Crystallography News and Research

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Stopping 'budding' viruses in their tracks

Paramyxoviruses have the potential to trigger a devastating pandemic. This family of viruses includes measles, Nipah virus, mumps, Newcastle disease and canine distemper.

20 Jul 2022

New transport system exemplifies the potential of a de novo design of peptides and proteins

A novel peptide developed at the Universities of Bayreuth and Bristol is eminently suited for the targeted transport of molecules, for example of active substances and dyes, into the cells of mammals.

14 Jul 2022

Ancestral molecule from bacteria-like cells may offer evolutionary insight on sexual reproduction

A study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, among others, presents the theory that egg-sperm fusion, a crucial feature of sexual reproduction in plants and animals, may have originated from an ancient form of genetic exchange that involved the fusion of bacteria-like microorganisms called archaea.

12 Jul 2022

Scientists capture a clear picture of the nuclear pore complex using X-rays

Your body is made of close to 100 trillion cells that keep you healthy and alive. Each cell has billions of parts of its own, all of them working in tandem to keep life's processes moving.

11 Jul 2022

Scientists gain unprecedented insight into the key properties of antibody needed to combat cancer

Researchers at the University of Southampton have gained unprecedented new insight into the key properties of an antibody needed to fight off cancer.

8 Jul 2022

Discovery of multiple new SARS-CoV-2 MPro inhibitors

In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers performed an extensive library docking for new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) main protease (Mpro) covalent and non-covalent inhibitors.

8 Jul 2022

Identification of potent SARS-CoV-2 macrodomain inhibitors

A recent study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server illustrated the optimization of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nonstructural protein 3 (NSP3) macrodomain (Mac) inhibitor based on structure.

30 Jun 2022

Chemical synthesis, properties, and molecular modeling studies of spiro-indole compounds

In a recent study under review at the Scientific Reports journal and currently posted to the Research Square* preprint server, researchers synthesized and evaluated the antitumoral (against several cancer cell lines) and antiviral [against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)] properties of 3-spiro-indolin-2-ones.

15 Jun 2022

Deciphering the structure of nuclear pore complex piece by piece

Whatever you are doing, whether it is driving a car, going for a jog, or even at your laziest, eating chips and watching TV on the couch, there is an entire suite of molecular machinery inside each of your cells hard at work.

10 Jun 2022

Super-immunity in a camelid extensively immunized with the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain

A recent study published in Cell Reports reported the development of pan-sarbecovirus nanobodies (psNbs).

10 Jun 2022

Cryo-EM helps scientists to decipher the structure of a key part of RNA degradation machinery

In biology, getting rid of stuff can be just as important as making it. A buildup of cells, proteins, or other molecules that are no longer needed can cause problems, so living things have evolved several ways to clean house.

9 Jun 2022

Artificial intelligence-based computational program predicts the 3D structure of rotavirus spike protein

Of the three groups of rotavirus that cause gastroenteritis in people, called groups A, B and C, groups A and C affect mostly children and are the best characterized.

9 Jun 2022

Researchers identify a human monoclonal antibody that could broadly neutralize several variants of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and other coronaviruses

Researchers identified 10-40, a human monoclonal antibody with potent neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and related sarbecoviruses.

30 May 2022

Scientists unlock a new approach to kill hard-to-treat cancers

In a paper appearing in Nature today, an international group of scientists have unlocked a new way to kill hard to treat cancers. These tumors resist current immunotherapies, including those using Nobel Prize winning check-point blocking antibodies.

26 May 2022

Cryogenic electron microscopy used to determine the structure of fungal ribosome

Most people carry the fungus Candida albicans on their bodies, without this causing many problems. However, a systemic infection with this fungus is dangerous and difficult to treat.

25 May 2022

Important methodology for targeting conserved epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 and an immune-focused approach in pan-sarbeco and universal CoV vaccine design

A new study has focused on designing immunogens associated with the conserved region of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2.

20 May 2022

Super-antibody UT28K shows broad-spectrum activity against SARS-CoV-2 variants

A study, published online in the journal mAbs, describes a novel mAb, UT28K, that has promising broadly neutralizing activity against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

15 May 2022

Research highlight reports on the observed differences in transmissibility and pathogenicity of Omicron vs. earlier variants of SARS-CoV-2

A new paper published in Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy reports the observed differences in transmissibility and pathogenicity of Omicron vs. earlier variants of SARS-CoV-2.

10 May 2022

New method enables the structural analysis of RNA molecules

We live in a world made and run by RNA, the equally important sibling of the genetic molecule DNA. In fact, evolutionary biologists hypothesize that RNA existed and self-replicated even before the appearance of DNA and the proteins encoded by it.

3 May 2022

Unraveling how strigoractone hormone regulates massive gene networks controlling plant growth

As sessile organisms, plants have to continually adapt their growth and architecture to the ever-changing environment. To do so, plants have evolved distinct molecular mechanisms to sense and respond to the environment and integrate the signals from outside with endogenous developmental programs.

28 Apr 2022