Molecular & Structural Biology

RSS

Hidden protein linked to severe COVID-19 and lung disease risk

A genetic difference carried by nearly one in three people may increase the risk of severe COVID-19 and lung fibrosis by disrupting the function of a previously unknown protein, according to a new study.

24 Jun 2026

Scientists unlock molecular structure of key protein linked to cancer, neurological diseases

After nearly four decades of research, Mayo Clinic scientists have revealed the molecular structures of protein kinase C beta (PKCβ), a key protein linked to cancer and neurological diseases.

23 Jun 2026

MSU researchers develop tool to observe complex molecular choreography in real time

A lot of things need to go right on a molecular level for immune cells to launch an adaptive response to an infection.

23 Jun 2026

Scientists design artificial protein structures using advanced AI tools

An international research team led by a Korean scientist has succeeded in designing large-scale protein structures that faithfully replicate the self-assembly principles found in naturally occurring viruses, using artificial intelligence (AI).

18 Jun 2026

Synthetic biology platform unmasks hidden bacterial targets of bacteriophages

An interdisciplinary team of Rice University researchers has uncovered previously unknown relationships between bacteriophages - viruses that infect bacteria - and their bacterial hosts, offering a powerful new tool for next-generation microbiome engineering.

17 Jun 2026

New single-protein analysis technique provides unprecedented information on scramblases

A new single-protein analysis technique gives researchers an unprecedented ability to study proteins called scramblases, which have critical roles in biology.

16 Jun 2026

Structure of the Argonaute maturation complex guides RNA therapeutic design

RNA therapeutics have emerged as one of the most promising new classes of medicines. Eight small interfering RNA (siRNA) drugs have already been approved worldwide for the treatment of genetic diseases, yet scientists have not fully understood one of the most fundamental steps underlying their function: how Argonaute, the core protein responsible for gene silencing, becomes activated.

11 Jun 2026

Realistic cellular conditions revive previously dismissed drug candidates

A drug once dismissed as ineffective suddenly worked - when scientists tested it under more realistic conditions that mimic the human body.

9 Jun 2026

How Programmable Nanobiology Could Drive the Fifth Industrial Revolution

Professor Heddle's insights on nanobiology and AI highlight their potential to innovate drug delivery and vaccine development, addressing critical health needs.

9 Jun 2026

Tick protein discovery could help prevent disease transmission

Few creatures inspire as much universal dislike as ticks. Though small, these parasites have an enormous impact on human and animal health. Each year, ticks spread viruses and bacteria that infect people, livestock, wildlife and pets around the world.

29 May 2026

Structural insights reveal unique bacterial β-1,2-glucan transport system

Even though sugars are often framed as simple sources of energy, they also serve as structurally complex and functionally diverse molecules that mediate interactions between organisms.

29 May 2026

Cells detect and silence invading transposons through abnormal RNA signals

Transposons, DNA sequences that can self-replicate and move (jump) throughout the genome, are widespread and can affect cell survival if left unchecked. Cells control these "jumping genes" by silencing them, but little was known about how cells recognize and defend themselves from invading transposons.

26 May 2026

Small non-coding RNA molecule precisely controls vital gene expression and cellular balance

A rapidly advancing area of biomedical innovation is shining a spotlight on miR-128-3p, a small yet powerful molecule with the potential to reshape how diseases—especially cancer—are detected, monitored, and treated. This microRNA, part of a broader class of non-coding RNAs, plays a critical role in regulating gene activity and maintaining cellular homeostasis.

25 May 2026

Scientists visualize a key cell protein regulating inflammatory disease pathways

University of Cincinnati structural biologists are the first in the world to visualize a key cell protein as part of newly published research from the College of Medicine.

22 May 2026

AI-engineered p53 superproteins may reshape future cancer therapies

The Oncodarwinian Hypothesis (OdH) proposes a paradigm shift: cancer is not merely a disease but a potential macro‑immunoadaptive response – a self‑replicating algorithm that can be reprogrammed via AI‑based 3D printed p53 superproteins.

22 May 2026

AI-created miniproteins show promise for targeting hard-to-treat diseases

G protein-coupled receptors, or GPCRs, sit in the plasma membrane, the boundary that defines the inside and outside of a living cell. They communicate with nearly every physiological process in our bodies - from the ability to see and smell, to sensing of adrenaline, insulin, nutrients and medicines.

21 May 2026

MIDAS platform accelerates protein engineering through rapid PCR-based screening

Proteins are critical to life – and to industry. There are countless proteins that could be engineered to treat and even cure serious diseases and cellular dysfunctions.

19 May 2026

New technology reveals how RNA shapes influence protein production and stability

Researchers from A*STAR Genome Institute of Singapore (A*STAR GIS) have developed a new method, called 'sm-PORE-cupine', to study individual RNA molecules and reveal how their structures influence gene regulation, a fundamental process that affects how cells function in health and disease.

15 May 2026

A breakthrough molecular discovery could neutralize gluten and protect coeliac patients

A research project led by the Institute for Research in Nutrition and Food Safety (INSA) and the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences at the University of Barcelona, together with the Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB) of the CSIC (which stands for Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), has successfully designed and tested a gluten-degrading molecule that is a promising ally in the management of coeliac disease, an autoimmune disease whose symptoms are triggered by the consumption of gluten and other prolamins found in cereals.

14 May 2026

AI-based generative framework create all-atom models of proteins in motion

Many drug and antibody discovery pathways focus on intricately folded cell membrane proteins. When molecules of a drug candidate bind to these proteins, like a key going into a lock, they trigger chemical cascades that alter cellular behavior.

13 May 2026