Molecular & Structural Biology

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Study Reveals How Syngap1 Gene Affects Touch-Based Perception in Mice

You may scarcely notice it, but much of what you do every day requires your brain to engage in perceptual learning.

14 Mar 2025

Researchers Develop New Method for Assembling DNA Nanostructures

University at Albany researchers at the RNA Institute are pioneering new methods for designing and assembling DNA nanostructures, enhancing their potential for real-world applications in medicine, materials science and data storage.

13 Mar 2025

Study Reveals How DNA Reorganization Helps Cells Survive UV Damage

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is a well-known cause of DNA damage, which can lead to diseases like skin cancer.

13 Mar 2025

Molecular Intelligence Simplifies Cryo-EM Data Analysis with AI

Scientists from Purdue University’s College of Science and the Rosen Center for Advanced Computing have established Molecular Intelligence, a software company dedicated to assisting researchers in determining the 3D structures of biomolecules captured through cryogenic-electron microscopy (cryo-EM).

13 Mar 2025

Study Explores the Physiological Role of Nwd1 Gene in MASH Pathogenesis

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a liver disease that progresses without symptoms and is associated with significant global public health concerns.

12 Mar 2025

Unveiling the Shapeshifting Mechanisms of Metamorphic Proteins

The “shapeshifters” of bacterial, animal, and human cells are metamorphic proteins. Their capacity to rapidly transition between two distinct shapes allows them to perform a variety of tasks and adjust to shifting conditions.

11 Mar 2025

Cryo-EM Reveals 3D Structure of Nipah Virus RNA Polymerase

The replication of the Nipah virus's genetic material in infected cells has been demonstrated for the first time by researchers from the Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Multidisciplinary Sciences and the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG). In humans, the virus can cause fatal encephalitis.

11 Mar 2025

Circular RNA's Transformative Role in Tumor Biology and Treatment

A new review article highlights the transformative role of circular RNA (circRNA) in cancer, revealing its potential as both a key player in tumor biology and a promising avenue for future therapies.

10 Mar 2025

Investigating Ubiquitination's Role in Cancer Stem Cell Regulation

This review highlights the critical role of ubiquitination in governing the functionality of cancer stem cells (CSCs), shedding light on potential therapeutic targets for combating tumor progression, recurrence, and drug resistance.

10 Mar 2025

Advanced Algorithm Predicts Structures of Disordered Proteins

The intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) do not attain a stable secondary or tertiary structure and rapidly change their conformation, making structure prediction particularly challenging.

8 Mar 2025

Structural Insights into uMtCK Offer New Pathways for Targeting Cancer Energy Mechanisms

Cancer cells have an insatiable appetite for energy as they multiply more rapidly than normal cells. Greedy cancer cells hijack various cellular functions to find and exploit energy and other resources, including a group of enzymes that help normal cells maintain a balance of energy.

8 Mar 2025

New Brain-Mapping Technique Pinpoints Cell Types Linked to Alzheimer's Progression

Researchers from The University of Texas at Arlington and the University of California–San Francisco have employed a novel brain-mapping technique to pinpoint memory-related brain cells that are susceptible to protein accumulation, a significant contributor to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, an irreversible and progressive neurological disorder that gradually impairs memory and cognitive abilities.

7 Mar 2025

Cryo-ET Reveals Retrotransposon Replication Inside Cells

An arms race is occurring within human cells: Transposons, also known as jumping genes or mobile genetic elements, can replicate and reintegrate themselves into the genome, posing a threat to genomic integrity by inducing DNA rearrangements and mutations.

6 Mar 2025

Light-Driven Protein Isolation Replaces Affinity Chromatography

Proteins are essential in the life sciences, playing a crucial role in fundamental research, biotechnological applications, and the development and production of pharmaceuticals.

6 Mar 2025

Scientists Unveil Molecular Process of Polymerase Theta in Cancer Cells

DNA repair proteins act like the body's editors, constantly finding and reversing damage to our genetic code.

4 Mar 2025

Unlocking the Secrets of Fertilization Inhibition

A research team headed by Yale scientists has elucidated the workings of a natural biological process that blocks the interaction between sperm and egg, thus inhibiting fertilization.

4 Mar 2025

Unlocking the Role of lncRNAs in MASLD and Liver Fibrosis

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously termed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), represents a widespread health concern, impacting approximately 30% of the global adult population.

3 Mar 2025

Scientists Use DNA Barcodes to Track Banana Skipper Butterfly's Global Spread

CABI has led a team of scientists who have used DNA barcodes to narrow down the possible sources of introductions of an invasive banana skipper butterfly, with implications as to the threat of it spreading to Africa and tropical America.

28 Feb 2025

Novel Genetic Mechanism Controlled by Leaf Microbiota

A recent investigation has uncovered a genetic network within plants that regulates the growth of individual leaves and enables adaptation to environmental conditions. This discovery holds the potential for creating crops with enhanced drought tolerance.

28 Feb 2025

Unveiling the Role of NUDIX Hydrolase in Fungal Infection

Researchers from The Australian National University (ANU), in partnership with scientists from Germany and the United States, have identified a potent “weapon” employed by numerous pathogenic fungi to infect staple food crops like rice and corn. This discovery may lead to novel approaches for enhancing global food security.

28 Feb 2025