Molecular & Structural Biology

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New findings challenge the decades-old working mechanism of the hearing organ

Researchers at Linköping University, Sweden, have made several discoveries on the functioning mechanisms of the inner hair cells of the ear, which convert sounds into nerve signals that are processed in the brain.

10 May 2021

Rice University neurobiologist wins NIH grant to study enteric nervous system development

Rice University neurobiologist Rosa Uribe will be hitting the books for her latest study of the digestive system, but some of the pages in her books are a billion years old.

10 May 2021

Researchers study how cancer cells re-organize 3D structure of DNA to ramp up oncogene activity

In cancer, a lot of biology goes awry: Genes mutate, molecular processes change dramatically, and cells proliferate uncontrollably to form entirely new tissues that we call tumors.

10 May 2021

Cognitive problems caused by repetitive and mild blows to the head could be treated, study suggests

A neurologic pathway by which non-damaging but high frequency brain impact blunts normal brain function and causes long-term problems with learning and memory has been identified.

10 May 2021

Researchers describe the key facet of sexual determination in mammalian models

Early in human development, during the first trimester of gestation, a fetus may have XX or XY chromosomes that indicate its sex. Yet at this stage a mass of cells known as the bipotential gonad that ultimately develops into either ovaries or testes has yet to commit to its final destiny.

7 May 2021

A single archaeal enzyme can produce a spectacular range of natural and non-natural cardiolipins

Cells of all life forms are surrounded by a membrane that is made of phospholipids. One of these are the cardiolipins, which form a separate class due to their unique structure.

7 May 2021

Study provides a better understanding of the complex interplay of ncRNAs with gene regulation

Researchers at the University of Eastern Finland have discovered previously unknown non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) involved in regulating the gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF), the master regulators of angiogenesis.

6 May 2021

Understanding body clock gene networks could help turn early birds into night owls or vice versa

How body clocks work could lead to science that can turn an early bird into a night owl or vice versa as well as other advances, like helping crops grow all year long.

4 May 2021

Increasing sodium and calcium levels in the bloodstream helps prevent deadly arrhythmias

Blood may seem like a simple fluid, but its chemistry is complex. When too much potassium, for instance, accumulates in the bloodstream, patients may experience deadly irregular heart rhythms.

4 May 2021

Too much salt affects the functioning of phagocytes

For many of us, adding salt to a meal is a perfectly normal thing to do. We don't really think about it. But actually, we should. As well as raising our blood pressure, too much salt can severely disrupt the energy balance in immune cells and stop them from working properly.

30 Apr 2021

Researchers identify important factor in the development of dendritic cells

The human immune system comprises functionally specialized cellular defense mechanisms that protect the body against disease. These include the dendritic cells.

30 Apr 2021

Researchers reveal how the brain may adapt to processing complex information

Human decision-making depends on the flexible processing of complex information, but how the brain may adapt processing to momentary task demands has remained unclear.

29 Apr 2021

Researchers try to simplify gene nomenclature across various organisms

Constantina Theofanopoulou wanted to study oxytocin. Her graduate work had focused on how the hormone influences human speech development, and now she was preparing to use those findings to investigate how songbirds learn to sing. The problem was that birds do not have oxytocin. Or so she was told.

29 Apr 2021

Researchers investigate how the brain's circadian rhythm control center regulates behavior

Our bodies and behaviors often seem to have rhythms of their own. Why do we go to the bathroom at the same time every day? Why do we feel off if we can't go to sleep at the right time? Circadian rhythms are a behind-the-scenes force that shape many of our behaviors and our health.

28 Apr 2021

Nanobodies may be the key to blocking tick-borne bacterial infection

Tiny molecules called nanobodies, which can be designed to mimic antibody structures and functions, may be the key to blocking a tick-borne bacterial infection that remains out of reach of almost all antibiotics, new research suggests.

28 Apr 2021

Researchers suggest new approach to build a 'nanopore' biosensor for detecting specific molecules

Researchers have spent more than three decades developing and studying miniature biosensors that can identify single molecules. In five to 10 years, when such devices may become a staple in doctors' offices, they could detect molecular markers for cancer and other diseases and assess the effectiveness of drug treatment to fight those illnesses.

28 Apr 2021

Novel platform has potential to detect many disease-related biomarkers in just one test

Most conventional molecular diagnostics usually detect only a single disease-related biomarker. Great examples are the PCR tests currently used to diagnose COVID-19 by detecting a specific sequence from SARS-CoV-2.

28 Apr 2021

Study reveals the role of lncRNAs in immune dysfunction during severe COVID-19

Scientific studies rarely focus on long non-coding RNA molecules (lncRNAs), even though they potentially regulate several diseases. The role of several lncRNAs in anti-viral inflammatory response regulation has recently been reported.

28 Apr 2021

Scientists gain atomic-level insight into behavior of a protein that promotes cancer growth

The neutron reflexometry method has given scientists an atomic-level insight into the behavior of Bcl-2, a protein that promotes cancerous cell growth. The new study was carried out by Umeå chemists in collaboration with the research facilities ESS and ISIS and is published in Nature Communications Biology.

28 Apr 2021

Scientists identify many genes that are important in fruit flies' neuron development

Neurons result from a highly complex and unique series of cell divisions. For example, in fruit flies, the process starts with stem cells that divide into mother cells (progenitor cells), that then divide into precursor cells that eventually become neurons.

27 Apr 2021

Molecular & Structural Biology

New findings challenge the decades-old working mechanism of the hearing organ

Rice University neurobiologist wins NIH grant to study enteric nervous system development

Researchers study how cancer cells re-organize 3D structure of DNA to ramp up oncogene activity

Cognitive problems caused by repetitive and mild blows to the head could be treated, study suggests

Researchers describe the key facet of sexual determination in mammalian models

A single archaeal enzyme can produce a spectacular range of natural and non-natural cardiolipins

Study provides a better understanding of the complex interplay of ncRNAs with gene regulation

Understanding body clock gene networks could help turn early birds into night owls or vice versa

Increasing sodium and calcium levels in the bloodstream helps prevent deadly arrhythmias

Too much salt affects the functioning of phagocytes

Researchers identify important factor in the development of dendritic cells

Researchers reveal how the brain may adapt to processing complex information

Researchers try to simplify gene nomenclature across various organisms

Researchers investigate how the brain's circadian rhythm control center regulates behavior

Nanobodies may be the key to blocking tick-borne bacterial infection

Researchers suggest new approach to build a 'nanopore' biosensor for detecting specific molecules

Novel platform has potential to detect many disease-related biomarkers in just one test

Study reveals the role of lncRNAs in immune dysfunction during severe COVID-19

Scientists gain atomic-level insight into behavior of a protein that promotes cancer growth

Scientists identify many genes that are important in fruit flies' neuron development

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Evolving spectrophotometry for modern biopharma workflows

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