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.

Amsterdam UMC researchers overturn long-standing biological pacemaker dogma

Researchers from Amsterdam UMC have overturned a key assumption in the biological pacemaker field.

11 Jun 2026

Researchers discover 45 new toxins produced by Salmonella bacteria

Researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil have discovered 45 new toxins produced by Salmonella bacteria, some of which are associated with foodborne infections.

11 Jun 2026

Intravenous statins during heart attack reduce cardiac muscle damage

Reducing the damage sustained by the heart during a myocardial infarction remains one of the major challenges in cardiology, even when the blocked coronary artery is reopened in a timely manner.

11 Jun 2026

Collagen exists as liquid droplets inside living cells, study reveals

Collagen, the protein that builds skin, bones, tendons and organs, exists inside cells as a liquid-like droplet rather than the long, rigid rod seen in textbooks over the last half century, according to a new study from the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona.

11 Jun 2026

Circadian clock protein BMAL1 enhances inflammatory responses in immune cells

Daily life is shaped by the solar day, influencing when we wake up, eat, work, and sleep. Inside the body, a similar internal timing system -present in nearly every cell- known as the circadian clock, synchronizes many biological functions such as sleep, metabolism, hormone release, and even the immune system's activity.

11 Jun 2026

Genetic screening of LOXHD1 variants guides early hearing loss intervention

Hearing loss is a common cause of disability worldwide, with anywhere between 30-60% of cases being caused by genetic factors. LOXHD1 is a gene integral to essential protein interactions responsible for maintaining normal hair cell function.

11 Jun 2026

New treatment platform delivers full-length mRNA for Duchenne muscular dystrophy

A new treatment platform developed by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center was able to deliver messenger RNA (mRNA) of the full-length DMD gene into preclinical models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, successfully restoring the production of an important muscle protein, dystrophin, and dramatically improving muscle strength, endurance and function in vivo.

11 Jun 2026

Structure of the Argonaute maturation complex guides RNA therapeutic design

RNA therapeutics have emerged as one of the most promising new classes of medicines. Eight small interfering RNA (siRNA) drugs have already been approved worldwide for the treatment of genetic diseases, yet scientists have not fully understood one of the most fundamental steps underlying their function: how Argonaute, the core protein responsible for gene silencing, becomes activated.

11 Jun 2026

Scientists target NOX4 protein in skeletal muscle to combat aging

The powerful role of exercise in maintaining skeletal muscle could be the key to improving health and resilience in older age, according to new research from Monash University.

11 Jun 2026

A hidden immune pathway may help explain why Alzheimer’s inflammation persists

Researchers found that KAT7 promotes CMPK2-driven mitochondrial DNA release in microglia, activating inflammatory cGAS-STING and NLRP3 pathways linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

11 Jun 2026

Scientists reveal how cGAS-STING fuels brain inflammation and neurodegeneration

The cGAS-STING pathway is emerging as a key driver of chronic neuroinflammation through its effects on glial activation, neuronal stress, blood-brain barrier integrity, and type I interferon signaling. The review highlights why selective, context-dependent modulation of cGAS-STING could help treat neurodegenerative diseases, while preserving its essential roles in antiviral defense and tumor surveillance.

10 Jun 2026

Western diet weakens the gut’s nervous system through iron-dependent damage

A JCI study found that exposure to a Western diet in mice and to palmitic acid in murine and ex vivo human enteric nervous system models triggered ferroptosis, characterized by iron loading, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial stress, and enteric neuronal loss. Boosting Nrf2 signaling protected enteric neurons and prevented Western diet-induced delayed colonic transit in mice, pointing to a potential pathway linking dietary fat exposure to gut motility dysfunction.

10 Jun 2026

Researchers uncover immune loop driving Sjögren's disease progression

Sjögren's disease is a widespread chronic autoimmune disorder that attacks the body's own glands, yet its underlying disease mechanisms remain poorly understood.

10 Jun 2026

Short-term fasting may reduce inflammation linked to gum disease

People who follow a short-term low-calorie diet may have reduced markers of inflammation associated with gum disease.

10 Jun 2026

Silver nanoparticles enable precise DNA cutting and assembly

DNA is composed of long chains that act as the blueprint for living organisms. In genetic engineering, scientists cut DNA at specific sites and join the resulting fragments to other DNA sequences, enabling applications such as advanced crop breeding, genetic disease treatment, and the generation of animal models for drug discovery.

10 Jun 2026

Automated self-driving labs accelerate the search for new medicines

The Acceleration Consortium (AC) at the University of Toronto and the Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC) announced today a formalized partnership to help tackle a persistent challenge in biomedicine and early drug discovery: the development of bioactive molecules with drug-like properties, advancing our understanding of human health and disease and jump-starting new drug discovery programs.

10 Jun 2026