Biochemistry

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UH scientists uncover clues to why bacteria survive in space

In professor George Fox's lab at the University of Houston, scientists are studying Earth germs that could be contaminating other planets.

28 Jun 2018

Blocking viral-host interaction slows down flu virus replication, study shows

Influenza A (flu A) hijacks host proteins for viral RNA splicing and blocking these interactions caused replication of the virus to slow, according to new research published in Nature Communications by Kristin W. Lynch, PhD, chair of the department of Biochemistry and Biophysics in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and doctoral student Matthew Thompson.

25 Jun 2018

Dynamic model helps make predictions about gut microbiome

The human gut is teeming with microbes, each interacting with one another in a mind-boggling network of positive and negative exchanges. Some produce substances that serve as food for other microbes, while others produce toxins - antibiotics - that kill their neighbors.

22 Jun 2018

Investigating the Unique Nanomechanical Properties of Tooth Enamel

My background is in tribology, which is the science of the interactions between surfaces in relative motion. This involves looking at behaviour, such as friction, wear and lubrication, and the relationships between them.

From Bruker Nano Surfaces and Metrology 22 Jun 2018

Study provides clues to how cancer cells develop resistance to chemotherapies

About half of all drugs, ranging from morphine to penicillin, come from compounds that are from - or have been derived from - nature. This includes many cancer drugs, which are toxic enough to kill cancer cells.

22 Jun 2018

Chemists find new way to make enzymes do a non-natural reaction

Princeton chemists have found a way to make a naturally occurring enzyme take on a new, artificial role, which has significant implications for modern chemistry, including pharmaceutical production.

22 Jun 2018

Chemists invent new method for remote chiral induction

Chemists at Scripps Research have addressed one of the most formidable challenges in synthetic chemistry by inventing a method for "enantioselective remote meta-CH activation," which enables the making of chiral molecules that were previously difficult or impossible to synthesize.

19 Jun 2018

Researchers discover new defense mechanism against oxygen radicals

Oxygen radicals occur as a by-product when living beings burn carbohydrates or fat. They are suspected of accelerating the ageing process in humans and animals, and to be partly responsible for severe illnesses such as Alzheimer's or certain types of cancer.

18 Jun 2018

Investigating Enamel Nanostructure with Nanoindentation

In this interview, Dr S. Amini, post-doctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interface, talks to AZoM about his work involving the structural properties and mechanical responses of teeth enamel.

From Bruker Nano Surfaces and Metrology 15 Jun 2018

New studies on fat cell filling, history of biochemistry, and ketogenic diet

There's more than one type of fat cell. Besides the white fat that stores triglycerides in lipid droplets in preparation for lean times later, mammals also have heat-generating brown fat, which acts more like a radiator than a storage closet.

14 Jun 2018

Study unravels how nuclear pore complexes transport mRNAs out of the nucleus

Standing guard between a cell's nucleus and its main chamber, called the cytoplasm, are thousands of behemoth protein structures called nuclear pore complexes, or NPCs.

13 Jun 2018

TU Graz researchers manipulate enzymes to build ring-shaped molecular structures

TU Graz researchers managed for the first time ever to 'retrain' an enzyme to build ring-shaped molecular structures instead of performing its natural task of reducing double bonds.

12 Jun 2018

Ralph N. Adams Award in Bioanalytical Chemistry to be presented at Pittcon 2019

The Ralph N. Adams Award in Bioanalytical Chemistry will be presented at Pittcon 2019, and includes a cash award and travel expenses.

From Pittcon 7 Jun 2018

UCLA researchers have blueprint of telomerase that plays major role in cancer, aging

Cancer, aging-related diseases and other illnesses are closely tied to an important enzyme called "telomerase." UCLA researchers report in the journal Cell the deepest scientific understanding yet of this once-mysterious enzyme, whose catalytic core -- where most of its activity occurs -- can now be seen in near atomic resolution.

7 Jun 2018

Mid-infrared biosensor distinguishes multiple analytes in heterogeneous biological samples

Detecting biomolecules, such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids and their interactions in heterogeneous biological samples is crucial for understanding a multitude of biological mechanisms in health and disease.

5 Jun 2018

Study sheds new light on how the food we eat affects biochemical signals in the gut

For years, researchers have studied how the body's microbiome impacts virtually every aspect of human health ranging from the immune system to mental wellness.

5 Jun 2018

Highly stable DNA origami nanostructures may pave way for a plethora of biomedical applications

The DNA origami technique is a widely used method for making complex, yet well-defined nanostructures, with applications in biophysics, molecular biology, as well as drug and enzyme delivery.

31 May 2018

Genome dark matter provides clues to fighting prostate cancer

Through studying the dark matter of the human genome, a team from the University of Michigan has shed light on how the hormone androgen drives prostate cancer and suggested a potential target for future therapy.

28 May 2018

Scientists report new strategy for fighting bacteria

Antimicrobial resistance is a major medical problem worldwide, impacting both human health and economic well-being.

24 May 2018

Study links cell size with commitment to division

How does a cell know when to divide? We know that hundreds of genes contribute to a wave of activity linked to cell division, but to generate that wave new research shows that cells must first grow large enough to produce four key proteins in adequate amounts.

24 May 2018