Structural Biology – News and Features

Researchers have developed a separator made from corn protein and plastic that helps improve the lifespan of lithium-sulfur batteries. This could expand their use as high-energy low-weight batteries for vehicles and other applications.

A study by Kindai University researchers shows that neurons adapt their migration strategies based on environmental conditions. Using PIEZO1, a mechanosensitive ion channel, neurons can adjust their movement in confined 3D environments.

Researchers have uncovered the critical role of the "fuzzy coat" of α-synuclein in forming Lewy bodies associated with Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia.

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have identified a small molecule, PZL-A, that restores function in the defective POLG enzyme, critical for mitochondrial DNA replication. The compound has shown promise in enhancing mitochondrial function.

Scientists have designed new drug frameworks that selectively target CYP3A4, one of the most critical CYP proteins. Structural insights from this work offer a roadmap for future drug developers to better evaluate drug interactions.

After decades of trial and error, a promising new target for Lyme disease is emerging, the lyme bacterial protein CspZ, which the bacteria use to evade detection from the body’s immune system.

New research illustrates how cells with defective mitochondria activate a special recycling system to eliminate damaged genetic material.

Scientists at La Trobe University have discovered how a diarrhoea-causing strain of bacteria uses “molecular scissors” to cut open and destroy gut cells, leading to severe illness and sometimes death.

Researchers from the University of Iowa have unveiled the structure of a protein that plays a key role in protecting DNA during replication. This discovery may lead to the development of drugs targeting DNA repair pathways in cancer cells.

A team developed the catGRANULE 2.0 ROBOT, a machine-learning algorithm to predict protein behavior linked to neurodegenerative diseases like ALS, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. The algorithm identifies toxic protein clumps.