Molecular Biology News and Research

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Molecular biology is the study of biology at a molecular level. The field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry. Molecular biology chiefly concerns itself with understanding the interactions between the various systems of a cell, including the interactions between DNA, RNA and protein biosynthesis as well as learning how these interactions are regulated.

Study provides insight into genetic causes of cleft lip and cleft palate

Scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, have identified how a specific stretch of DNA controls far-off genes to influence the formation of the face.

28 May 2014

Genetic variant linked to sudden cardiac death leads to protein overproduction in heart cells

A genetic variant linked to sudden cardiac death leads to protein overproduction in heart cells, Johns Hopkins scientists report. Unlike many known disease-linked variants, this one lies not in a gene but in so-called noncoding DNA, a growing focus of disease research.

28 May 2014

Analytik announces UK and Ireland release of the SciAps Inspector 500 SWIR Raman for the pharmaceutical industry

Analytik, leading suppliers of innovative analytical instrumentation, announce the SciAps Inspector 500 SWIR Raman system for the pharmaceutical industry.

23 May 2014

Study examines potential use of medical marijuana, CBD in treating epilepsy

The therapeutic potential of medical marijuana and pure cannabidiol (CBD), an active substance in the cannabis plant, for neurologic conditions is highly debated.

23 May 2014

Danish researchers provide valuable insight into basic mechanisms of stem cell differentiation

The world has great expectations that stem cell research one day will revolutionize medicine. But in order to exploit the potential of stem cells, we need to understand how their development is regulated.

23 May 2014

The future of high throughput screening: an interview with Mark Wigglesworth, Director High Throughput Screening, AstraZeneca

Quoting Mike Snowden (VP & Head of Discovery Sciences, AstraZeneca), “it’s where biology meets chemistry”. It’s where for the first time a target protein can be probed for novel molecules that modulate its function, of course we want to do this to prove a hypothesis that these proteins are drug targets with the potential to deliver innovative medicines.

20 May 2014

St. Jude analysis reveals how protein p53 triggers cancer cells to commit suicide

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have mapped the structural details of how p53 attaches to its regulatory protein, called BCL-xL, in the cell.

16 May 2014

Shark antibodies reveal evolutionary principles of immunoglobulins

Custom-tailored antibodies are regarded as promising weapons against a multitude of serious illnesses. Since they can accurately recognize specific structures on the surface of viruses, bacteria or cancer cells, they are already being deployed successfully in cancer diagnostics and therapy, as well as against numerous other diseases. The stability of the sensitive antibodies is a decisive factor in every step, from production and storage to therapeutic application.

15 May 2014

Protein Data Bank now contains over 100,000 structures

Spanning the globe from the US, UK, and Japan, the Worldwide Protein Data Bank (wwPDB) organization announces that the Protein Data Bank archive now contains more than 100,000 entries.

14 May 2014

Fetal membranes exposed to oxidative stress can trigger premature aging of placenta

A new study by researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston is the first to show that premature aging of the placenta due to oxidative stress is the cause of many preterm births. The study appears today in the American Journal of Pathology.

14 May 2014

Scientists find protein that controls DNA organization during sperm development

Infertility is generally thought of as a woman's problem. In fact, more than 3 million men across America also experience it.

13 May 2014

Researchers use molecular diagnostic methods to detect cancer

The ABC Medical Center, located in Mexico City, implemented various molecular diagnostic methods that can detect the genetic alterations in several types of cancer, so they can select a personalized therapy for each patient and direct it against the mutated genes that cause disease.

13 May 2014

Biochemists identify protein that can slow down growth of brain tumors in mice

Much like using dimmer switches to brighten or darken rooms, biochemists have identified a protein that can be used to slow down or speed up the growth of brain tumors in mice.

12 May 2014

Molecular imaging and multimodality: an interview with Professor Silvio Aime, University of Turin

Molecular imaging aims at the visualization of molecules or molecular events that occur at the cellular level. Clearly it also allows the possibility of looking inside the biochemical pathway at the cellular level and therefore enables us to look at the onset of diseases well before they are resolved into structural change.

From Bruker BioSpin Group 12 May 2014

Whitehead Institute scientists identify genetic cause of hemifacial microsomia

Whitehead Institute scientists have identified a genetic cause of a facial disorder known as hemifacial microsomia (HFM). The researchers find that duplication of the gene OTX2 induces HFM, the second-most common facial anomaly after cleft lip and palate.

12 May 2014

Single-cell genomics study confirms that immune cells produce steroids

Researchers at the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute have discovered that some immune cells turn themselves off by producing a steroid.

9 May 2014

Mice study shows specific energy source responsible for performing complex cognitive functions

New research suggests that certain types of brain cells may be "picky eaters," seeming to prefer one specific energy source over others.

9 May 2014

Finding has implications for understanding cognitive decline in degenerative diseases

New research suggests that certain types of brain cells may be "picky eaters," seeming to prefer one specific energy source over others. The finding has implications for understanding the cognitive decline seen in aging and degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and multiple sclerosis.

8 May 2014

LifeMap Solutions focuses on creating innovative mobile health products

LifeMap Solutions, Inc., a medical technology startup focused on creating innovative mobile health (mHealth) products and services powered by big data, today announced an initial $5 million seed round led by parent company LifeMap Sciences, Inc., a subsidiary of BioTime, Inc., with additional participation via in-kind support from its development partner, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

7 May 2014

FDA approves Alexion’s Soliris drug for treatment of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Company's supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) providing regular approval for Soliris® (eculizumab) for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) to inhibit complement-mediated thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA).

6 May 2014

Molecular Biology News and Research

Further Reading

Study provides insight into genetic causes of cleft lip and cleft palate

Genetic variant linked to sudden cardiac death leads to protein overproduction in heart cells

Analytik announces UK and Ireland release of the SciAps Inspector 500 SWIR Raman for the pharmaceutical industry

Study examines potential use of medical marijuana, CBD in treating epilepsy

Danish researchers provide valuable insight into basic mechanisms of stem cell differentiation

The future of high throughput screening: an interview with Mark Wigglesworth, Director High Throughput Screening, AstraZeneca

St. Jude analysis reveals how protein p53 triggers cancer cells to commit suicide

Shark antibodies reveal evolutionary principles of immunoglobulins

Protein Data Bank now contains over 100,000 structures

Fetal membranes exposed to oxidative stress can trigger premature aging of placenta

Scientists find protein that controls DNA organization during sperm development

Researchers use molecular diagnostic methods to detect cancer

Biochemists identify protein that can slow down growth of brain tumors in mice

Molecular imaging and multimodality: an interview with Professor Silvio Aime, University of Turin

Whitehead Institute scientists identify genetic cause of hemifacial microsomia

Single-cell genomics study confirms that immune cells produce steroids

Mice study shows specific energy source responsible for performing complex cognitive functions

Finding has implications for understanding cognitive decline in degenerative diseases

LifeMap Solutions focuses on creating innovative mobile health products

FDA approves Alexion’s Soliris drug for treatment of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome

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