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.

CRISPRy bacon ! Genetically modified leaner low-fat pigs

Genetically modified leaner pigs are on the cards soon. Researchers in china used the gene-editing technology, CRISPR, to create pigs that are less fatty and leaner with more muscle. This could mean genetically modified bacon on the plates.

24 Oct 2017

Scientists develop unique CRISPR-based method for more precise, systematic gene tagging

The genome editing tool known as CRISPR/Cas9 has opened many doors for biomedical research by allowing scientists to precisely edit DNA sequences and alter function. The technology offers hope for correcting genetic defects and preventing disease.

24 Oct 2017

APC gene mutations play dual role in development of colorectal cancer, research suggests

Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) is a gene whose mutations are associated with a rare, hereditary form of colorectal cancer known as familial adenomatous polyposis. Research led by scientists at the Institut Pasteur and Inserm have recently demonstrated that mutations to this gene do not only lead to the emergence of colon polyps; they also harm the immune system, leaving it unable to tackle inflammation of the colonic mucosa.

24 Oct 2017

New genetic variants contribute to the risk of breast cancer in women, study reveals

A new study reveals seventy-two novel genetic variants that are responsible for breast cancer risk. Published in the journals Nature and Nature Genetics, of these 72 variants, 65 are common variants that predispose patients to breast cancer and a further seven variants predispose particularly to estrogen -receptor negative breast cancer - the subcategory of cases that do not respond to hormonal treatments.

24 Oct 2017

Pollutant from forest and crop fires induces genetic damage in human lung cells

When exposed in a laboratory to pollution levels comparable to those found in the atmosphere of the Amazon region during the forest and crop burning season, human lung cells suffer severe DNA damage and stop dividing. After 72 hours of exposure, over 30% of the cultured cells are dead.

24 Oct 2017

Researchers map molecular events that direct cells' energy metabolism down the cancerous path

As cells with a propensity for cancer break down food for energy, they reach a fork in the road: They can either continue energy production as healthy cells, or shift to the energy production profile of cancer cells.

24 Oct 2017

Research provides insight into how two stands of double helix separate during replication

Life would be impossible if the DNA in dividing cells were replicated with anything less than near-perfect precision. Every time a nucleated cell commits to becoming two cells, every "letter" of its genome must be replicated once and only once.

24 Oct 2017

Genomic roots of ovarian tumors may arise in fallopian tubes, study suggests

Some scientists have suspected that the most common form of ovarian cancer may originate in the fallopian tubes, the thin fibrous tunnels that connect the ovaries to the uterus.

24 Oct 2017

New drug offers hope for treatment of aggressive T-PLL leukemia

Hitherto there has been no adequate treatment available for the rare and highly aggressive malignant blood disease T-PLL leukemia.

24 Oct 2017

Study identifies protein that plays crucial role in diabetic retinopathy

For millions of Americans, their world is dissolving into an unrecognizable blur. Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease affecting one-third of the estimated 30 million Americans who struggle with diabetes. As the patients' vision slowly fades, it never recovers and few treatments are available.

24 Oct 2017

Study finds lung cancer driver ALK-fusion in mucosal melanoma

Melanomas caused by sun exposure have been matched with targeted treatments and immunotherapies, in many cases dramatically extending patients' lives. However, there are other kinds of melanoma not related to sun exposure and because they are caused by different genetic changes, they are not susceptible to the same targeted treatments.

23 Oct 2017

People with depressive symptoms before disaster may experience increase in inflammation

People who exhibit even a few depressive symptoms before a major life stressor, such as a disaster, may experience an increase in inflammation -- a major risk factor for heart disease and other negative health conditions -- after the event, according to new research from Rice University.

23 Oct 2017

Key enzyme may be therapeutic target to treat diabetes-related blood vessel damage

A key enzyme that helps our proteins fold and function properly may also be a good therapeutic target to improve blood vessel health in diseases like diabetes and atherosclerosis, scientists say.

23 Oct 2017

Researchers discover new regulatory role for protein that links diet and disease

A team of researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have discovered how uncontrolled vitamin A metabolism in the gut can cause harmful inflammation.

23 Oct 2017

Penn researchers provide new insights into how Notch drives growth of B-cell cancers

Notch is one of the most frequently mutated genes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the most common leukemia in adults in the United States. It is also often mutated in other common B cell tumors, such as mantle cell lymphoma.

23 Oct 2017

Research could pave way to cure for type 2 diabetes

In healthy people, exosomes - tiny structures secreted by cells to allow intercellular communication - prevent clumping of the protein that leads to type 2 diabetes.

23 Oct 2017

Discovery of novel mechanism in the gut microbiome has implications for people with IBD

Many people associate the word "bacteria" with something dirty and disgusting. Dr. Pere Santamaria disagrees. Called the microbiome, the bacteria in our bodies have all kinds of positive effects on our health, Santamaria says. "The bacteria we have in our gut actually have many beneficial functions. They help in our digestion, prevent infection by pathogens and educate our immune system on what to fight."

23 Oct 2017

Research provides insight on Y-shape in proteins associated with glaucoma

So unheard of was what researchers discovered in a protein associated with glaucoma that for over two years they ran it through a gauntlet of lab tests and published a new research paper on it. The tests validated what they initially saw.

23 Oct 2017

Health scientists uncover gene linked to lung fibrosis

Health scientists at the University of Leicester and University of Nottingham have heralded the discovery of a gene associated with lung fibrosis as 'a potential new avenue of treatment for further research into this terrible disease.'

23 Oct 2017

Study elucidates how obesity makes breast cancer more aggressive

Obesity leads to the release of cytokines into the bloodstream which impact the metabolism of breast cancer cells, making them more aggressive as a result. Scientists from Helmholtz Zentrum München, Technische Universität München, and Heidelberg University Hospital report on this in 'Cell Metabolism'. The team has already been able to halt this mechanism with an antibody treatment.

23 Oct 2017

Protein News and Research

Further Reading

CRISPRy bacon ! Genetically modified leaner low-fat pigs

Scientists develop unique CRISPR-based method for more precise, systematic gene tagging

APC gene mutations play dual role in development of colorectal cancer, research suggests

New genetic variants contribute to the risk of breast cancer in women, study reveals

Pollutant from forest and crop fires induces genetic damage in human lung cells

Researchers map molecular events that direct cells' energy metabolism down the cancerous path

Research provides insight into how two stands of double helix separate during replication

Genomic roots of ovarian tumors may arise in fallopian tubes, study suggests

New drug offers hope for treatment of aggressive T-PLL leukemia

Study identifies protein that plays crucial role in diabetic retinopathy

Study finds lung cancer driver ALK-fusion in mucosal melanoma

People with depressive symptoms before disaster may experience increase in inflammation

Key enzyme may be therapeutic target to treat diabetes-related blood vessel damage

Researchers discover new regulatory role for protein that links diet and disease

Penn researchers provide new insights into how Notch drives growth of B-cell cancers

Research could pave way to cure for type 2 diabetes

Discovery of novel mechanism in the gut microbiome has implications for people with IBD

Research provides insight on Y-shape in proteins associated with glaucoma

Health scientists uncover gene linked to lung fibrosis

Study elucidates how obesity makes breast cancer more aggressive

Industry Focus eBook - Protein Analysis (3rd edition) eBook

Latest eBooks

Editorial Focus eBook - Spatial and single-cell omics (1st edition)

Industry Focus eBook - Analytical Chemistry (3rd edition)

Industry Focus eBook - Microbiome (1st edition)

Industry Focus eBook - Cell biology (5th edition)

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics