Biochemistry

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Study explores microglial response to chronic hyponatremia and rapid sodium correction

Low serum sodium concentrations in blood are called hyponatremia, a prevalent clinical electrolyte disorder.

18 Sep 2024

A novel approach to biomolecule engineering

Thanks to a serendipitous discovery and a lot of painstaking work, scientists can now build biohybrid molecules that combine the homing powers of DNA with the broad functional repertoire of proteins - without having to synthesize them one by one, researchers report in a new study. Using a naturally occurring process, laboratories can harness the existing molecule-building capacities of bacteria to generate vast libraries of potentially therapeutic DNA-protein hybrid molecules.

18 Sep 2024

Key enzyme identified as potential target for cancer treatment

During every moment of any living organism's life, enzymes are at work. These crucial proteins support life through most biological processes, including metabolism, movement, respiration, and digestion.

14 Sep 2024

Biological condensates affect cellular behavior on a global scale

Most biological chemistry research has historically focused on the obvious cogs of machinery that keep life moving. Folding proteins, genetic activity and electrical signaling pathways are the easiest targets for finding irregularities that lead to disease.

13 Sep 2024

New chemical modification reduces off-target effects in siRNA drugs

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) drugs are a class of therapeutic agents that silence specific genes associated with inherited diseases.

9 Sep 2024

Fish gut bacteria may provide new ingredients for skincare

There are some pretty strange ingredients in cosmetics and skin care products. One example is snail mucin - also known as snail slime - which is used for its moisturizing and antioxidant properties.

5 Sep 2024

New method revolutionizes DNA-encoded chemical libraries

Nowadays, there's lots of buzz about spectacular new medical treatments such as personalised cancer therapy with modified immune cells or antibodies.

2 Sep 2024

Innovative nickel tool enhances organic chemical reactions for drug creation

The invention of a tool capable of unlocking previously impossible organic chemical reactions has opened new pathways in the pharmaceutical industry to create effective drugs more quickly.

30 Aug 2024

Study reveals neural processes behind morphine's pain relief

In a study published in Science, researchers at Karolinska Institutet describe the neural processes behind how morphine relieves pain. This is valuable knowledge because the drug has such serious side effects.

29 Aug 2024

Nucleic acids in food show potential to inhibit cancer cell growth

When people eat, they ingest the nucleic acids that reside in all living things. The compounds in these acids could inhibit the growth of cancer cells, according to findings published in PLOS ONE by Osaka Metropolitan University Associate Professor Akiko Kojima-Yuasa of the Graduate School of Human Life and Ecology and colleagues.

29 Aug 2024

Researchers uncover magnesium’s crucial role in cellular energy production

An international research team led by Umeå professor Magnus Wolf-Watz has discovered how the magnesium atom directs the chemistry that catalyzes the production of the energy molecule ATP in a cell. ATP is a vital driving force in the cell.

29 Aug 2024

Innovative berry-based skin spray targets hospital-acquired bacteria

VTT has developed a skin spray, based on nanocellulose and antimicrobial compounds from wild berries, which can be used to treat wounds and eliminate hospital-acquired bacteria such as MRSA before surgery.

28 Aug 2024

Marine snail venom may inspire new diabetes and hormone disorder treatments

Scientists are finding clues for how to treat diabetes and hormone disorders in an unexpected place: a toxin from one of the most venomous animals on the planet.

20 Aug 2024

Researchers develop plant-based instant golden milk with enhanced shelf life

If you've visited a trendy café in the past few years, you might have noticed "golden" turmeric milk on the menu.

18 Aug 2024

Researchers use XAI to unlock secrets of drug discovery

Artificial intelligence (AI) has exploded in popularity. It powers models that help us drive vehicles, proofread emails and even design new molecules for medications.

18 Aug 2024

Uncovering the mechanisms behind bacterial cell shape and potential antibiotic targets

In what they labeled a "surprising" finding, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers studying bacteria from freshwater lakes and soil say they have determined a protein's essential role in maintaining the germ's shape.

16 Aug 2024

Breakthrough in the synthesis of fungal bioactive compounds for therapeutic applications

The natural world is rich in chemical compounds with remarkable medicinal properties. A notable example is penicillin, discovered by chance from the Penicillium mold.

9 Aug 2024

Controllable chiral switching in double-helical foldamers for advanced molecular systems

The deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA, the molecular system that carries the genetic information of living organisms, can transcribe and amplify information using its two helical strands.

9 Aug 2024

Rapid, noninvasive tool tracks neurons and biomolecules activated in the brain by psychedelic drugs

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed a rapid, noninvasive tool to track the neurons and biomolecules activated in the brain by psychedelic drugs.

5 Aug 2024

New dual-purpose contrast agent revolutionizes PET and MRI integration for enhanced diagnosis

A research team from IOCB Prague, working in collaboration with the University of Tübingen, Germany, and the Faculty of Science, Charles University, has developed a new type of contrast agent that can be used in both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET).

5 Aug 2024