Biochemistry

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Researchers discover protein crucial to T cell metabolism and anti-tumor immune response

Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered that a protein called NF-kappa B-inducing kinase (NIK) is essential for the shift in metabolic activity that occurs with T cell activation, making it a critical factor in regulating the anti-tumor immune response.

4 Jan 2021

Few organisms in the gut microbiome found to play a key role in type 2 diabetes

Researchers at Oregon State University have found that a few organisms in the gut microbiome play a key role in type 2 diabetes, opening the door to possible probiotic treatments for a serious metabolic disease affecting roughly one in 10 Americans.

4 Jan 2021

Protein employs twist‐and‐squeeze mechanism to expel chemotherapeutics from cancer cells

In 1986, cellular biochemist Kazumitsu Ueda, currently at Kyoto University's Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences, discovered that a protein called ABCB1 could transport multiple chemotherapeutics out of some cancer cells, making them resistant to treatment. How it did this has remained a mystery for the past 35 years.

29 Dec 2020

Toxic pesticide turned into treatment against antibiotic-resistant bacteria

N-Aryl-C-nitroazoles are an important class of heterocyclic compounds. They are used as pesticides and fungicides. However, these substances could be toxic to humans and cause mutations.

29 Dec 2020

Large transporter protein dysfunction associated with schizophrenia

Scientists have suspected mutations in a cellular cholesterol transport protein are associated with psychiatric disorders, but have found it difficult to prove this and to pinpoint how it happens.

29 Dec 2020

Researchers develop new drug discovery method targeting membrane proteins on live cells

A research team led by Dr Xiaoyu LI from the Research Division for Chemistry, Faculty of Science, in collaboration with Professor Yizhou LI from School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University and Professor Yan CAO from School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University in Shanghai has developed a new drug discovery method targeting membrane proteins on live cells.

28 Dec 2020

A handy reference on pollution

Pollution is one among the serious cases which needs to be taken care of. Pollution is broadly classified as air, land, water and earth pollution.

28 Dec 2020

New device for investigating intrinsic extracellular pH dynamics in the brain

Researchers at Tohoku University have developed the first all-in-one miniature pH probe for real-time investigations of intrinsic extracellular pH dynamics in the deep brain structures.

24 Dec 2020

New drug starves cancer cells by attacking mitochondria

A newly developed compound starves cancer cells by attacking their "power plants" - the so-called mitochondria.

22 Dec 2020

New drug combination improves blood glucose control and weight loss in mice

Scientists have shown that adding an experimental cancer drug to a widely used diabetes treatment improves blood glucose control and weight loss in mice, according to a study published today in eLife.

22 Dec 2020

Discovery reveals new type of brain cell sensitive to distance and direction of objects

The existence of GPS-like brain cells, which can store maps of the places we've been, like our kitchen or holiday destination, was already widely known, but this discovery shows there is also a type of brain cell sensitive to the distance and direction of objects that can store their locations on these maps.

21 Dec 2020

A full blood count can better predict the course of COVID-19

International research led by the Radboud university medical center shows that a full blood count of COVID-19 patients predicts fairly accurately whether the infection will have a complicated course or not. This makes it easier for healthcare providers to estimate the expected clinical picture.

21 Dec 2020

New understanding of physical properties of chromatin may show how genome is encoded and decoded

University of Alberta researchers have found an answer to a fundamental question in genomic biology that has eluded scientists since the discovery of DNA: Within the nucleus of our cells, is the complex package of DNA and proteins called chromatin a solid or a liquid?

20 Dec 2020

Novel amorphous nanoparticles can efficiently and selectively kill cancer cells

LMU researchers have developed a novel type of nanoparticle that efficiently and selectively kills cancer cells, thus opening up new therapeutic options for the treatment of tumors.

18 Dec 2020

Research at Advanced Photon Source laid the groundwork for effective COVID-19 vaccines

There is light at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic tunnel. Several vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 are now in clinical trials, with one -- developed by Pfizer/BioNTech -- already having been approved for emergency use in the United States.

18 Dec 2020

Anti-hypertension drug may be key to extending lifespan, shows study

A stress response of mitochondria, the part of our cells that produce energy to power bodily functions, is important to a longer life.

18 Dec 2020

New technology tested for removing, destroying hazardous chemicals from soil and groundwater

University of Rhode Island hydrogeologist Thomas Boving and colleagues at EnChem Engineering Inc. are testing a proprietary new technology for quickly removing and destroying hazardous chemical compounds from soil and groundwater.

17 Dec 2020

Research suggests a novel mechanism for modulating emotional behavior

Research led by Si-Qiong June Liu, MD, PhD, Professor of Cell Biology and Anatomy at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, discovered a surprising reciprocal interaction between chemicals in the brain resulting in accelerated loss of molecules that regulate brain cell communication.

17 Dec 2020

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound combined with microbubbles might enhance chemotherapy delivery

Application of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound in combination with microbubbles might enhance the delivery of chemotherapy medication used for treating cancers.

17 Dec 2020

Mother's diet while breastfeeding can shape the profile of human milk oligosaccharides

Research has shown that human milk is the optimal nutrition source for neonates and infants. It confers protection against both immediately life-threatening infant diseases such as necrotizing enterocolitis, as well as later onset diseases in adults, like obesity, diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease.

16 Dec 2020

Biochemistry

Researchers discover protein crucial to T cell metabolism and anti-tumor immune response

Few organisms in the gut microbiome found to play a key role in type 2 diabetes

Protein employs twist‐and‐squeeze mechanism to expel chemotherapeutics from cancer cells

Toxic pesticide turned into treatment against antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Large transporter protein dysfunction associated with schizophrenia

Researchers develop new drug discovery method targeting membrane proteins on live cells

A handy reference on pollution

New device for investigating intrinsic extracellular pH dynamics in the brain

New drug starves cancer cells by attacking mitochondria

New drug combination improves blood glucose control and weight loss in mice

Discovery reveals new type of brain cell sensitive to distance and direction of objects

A full blood count can better predict the course of COVID-19

New understanding of physical properties of chromatin may show how genome is encoded and decoded

Novel amorphous nanoparticles can efficiently and selectively kill cancer cells

Research at Advanced Photon Source laid the groundwork for effective COVID-19 vaccines

Anti-hypertension drug may be key to extending lifespan, shows study

New technology tested for removing, destroying hazardous chemicals from soil and groundwater

Research suggests a novel mechanism for modulating emotional behavior

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound combined with microbubbles might enhance chemotherapy delivery

Mother's diet while breastfeeding can shape the profile of human milk oligosaccharides

Real-time Raman monitoring for pharmaceutical hot melt extrusion

Synthetic Psychedelics: A Growing Public Health Concern

How the Vutara VXL simplifies single-molecule imaging

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