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.

Australian study uncovers first potential prophylactic treatment against HTLV-1

Around 10 million people globally live with the life-threatening virus HTLV-1. Yet it remains a poorly understood disease that currently has no preventative treatments and no cure.

21 Jul 2025

Blocking a single gene disrupts vitamin D metabolism and cancer pathways in new cell study

Researchers identified SDR42E1 as a key regulator of vitamin D absorption and sterol metabolism in colorectal cancer cells. Disruption of this enzyme altered cancer-related pathways and cell viability, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target.

21 Jul 2025

Muscle-derived vesicles heal damaged cells and reverse disease in new study

Researchers discovered that mitochondria-rich extracellular vesicles (Ti-mitoEVs) from skeletal muscle can deliver healthy mitochondria to damaged cells, restoring energy and promoting tissue repair in mice. The approach reversed acute muscle injury and chronic kidney disease, offering a promising new regenerative therapy.

21 Jul 2025

APOE ε4 variant reveals hidden risk factors beyond Alzheimer’s

Researchers discovered that people carrying the APOE ε4 gene variant share a unique immune-related protein signature across their blood, brain, and cerebrospinal fluid—regardless of neurodegenerative disease diagnosis. This signature reveals a fundamental, disease-independent vulnerability linked to APOE ε4, reframing our understanding of genetic risk in conditions like Alzheimer's, Parkinson’s, ALS, and FTD.

21 Jul 2025

Study identifies mechanism that helps prevent cancer, neurodegeneration, and premature aging

Researchers at the University of Oxford and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have uncovered the mechanism by which cells identify and repair a highly toxic form of DNA damage that causes cancer, neurodegeneration, and premature aging.

21 Jul 2025

Prime editing reverses symptoms of severe childhood neurological disease

Scientists use a precise form of gene editing called prime editing to correct the most common genetic mutations that cause alternating hemiplegia of childhood, a rare and severe neurological disorder that begins in infancy.

21 Jul 2025

Muscle loss from GLP-1 drugs could undermine long-term health

Popular GLP-1 drugs help many people drop tremendous amounts of weight, but the drugs fail to provide a key improvement in heart and lung function essential for long-term good health, University of Virginia experts warn in a new paper.

21 Jul 2025

Gene editing in the brain offers hope for ultra-rare neurological disease

Scientists have corrected gene mutations in mice causing an ultra-rare disease by editing DNA directly in the brain with a single injection, a feat with profound implications for patients with neurological diseases.

21 Jul 2025

Combination of two cancer drugs could treat the most common form of dementia

A study comparing the gene expression signature of Alzheimer's disease with those elicited by 1,300 approved drugs found a combination of two cancer medications that could treat the most common form of dementia.

21 Jul 2025

Microbial signals rewire immunity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a deadly cancer with particularly high prevalence in East Asia.

21 Jul 2025

Meat hummus lowers microbes and raises nutrition

This study reveals meat-infused hummus offers higher protein, iron, and flavor, making it a nutritious option for athletes and health-conscious consumers.

21 Jul 2025

Creatine tops the list as researchers review new ways to fight osteosarcopenia

This review explores how creatine, HMB, prebiotics, and probiotics may support muscle and bone health in older adults with osteosarcopenia. While creatine shows the strongest evidence, all interventions require further research to determine their optimal use.

21 Jul 2025

Goat milk boosts muscle health better than cow’s milk in animal study

Dairy products, especially low-fat and fortified goat milk, significantly improved muscle mass, reduced inflammation, and positively modulated gut microbiota in a mouse model of sarcopenia. These findings suggest tailored dairy interventions could help delay age-related muscle loss.

21 Jul 2025

Overuse injuries spark lasting pain and mood changes through inflammation, rat study finds

Repetitive reaching tasks in mature female rats triggered persistent pain-like and sickness behaviors linked to a surge in IL-6-driven inflammation throughout muscles, blood, and the brain. These findings reveal how overuse injuries provoke both physical and mood-related symptoms through a neuroimmune cascade.

20 Jul 2025

Blocking GAPDH aggregation protects brain cells and opens new path for stroke therapy

In a mouse model of acute ischemic stroke, researchers showed that inhibiting the aggregation of GAPDH, either genetically or with a novel peptide, significantly reduced brain damage and improved neurological function. The findings highlight GAPDH aggregation as a promising therapeutic target for stroke intervention.

20 Jul 2025

AI turns old diabetes drug Halicin into a potent weapon against superbugs

Researchers found that Halicin, an AI-identified drug, effectively inhibited most multidrug-resistant bacteria except Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The study highlights Halicin’s broad-spectrum antibacterial potential and the transformative role of artificial intelligence in antibiotic discovery.

20 Jul 2025

Nigerian botanicals restore hormonal balance and fight menstrual pain in preclinical study

Researchers tested five Nigerian medicinal plants in female rats and found that these botanicals reversed MSG-induced hormonal imbalance, oxidative stress, and lipid disruptions linked to dysmenorrhea. The findings support further investigation of plant-based therapies for menstrual pain and related metabolic risks.

20 Jul 2025

Boosting gut-friendly foods may slow biological aging, large US study finds

Higher scores on a dietary index linked to gut microbiota health are associated with slower biological aging in US adults, according to a large cross-sectional NHANES study. The findings suggest that improving diet quality for gut microbial diversity may help reduce age-related disease risk.

20 Jul 2025

Zebrafish reveal how two genes independently drive sensory organ regeneration

Researchers identified that two cyclin D genes, ccndx and ccnd2a, independently regulate distinct stem and progenitor cell populations during zebrafish sensory organ regeneration. The findings reveal that regeneration can proceed via alternative pathways even when one gene is disrupted, providing new insight into tissue repair mechanisms.

20 Jul 2025

Combination of dysbiosis, OTUD3 gene mutations, and STING signaling linked to ulcerative colitis severity

Ulcerative colitis (UC) causes misery for millions worldwide. It affects the large intestine, causing pain, cramping, and frequent bowel movements with bloody diarrhea.

18 Jul 2025