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.

Amino acid metabolism in breast cancer as a driver of disease and therapeutic target

The review introduces the molecular subtypes of breast cancer and outlines how altered amino acid metabolism supports tumor growth.

7 Jul 2025

Study reveals hidden cause of treatment failure in acute promyelocytic leukemia

Researchers at Zhejiang University School of Medicine have identified a single point mutation in the normal PML gene that can block the effect of arsenic trioxide, a frontline drug for acute promyelocytic leukemia.

4 Jul 2025

XPR1 silencing enhances immune response and reduces ovarian tumor growth

A recent study published in Genes & Diseases reveals a novel role of XPR1 in promoting ovarian cancer growth by regulating autophagy and MHC-I expression.

4 Jul 2025

Fluorescent drug helps surgeons see nerves clearly during complex procedures

When surgeons dissect tissue to remove a tumor or make a repair they must work cautiously, relying on electrophysical monitors and their own anatomical knowledge to avoid cutting nerves, which could complicate the patient's recovery.

4 Jul 2025

Chemist awarded NSF grant to study DNA nanoparticles for gene therapy

Case Western Reserve University chemist Divita Mathur was awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) grant for her research in synthetic DNA nanoparticles, which have potential applications in gene therapy.

4 Jul 2025

Letting bird flu run its course could spark wider pandemic

In a Policy Forum, Erin Sorrell and colleagues – a coalition of virologists, veterinarians, and health security experts – argue that the recent proposal to permit the uncontrolled spread of highly pathogenic avian influence (HPAI) among U.S. poultry to identify birds that survive infection is dangerous and unethical.

4 Jul 2025

Innovative approach for the development of next-generation cancer therapies targeting FGFR2/3

Aberrations in fibroblast growth factor receptors FGFR2/3 are major drivers of many cancers-including intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, endometrial, breast, gastric, and bladder cancers.

4 Jul 2025

Novel tool offers a glimpse into the black box of ALT in aggressive cancers

Each time a cell divides, a small section of each chromosome's protective cap - the telomere - is worn away. Most cells use an enzyme called telomerase to help mitigate this loss, but 10% to 15% of cancers have another mechanism called the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway.

4 Jul 2025

Study uncovers the molecular evolutionary strategies of the OxPhos system

Mitochondria are the body's "energy factories," and their proper function is essential for life. Inside mitochondria, a set of complexes called the oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) system acts like a biochemical assembly line, transforming oxygen and nutrients into usable energy.

4 Jul 2025

Restoring neuron balance in the amygdala reverses anxiety in mice

The Synaptic Physiology laboratory, led by Juan Lerma at the Institute for Neurosciences (IN), a joint center of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and Miguel Hernández University (UMH) of Elche, has discovered that a specific group of neurons in the amygdala, a brain region involved in emotion regulation, plays a key role in the emergence of conditions such as anxiety, depression, and altered social behavior.

4 Jul 2025

New technique aligns stem cells to boost healing power

A new way to grow stem cells may help them release more of the signaling proteins they use to repair tissue, potentially improving future treatments.

4 Jul 2025

NAD+ supplementation could be a potential treatment for accelerated aging diseases

Can research into a rare, accelerated aging disease and "zombie cells" teach us something about the normal aging process?

4 Jul 2025

Rethinking food labels with nutrient release in mind

Food labeling is out of step with healthy diet recommendations and could be improved by including nutrient release rates, according to University of Queensland Emeritus Professor Mike Gidley.

3 Jul 2025

Evolutionary mutation weakens human immune response to solid tumors

New research from UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center has uncovered an evolutionary change that may explain why certain immune cells in humans are less effective at fighting solid tumors compared to non-human primates.

3 Jul 2025

Blocking key immune cells could make prostate cancer treatable

Scientists have revealed how certain immune cells may be quietly helping prostate cancer grow - and how blocking them could help the body fight back.

3 Jul 2025

Breakthrough study questions longstanding STING activation approach

Researchers have long focused on the STING (Stimulator of Interferon Genes) pathway as a way to harness the immune system's natural defenses against cancer.

3 Jul 2025

Lung cells generated from mouse embryonic fibroblasts in just 7 to 10 days

Researchers in Japan have successfully generated lung cells similar to alveolar epithelial type 2 (AT2) cells from mouse embryonic fibroblasts without using stem cell technology.

3 Jul 2025

Breakthrough dual-drug hydrogel promotes cartilage repair in osteoarthritis

A research team from Northwest University, China, has developed a breakthrough nano-composite hydrogel system to address the dual challenges of inflammation and cartilage damage in osteoarthritis (OA), a leading cause of joint disability worldwide.

3 Jul 2025

Alzheimer’s protein found to drive lung cancer spread to the brain

Researchers at McMaster University, Cleveland Clinic and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center have uncovered how a protein long associated with Alzheimer's disease helps lung cancer spread to the brain – a discovery that offers hope that existing Alzheimer's drugs could be repurposed in preventing cancer's spread.

3 Jul 2025

PPP2R1A mutations linked to improved survival in ovarian clear cell carcinoma

Patients with ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) whose tumors have specific mutations in the PPP2R1A gene were found to have improved survival following immunotherapy compared to patients without these mutations, according to researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

3 Jul 2025