Molecular & Structural Biology

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Researchers discover new regions of non-coding DNA that may lead to cancer growth

In an unprecedented pan-cancer analysis of whole genomes, researchers at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research have discovered new regions of non-coding DNA that, when altered, may lead to cancer growth and progression.

17 Jan 2020

Editor's Pick: Life Science Interviews from 2019

In this article, our editors look back at their favorite life science interviews from 2019.

17 Jan 2020

Molecular-level understanding of drug interactions could pave way for better malaria treatments

The process of crystallization is central to drug development, petrochemical processing and other industrial actions, but scientists say they still are learning about the complex interactions involved in the building and dissolution of crystals.

16 Jan 2020

Cell adhesion essential for cells to survive stress

Cell-to-cell contacts are necessary for the survival of human cells under protein-damaging conditions and stress.

16 Jan 2020

Research shows how the body tries to eliminate egg cells of poorest quality

A woman's supply of eggs is finite, so it is crucial that the quality of their genetic material is ensured. New work from Carnegie's Marla Tharp, Safia Malki, and Alex Bortvin elucidates a mechanism by which, even before birth, the body tries to eliminate egg cells of the poorest quality.

16 Jan 2020

Study shows how extracellular vesicles help melanoma cells to spread

A new study from Finland sheds fresh light on how melanoma cells interact with other cells via extracellular vesicles they secrete.

16 Jan 2020

MDI Biological Laboratory will use African turquoise killifish model to study aging

The study of therapies and interventions to expand healthy human lifespan has been limited by a lack of animal models: traditional vertebrate models such as the mouse live too long to get rapid results, while the most popular model, a roundworm called C.elegans that lives for only three weeks, is rungs away from humans on the evolutionary ladder.

16 Jan 2020

Applying Optical Filters to Neuroscience

News-Medical speak to Sarah Locknar, Ph.D, about how optical filters are being used to improve microscopic analysis within the field of neuroscience.

From Omega Optical, Inc. 16 Jan 2020

Unique tool to democratize entry into the field of nanopore research

A nanopore is a tiny hole in a thin membrane with a diameter of around a billionth of a meter, or about the width of a single DNA molecule.

14 Jan 2020

Princeton researchers uncover vital role played by a protein elevated in many cancers

Researchers at Princeton University have successfully recreated a key process involved in cell division in a test tube, uncovering the vital role played by a protein that is elevated in over 25% of all cancers.

14 Jan 2020

New tool could speed up neuroscience research into pheromones

Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute have developed a tool to identify molecular receptors in worms that are involved in sensing pheromones related to mating, an advance that could speed up neuroscience research into pheromones by eliminating months of work.

14 Jan 2020

Study shows how cancer-causing genes promote metastasis

Cancer-promoting genes MYC and TWIST1 co-opt immune system cells to enable cancer cells to spread, but blocking a key step in this process can help prevent the disease from developing.

14 Jan 2020

How SpatialOMx is Delivering New Insights into Disease Research

An interview with Shannon Cornett Ph.D, discussing the use of MALDI-guided spatial molecular analysis for biomarker discovery.

From Bruker Life Sciences Mass Spectrometry 14 Jan 2020

New study sheds light on storage and retrieval of hardwired long-term memory

Storing and retrieving memories is among the most important tasks our intricate brains must perform, yet how that happens at a molecular level remains incompletely understood.

13 Jan 2020

Scientists gain insights into structure and interactions of EGF receptors

Whether a cell grows, divides or dies is controlled among other things by receptors that messenger substances bind to externally.

13 Jan 2020

Researchers discover new cellular player involved in obesity

The prevalence of obesity, a disease considered a serious public health problem, is increasing globally. In Portugal, almost half of the population is overweight and close to one million adults suffer from obesity.

11 Jan 2020

New molecular probe senses the state of proteome in live cells

The folding state of the proteins in live cells often reflect the cell’s general health. Australian scientists have developed a molecular probe that senses the state of the proteome—the entire set of the proteins—by measuring the polarity of the protein environment.

10 Jan 2020

Missing a key protein in the brain can cause autism-like behaviors

Scientists at Rutgers University-Newark have discovered that when a key protein needed to generate new brain cells during prenatal and early childhood development is missing, part of the brain goes haywire - causing an imbalance in its circuitry that can lead to long-term cognitive and movement behaviors characteristic of autism spectrum disorder.

9 Jan 2020

Insect leaf-wounding produces healthier organic fruit

Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists found benefits of insect leaf-wounding in fruit and vegetable production. Stress responses created in the fruits and vegetables initiated an increase in antioxidant compounds prior to harvest, making them healthier for human consumption.

9 Jan 2020

Research reveals cardiac thin filament structure and function

Researchers at Osaka University used electron cryomicroscopy to image essential cardiac muscle components, known as thin filaments, with unprecedented resolution.

9 Jan 2020