Membrane News and Research

RSS

Study suggests new target to treat prostate cancer

Hokkaido University researchers have uncovered a cellular protein that stabilizes a tumor promoting signaling pathway, suggesting a new target to treat prostate cancer.

22 Dec 2017

Scientists unravel structure of protein behind sense of touch

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have solved the mystery of the structure of Piezo1, a member of a family of proteins that convert physical stimuli such as touch or blood flow into chemical signals.

21 Dec 2017

Silky webs of spiders may hold secrets to repairing our skeletons

Some secrets to repairing our skeletons might be found in the silky webs of spiders, according to recent experiments guided by supercomputers. Scientists involved say their results will help understand the details of osteoregeneration, or how bones repair themselves.

20 Dec 2017

Scientists find sperm as potential drug carrier to treat gynecological conditions

Delivering drugs specifically to cancer cells is one approach researchers are taking to minimize treatment side effects. Stem cells, bacteria and other carriers have been tested as tiny delivery vehicles.

20 Dec 2017

Zinc present in semen determines male fertility, study shows

Trace levels of zinc present in semen is a vital determinant of male fertility, a recent study in Bangladesh capital Dhaka concludes.

19 Dec 2017

Excessive copper in diabetes impedes ability to make new blood vessels

It's a metal we worry thieves will steal from our air conditioners or power lines, but inside our bodies too much copper can result in a much larger loss.

18 Dec 2017

‘Sushi-like’ nanodiscs provide structural snapshots of misfolding proteins

When proteins misfold, accumulate and clump around insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, they kill cells. Now, researchers, including University of Michigan biophysicists, have obtained a structural snapshot of these proteins when they are most toxic, detailing them down to the atomic level.

15 Dec 2017

Researchers explore how toxic protein clusters linked to Parkinson's disrupt brain cells

Researchers have glimpsed how the toxic protein clusters that are associated with Parkinson's Disease disrupt the membranes of healthy brain cells, creating defects in the cell walls and eventually causing a series of events that induce neuronal death.

15 Dec 2017

Extracellular vesicles can be used to effectively delay progression of kidney damage

Researchers have demonstrated for the first time that extracellular vesicles - tiny protein-filled structures - isolated from amniotic fluid stem cells (AFSCs) can be used to effectively slow the progression of kidney damage in mice with a type of chronic kidney disease.

15 Dec 2017

Protein structure could pave way for effective drugs to treat cystic fibrosis

Biochemists at the University of Zurich have used cryo-electron microscopy to determine the detailed architecture of the chloride channel TMEM16A. This protein is a promising target for the development of effective drugs to treat cystic fibrosis.

13 Dec 2017

Researchers use RNA nanotechnology to program exosomes for delivering effective cancer therapies

A new study shows that attaching antibody-like RNA nanoparticles to microvesicles can deliver effective RNA therapeutics such as small interfering RNA specifically to cancer cells.

13 Dec 2017

Cellular self-digestion process plays role in development of autoimmune diseases

Autophagy allows cells to degrade and recycle their cellular components. Researchers at UZH have now demonstrated that the autophagy machinery in certain immune cells leads to the immune system attacking the central nervous system.

13 Dec 2017

Time-lapse imaging reveals how antimicrobial treated surfaces kill superbugs in two hours

Experts at the University of Warwick have produced microscopic footage of the potentially deadly E. coli bacteria being wiped out in just two hours on an antimicrobial treated ‘intelligent’ surface.

13 Dec 2017

Study identifies potassium as key to circadian rhythms in red blood cells

An innovative new study from the University of Surrey and Cambridge's MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications, has uncovered the secrets of the circadian rhythms in red blood cells and identified potassium as the key to unraveling the mystery.

12 Dec 2017

Novel compound inhibits mycomembrane biosynthesis and kills tuberculosis bacteria

Tuberculosis is one of the most widespread life-threatening infectious diseases. Not only does antibiotic resistance make treatment increasingly difficult, but the bacteria’s relatively impermeable mycomembrane also limits the effectiveness of many drugs.

12 Dec 2017

NYU Langone Health launches new heart transplant program

The Transplant Institute at NYU Langone Health has launched a new heart transplant program - the first new program of its kind in New York State in more than 15 years.

11 Dec 2017

Using atraumatic needles for lumbar punctures decreases risk of complications

The type of needle used during a lumbar puncture makes a significant difference in the subsequent occurrence of headache, nerve irritation and hearing disturbance in patients, according to a study by Hamilton medical researchers.

7 Dec 2017

Scientists introduce polyproline as effective cryoprotectant for monolayers of cells

Nature has evolved sugars, amino acids, and special antifreeze proteins as cryoprotectants. People use organic solvents and synthetic polymers as additives to prevent cell cultures from freezing damage.

7 Dec 2017

Bioelectronic 'nose' can easily sniff foul smells in rotting food

Strong odors are an indicator that food has gone bad, but there could soon be a new way to sniff foul smells earlier on.

6 Dec 2017

Reducing mitochondrial protein in cardiac muscle cells initiates heart failure

Reducing a protein found in the mitochondria of cardiac muscle cells initiates cardiac dysfunction and heart failure, a finding that could provide insight for new treatments for cardiovascular diseases, a study led by Georgia State University has shown.

6 Dec 2017

Membrane News and Research

Study suggests new target to treat prostate cancer

Scientists unravel structure of protein behind sense of touch

Silky webs of spiders may hold secrets to repairing our skeletons

Scientists find sperm as potential drug carrier to treat gynecological conditions

Zinc present in semen determines male fertility, study shows

Excessive copper in diabetes impedes ability to make new blood vessels

‘Sushi-like’ nanodiscs provide structural snapshots of misfolding proteins

Researchers explore how toxic protein clusters linked to Parkinson's disrupt brain cells

Extracellular vesicles can be used to effectively delay progression of kidney damage

Protein structure could pave way for effective drugs to treat cystic fibrosis

Researchers use RNA nanotechnology to program exosomes for delivering effective cancer therapies

Cellular self-digestion process plays role in development of autoimmune diseases

Time-lapse imaging reveals how antimicrobial treated surfaces kill superbugs in two hours

Study identifies potassium as key to circadian rhythms in red blood cells

Novel compound inhibits mycomembrane biosynthesis and kills tuberculosis bacteria

NYU Langone Health launches new heart transplant program

Using atraumatic needles for lumbar punctures decreases risk of complications

Scientists introduce polyproline as effective cryoprotectant for monolayers of cells

Bioelectronic 'nose' can easily sniff foul smells in rotting food

Reducing mitochondrial protein in cardiac muscle cells initiates heart failure

New Approach Methodologies, the 3Rs and Multimodal Imaging in Preclinical Research - eBook eBook

Latest eBooks

Industry Focus eBook - Analytical Chemistry (3rd edition)

Industry Focus eBook - Microbiome (1st edition)

Industry Focus eBook - Cell biology (5th edition)

Advancing degrader and proximity-based drug development

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo