Protein News and Research

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Proteins are complex molecules that are made up of amino acids. They can be found in every cell in the body, and carry out vital processes that keep human beings alive. Mutations in proteins can lead to a multitude of diseases, the most common being cancer.

New enzyme offers cleaner route to more stable diabetes and obesity drugs

Chemistry researchers at the University of Utah have uncovered an enzyme, dubbed PapB, that can "tie off" therapeutic peptides-protein-like drugs-into tight rings, a process known as macrocyclization.

16 Oct 2025

Blocking key protein restores healthy lung function and reduces fibrosis in mice

Pulmonary fibrosis is a deadly disease in which the lungs become thickened and scarred, gradually losing their ability to deliver oxygen to the body.

16 Oct 2025

Uncovering a molecular weakness in Ewing sarcoma for targeted therapy

A research team at the Seville Biomedical Institute (IBis) has identified a new molecular mechanism that explains the high sensitivity of Ewing sarcoma (an aggressive bone cancer that mainly affects children and adolescents) to certain chemotherapy drugs, such as irinotecan.

16 Oct 2025

Researchers uncover TRAT1's central role in T helper cell function

Researchers at the Medical University of Vienna have taken a closer look at a previously largely unknown component of the immune system: the protein molecule TRAT1 (T Cell Receptor Associated Transmembrane Adaptor 1) plays a central role in how so-called T helper cells (a specialised subgroup of immune cells) distinguish between attack and self-control - an important mechanism for restraining inflammation and preventing autoimmune diseases. The findings have recently been published in the journal Cell Communication and Signaling.

16 Oct 2025

Longevity gene offers hope for children with progeria

A new breakthrough in a rare genetic disease which causes children to age rapidly has been discovered using 'longevity genes' found in people who live exceptionally long lives - over 100 years old.

15 Oct 2025

Discovery explains why women face higher risk of Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis

New research by UCLA Health has identified a sex-chromosome linked gene that drives inflammation in the female brain, offering insight into why women are disproportionately affected by conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis as well as offering a potential target for intervention.

15 Oct 2025

What happens when microplastics reach the testes? Study shows autophagy and cell loss

Researchers found that microplastics from everyday plastic tableware accumulate in human semen and, although not linked to semen quality in the full cohort, were associated with altered sperm parameters in specific subgroups. Experimental models confirmed that 50 nm polystyrene particles trigger autophagy and apoptosis via the FOXA1/MAP3K1/p38 pathway, impairing sperm structure and function.

15 Oct 2025

Astrocytes revealed as key players in stabilizing long-term emotional memories

Why are we able to recall only some of our past experiences? A new study led by Jun Nagai at the RIKEN Center for Brain Science in Japan has an answer.

15 Oct 2025

New research aims to develop targeted therapy for hard-to-treat osteosarcoma

For children and young adults diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a common type of bone cancer for that age group, the odds of survival can be devastatingly low (20-30%) when the disease spreads to the lungs.

15 Oct 2025

Revolutionary structures show how chaperone proteins prevent diseases caused by protein misfolding

The first full-length structures of two heat shock chaperone proteins in a complex reveal the key structural region regulating their function, according to a new study from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

15 Oct 2025

New stem cell-based strategy could enhance neuronal regeneration and neuroplasticity

The brain's mechanisms for repairing injuries caused by trauma or degenerative diseases are not yet known in detail.

14 Oct 2025

New imaging technique boosts survival in prostate cancer patients

A multicenter study led by London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute (LHSCRI), Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's Health Care London (Lawson), and University Health Network (UHN) has found a novel imaging solution, called prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography (PET) scanning, can more effectively detect the recurrence of prostate cancer compared to standard imaging methods, and is associated with improved survival outcomes.

14 Oct 2025

New approach protects the brain from radiation-induced cognitive decline

While tremendous relief comes from successfully battling cancer, survivors can also experience cognitive impairments caused by the disease and its treatment.

14 Oct 2025

New composite sponge offers rapid and safe control of surgical hemorrhage

Uncontrolled bleeding during surgery remains one of the deadliest medical emergencies. Injuries to internal organs such as the liver or spleen are especially dangerous because bleeding is difficult to control and often life-threatening.

14 Oct 2025

Ribosomal RNA found to share unique motifs with nervous system genes

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is a type of molecule and a key building block of the ribosome, the cell's protein-making machinery. rRNA accounts for much of the RNA in a cell, and it's crucial for life.

14 Oct 2025

How shifting antibodies fuel aging and the new therapies aiming to slow it

This review uncovers how aging reshapes immunoglobulins, particularly IgG, IgM, and IgA, driving inflammation, cellular senescence, and tissue degeneration. By dissecting B-cell dysfunction, glycosylation changes, and Fc receptor pathways, it reveals immunoglobulins as both biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets in aging.

14 Oct 2025