one actin molecule at a time.

17 Apr 2024

Mapping Gene Signatures Unveils How Lewy Bodies Impact Brain Cells

A new study by scientists at Van Andel Institute provides an initial glimpse into the intricate molecular changes taking place in brain cells with Lewy bodies, crucial pathological markers of Parkinson’s disease and certain dementias.

17 Apr 2024

New Delivery System Opens the Door to Gene-Silencing Therapy

The next generation of medications, known as antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), works by preventing the transmission of damaging genetic messages.

16 Apr 2024

Unveiling the Neural Basis of Number Sense in Rats

The existence of discrete number sense in rats has been confirmed by research co-led by neuroscientists Professor Yung Wing-ho from City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) and Professor Ke Ya from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Faculty of Medicine (CU Medicine).

16 Apr 2024