Molecular & Structural Biology

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Researchers Identify Molecular Stop Signal in Cell Division Monitoring

Every second, many million cells divide throughout the body. During nuclear division (mitosis), the genetic material must be divided correctly and fully amongst daughter cells; faults in this process can result in improper development or genetic diseases, and many cancer cells have an uneven number of chromosomes.

5 Jun 2024

Graph Neural Networks: A Novel Approach to Deciphering Gene-Enhancer Interactions

Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) have developed a new computational method for linking molecular marks on our DNA to gene activity.

4 Jun 2024

Protein SRSF1 Plays Unexpected Role in Unwinding Complex RNA Structures

RNA transcription is the genomic process in which a cell produces a duplicate of a gene's DNA sequence.

31 May 2024

C. elegans Study Reveals Impact of Embryonal Amphetamine Exposure

Amphetamine is a psychostimulant that has been used to treat a variety of brain dysfunctions. However, it is a highly abused drug.

31 May 2024

Efficient Gene Editing with Compact Cas12a Protein

Researchers have created an innovative version of a critical CRISPR gene-editing protein that has effective editing activity and is small enough to be bundled into a non-pathogenic virus capable of delivering it to targeted cells.

31 May 2024

Engineered DNA PROTAC Shows Promise for p53-R175H Mutant Cancers

A synthetic bicomponent compound specifically targets and eliminates a mutant protein associated with multiple forms of cancer.

30 May 2024

Structural Insights into a Novel Gene-Editing Tool

Yutaro Shuto, Ryoya Nakagawa, and Osamu Nureki of the University of Tokyo conducted collaborative research to ascertain the spatial organization of different processes within a unique gene-editing instrument known as “prime editor.”

30 May 2024

LoCoHD: A Novel Method for Comparative Protein Structure Analysis

In a paper recently published in Nature Communications, the HUN-REN-ELTE Protein Modeling Research Group (Institute of Chemistry) has laid the foundations for a mathematical method, allowing the computer-assisted comparison of the three-dimensional structures of proteins.

30 May 2024

Unmasking XPD’s Mechanism in DNA Damage Detection and Repair

The way the protein XPD recognizes severe DNA damage and regulates its repair was uncovered by researchers at the University of Würzburg, under the direction of Caroline Kisker and Claudia Höbartner.

29 May 2024

Modifying Cellular Interactions Near Amyloid Plaques May Offer New Alzheimer's Treatments

Researchers at Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine have achieved a big breakthrough in Alzheimer’s disease research by discovering a new technique to potentially slow or even stop disease development.

28 May 2024

Spiking neuron bridges the gap between biological and artificial neurons

Engineers from the University of Liège have made significant advances in the design of artificial neural networks by developing a new form of spiking neuron. The Spiking Recurrent Cell (SRC) is a novel model that combines ease of implementation with the capacity to replicate the dynamics of biological neurons.

28 May 2024

CRISPR Screening Reveals Peptide in Human RNA Regulating Inflammation

UC Santa Cruz researchers have discovered a peptide in human RNA that regulates inflammation and may provide a new path for treating diseases such as arthritis and lupus.

27 May 2024

Cryo-EM Reveals Structural Insights Into ADAM17/iRhom2 Complex

Efficient communication between cells is vital for many biological processes, such as recruiting immune cells to combat disease.

24 May 2024

Plectasin's Velcro-Like Binding Holds Promise for Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance

A small antibiotic called plectasin uses an innovative mechanism to kill bacteria. By assembling into large structures, plectasin latches onto its target on the bacterial cell surface comparable to how both sides of Velcro form a bond.

24 May 2024

New Chemical Modification Enhances Antisense Oligonucleotide Targeting in CNS Diseases

Diseases that affect the brain and spinal cord can be particularly devastating, and finding new and more effective ways to treat these conditions is an important goal for researchers and clinicians alike.

23 May 2024

Sonification Reveals Hidden Patterns in Protein Folding Dynamics

By converting their data into sounds, scientists discovered how hydrogen bonds contribute to the lightning-fast gyrations that transform a string of amino acids into a functional, folded protein.

21 May 2024

Molecular Machinery Behind Plant Growth and Oil Production Deciphered

Proteins are molecular machines, with flexible pieces and moving parts. Understanding how these parts move helps scientists unravel the function a protein plays in living things -; and potentially how to change its effects.

20 May 2024

Takara Bio Launches PrimeCap T7 RNA Polymerase for mRNA Therapy Development

Takara Bio announces the launch of PrimeCap™ T7 RNA Polymerase (low dsRNA), a mutant T7 RNA polymerase suitable for mRNA therapeutic research and development.

20 May 2024

Repetitive Tasks Crystallize Memory Pathways in the Brain

According to a recent study conducted by UCLA Health, repeated practice not only helps to improve skills but also causes significant alterations in the memory pathways in the brain.

16 May 2024