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Super-Resolution Fluorescence Microscopy

Super-resolution (SR) fluorescence microscopy encompasses a variety of techniques that can exceed the diffraction limit – the point at which molecular nanostructures can be distinguished from one another.

13 Aug 2018

What is an Enzyme Cofactor?

In living organisms, there are many chemical reactions taking place. These reactions have many different functions, including breaking down the food we eat and getting energy from the broken down food. To facilitate this, there are a group of proteins known as enzymes.

12 Aug 2018

What is Biocatalysis?

Biocatalysis is “the use of natural substances to speed up (catalyze) chemical reactions”. In most cases, a group of proteins called enzymes will be carrying out the catalysis, but a combination of enzymes as well as cells can be used.

12 Aug 2018

Applications of Adipo-Clear

Humans have three types of fat cells – white, beige and brown – that work in concert to maintain, store, and use energy.

6 Aug 2018

Moisture Analysis Techniques

Many industries, including the food, chemical, and pharmaceutical product industries, depend heavily on exact knowledge of the moisture content of their products as part of quality control. Such measurements need to be rapid and reproducible in order to allow for immediate correction of the workflow if any flaw appears in the final product.

6 Aug 2018

Cell-to-Cell Communication in Fungi

To communicate with its neighbors, animal cells use gap junctions which are symplasmic connections through which molecules can diffuse from one cell to another.

3 Aug 2018

Missing Self Hypothesis for Natural Killer Cells

Natural killer cells are an integral part of the human immune system, representing the front line of defence against tumor-forming cells and pathogens. These cells utilise several different methods to differentiate between abnormal cells and the host’s own cells, and are coordinated by biochemical signals derived from the activation of their own cell-surface receptors.

3 Aug 2018

Bioactive Microbial Metabolites

Bioactivity or biological activity of the metabolite may be in vitro, in vivo, or at the level of whole organism.

2 Aug 2018

Nucleic Acid Labeling Applications

Nucleic acids may be labeled at their 3’ end, 5’ end, or throughout the molecule, depending on the desired application. Myriad of enzymatic or chemical methods are utilized to generate nucleic acids labeled with enzymes, radioactive phosphates, or fluorophores.

2 Aug 2018

Sources of Mycoplasma in Cell Culture

Cell culture is a commonly used method to study cells when in vivo study is not possible. It involves growing cells outside of the body of an animal, in controlled settings.

2 Aug 2018

Mycoplasma Detection and Prevention in Cell Cultures

Mycoplasmas are small, hard to detect bacteria that can infect cell cultures. Contamination can be kept to a minimum by following these steps.

2 Aug 2018

Nanocarriers for Drug Delivery

Nanocarriers are nanoparticles that carry medicinal drugs to targeted sites in the body, whilst minimizing damage to the surrounding tissue.

2 Aug 2018

Cell Metabolism Assays

Many different assays are used to detect and measure cellular metabolism, depending on the metabolite being investigated.

1 Aug 2018

Antibody-Dependent Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity (ADCC)

ADCC is the killing of a target cell which is coated with antibodies by an effector cell of the immune system. It is also referred to as the kiss of death.

1 Aug 2018

Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) Microscopy

Stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy is a super-resolution fluorescence microscopy technique which can overcome the diffraction limit.

1 Aug 2018

Macropinocytosis Pathway

Endocytosis is the process by which cells take in molecules from their surroundings. Clathrin-dependent endocytosis requires the recruitment of clathrin to help curve the plasma membrane into the vesicle which absorbs the molecules. More recently, it was discovered that other, non-clathrin-dependent pathways existed. Macropinocytosis is one such pathway, creating larger vesicles without the use of clathrin.

1 Aug 2018