Amino Acid News and Research

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Amino Acid is one of several molecules that join together to form proteins. There are 20 common amino acids found in proteins.

Mitosis study identifies new potential target for cancer therapy

Structural biologists show in a new study that an apparently key step in the process of cell division depends on a unique interaction among specific proteins, including one that is strongly linked to cancer. Their hope now is that the detailed new characterization of the interaction will make it a target for exploring a new cancer therapy.

31 Aug 2016

Studying mutant peptides may help detect weaknesses in tumor cells

Researchers from MIPT, the Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, the Institute for Energy Problems of Chemical Physics, and the Research Institute of Physico-Chemical Medicine have presented an algorithm to detect mutant proteins based on mass spectrometry data and the results of exome sequencing.

29 Aug 2016

Researchers engineer protein-shelled nanostructures useful for ultrasound imaging

Ultrasound imaging is used around the world to help visualize developing babies and diagnose diseases. Sound waves bounce off the tissues, revealing their different densities and shapes.

26 Aug 2016

Cells may need some reactive forms of oxygen to maintain health

Within our bodies, high levels of reactive forms of oxygen can damage proteins and contribute to diabetic complications and many other diseases.

19 Aug 2016

New research article reveals global patterns of genetic variation

Published in today's edition of Nature, the research led by Dr Monkol Lek of the University of Sydney and Dr Daniel MacArthur of The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard Universities reveals patterns of genetic variation worldwide by sequencing the exomes of 60,706 individuals with diverse geographic ancestries, including European, African, South Asian, East Asian and Latino populations.

18 Aug 2016

Scientists identify potential mechanism that paves way for improved treatment of fungal infections

By identifying new compounds that selectively block mitochondrial respiration in pathogenic fungi, Whitehead Institute scientists have identified a potential antifungal mechanism that could enable combination therapy with fluconazole, one of today's most commonly prescribed fungal infection treatments.

11 Aug 2016

Pancreatic cancer cells find alternative source of nutrition to avoid starvation

Pancreatic cancer cells avert starvation in dense tumors by ordering nearby support cells to supply them with an alternative source of nutrition.

11 Aug 2016

Research findings could provide framework for understanding fertilization mechanism

A Japanese research group has determined the crystal structure of the JUNO protein, an egg surface protein essential for fertilization. These structure-based mutational analyses elucidated a mechanism of the interaction between egg (JUNO protein) and sperm (IZUMO1) on a molecular level.

9 Aug 2016

TSRI scientists zoom in to view how experimental therapy ZMapp targets Ebola virus

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute now have a high-resolution view of exactly how the experimental therapy ZMapp targets Ebola virus.

9 Aug 2016

Study uses computer-based approaches to characterize Zika virus genome

The sudden emergence of the Zika virus epidemic in Latin America in 2015-16 has caught the scientific world unawares.

5 Aug 2016

Brazilian study discovers promising therapeutic and diagnostic target for treatment of melanoma

A Brazilian study shows that inhibition of an RNA named RMEL3, which is encoded by a previously uncharacterized gene (also named RMEL3), can reduce the viability of cultured melanoma cells by up to 95%.

4 Aug 2016

Biologists discover male-harming mtDNA mutant that substantiates mother's curse hypothesis

There is new evidence that the "mother's curse" - the possibility that moms may transmit genes to their children that harm their sons but not their daughters - holds true in animals.

3 Aug 2016

Iron-containing catalysts can alter amino acids to help develop new drug candidates

For medicinal chemists, making tweaks to peptide structures is key to developing new drug candidates. Now, researchers have demonstrated that two iron-containing small-molecule catalysts can help turn certain types of amino acids -- the building blocks of peptides and proteins -- into an array of potential new forms, even when part of a larger peptide, while preserving a crucial aspect of their chemistry: chirality, or "handedness."

2 Aug 2016

Researchers identify biomarkers to improve prognosis of CKD

Currently, there is no effective method to predict the prognosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.

27 Jul 2016

Researchers discover pathway linking oxidative stress and cysteine in Huntington's disease

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine report they have identified a biochemical pathway linking oxidative stress and the amino acid cysteine in Huntington's disease.

27 Jul 2016

Scientists design and construct 10 large protein icosahedra to improve drug delivery

Using novel computational and biochemical approaches, scientists have accurately designed and built from scratch 10 large protein icosahedra--polyhedra with 20 faces--similar to viral capsids that carry viral DNA.

22 Jul 2016

Researchers identify unique mechanism to suppress colorectal cancer tumors in mice

A new scientific study has identified why colorectal cancer cells depend on a specific nutrient, and a way to starve them of it. Over one million men and women are living with colorectal cancer in the United States.

21 Jul 2016

Researchers discover how Zika virus travels from pregnant mother to fetus

Zika virus can infect numerous cell types in the human placenta and amniotic sac, according to researchers at UC San Francisco and UC Berkeley who show in a new paper how the virus travels from a pregnant woman to her fetus. They also identify a drug that may be able to block it.

19 Jul 2016

Scientists capture atomic level snapshots of how key enzyme modifies signaling proteins

Scientists have captured atomic level snapshots showing how one key enzyme modifies a protein involved in turning genes on or off inside cells. Understanding this process-which is particularly important when cells are first taking on specialized identities such as nerve cells, muscle, skin, and so on-helps explain how complex organisms can arise from a finite number of genes.

19 Jul 2016

Biochemists design genetic poison pill to thwart coxsackievirus B3

It has a funny name - coxsackievirus - but there's nothing funny about how this tiny germ and its close relatives sicken their hosts.

18 Jul 2016

Amino Acid News and Research

Further Reading

Mitosis study identifies new potential target for cancer therapy

Studying mutant peptides may help detect weaknesses in tumor cells

Researchers engineer protein-shelled nanostructures useful for ultrasound imaging

Cells may need some reactive forms of oxygen to maintain health

New research article reveals global patterns of genetic variation

Scientists identify potential mechanism that paves way for improved treatment of fungal infections

Pancreatic cancer cells find alternative source of nutrition to avoid starvation

Research findings could provide framework for understanding fertilization mechanism

TSRI scientists zoom in to view how experimental therapy ZMapp targets Ebola virus

Study uses computer-based approaches to characterize Zika virus genome

Brazilian study discovers promising therapeutic and diagnostic target for treatment of melanoma

Biologists discover male-harming mtDNA mutant that substantiates mother's curse hypothesis

Iron-containing catalysts can alter amino acids to help develop new drug candidates

Researchers identify biomarkers to improve prognosis of CKD

Researchers discover pathway linking oxidative stress and cysteine in Huntington's disease

Scientists design and construct 10 large protein icosahedra to improve drug delivery

Researchers identify unique mechanism to suppress colorectal cancer tumors in mice

Researchers discover how Zika virus travels from pregnant mother to fetus

Scientists capture atomic level snapshots of how key enzyme modifies signaling proteins

Biochemists design genetic poison pill to thwart coxsackievirus B3

Event guide: 4th Extra-Hepatic Lipid-Based Nanoparticles Delivery Summit eBook

Latest eBooks

Industry Focus eBook - Analytical Chemistry (3rd edition)

Industry Focus eBook - Microbiome (1st edition)

Industry Focus eBook - Cell biology (5th edition)

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Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo