Biochemistry

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New COVID-19 test uses a smartphone microscope to quickly analyze saliva samples

Researchers at the University of Arizona are developing a COVID-19 testing method that uses a smartphone microscope to analyze saliva samples and deliver results in about 10 minutes.

29 Jan 2021

Scientists unravel how lipids distribute proteins within cells

An international team of scientists, coordinated by the Seville Institute of Biomedicine and the University of Seville has solved one of the hitherto unresolved enigmas of basic biology: how exactly do lipids distribute proteins within a cell? To do this, they used a new, completely innovative microscopy technology, which they applied to "mutant" cells they designed in their laboratory.

29 Jan 2021

Scientists engineer potent trivalent inhibitors of thrombin

Thrombosis, the clogging of blood vessels, is a major cause of heart attacks and embolism. Scientists have now engineered the first inhibitors of thrombin, a protease promoting thrombosis, that is three-fold efficient.

29 Jan 2021

Study finds surprising defensive functions of the immune system against new viral attacks

Scientists are opening new windows into understanding more about the constantly shifting evolutionary arms race between viruses and the hosts they seek to infect.

29 Jan 2021

Common anticoagulant drug could be repurposed to help alleviate Covid-19 infections

An international team of researchers led by the Universities of Keele and Liverpool, working with Public Health England, has found that the common anticoagulant drug heparin inhibits the SARS-Cov2virus spike protein, by reducing the virus' ability to attach to human cells and infect them.

28 Jan 2021

Substances in tick saliva activate immune response-suppressing proteins in cattle

A tick saliva study reveals immune responses that could lead to better protection for cattle.

28 Jan 2021

Novel method for identifying biomarkers may aid in early cancer diagnosis

A new University of California, Irvine-led study finds a new method for identifying biomarkers may aid in early cancer diagnosis.

27 Jan 2021

Remdesivir disrupts SARS-CoV-2 more effectively than other similar drugs

In the treatment of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, antiviral drug remdesivir has emerged as a promising candidate.

26 Jan 2021

G3BP proteins inhibit metabolic driver that plays a central role in cancers, neurological disorders

G3BP proteins inhibit the metabolic driver MTOR - a signaling protein that plays a central role in tumor diseases and developmental disorders of the brain. This is reported in this week´s issue of the renowned journal Cell.

26 Jan 2021

Scientists show how coconut oil is metabolized in the liver

Coconut oil has increasingly found its way into German kitchens in recent years, although its alleged health benefits are controversial. Scientists at the University of Bonn have now been able to show how it is metabolized in the liver.

26 Jan 2021

Anchor proteins inhibit a key metabolic driver that plays critical role in cancer and neuronal diseases

Certain anchor proteins inhibit a key metabolic driver that plays an important role in cancer and developmental brain disorders.

26 Jan 2021

World's first fully reversible manipulation of the circadian clock

The Nagoya University Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules research team of Designated Associate Professor Tsuyoshi Hirota, Postdoctoral Fellow Simon Miller, Professor Kenichiro Itami and graduate student Tsuyoshi Oshima (Research Fellowship for Young Scientists, JSPS), in collaboration with the group of Professor Ben Feringa and Postdoctoral Fellow Dušan Kolarski of Groningen University in the Netherlands, have achieved a world first: fully reversible manipulation of the period of the circadian clock using light, by exchanging part of a compound with a light-activated switch.

25 Jan 2021

New method can help identify potential anti-cancer drugs at a high pace

The enzymes in human cells known as histone deacetylases, or HDACs, are targets for a handful of anticancer drugs because of their ability to affect gene expression.

25 Jan 2021

UNSW develops a ceramic-based ink to 3D-print bone parts with living cells

3D printers may one day become a permanent fixture of the operating theatre after UNSW scientists showed they could print bone-like structures containing living cells.

25 Jan 2021

Pancreatic β cell-derived exosomal miR-29s manipulate glucose homeostasis

In a new study published in Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, Chen-Yu Zhang's group at Nanjing University, School of Life Sciences, and Antonio Vidal-Puig's group at University of Cambridge report that pancreatic β cells secrete miR-29 family members (miR-29s) via exosomes in response to high levels of free fatty acids (FFAs).

22 Jan 2021

Marine microalgae could be the solution to world's meat protein shortage

Marine microalgae-based cellular agriculture is a promising new way to sustainably produce plant-based 'meat' and healthy 'superfoods' for the future.

22 Jan 2021

Specific NSAIDs are metabolized by acyl-CoA synthetases leading to liver toxicity

Liver injury is a rare side effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are frequently used for daily pain control.

22 Jan 2021

Sloan Kettering Institute researchers offer a new answer to 100-year-old cancer mystery

The year 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of a fundamental discovery that's taught in every biochemistry textbook. In 1921, German physician Otto Warburg observed that cancer cells harvest energy from glucose sugar in a strangely inefficient manner: rather than "burn" it using oxygen, cancer cells do what yeast do -- they ferment it.

22 Jan 2021

Scientists discover mechanism for transient memory lapse

In a landmark neurobiology study, scientists from Scripps Research have discovered a memory gating system that employs the neurotransmitter dopamine to direct transient forgetting, a temporary lapse of memory which spontaneously returns.

21 Jan 2021

Researchers discover potent antifungal agent from attine ant farms

Attine ants are farmers, and they grow fungus as food. Pseudonocardia and Streptomyces bacteria are their farmhands, producing metabolites that protect the crop from pathogens.

20 Jan 2021

Biochemistry

New COVID-19 test uses a smartphone microscope to quickly analyze saliva samples

Scientists unravel how lipids distribute proteins within cells

Scientists engineer potent trivalent inhibitors of thrombin

Study finds surprising defensive functions of the immune system against new viral attacks

Common anticoagulant drug could be repurposed to help alleviate Covid-19 infections

Substances in tick saliva activate immune response-suppressing proteins in cattle

Novel method for identifying biomarkers may aid in early cancer diagnosis

Remdesivir disrupts SARS-CoV-2 more effectively than other similar drugs

G3BP proteins inhibit metabolic driver that plays a central role in cancers, neurological disorders

Scientists show how coconut oil is metabolized in the liver

Anchor proteins inhibit a key metabolic driver that plays critical role in cancer and neuronal diseases

World's first fully reversible manipulation of the circadian clock

New method can help identify potential anti-cancer drugs at a high pace

UNSW develops a ceramic-based ink to 3D-print bone parts with living cells

Pancreatic β cell-derived exosomal miR-29s manipulate glucose homeostasis

Marine microalgae could be the solution to world's meat protein shortage

Specific NSAIDs are metabolized by acyl-CoA synthetases leading to liver toxicity

Sloan Kettering Institute researchers offer a new answer to 100-year-old cancer mystery

Scientists discover mechanism for transient memory lapse

Researchers discover potent antifungal agent from attine ant farms

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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