News

The proteins in our bodies are sophisticated structures that perform specific jobs to keep us functioning and healthy. Understanding how a protein is wired could help researchers develop ways to control its activity. A new technique lets researchers look into the atomic structures of proteins to see that wiring.

Proteins must fold in a specific way to function which is often assisted by molecular chaperones. Now, researchers have discovered that for one molecular chaperone at least, there’s more to the process than was suspected.

Antioxidants are molecules that counteract the damage to our bodies from harmful products of normal cells called reactive oxygen species (ROS). Now, research has found that a protein called ATM can sense the presence of ROS and responds by sounding the alarm to trigger the production of antioxidants.

Scientists have discovered that the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) hijacks a small molecule from the host cell to protect itself from being destroyed by the host’s immune system.

Researchers at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix are attempting to create a better diagnostic test for radiation exposure that potentially could save thousands of lives.

A study has identified a constellation of metabolites related to chronic fatigue syndrome. Combined with data from an earlier microbiome study, they can predict whether or not someone has the disorder with a confidence of 84 %.

Researchers have uncovered a key function of ATR, a protein in charge of responding to DNA damage during the formation process of sperm precursor cells. They also showed that inhibiting ATR caused issues that block sperm formation.

Through x-ray crystallography and kinase-inhibitor specificity profiling, researchers reveal that curcumin, a natural occurring chemical compound found in the spice turmeric, binds to the kinase enzyme dual-specificity tyrosine-regulated kinase 2 (DYRK2) at the atomic level.

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A new study suggests that the irregular metabolism of branched-chain amino acids – components of proteins found in many foods – may be partially to blame for progression of gestational diabetes mellitus to type 2 diabetes.