Molecular & Structural Biology

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UChicago scientists shed light on the longstanding puzzle of RNA methylation

University of Chicago scientists have discovered a new wrinkle in our understanding of how our genes work.

14 Feb 2023

Researchers discover target enzyme for blast disease

A fungus that plagues rice crops worldwide gains entry to plant cells in a way that leaves it vulnerable to simple chemical blockers, a discovery that could lead to new fungicides to reduce the substantial annual losses of rice and other valuable cereals.

14 Feb 2023

New method maps spontaneous formation of protein-rich droplets

Terahertz spectroscopy maps spontaneous formation of protein-rich droplets that may lead to neurodegenerative diseases.

13 Feb 2023

Two-step screening of aroma compounds reveals a novel and effective modulator of dendritic cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) are important players of the immune system with important functions such as the identification of infectious pathogens, production of cytokines (chemical signalers of the immune system), presentation of antigens to activate T-cells, and more.

13 Feb 2023

Pancreatic islet microexons play key role in islet function and glucose homeostasis

When cells copy DNA to produce RNA transcripts, they include only some chunks of genetic material known as exons and throw out the rest.

10 Feb 2023

The correlation between Type 2 diabetes and human microRNAs

Although it has long been believed that microRNA (miRNA) molecules in pancreatic islets play significant roles in Type 2 diabetes, no specific miRNAs have been definitively linked to the disease in humans.

10 Feb 2023

A protein in the lung forms a natural protective barrier against SARS-CoV-2 infection

University of Sydney scientists have discovered a protein in the lung that blocks SARS-CoV-2 infection and forms a natural protective barrier in the human body.

10 Feb 2023

Protein-rich droplets in cells linked to many unresolved diseases

Most proteins localize to distinct protein-rich droplets in cells, also known as "cellular condensates". Such proteins contain sequence features that function as address labels, telling the protein which condensate to move into.

9 Feb 2023

Semi-quantitative system employs eDNA to detect endangered species

Alteration in river systems, overfishing, and the introduction of new, invasive species can all lead to a significant decrease in the number of native fish found in aquatic ecosystems.

8 Feb 2023

Study elucidates the structure of centromeric region in chicken cells

The genetic material inside cells is organized into structures called chromosomes. The centromere is essential for the correct division of the chromosomes via interaction with spindle microtubules when cells divide and grow.

7 Feb 2023

Newly discovered gene signature accurately predicts the functioning of P53 variants

In a paper published in PNAS, Maureen Murphy, Ph.D., Deputy Director of Wistar's Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center and Ira Brind Professor and Program Leader in the Molecular & Cellular Oncogenesis Program, and team have identified a gene signature that accurately predicts the functioning of P53 variants, important information to assessing cancer risk and optimizing choices for cancer therapeutics.

7 Feb 2023

New hexameric structure of the protein triggering antibiotic resistance discovered

All living organisms require DNA replication to ensure the genetic integrity of the following generation. On the other hand, bacteria have the ability to horizontally transfer genetic information to other bacteria.

6 Feb 2023

Groundbreaking discovery could lead to new ways of controlling gene regulation

UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have discovered a method cells use to turn genes on and off that involves portions of proteins whose function has long been a mystery.

6 Feb 2023

Employing molecular anchor for more effective CAR immunotherapies

Researchers at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital discovered that immune cells with the attached protein boosted the killing of cancer, irrespective of the kind of cancer cell or the type of cancer being targeted.

3 Feb 2023

Experimental optimization of prime editing to achieve high efficiency

Genome editing technologies have enormous potential for treating genetic diseases. Techniques like the extensively used CRISPR/Cas9 gene scissors target the source of the disease directly in the DNA.

3 Feb 2023

Scientists unravel the physics of a cellular process linked to aggregation diseases

Researchers from Princeton University have uncovered the physics of a cellular process linked to aggregation diseases including Huntington's disease, paving the way to a deeper understanding of neurodegenerative disorders at the molecular level.

3 Feb 2023

RNA-G quadruplexes in living cells: A real-time study

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), sometimes referred to as Stephen Hawking’s disease and Lou Gehrig’s disease is a neurological condition that causes the body’s muscles to gradually lose control.

2 Feb 2023

Scientists define four cancer molecular subtypes using PDX models

Metastasis, the process by which cancer cells leave the primary tumor and spread to other tissues to seed new cancerous growth, causes most cancer deaths.

2 Feb 2023

Study uncovers a link between the genetic instructions for production and perception of sex pheromones

It's almost Valentine's Day, and love is in the air. Or in the waxy coating on your skin, if you are a vinegar fly. That's where flies encounter pheromones that play an important role in regulating sexual attraction.

1 Feb 2023

Learning about cellular proteins through “snapshots” of translation

Pep-tRNAs, nascent polypeptides inside the ribosome that are covalently connected to transfer RNA, are engaged in a variety of cell processes, including gene expression, according to advances in molecular biology.

1 Feb 2023

Molecular & Structural Biology

UChicago scientists shed light on the longstanding puzzle of RNA methylation

Researchers discover target enzyme for blast disease

New method maps spontaneous formation of protein-rich droplets

Two-step screening of aroma compounds reveals a novel and effective modulator of dendritic cells

Pancreatic islet microexons play key role in islet function and glucose homeostasis

The correlation between Type 2 diabetes and human microRNAs

A protein in the lung forms a natural protective barrier against SARS-CoV-2 infection

Protein-rich droplets in cells linked to many unresolved diseases

Semi-quantitative system employs eDNA to detect endangered species

Study elucidates the structure of centromeric region in chicken cells

Newly discovered gene signature accurately predicts the functioning of P53 variants

New hexameric structure of the protein triggering antibiotic resistance discovered

Groundbreaking discovery could lead to new ways of controlling gene regulation

Employing molecular anchor for more effective CAR immunotherapies

Experimental optimization of prime editing to achieve high efficiency

Scientists unravel the physics of a cellular process linked to aggregation diseases

RNA-G quadruplexes in living cells: A real-time study

Scientists define four cancer molecular subtypes using PDX models

Study uncovers a link between the genetic instructions for production and perception of sex pheromones

Learning about cellular proteins through “snapshots” of translation

Driving Support for Pharmaceutical Testing Through Continuous Innovation

From Memory to Metaplasticity: Unraveling the Brain's Secrets

Revolutionizing Mass Spectrometry: A Deep Dive into Plasmion’s SICRIT® Technology

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