Molecular Biology – Page 4 – PossibleThreat Articles

Research maps key signaling pathways linking calcium entry and exit in activated T cells

October 8, 2019 0 Comments Biology, Biotechnology, Genetics, Immune System, Lymphoma, Molecular Biology, Osteoporosis, Women's Health

Like entrance and exit doors on a building, a cell's outer surface has doors — channels, pumps, and transporters that selectively control what molecules enter or exit. In the immune system, T cells possess unique sets of 'doors', including ones that specialize in calcium ion movement. Now, researchers describe a unique mechanism for coordinating these calcium entrance and exit 'doors' on T cells that helps them carry out their jobs and ensure normal immune function.

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When laying their eggs, tobacco hawkmoths avoid plants that smell of caterpillar feces

October 8, 2019 0 Comments Agriculture and Food, Behavioral Science, Botany, Endangered Plants, Genetics, Insects (including Butterflies), Molecular Biology, Nature

Scientists have demonstrated that not only plant odors determine the best oviposition site for egglaying hawkmoths, but also the frass of other larvae. They specified the repelling substance in the feces which signals the presence of competing conspecifics. Moreover, the researchers identified an odorant receptor which is involved in the detection of the typical smell of larval frass and thereby governs competition avoidance during oviposition.

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Voltage gated calcium channels 'read' electric patterns in embryos to create cartilage and bone

October 7, 2019 0 Comments Biology, Developmental Biology, Genetics, Molecular Biology, Nervous System, Osteoporosis, Stem Cells, Women's Health

Scientists have revealed how the electrical patterns formed within an embryo initiate a cascade of molecular changes that culminate in the development of cartilage and bone. Prior studies have shown these electrical patterns appear like blueprints of the tissues and organs that eventually take shape as the embryo matures. The new study demonstrates that voltage gated calcium channels 'read' the electrical pattern, setting off the expression of genes that guide differentiation to mature cells.

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Rare view into the formation of viruses

October 4, 2019 0 Comments Cell Biology, Genes, Human Biology, Medical Topics, Microbes and More, Molecular Biology, Virology, Viruses

For the first time, researchers have captured images of the formation of individual viruses, offering a real-time view into the kinetics of viral assembly. The research provides new insights into how to fight viruses and engineer self-assembling particles.

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Weak spot in pathogenic bacteria

October 4, 2019 0 Comments Bacteria, Cystic Fibrosis, Human Biology, Infectious Diseases, Microbes and More, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Wounds and Healing

Antibiotics are still the most important weapon for combatting bacterial infections. But medical science is running out of ''ammunition'' because of more and more frequently occurring resistances. Research teams have now elucidated the structure of the proteolytic complex ClpX-ClpP. This is a key to development of innovative antibiotics which target the degradation process of defective proteins in bacteria.

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Protein associated with many diseases fully visualized for first time

October 3, 2019 0 Comments Biotechnology, Cancer, Cell Biology, Diseases and Conditions, Genetics, Hypertension, Lung Cancer, Molecular Biology

For the first time, researchers have learned at the molecular level how the P2X7 protein receptor – which is associated with inflammation, coronary artery disease, cancer, multiple sclerosis and more – works. The findings could one day inspire new drugs to treat numerous medical conditions.

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Breakthrough in sex-chromosome regulation

October 3, 2019 0 Comments Cell Biology, Down Syndrome, Epigenetics, Epigenetics Research, Genes, Genetics, Human Biology, Molecular Biology

Researchers have uncovered a chromosome-wide mechanism that keeps the gene expression of sex chromosomes in balance in our cells. The findings shed light on molecular reasons for early miscarriage and could be important for the emerging field of regenerative medicine.

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Supercomputing, neutrons unite to unravel structures of intrinsically disordered protein

October 3, 2019 0 Comments Cell Biology, Computer Modeling, Computer Science, Genes, Genetics, Human Biology, Information Technology, Medical Education and Training, Molecular Biology

Scientists have created the most accurate 3D model yet of an intrinsically disordered protein, revealing the ensemble of its atomic-level structures.

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How AIDS pathogens multiply in the body

October 2, 2019 0 Comments Biology, Genetics, HIV and AIDS, Infectious Diseases, Medical Imaging, Molecular Biology, Virology, Viruses

Scientists have now succeeded in using high-resolution imaging to make visible to the millisecond how the HI virus spreads between living cells and which molecules it requires for this purpose. The researchers provide direct proof for the first time that the AIDS pathogen creates a certain lipid environment for replication.

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Earthquake in the cell

October 1, 2019 0 Comments Biochemistry Research, Biology, Biotechnology, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Cell Biology, Epigenetics Research, Genetics, Molecular Biology

Nuclear abnormalities such as nuclear blebs and micronuclei have devastating consequences for the genetic material and are associated with cancer or ageing. Scientists now revealed that the epigenetic enzyme MOF is crucial for the morphological integrity of the mammalian nucleus. Moreover, the study characterized the epigenetic landscape of nuclear abnormalities and discovered a formerly unknown epigenetic mechanism that seems to protect cells from additional damage.