Molecular & Structural Biology

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Cancer cells block T-cell activation, but new therapies restore immune defenses

Cancer cells impair monocyte-mediated T-cell activation by disrupting inflammatory pathways in the tumor microenvironment. Restoring balance through PGE2 inhibition and IFN-I enhancement could renew immune defenses and improve immunotherapy outcomes.

4 Dec 2024

New study sheds light on the molecular basis of gene expression

An international research collaboration has shed new light on the molecular basis of gene expression, the fundamental biological process that underpins how all organisms use their genetic information.

2 Dec 2024

Study challenges long-standing understanding of axon structure

Biology textbooks may need a revision, say Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists, who present new evidence that an armlike structure of mammalian brain cells may be a different shape than scientists have assumed for more than a century.

2 Dec 2024

Natural polyphenol boosts mitochondrial function and muscle performance during aging

Oleuropein enhances mitochondrial calcium uptake, reversing age-related declines in muscle function and energy metabolism, with promising clinical potential.

2 Dec 2024

New insights into how cells generate microRNAs

It's a big year for microRNAs. The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine went to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun, who discovered the first microRNA in 1993.

2 Dec 2024

Neural connectivity predicts deep brain stimulation success in essential tremor

Study unveils how specific cortico-thalamic connectivity patterns influence essential tremor suppression with deep brain stimulation (DBS). It highlights the contralateral thalamus as a pivotal driver of tremor modulation and potential pathways for enhanced intervention strategies.

1 Dec 2024

Fibroblastic reticular cells power immune defenses in lung cancer

Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) create T-cell-supportive niches within lung cancer tumors, facilitating T-cell migration, clustering, and activation. This study highlights FRCs' potential as therapeutic targets to boost anti-tumor immunity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

1 Dec 2024

Bacteria modify their ribosomes in response to the antibiotics

Bacteria modify their ribosomes when exposed to widely used antibiotics, according to research published today in Nature Communications. The subtle changes might be enough to alter the binding site of drug targets and constitute a possible new mechanism of antibiotic resistance.

29 Nov 2024

Scientists identify drug-resistant bone marrow cells linked to poor outcomes in fast-growing leukemia

Researchers explore treatment resistance and relapse in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

29 Nov 2024

Advanced microscopy reveals how ribosomes attach to mRNA for protein synthesis

Within a cell, DNA carries the genetic code for building proteins. To build proteins, the cell makes a copy of DNA, called mRNA.

28 Nov 2024

Depression increases chances of experiencing menstrual pain

Scientists investigate the genetic relationship between depression and dysmenorrhea.

27 Nov 2024

Unveiling INST10's role in neural development and cell identity

The Wistar Institute's Alessandro Gardini, Ph.D., and lab have shed new light on how certain biological processes determine the development of neural cells. Their findings on a molecular "bridge" complex demonstrate a new level of detail in the understanding of early neural development - which is fundamental for the further understanding of neurodevelopmental syndromes.

27 Nov 2024

Scientists develop method to study malaria's sticky proteins

Scientists have unveiled a new tool for studying the highly variable traits that allow malaria parasites to stick to red blood cells and evade the immune system.

26 Nov 2024

UChicago scientists develop a new approach to study snoRNAs

Dynamic, reversible modifications of DNA and RNA regulate how genes are expressed and transcribed, which can influence cellular processes, disease development, and overall organismal health.

23 Nov 2024

Advanced 3D brain models created to study memory and perception

The hippocampus is one of the most fascinating brain regions. Associated with the formation of memories, it also helps us to navigate through the world without getting lost.

22 Nov 2024

Study sheds light on how cells repair damaged DNA

New research from the Kind Group at the Hubrecht Institute sheds light on how cells repair damaged DNA. For the first time, the team has mapped the activity of repair proteins in individual human cells.

22 Nov 2024

New microscopy technique enables 3D RNA analysis in intact mouse brains

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital have developed a groundbreaking microscopy method that enables detailed three-dimensional (3D) RNA analysis at cellular resolution in whole intact mouse brains.

22 Nov 2024

Researchers develop efficient approach for designing custom proteins

Protein design aims to create customized antibodies for therapies, biosensors for diagnostics, or enzymes for chemical reactions.

22 Nov 2024

Mapping human biology: Human Cell Atlas leads a new era in precision medicine

The Human Cell Atlas project maps human cells to understand biology, address global health disparities, and advance personalized medicine through ethical and inclusive research practices.

21 Nov 2024

SCimilarity revolutionizes single-cell data analysis with rapid cross-tissue comparisons

Researchers developed SCimilarity, a groundbreaking metric-learning framework, to rapidly analyze and compare single-cell data across tissues, diseases, and experimental conditions. This tool enables scalable discovery of shared cellular states and biological insights across the Human Cell Atlas.

21 Nov 2024