Protein News and Research

RSS

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.

Scientists introduce polyproline as effective cryoprotectant for monolayers of cells

Nature has evolved sugars, amino acids, and special antifreeze proteins as cryoprotectants. People use organic solvents and synthetic polymers as additives to prevent cell cultures from freezing damage.

7 Dec 2017

UA researcher awarded $2.3 million NIH grant to develop new treatments for depression

A University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix researcher has received a $2.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop new treatments for depression.

7 Dec 2017

TUM scientists build virus-sized structures using DNA origami technology

It is the double strands of our genes that make them so strong. Using a technique known as DNA origami, biophysicist Hendrik Dietz has been building nanometer-scale objects for several years at the Technical University of Munich.

7 Dec 2017

Brazilian researchers identify genes linked to melanoma progression

When researchers at the University of São Paulo in Brazil treated human melanoma cell lines with a synthetic compound similar to curcumin, one of the pigments that give turmeric its orange color, they identified genes with altered expression in potentially invasive tumors and malignant cells resistant to chemotherapy.

6 Dec 2017

New compound targets APOE gene to reduce Alzheimer's damage in mice

People who carry the APOE4 genetic variant face a substantial risk for developing Alzheimer's disease.

6 Dec 2017

Study shows how interplay between two key enzymes promotes brain tumor growth

Study results revealed previously unknown interplay between two key enzymes and a novel understanding of how brain cancer tumors form and spread, according to researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

6 Dec 2017

Bioelectronic 'nose' can easily sniff foul smells in rotting food

Strong odors are an indicator that food has gone bad, but there could soon be a new way to sniff foul smells earlier on.

6 Dec 2017

Unique liver function of South American amphibian could pave way for finding a cure to cirrhosis

The unique liver function of a South American amphibian, Siphonops annulatus, could pave the way to finding a cure to the devastating liver condition cirrhosis, a new study published in the prestigious Journal of Anatomy reports.

6 Dec 2017

Researchers unravel novel mechanism of estrogen action on heart physiology

Estrogens are powerful hormones important for the formation and function of the nervous, reproductive and cardiovascular systems.

6 Dec 2017

TUM scientists discover emergency shut-off switch for T cell Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Safety switches that automatically stop the device for example before it overheats are built into many electrical appliances. Cells are also equipped with such "emergency stop" functions. They make sure that a defective cell doesn't become a tumor cell.

6 Dec 2017

Reducing mitochondrial protein in cardiac muscle cells initiates heart failure

Reducing a protein found in the mitochondria of cardiac muscle cells initiates cardiac dysfunction and heart failure, a finding that could provide insight for new treatments for cardiovascular diseases, a study led by Georgia State University has shown.

6 Dec 2017

Specific protein negatively affects pancreatic cells and leads to cancer growth

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer and is currently very difficult to treat. However, the last few years have seen advances in the scientific understanding of how this cancer develops at a molecular level.

6 Dec 2017

Scientists create low-cost, rapid test to detect iron and vitamin A deficiencies

Cornell University engineers and nutritionists have created a swift solution for a challenging global health problem: a low-cost, rapid test to detect iron and vitamin A deficiencies at the point of care.

5 Dec 2017

Researchers identify way to prevent fat cells from growing larger

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a way to prevent fat cells from growing larger, a process that leads to weight gain and obesity. By activating a pathway in fat cells in mice, the researchers found they could feed the animals a high-fat diet without making them obese.

5 Dec 2017

Immune-boosting drug combination may hold promise for treating ovarian cancer

Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers demonstrated that mice with ovarian cancer that received drugs to reactivate dormant genes along with other drugs that activate the immune system had a greater reduction of tumor burden and significantly longer survival than those that received any of the drugs alone.

5 Dec 2017

Scientists reveal ‘anti-metastatic surveillance’ role of Caveolin-1 protein

A new study conducted at the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology in Belgium has labeled the protein Caveolin-1 as a high-potential pursuit in the fight against cancer.

5 Dec 2017

New small-molecule drug restores brain function, memory in mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

An international team of researchers has shown that a new small-molecule drug can restore brain function and memory in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

5 Dec 2017

Investigational ZPIV vaccine found to be safe and immunogenic in trial participants

The investigational Zika purified inactivated virus (ZPIV) vaccine was well-tolerated and induced an immune response in participants, according to initial results from three Phase 1 clinical trials.

5 Dec 2017

Biological Applications of AFM

An interview with Samuel Lesko, European Applications Manager, Bruker Nano Surfaces conducted by April Cashin-Garbutt, MA (Cantab).

From Bruker Nano Surfaces and Metrology 5 Dec 2017

Breakfast may lower risk of diabetes and heart disease, study says

A new study published in the Journal of Physiology suggests that regularly consuming breakfast affects our body fat cells by lowering the activity of genes involved in fat metabolism and increasing the amount of sugar they use up. According to the study, this may reduce the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

5 Dec 2017