Structural Biology News and Research

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Simulations crack code of human egg fertilization

Who hasn't seen it before: the view through the microscope in which a sperm penetrates an egg cell and fertilizes it.

5 Feb 2024

Study sheds light on 7-DHC's potential to induce cell death-resistant state in tumors

Cell death is fundamental to life and, thus, healthy aging. In the realm of cellular biology, ferroptosis (a form of programmed cell death) has emerged not only as a focal point of research for its potential in eliminating cancer cells, but also its role in a plethora of other diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, eye diseases such as Retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration, as well as ischemia, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, acute kidney injury and inflammation.

1 Feb 2024

Sclerostin may protect against heart disease in patients with type 2 diabetes

A study carried out by the MP20-Biomarkers of Metabolic and Bone Diseases research group at the Biohealth Research Institute in Granada (ibs.GRANADA), led by UGR Professor Manuel Muñoz Torres, has provided significant insights into the role of sclerostin in protecting against atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.

26 Jan 2024

Using AI to break the opioid addiction cycle

When Ben Brown, research assistant professor of chemistry, thinks about the opioid epidemic, he views the problem on a molecular level.

19 Jan 2024

New structural insights pave the way for drug-resistant malaria therapies

Structural insights into a potent antimalarial drug candidate's interaction with the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum have paved the way for drug-resistant malaria therapies, according to a new study by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and Van Andel Institute.

18 Jan 2024

Unlocking protein secrets: X-ray crystallography reveals hidden shapes

Proteins do the heavy lifting of performing biochemical functions in our bodies by binding to metabolites or other proteins to complete tasks.

12 Jan 2024

Bacterial "freight elevator" unpacked: How pathogens hide from the immune system

Some bacterial membrane transporters work almost like freight elevators to transport substances through the cell membrane into the interior of the cell. The transporter itself spans the bacterial membrane.

8 Jan 2024

AI Integration in the Fight Against Age-Related Macular Degeneration

In this interview, Wen Hwa Lee, CEO, and Chief Scientist at Action Against Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AAAMD), offers an enlightening perspective on merging AI with ophthalmology to forge new paths in healthcare and drug discovery.

From ELRIG (UK) Ltd. 3 Jan 2024

St. Jude researchers crack the code of the β2-adrenergic receptor

Through an international collaboration, scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital leveraged data science, pharmacology and structural information to conduct an atomic-level investigation into how each amino acid in the receptor that binds adrenaline contributes to receptor activity in the presence of this natural ligand.

22 Dec 2023

St. Jude researchers reveal structure of Parkinson's-linked proteins

Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital revealed the complex structure of two Parkinson's disease-related proteins, both of which are implicated in late-onset cases.

21 Dec 2023

Unlocking the secrets of our "dark genome": Scientists crack the code of LINE-1

A multidisciplinary study published in Nature has elucidated the structure of the machinery responsible for writing much of our "dark genome" - the 98 percent of our DNA that has largely unknown biological function.

14 Dec 2023

Scientists uncover new mechanism by which leukemia cells exploit cellular recycling process

In a recent study, scientists led by Professor Stefan Müller from Goethe University's Institute of Biochemistry II investigated a specific form of blood cancer known as acute myeloid leukemia, or AML.

4 Dec 2023

CHOP researchers unlock 3D structure of crucial protein for cancer therapy

Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CARs) have opened up an exciting new field of therapeutic advancements for rare and difficult-to-treat cancers, as they have the ability to deliver targeted therapies that can kill tumor cells.

1 Dec 2023

TACTIC project aims to uncover genetic causes of cancer and develop targeted therapies

Investigating the genetic causes of cancer and fighting them with new drugs: To this end, German Cancer Aid is funding the TACTIC project until 2028 with 11.8 million euros.

16 Nov 2023

Revolution by Evolution: Protein Science and its Impact on Drug Discovery

In this interview conducted at SLAS EU 2023 in Brussels, Belgium, we spoke to Mark Abbott, the Managing Director of Peak Proteins, about protein science and its significance in drug discovery.

10 Nov 2023

Open-science drug discovery campaign yields a wealth of data on SARS-CoV-2 main protease

Although the group's work has been freely available since its inception in March 2020, the COVID Moonshot Consortium is finally formally reporting their results.

9 Nov 2023

COVID Moonshot Consortium makes major breakthrough in antiviral drug discovery

The work of the COVID Moonshot Consortium is being published in the prestigious journal Science on 10 November, revealing their discovery of a potent SARS-CoV-2 antiviral lead compound.

9 Nov 2023

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

Highly sensitive blood test shows promise for early detection of common deadly cancers

Most cancers become deadly by keeping a low profile, causing no symptoms until they're too advanced to treat. Ovarian and gastroesophageal cancers are among the most notorious for this sly disease progression, often leading to late-stage diagnoses.

1 Nov 2023

Low-cost anti-inflammatory hydrogel could help treat chronic skin lesions in people with diabetes

Researchers in São Paulo state, Brazil, have developed a low-cost anti-inflammatory hydrogel that in future could help treat chronic skin lesions such as those often seen in people with diabetes.

27 Oct 2023