https://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. Transport proteins are responsible for the ongoing movement of substrates into and out of a biological cell. However, it is difficult to determine which substrates a specific protein can transport. Bioinformaticians at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) have developed a model—called SPOT—that can predict this with a high degree of accuracy using artificial intelligence (AI). https://phys.org/news/2024-09-ai-substrate-movement-cells.html Cell & Microbiology Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 26 Sep 2024 14:46:10 EDT news646580759 From Velcro to solar cells, many technological innovations have been inspired by nature. In medical diagnostics, researchers also draw inspiration from biological principles. A research team from the University of Freiburg and the INM—Leibniz Institute for New Materials in Saarbrücken has developed testing methods in which simple LEDs could replace complex mechanical pumps. These OptoAssays not only mimic the behavior of biological cells but also use their genetic programming. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-bioassays-diseases-easily-effectively.html Biotechnology Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 26 Sep 2024 11:04:40 EDT news646567477 A team of chemical biologists at the University of Washington, working with colleagues at Oxford Nanopore Technologies, has developed a protein sequencing process that involves pulling proteins through nanopores in a lipid membrane. Their paper is published in the journal Nature. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-biologists-sequence-proteins-nanopores.html Bio & Medicine Thu, 26 Sep 2024 10:32:26 EDT news646565540 A new artificial intelligence model developed by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin paves the way for more effective and less toxic treatments and new preventive strategies in medicine. The AI model informs the design of protein-based therapies and vaccines by leveraging the underlying logic from nature's evolutionary processes. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-ai-evolution-playbook-proteins-spur.html Biotechnology Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 26 Sep 2024 09:36:05 EDT news646562161 Plant molecular farming (PMF) is a modern, sophisticated technology that utilizes plants' biosynthetic machinery to synthesize a plethora of recombinant proteins, including industrial and therapeutic enzymes. It has several advantages over traditional approaches, such as microbial fermentation and mammalian cell culture, including lower costs, high-yield production, and absence of human pathogens and endotoxins. Plants also provide considerable flexibility that allows customized protein production. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-strategies-maximizing-recombinant-protein-production.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Wed, 25 Sep 2024 17:07:04 EDT news646502822 In a study published in the journal Nature, researchers from the Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG) and the Wellcome Sanger Institute have discovered that mutations affect protein stability following remarkably simple rules. The discovery has profound implications for accelerating the development of new treatments for diseases or the design of new proteins with industrial applications. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-mutations-affect-protein-stability-simple.html Biotechnology Molecular & Computational biology Wed, 25 Sep 2024 11:00:01 EDT news646474458 Scientists have found that the naked mole-rat—an underground rodent that lives up to 40 years—has lost a number of CD1 functional genes. The CD1 gene family in mammals is responsible for protein synthesis that protects the body against infectious diseases. The findings indicate that the naked mole-rat's immune system has significantly realigned and is using other—CD1-independent—molecular mechanisms. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-naked-mole-rat-lost-infection.html Plants & Animals Evolution Wed, 25 Sep 2024 03:53:57 EDT news646455230 It's almost time to dust off the Halloween decorations and adorn the house with all manner of spooky things, including the classic polyester spider webs. Scientists reporting in ACS Nano have made their own version of fake spider silk, but this one consists of proteins and heals wounds instead of haunting hallways. The artificial silk was strong enough to be woven into bandages that helped treat joint injuries and skin lesions in mice. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-artificial-spider-silk-generation-medical.html Bio & Medicine Tue, 24 Sep 2024 11:50:03 EDT news646397402 To grow and survive, tiny organisms such as yeast must sometimes adapt their nutrient sources in response to changes in the environment. FMI researchers have now found that yeast cells communicate with each other to use less favorable nutrients if they foresee a shortage of their favorite food. This communication is facilitated by secreted molecules that interact with a protein in mitochondria, the cells' energy factories. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-yeast-chit-chat-microorganisms-communicate.html Cell & Microbiology Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 24 Sep 2024 11:41:03 EDT news646396861 Compounds and proteins are the two most fundamental entities in drug discovery. Modeling their interactions is crucial for drug discovery. Although no universal computational method currently exists to predict and explain all compound-protein interactions (CPIs), researchers can contribute to building a comprehensive CPI map by leveraging various biological data from different perspectives. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-ai-tool-efficiently-deconvolutes-compound.html Biotechnology Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 24 Sep 2024 10:57:45 EDT news646394262 A Mississippi State biologist's research in improving global nutrition and sustainability is featured this week in New Phytologist. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-protein-staple-crops-alleviate-global.html Biotechnology Agriculture Tue, 24 Sep 2024 04:48:44 EDT news646372118 A University of Missouri researcher has created a computer program that can unravel the mysteries of how proteins work together—giving scientists valuable insights to better prevent, diagnose and treat cancer and other diseases. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-paving-treatments-tool-3d-protein.html Molecular & Computational biology Mon, 23 Sep 2024 16:01:45 EDT news646326097 The life-saving use of messenger RNA (mRNA) in COVID-19 vaccines was a public example of the potential of mRNA-based therapies, which hold great promise for a wide range of treatment applications from cancer immunotherapy to gene editing. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-approach-yield-messenger-rnas-wide.html Biotechnology Molecular & Computational biology Mon, 23 Sep 2024 12:48:04 EDT news646314481 CRISPR-Cas is used broadly in research and medicine to edit, insert, delete or regulate genes in organisms. TnpB is an ancestor of this well-known "gene scissors" but is much smaller and thus easier to transport into cells. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-compact-gene-scissors-enable-effective.html Biotechnology Molecular & Computational biology Mon, 23 Sep 2024 11:22:05 EDT news646309322 The protein "MIPS" changes its internal structure when it becomes active. Its disordered active center becomes a defined structure with special functions. The protein plays a key role in the production of inositol, which is also known as vitamin B8, and fulfills important tasks in the body. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-chaos-proteins-important-substances.html Biochemistry Mon, 23 Sep 2024 11:09:04 EDT news646308541 It has only recently been discovered that single-celled organisms (bacteria and archaea) also have histones—proteins that structure DNA. Now, Leiden Ph.D. candidate Samuel Schwab has found that the histones in these organisms are much more diverse than previously thought. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-chemists-ways-celled-dna.html Biochemistry Mon, 23 Sep 2024 10:53:03 EDT news646307581 Cells are highly controlled spaces that rely on every protein being in the right place. Many diseases, including cancers and neurodegenerative disorders, are associated with misplaced proteins. In some cancers, for instance, a protein that normally stands watch over DNA replicating in the nucleus is sent far from the DNA it is meant to monitor, allowing cancers to grow. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-method-relocate-misplaced-proteins-cells.html Cell & Microbiology Molecular & Computational biology Sat, 21 Sep 2024 11:20:01 EDT news646135971 Diabetes, a widespread condition affecting approximately 13% of American adults, is often accompanied by complications such as impaired wound healing. If left unchecked, this can lead to severe outcomes, including the need for amputation. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-harnessing-exosomes-hydrogels-advanced-diabetic.html Bio & Medicine Fri, 20 Sep 2024 12:18:58 EDT news646053534 Virginia Tech researchers have learned how bacteria manipulate molecules to infect the host organism. Daniel Capelluto and his research team have discovered the mechanism by which the bacterial pathogen Shigella flexneri, the causative agent of dysentery, manipulates molecular activity to assure its survival against its host's natural defenses. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-bacterial-pathogen-dysentery-molecular-survival.html Cell & Microbiology Molecular & Computational biology Fri, 20 Sep 2024 11:09:03 EDT news646049341 A new way of looking at tooth enamel could give scientists a path to deeper understanding of the health of human populations, from the ancient to the modern. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-proteins-tooth-enamel-window-ancient.html Archaeology Thu, 19 Sep 2024 15:07:04 EDT news645977221 Where do new genes come from? That's the question a team of biological sciences researchers from the U of A set out to answer in a new study. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-convergent-evolution-genes.html Evolution Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 19 Sep 2024 10:58:16 EDT news645962291 The importance of testing for diseases was thrust into the limelight during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of us have undergone a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) or ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) test within the past four years. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-janus-particles-rapidly-accurately-covid.html Bio & Medicine Thu, 19 Sep 2024 09:24:57 EDT news645956693 After thousands of years as a highly valuable commodity, silk continues to surprise. Now it may help usher in a whole new direction for microelectronics and computing. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-2d-silk-protein-layers-graphene.html Nanomaterials Wed, 18 Sep 2024 14:40:10 EDT news645889201 Maize (corn) is one of the most important staple crops in the world and has been extensively studied. Yet, many aspects of the genetic mechanisms regulating its growth and development remain unexplored. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-unexpected-protein-maize-growth-defense.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Tue, 17 Sep 2024 12:58:48 EDT news645796725 For years, scientists have thought that TGF-Beta, a signaling protein that holds sway over an astonishing array of cellular processes from embryonic development to cancer, could only do its work once it escaped a lasso-like "straitjacket." https://phys.org/news/2024-09-scientists-tgf-beta-message-tethered.html Cell & Microbiology Molecular & Computational biology Mon, 16 Sep 2024 16:16:03 EDT news645722161 Helices are structures found naturally in many important molecules, such as proteins. These helices possess a twist that depends on the arrangement of their basic components. By understanding how a helix is formed, we can gain deeper insights into how these structures influence the behavior of proteins in our bodies. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-symmetry-chemistry-peptide-helices.html Biochemistry Analytical Chemistry Mon, 16 Sep 2024 10:38:03 EDT news645701881 As the global population grows and traditional livestock production increasingly strains environmental resources, there is a rising interest in alternative protein sources. Edible insects, particularly grasshoppers, are abundant in regions like Cameroon and provide essential nutrients, including proteins, amino acids, and minerals vital for health and growth. Addressing these challenges calls for in-depth studies on the nutritional benefits of insects such as Ruspolia nitidula. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-edible-insects-sustainable-nutritional-source.html Agriculture Fri, 13 Sep 2024 15:33:12 EDT news645460378 Communication between cells is now believed to activate a memory mechanism that sustains gene expression, a finding based on the work of Dr. Gregory Reeves. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-aim-gene-memories-cells.html Cell & Microbiology Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 12 Sep 2024 13:59:06 EDT news645368343 Researchers in Germany can harvest protein and vitamin B9 from microbes by feeding them nothing much more than hydrogen, oxygen, and CO2. The technology, published September 12 in the journal Trends in Biotechnology, runs on renewable energy to produce a sustainable, micronutrient-enriched protein alternative that may one day make it to our plates. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-powered-renewable-energy-microbes-protein.html Biotechnology Agriculture Thu, 12 Sep 2024 11:00:01 EDT news645348781 It takes a lot of helpers to build up the protein complexes required for photosynthesis and to constantly repair them in strong light. Photosynthesis takes place before our eyes every day in every single little green leaf—yet the details of the complex process have not yet been fully understood. A research team at Ruhr University Bochum headed by Professor Danja Schünemann has unraveled another piece of the puzzle. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-vitro-technique-glimpse-chloroplast-workshop.html Plants & Animals Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 12 Sep 2024 10:44:03 EDT news645356641