Scientists determine how antibody recognizes key sugars on HIV surface HIV is coated in sugars that usually hide the virus from the immune system. Newly published research reveals how one broadly neutralizing HIV antibody actually uses part of the sugary cloak to help bind to the virus.
Biochemistry Source: NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
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Thursday, Nov 24, 2011, 8:45am Rating: | Views: 1673 | Comments: 0
Scripps Research team finds a weak spot on deadly ebolavirus Scientists from The Scripps Research Institute and the US Army's Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases have isolated and analyzed an antibody that neutralizes Sudan virus, a major species of ebolavirus and one of the most dangerous human pathogens.
Biochemistry Source: Scripps Research Institute
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Monday, Nov 21, 2011, 4:00pm Rating: | Views: 1197 | Comments: 0
Enzymatic synthesis of pyrrolysine, the mysterious 22nd amino acid With few exceptions, all known proteins are built up from only twenty amino acids. 25 years ago scientists discovered a 21st amino acid, selenocysteine and ten years ago a 22nd, the pyrrolysine. However, how the cell produces the unusual building block remained a mystery.
Biochemistry Source: Technische Universitaet Muenchen
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Monday, Nov 21, 2011, 11:45am Rating: | Views: 1677 | Comments: 0
Research cracks puzzle of enzyme critical to food supply If we could make plant food from nitrogen the way nature does, we'd have a much greener method for manufacturing fertilizer – a process that requires such high temperatures and pressures that it consumes about 1.5 percent of the world's energy.
Biochemistry Source: DOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
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Friday, Nov 18, 2011, 11:00am Rating: | Views: 1140 | Comments: 0
Team solves a protein complex's molecular structure to explain its role in gene silencing A cell's genome maintains its integrity by organizing some of its regions into a super-compressed form of DNA called heterochromatin. In the comparatively simple organism fission yeast, a cellular phenomenon known as RNA interference (RNAi) plays an essential role in assembling heterochromatin, which keeps the compressed DNA in an inactive or "silent" state. Central to t
Biochemistry Source: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
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Monday, Nov 14, 2011, 8:30am Rating: | Views: 1202 | Comments: 0
Shoe strings and egg openers Photosynthesis is one of the most important biological processes. However, it is less efficient in plants than it could be. Red algae, in contrast, use a slightly different mechanism and are thus more productive. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB) in Martinsried near Munich, Germany, have now identified a so far unknown helper protein for photosynthesis in red algae.
Biochemistry Source: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
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Wednesday, Nov 09, 2011, 8:30am Rating: | Views: 1132 | Comments: 0
Molecule serves as a key in some protein interactions Research led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists has identified an unexpected mechanism facilitating some protein interactions that are the workhorses of cells and, in the process, identified a potential new cancer drug development target.
Biochemistry Source: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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Friday, Nov 04, 2011, 4:30pm Rating: | Views: 1280 | Comments: 0
So many proteins, so much promise The human genome has been mapped. Now, it's on to proteins, a much more daunting task. There are 20,300 genes, but there are millions of distinct protein molecules in our bodies. Many of these hold keys to understanding disease and targeting treatment.
Biochemistry Source: Northwestern University
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Monday, Oct 31, 2011, 11:15am Rating: | Views: 1181 | Comments: 0
Building better HIV antibodies Using highly potent antibodies isolated from HIV-positive people, researchers have recently begun to identify ways to broadly neutralize the many possible subtypes of HIV. Now, a team led by biologists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has built upon one of these naturally occurring antibodies to create a stronger version they believe is a better candidate for cl
Biochemistry Source: California Institute of Technology
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Thursday, Oct 27, 2011, 5:00pm Rating: | Views: 1280 | Comments: 0
Biochemistry Source: Brandeis University
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Monday, Oct 24, 2011, 12:00pm Rating: | Views: 1258 | Comments: 0
Plants feel the force "Picture yourself hiking through the woods or walking across a lawn," says Elizabeth Haswell, PhD, assistant professor of biology in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. "Now ask yourself: Do the bushes know that someone is brushing past them? Does the grass know that it is being crushed underfoot? Of course, plants don't think thoughts, but they do respond to being touched in a
Biochemistry Source: Washington University in St. Louis
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Friday, Oct 21, 2011, 4:15pm Rating: | Views: 2963 | Comments: 0
Intruder detected: Raise the alarm! When a thief breaks into a bank vault, sensors are activated and the alarm is raised. Cells have their own early-warning system for intruders, and scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Grenoble, France, have discovered how a particular protein sounds that alarm when it detects invading viruses. The study, published today in Cell, is a key development in our under
Biochemistry Source: European Molecular Biology Laboratory
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Friday, Oct 14, 2011, 2:45pm Rating: | Views: 1268 | Comments: 0
Scientists reveal surprising picture of how powerful antibody neutralizes HIV Researchers at The Scripps Research Institute have uncovered the surprising details of how a powerful anti-HIV antibody grabs hold of the virus. The findings, published in Science Express on October 13, 2011, highlight a major vulnerability of HIV and suggest a new target for vaccine development.
Biochemistry Source: Scripps Research Institute
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Friday, Oct 14, 2011, 10:30am Rating: | Views: 1162 | Comments: 0
New equation predicts molecular forces in hydrophobic interactions The physical model to describe the hydrophobic interactions of molecules has been a mystery that has challenged scientists and engineers since the 19th century. Hydrophobic interactions are central to explaining why oil and water don't mix, how proteins are structured, and what holds biological membranes together. Chemical engineering researchers at UC Santa Barbara have
Biochemistry Source: University of California - Santa Barbara
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Wednesday, Oct 12, 2011, 10:15am Rating: | Views: 1301 | Comments: 0
Study of cox-2 inhibitors could lead to new class of stroke drugs A study, in mice, by investigators at the Stanford University School of Medicine points toward potential new therapies for stroke, the nation's third-leading cause of death and foremost single cause of severe neurological disability. The study, which will be published online Oct. 3 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, also may reveal why a much-heralded class of bloc
Biochemistry Source: Stanford University Medical Center
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Monday, Oct 03, 2011, 12:30pm Rating: | Views: 1643 | Comments: 0
Vital protein complex and therapeutic possibilities revealed Three international teams of scientists, led by researchers at the University of California San Diego, University of Michigan and Stanford University, have published a trio of papers describing in unprecedented detail the structure and workings of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), a large family of human proteins that are the target of one-third to one-half of modern drugs.
Biochemistry Source: University of California - San Diego
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Wednesday, Sep 28, 2011, 4:15pm Rating: | Views: 1191 | Comments: 0
All-access genome: New study explores packaging of DNA While efforts to unlock the subtleties of DNA have produced remarkable insights into the code of life, researchers still grapple with fundamental questions. For example, the underlying mechanisms by which human genes are turned on and off—generating essential proteins, determining our physical traits, and sometimes causing disease—remain poorly understood.
Biochemistry Source: Arizona State University
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Friday, Sep 23, 2011, 12:00pm Rating: | Views: 1182 | Comments: 0
Video: Close up look at a microbial vaccination program A complex of proteins in the bacterium E.coli that plays a critical role in defending the microbe from viruses and other invaders has been discovered to have the shape of a seahorse by researchers with the U.S Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). This discovery holds far more implications for your own health than you might think.
Biochemistry Source: DOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
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Thursday, Sep 22, 2011, 1:15pm Rating: | Views: 1278 | Comments: 0
Water acts as an 'adhesive' in biological enzyme substrate compounds In biologically active enzyme substrate compounds, as can be found in medicines, water plays a more decisive role than has been imagined up to now. The surrounding water acts like an "adhesive", in order to keep the substrate at the right place on an enzyme. For this, the dynamism of the water is retarded. Scientists at the RUB under Prof. Dr. Martina Havenith (Physical Chemistry) in close coopera
Gamers succeed where scientists fail Gamers have solved the structure of a retrovirus enzyme whose configuration had stumped scientists for more than a decade. The gamers achieved their discovery by playing Foldit, an online game that allows players to collaborate and compete in predicting the structure of protein molecules.
Biochemistry Source: University of Washington
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Monday, Sep 19, 2011, 10:15am Rating: | Views: 8020 | Comments: 0
Biochemistry Source: Cornell University
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Monday, Sep 19, 2011, 10:00am Rating: | Views: 1211 | Comments: 0
Lack of protein FKBP51 in old mice improves resilience to depressive behavior Decreasing expression of a protein associated with susceptibility to depression made old mice resistant to depressive-like behavior while improving their hormonal response to stress, a study led by researchers at the University of South Florida found. The lack of this protein, FKBP51, did not adversely affect their memory, learning, or basic motor functions.
Biochemistry Source: University of South Florida (USF Health)
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Friday, Sep 16, 2011, 9:01am Rating: | Views: 1126 | Comments: 0
Biochemical cell signals quantified for first time Just as cell phones and computers transmit data through electronic networks, the cells of your body send and receive chemical messages through molecular pathways. The term "cell signaling" was coined more than 30 years ago to describe this process.
Biochemistry Source: Emory University
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Thursday, Sep 15, 2011, 6:22pm Rating: | Views: 1148 | Comments: 0
Protein discovered may suppress breast cancer growth Research led by Dr. Suresh Alahari, the Fred Brazda Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans and its Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, has found that a protein discovered by his laboratory can inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells.
Cancer Source: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
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Wednesday, Sep 14, 2011, 6:40pm Rating: | Views: 1322 | Comments: 0
Screen finds an antidepressant and other drugs have effects against prion infections In a new study NYU School of Medicine researchers report that they have found several chemical compounds, including an antidepressant, that have powerful effects against brain-destroying prion infections in mice, opening the door to potential treatments for human prion diseases.
Biochemistry Source: NYU Langone Medical Center / New York University School of Medicine
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Wednesday, Sep 14, 2011, 4:15pm Rating: | Views: 1279 | Comments: 0
Engineers probe mechanics behind rapid-aging disease Researchers at MIT and Carnegie Mellon University are using both civil engineering and bioengineering approaches to study the behavior of a protein associated with progeria, a rare disorder in children that causes extremely rapid aging and usually ends in death from cardiovascular disease before age 16.
Biochemistry Source: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Wednesday, Sep 14, 2011, 4:00pm Rating: | Views: 1153 | Comments: 0
Invention unravels mystery of protein folding An Oak Ridge National Laboratory invention able to quickly predict three-dimensional structure of protein could have huge implications for drug discovery and human health.
Biochemistry Source: DOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory
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Wednesday, Sep 14, 2011, 2:45pm Rating: | Views: 1399 | Comments: 0
Cardiotrophin 1 shows promising results for treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome Scientists from the Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) of the University of Navarra (Spain) have discovered that cardiotrophin 1, a protein synthesized by muscle cells and adipose tissue, has a marked effect on fat and glucose metabolism. "These new findings add to those we already know on this compound such the anti-ischemic and cytoprotective effects showed in acute liver damage.
Fathers wired to provide offspring care A new study provides compelling evidence that human males are biologically wired to care for their offspring, conclusively showing for the first time that fatherhood lowers a man's testosterone levels.
Biochemistry Source: Northwestern University
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Monday, Sep 12, 2011, 5:30pm Rating: | Views: 1143 | Comments: 0