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 technique may reveal clues about role of centromeres in Down syndrome, other birth defects

Some scientists call it the "final frontier" of our DNA -- even though it lies at the center of every X-shaped chromosome in nearly every one of our cells.

20 Nov 2017

Researchers find new way to boost cancer-destroying ability of T-cells

Researchers at Cardiff University have found a way to boost the cancer-destroying ability of the immune system's T-cells, offering new hope in the fight against a wide range of cancers.

20 Nov 2017

Over-the-counter decongestant found to be effective inhibitor of tumor stroma

CANCER researchers seeking non-toxic alternatives to harmful chemotherapy are reporting a highly significant result for a humble cold remedy.

20 Nov 2017

Mother's diet can protect nursing newborns against food allergies, research shows

Research published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine today indicates that a mother's diet can protect nursing newborns against food allergies.

20 Nov 2017

New technique holds promise to screen cancer cells for drug susceptibility

Doctors have many drugs available to treat multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. However, there is no way to predict, by genetic markers or other means, how a patient will respond to a particular drug. This can lead to months of treatment with a drug that isn't working.

20 Nov 2017

Cancer drugs may offer new way to control high blood pressure

Drugs designed to halt cancer growth may offer a new way to control high blood pressure (hypertension), say Georgetown University Medical Center investigators.

20 Nov 2017

Amish people live longer due to mutation in blood clotting gene

Scientists have stumbled upon a genetic mutation that is found among the Indiana Amish community people that leads to impaired or defective blood clotting but predicts a longer life span for them. The study was published this week in Science Advances.

19 Nov 2017

Mount Sinai researchers identify new therapeutic target for ER+ breast cancer

Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have identified a protein that can be targeted to suppress growth of a common type of breast cancer known as "estrogen receptor positive" (ER+), including ER+ cancers that are resistant to standard treatments.

17 Nov 2017

Researchers find way to switch tumor cells between 2D and 3D morphology

Paving the way for testing experimental drugs in more realistic environments, scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology have discovered how to make tiny colonies of cells grow in useful new ways inside petri dishes.

17 Nov 2017

Researchers uncover mechanism that contributes to patterns of degeneration in AD

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is known to cause memory loss and cognitive decline, but other functions of the brain can remain intact.

17 Nov 2017

Hibernating ground squirrels offer clues to fight against stroke-induced brain damage

In the fight against brain damage caused by stroke, researchers have turned to an unlikely source of inspiration: hibernating ground squirrels.

17 Nov 2017

Biologists resolve immune protein structure to provide insight into pathogen-defense strategies

Biologists have resolved the structure of a ring of proteins used by the immune system to summon support when under attack, providing new insight into potential strategies for protection from pathogens.

17 Nov 2017

Groundbreaking study identifies protein as potential factor in cancer metastasis

U of G scientists have made a discovery that could reduce the spread of cancer by hindering a protein that binds cancer cells together and allows them to invade tissues.

17 Nov 2017

Scientists identify biomarkers that predict risk of death in Ebola patients

Scientists have identified a set of biomarkers that indicate which patients infected with the Ebola virus are most at risk of dying from the disease.

17 Nov 2017

Drug used to prevent and treat malaria may also be effective for Zika virus

A new collaborative study led by researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute and UC San Diego School of Medicine has found that a medication used to prevent and treat malaria may also be effective for Zika virus.

17 Nov 2017

Researchers identify possible genetic basis for coronary artery disease

The buildup of plaque in the heart's arteries is an unfortunate part of aging. But by studying the genetic makeup of people who maintain clear arteries into old age, researchers led by UNC's Jonathan Schisler, PhD, have identified a possible genetic basis for coronary artery disease (CAD), as well as potential new opportunities to prevent it.

17 Nov 2017

FDA approves first adjuvant treatment to reduce risk of kidney cancer recurrence

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Sutent (sunitinib malate) for the adjuvant treatment of adult patients who are at a high risk of kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma) returning after a kidney has been removed (nephrectomy).

17 Nov 2017

Brain astrocytes could play key role in pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease

Astrocytes, the supporting cells of the brain, could play a significant role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland. This is the first time researchers discovered a direct association between astrocytes and AD. Published in Stem Cell Reports, the study investigated the brain cell function of familial AD patients by using stem cell technologies.

17 Nov 2017

Researchers map first-ever proteome of healthy human heart

A healthy heart beats about two billion times during a lifetime – thanks to the interplay of more than 10,000 proteins. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry and the German Heart Centre at the Technical University of Munich have now determined which and how many individual proteins are present in each type of cell that occurs in the heart.

17 Nov 2017

New model to test effectiveness of existing and potential CF therapies

UNC School of Medicine researchers have developed a new laboratory model of the infection- and inflammation-plagued airways of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients.

17 Nov 2017