Cell Biology

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New method illuminates intricate interactions of the synaptonemal complex in nematodes

We have two copies of each chromosome in every cell in our bodies except in our reproductive cells. Sperm and egg cells contain a single copy of each chromosome with a unique mix of genes from our parents, an evolutionary trick to give our offspring genetic variability.

3 Jan 2024

Cytonemes: The "express subways" of the developing nervous system

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists found that cytonemes (thin, long, hair-like projections on cells) are important during neural development.

3 Jan 2024

Scripps scientists develop powerful method to find drug targets in live cells

Identifying new ways to target proteins involved in human diseases is a priority for many researchers around the world.

2 Jan 2024

Understanding acylspermidines' secrets could lead to treatments for various diseases

In a significant advancement in the field of biochemistry, scientists at the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) and Cornell University have uncovered new insights into a family of metabolites, acylspermidines, that could change how we understand aging and fight diseases.

2 Jan 2024

Scientists take a major step towards realizing synthetic CO2 fixing pathways in living cells

Synthetic biology offers the opportunity to build biochemical pathways for the capture and conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2).

2 Jan 2024

Small molecule-switchable RNA platform enables control of therapeutic protein expression

Just like a doctor adjusts the dose of a medication to the patient's needs, the expression of therapeutic genes, those modified in a person to treat or cure a disease via gene therapy, also needs to be maintained within a therapeutic window.

2 Jan 2024

A protein identified as key player in keeping cells tidy

Just as healthy organs are vital to our well-being, healthy organelles are vital to the proper functioning of the cell.

2 Jan 2024

Mettl3 guides CD8 T cells to eliminate infected cells with maximum efficiency

This study is led by Dr. Shuyang Yu (College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University), Dr. Jingyu Xu (The Collaborative Innovation Center of Tissue Damage Repair and Regeneration Medicine of Zunyi Medical University) and Dr. Xuguang Du (College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University) and illustrated the key role of Mettl3 in CD8 T cell response during acute infection model.

29 Dec 2023

Common inflammation pathway turns anthrax toxin into killer

Bacillus anthracis lethal toxin (LT) is a determinant of lethal anthrax. Its function in myeloid cells is required for bacterial dissemination, and LT itself can directly trigger dysfunction of the cardiovascular system.

26 Dec 2023

Study identifies two stem cell types driving jellyfish tentacle growth

At about the size of a pinkie nail, the jellyfish species Cladonema can regenerate an amputated tentacle in two to three days -; but how? Regenerating functional tissue across species, including salamanders and insects, relies on the ability to form a blastema, a clump of undifferentiated cells that can repair damage and grow into the missing appendage.

25 Dec 2023

Study reveals how tiny tweaks to actin shape our cells

Tiny things matter – for instance, one amino acid can completely alter the architecture of the cell. Researchers at the Universities of Göttingen and Warwick investigated the structure and mechanics of the main component of the cytoskeleton of the cell: a protein known as actin.

22 Dec 2023

Boosting egg production in fruit flies through gut bugs

For many of us, when we think of microbiomes, our first thoughts are probably about the beneficial microorganisms that live in our guts.

22 Dec 2023

Monkey stem cells made easy: New method unveils xeno-free, efficient culture system

Non-human primates (NHPs) have a high degree of similarity to humans compared to other animal models.

22 Dec 2023

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

Shedding new light on the hidden organization of the cytoplasm

Back in 2018, the lab of Christine Mayr, MD, PhD, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) introduced the world to a key cellular component that had been hiding in plain sight.

21 Dec 2023

Basal spot junctions: A new player in epithelial adhesion and hippo signaling

Australian researchers have discovered a new way that epithelial cells, which form layers in organs like the skin and stomach, attach to one another, and how they perceive growth signals at these attachments, helping them form tissues of the right size and shape.

21 Dec 2023

Scientists develop a method for tracking cellular events over time in living organisms

While physicists continue to argue about whether time is indeed an illusion, as Albert Einstein claimed, biologists have no doubt about its significance for understanding life as a dynamic system.

21 Dec 2023

Scientists reprogram canine stem cells from urine

Dog owners may need to learn to appreciate their best friend's urine. Scientists at Osaka Metropolitan University have devised an efficient, non-invasive, and pain-free method to reprogram canine stem cells from urine samples, bringing furry companions one step closer to veterinary regenerative treatment.

21 Dec 2023

New tool organizes single-cell data for health discoveries

A new methodology that allows for the categorization and organisation of single-cell data has been launched. It can be used to create a harmonized dataset for the study of human health and disease.

21 Dec 2023

Deciphering how amino acids control cell growth and autophagy in yeast

Amino acids are the building blocks of life. We obtain them from the food we eat, and the body uses them to make proteins, which in turn are used for growth, development, and a multitude of other functions.

21 Dec 2023