Life Science Articles

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Biophotonics in Tissue Biology

Biophotonics is a developing multidisciplinary field which uses light-based techniques to detect and visualize the microscopic structure of tissues.

10 Jan 2018

Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) systems

The yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) approach is used to determine protein–protein interactions. Variations allow a broad range of genetic applications.

8 Jan 2018

Types of Scanning Probe Microscopy

There are several types of scanning probe microscopes; the most prominent are atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM).

9 Jan 2018

Validating Biomarkers in Targeted Metabolomics

Recently, metabolic profiling has attracted interest for the validation of biomarkers which can be used to discover the underlying mechanism of a disease.

8 Jan 2018

RNAi Evolution

RNAi is a cellular mechanism that can be used in plants, animals and humans expressing unwanted gene products, to prevent the development of disease.

8 Jan 2018

The cAMP signaling pathway

cAMP is a vital second messenger in several signaling pathways. Interrupting the cAMP signaling pathway can aid the treatment of various human diseases.

5 Jan 2018

Genetic Studies with S. cerevisiae and Mitotic Insights

Budding yeast are used extensively in genetics. Cdc28 in S. cerevisiae and cdc2 in S. pombe continue to provide useful insights into mitosis.

4 Jan 2018

Knockout Mouse Project to Identify Gene Functions in vivo

The knockout mouse project (KOMP) will provide cumulative information about the genome of mouse knockouts for the generation of a repository.

4 Jan 2018

Label-free Protein Microarray Techniques

Advances in material science combined with nanofabrication and computational design have led to the discovery of label-free protein microarray techniques. These techniques are of enormous benefit for protein profiling, biomarker screening, drug discovery, drug target identification, and for our knowledge of signaling pathways in disease.

3 Jan 2018

Limitations of TEM

A significant technology, Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has found its way into cell biology since 1940. When compared with light microscopes, TEM can achieve a very high resolution due to the shorter wavelength of the electron beam it uses. This feature enables TEM to visualize the structure of the cells such as membrane systems, cilia, organelles and its complexity. Regardless of the advantages, TEM has its own limitations.

3 Jan 2018

MPSS and SAGE Comparison

Gene expression analysis is a study of the relative frequency of expression of individual genes in a sample. Genes are encoded in DNA, transcribed to RNA, and translated to protein. Messenger RNAs, or mRNAs, are the intermediate step between the gene and the protein. The level of mRNA in a sample indicates the level of gene expression. The more mRNAs, the higher the level of expression.

22 Dec 2017

Prevention and treatment of endometrial hyperplasia

Endometrial hyperplasia (EH) is a condition in which the uterine lining is thicker than normal. It may have many causes, but the most important association is with endometrial malignancy. For this reason, it is mandatory to distinguish between different types of EH, namely, those which are benign and those which are precancerous.

22 Dec 2017

Methods for Profiling N6-methyladenosine

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most commonly known RNA modification, and the methylation of adenosine at the nitrogen 6 position, which causes this. It is especially found in abundance in mRNA of eukaryotes and in tRNA, rRNA, snRNA, etc. A few studies have demonstrated

22 Dec 2017

Life Science Applications of Countercurrent Chromatography

Developments in spectroscopic analysis and routine availability of X-ray crystallography have simplified structural elucidation of natural compounds. However, isolating bioactive components of interest from crude extracts of either plants or animals has always been challenging for two reasons: these extracts contain hundreds of compounds with a range of polarities, and the bioactivity of the compound of interest should be maintained throughout the purification process. This is where countercurrent chromatography (CCC) is helpful.

21 Dec 2017

Optimizing Protein Purification with FPLC

Fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) is a liquid chromatography technique for separation of protein molecules under pressure. It differs from high performance liquid chromatography in that the pressures are generally lower, around 435 to 580 psi, compared to 3000-to 5000 psi for an HPLC system.

20 Dec 2017

Two-Photon Microscopy

Two-photon microscopy (also known as two-photon fluorescence light microscopy) was invented in 1990 as a new method of imaging live cells and tissues in three-dimensions. Conventional fluorescence microscopy illuminates a specimen through the processes of excitation and emission.

19 Dec 2017

Two-Photon Microscopy Applications

Two-photon microscopy is a method that enables the imaging of live cell and tissue samples with high resolution. It is a form of fluorescence microscopy and provides visualization of fluorescent signals via an excitation wavelength being absorbed by a fluorophore and an emission wavelength released.

18 Dec 2017

Protein Microarray Challenges

A protein microarray consists of the immobilization of proteins in organized rows and columns upon a support structure. The structure of the protein microarray allows for high-throughput analysis of protein functions and interactions.

18 Dec 2017

Protein Microarray Applications

Protein microarrays are used to determine the function of proteins, as well as to monitor their interactions. The structure of the array allows for numerous proteins to be tracked in parallel. Protein microarrays were developed by utilizing the technology of DNA microarrays, which are commonly used to analyze gene expression.

15 Dec 2017

How Do Microarrays Work?

A microarray is a two-dimensional arrangement of biological samples allowing for high-throughput analysis of genetic information. DNA microarrays are commonly used to genotype multiple regions of a genome or to generate lists of expressed genes from a cell.

15 Dec 2017