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Scientists determine structure of key protein in neuronal communication

Neurons talk to each other using chemical signals called neurotransmitters. Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have drawn on structural biology expertise to determine structures of vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), a key component of neuronal communication.

2 Nov 2023

UH researcher awarded $1.2 million grant to unravel mystery of Z-RNA

University of Houston Assistant Professor of Biology and Biochemistry Quentin Vicens has been awarded a $1.2 million grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences to unravel the mystery of Z-RNA – an enigmatic RNA structure within our cells that plays a critical role in immune response.

2 Nov 2023

Metabolic increase in the hippocampus is early sign of Alzheimer's disease, study finds

An early phase in the process of developing Alzheimer's disease is a metabolic increase in a part of the brain called the hippocampus, report researchers from Karolinska Institutet in a study published in Molecular Psychiatry.

31 Oct 2023

How one gene shakes up our understanding of male infertility

The study investigates the role of the ACTL7B gene in sperm formation using genetically modified mice and finds that deficiencies in this gene lead to failed spermatogenesis and structural sperm abnormalities. Given the gene's similarity in humans, the findings suggest ACTL7B could serve as a potential biomarker for male infertility.

31 Oct 2023

AI-designed drug candidate shows promise for gastric acid inhibition

Researchers at Nagoya University in Japan created and improved artificial intelligence (AI) designs to synthesize a candidate compound for a new gastric acid inhibitor with a better binding affinity than existing drugs.

26 Oct 2023

Texas A&M researchers win NIH grant to study metabolism in people with Down syndrome

A team of researchers at the Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) has received a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to research metabolism in people with Down syndrome.

17 Oct 2023

Researchers study how cells adapt to stressful and complex environments

Imagine the life of a yeast cell, floating around the kitchen in a spore that eventually lands on a bowl of grapes. Life is good: food for days, at least until someone notices the rotting fruit and throws them out.

16 Oct 2023

Strong antibody response and nasal cytokines may protect young children from severe COVID-19

New research helps explain why young children have lower rates of severe COVID-19 than adults. A study of infants and young children found those who acquired SARS-CoV-2 had a strong, sustained antibody response to the virus and high levels of inflammatory proteins in the nose but not in the blood.

13 Oct 2023

Accelerating drug discovery with analytical R&D solutions

In this interview, Thermo Fisher Scientific discusses how to accelerate drug discovery through analytical R&D.

From Thermo Fisher Scientific – Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Solutions 12 Oct 2023

Harvard neuroscientist seeks to capture synapse-level connectome data from a mouse brain

The human brain is a tangled highway of wires emanating from nearly 100 billion neurons, all of which communicate across trillions of junctions called synapses. "Depressingly complex," Harvard neuroscientist Jeff Lichtman calls it.

9 Oct 2023

Decoding the twist: Coronavirus spike proteins reveal their intricate invasion dance

Researchers use cryo-EM and molecular dynamics to reveal conformational changes in the spike proteins of human coronavirus HKU1 upon binding with a receptor. Findings unveil the complexity of beta coronavirus attachment, suggesting a more intricate mechanism of host cell invasion than previously understood.

8 Oct 2023

Evidence reveals ferroptosis's critical role in male reproductive health

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2 Oct 2023

New study reveals alarming cardiovascular risks from COVID

The study published in Nature Cardiovascular Research reveals that SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, can directly infect coronary vessels and arterial plaques, heightening the risk of cardiovascular complications like heart attacks and strokes. These findings offer critical insights into the increased long-term cardiovascular risks for COVID-19 survivors and open new avenues for targeted therapies.

1 Oct 2023

New CRISPR-based gene-editing tool could lead to better treatments for genetic disorders

A new CRISPR-based gene-editing tool has been developed which could lead to better treatments for patients with genetic disorders.

29 Sep 2023

Cutting-edge NanoSIMS imaging sheds light on the progression of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is a complex neurodegenerative disorder that leads to the deterioration of specific types of neurons in the brain, resulting in a number of motor and non-motor symptoms.

29 Sep 2023

Examining the cardiac pathology in fatal cases of yellow fever

The characteristics of yellow fever (YF)-related myocardial damage.

28 Sep 2023

Small and precise CRISPR-Cas13bt3 system can be used to shred viruses

Small and precise: These are the ideal characteristics for CRISPR systems, the Nobel-prize winning technology used to edit nucleic acids like RNA and DNA.

27 Sep 2023

Three new projects launched to map neuronal connections in the mouse and macaque brains

A complete map of all the connections in an entire mammalian brain may be in sight. Allen Institute researchers have just launched three new projects to construct large, detailed maps of neuronal connections in sections of the mouse and macaque brains, with an eye toward creating full wiring diagrams of these animals' brains in the future.

26 Sep 2023

Gene-silencer study could pave the way for novel cancer therapeutics

Deep inside our cells - each one complete with an identical set of genes - a molecular machine known as PRC2 plays a critical role in determining which cells become heart cells, versus brain or muscle or skin cells.