Biochemistry News and Research

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Scientists elucidate 3D structure of protein involved in cancer

The human glutamine transporter ASCT2 is upregulated in several forms of cancer. It is also the docking platform for a wide range of pathogenic retroviruses.

6 Jun 2018

Researchers gain new insights into hepatitis B virus

Researchers at the University of Delaware, working with colleagues at Indiana University, have gained new insights into the virus that causes hepatitis B -- a life-threatening and incurable infection that afflicts more than 250 million people worldwide.

4 Jun 2018

Highly stable DNA origami nanostructures may pave way for a plethora of biomedical applications

The DNA origami technique is a widely used method for making complex, yet well-defined nanostructures, with applications in biophysics, molecular biology, as well as drug and enzyme delivery.

31 May 2018

Study: Cellular housekeeping can help mammals live longer and healthier

Building on two decades of research, investigators at UT Southwestern have determined that "cellular housekeeping" can extend the lifespan and healthspan of mammals.

31 May 2018

Scientists find enzyme that breaks down plasmalogens in Alzheimer's disease patients

Alzheimer's disease patients lose up to 60% of a component called plasmalogen from the membranes of the cells in their brains, but it's still not known how or why.

31 May 2018

Snail's eye inspires new type of RIOCATH urinary catheter

The Czech company Riocath Global developed and patented in collaboration with the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences a world-wide unique technology applicable to tubular medical devices. One of the first clinically significant applications is a new form of urinary catheter.

25 May 2018

Lyme disease researcher dispels misconceptions about ticks and provides prevention tips

Lyme disease is now the most reported vector-borne disease in the United States and the CDC released a report showing that diseases from biting insects, ticks, and mosquitos in the U.S. have tripled since 2004.

25 May 2018

Scientists report new strategy for fighting bacteria

Antimicrobial resistance is a major medical problem worldwide, impacting both human health and economic well-being.

24 May 2018

Study links cell size with commitment to division

How does a cell know when to divide? We know that hundreds of genes contribute to a wave of activity linked to cell division, but to generate that wave new research shows that cells must first grow large enough to produce four key proteins in adequate amounts.

24 May 2018

Researchers take important step toward finding protein biomarkers during cancer surgery

Isabelle Fournier and her team are out to change surgical oncology. "Better surgery is associated with better prognosis and higher survival," said Fournier, a professor at the University of Lille and co-director of a proteomics center of INSERM, the French national institute of health.

24 May 2018

Scientists create small, self-contained spaces inside mammalian cells

How to install new capabilities in cells without interfering with their metabolic processes? A team from the Technical University of Munich and the Helmholtz Zentrum München have altered mammalian cells in such a way that they formed artificial compartments in which sequestered reactions could take place, allowing the detection of cells deep in the tissue and also their manipulation with magnetic fields.

23 May 2018

Mapping the Genes Responsible for Pluripotency

Dr. Atilgan Yilmaz and his team have developed a method by which they can produce haploid human embryonic stem cells from oocytes. They combined this technique with CRISPR-Cas9 to generate an atlas of the genome, containing the functions of over 18,000 genes.

23 May 2018

Research team uncovers new information that more accurately explains formation of tumors

A collaborative research team has uncovered new information that more accurately explains how cancerous tumors grow within the body.

22 May 2018

Scientists identify cell types underlying schizophrenia

Scientists at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and University of North Carolina, USA, have identified the cell types underlying schizophrenia in a new study published in Nature Genetics. The findings offer a roadmap for the development of new therapies to target the condition.

21 May 2018

Researchers discover new disease mechanism in chronic tobacco smokers

Research published in the journal Clinical Science suggests that an immune signaling protein called interleukin-26 is increased among chronic smokers with lung disease and this involvement reveals disease mechanisms of interest for developing more effective therapy for these hard-to-treat patients.

21 May 2018

Scientists identify new potential target to combat acute myeloid leukemia

AML is not a single disease. It is a group of leukemias that develop in the bone marrow from progenitors of specialized blood cells, the so-called myeloid cells. Rapidly growing and dividing, these aberrant cells crowd the bone marrow and bloodstream, which can be fatal within weeks or months if the disease is left untreated.

18 May 2018