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Tanpaku News Watch

Tanpaku News Watch aggregates news relevant to TPRP from Nature (Nature Publishing Group), Science (AAAS/Science), Chemical & Engineering News (American Chemical Society), and GenomeWeb LLC.Registration (free of charge) is necessary to access GenomeWeb Daily News and Genome Technology Online of GenomeWeb LLC.

Most Recent 5

Gut Bacteria’s Role in Weight

The bacterial makeup of the intestines may help determine whether people gain weight or lose it, according to two new studies, one in humans and one in mice (Sci. Transl. Med. & J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.)

Structure of a transporter that creates antibiotic resistance

Researchers determined the structure of MATE (multidrug and toxic compound extrusion) transporter in two conformations and in complexes with several inhibitors, and identified an inhibitory peptide that can thwart the activity of the transporter (Nature)

Taking the crystals out of X-ray crystallography

Tiny molecular sponges can hold small molecules in position for imaging (Nature)

Archaea Eat Protein to Survive in Marine Sediments

Researchers pulled out four individual cells of archaea and sequenced their genomic DNA to discover the presence of the extracellular protein-degrading enzymes predicted in those genomes and found these enzymes to be abundant and active in marine sediments (Nature)

First Structures of Serotonin Receptors (5-HT) Family

Researchers reported new crystal structures of 5-HT1B and of 5-HT2B, each bound to the migraine drugs ergotamine and dihydroergotamine (2 papers in Science)

Prior Headlines

Structure of Virus Causing Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

Researchers reported structure of human enterovirus 71 in complex with a capsid-binding inhibitor (PNAS)

A New Class of Antimalarial Drug

Researchers showed that quinolone-3-diarylethers are selective potent inhibitors of the parasite’s mitochondrial cytochrome bc1 complex and kill the malaria parasite in all three stages of its life cycle (Sci. Transl. Med.)

Fish Peptide May Inhibit Cancer Metastasis

TF (Thomsen-Friedenreich) antigen (CD176) exposed on the surface of many cancer cells is involved in promoting metastasis of prostate cancer cells. Researchers showed that a glycopeptide from cod (designated TFD100) binds to galectin-3 (gal3) overexpressed in prostate cancer cells and blocks its interaction with the TF antigen (PNAS)

New Detergents for Membrane Proteins

The new amphiphiles associate tightly with membrane proteins to form small complexes that enhance the crystallizability of the proteins (PNAS)

Training Immune Cells

Researchers reported a method that traps immune system T cells inside microscopic emulsion droplets and then exposes the cells to antigen signals that could teach them to coordinate attacks on disease targets (J. Am. Chem. Soc.)

Receptor for new coronavirus found

Researchers showed that a new coronavirus (hCoV-EMC: human coronavirus-Erasmus Medical Center), associated with lethal respiratory infections, binds to an evolutionarily conserved receptor DPP4 (dipeptidyl peptidase 4) on airway cells (Nature)

Antibiotics Don’t Kill With Reactive Oxygen Species

Two studies showed that antibiotics kill bacteria under ROS-hostile anaerobic conditions as well as aerobic circumstances; finding casts doubt on drug development approach (2 papers in Science)

Fighting Flu With Fish Oil

Researchers identified the endogenous lipid mediator PD1 derived from DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) as an innate suppressor of influenza virus replication that protects against lethal influenza virus infection (Cell)

Red Wine Chemical Redeemed?

Resveratrol, a natural product most famously present in red wine, has been in the headlines for a decade. It’s disputed link to antiaging pathway supported by new study (Science)

Plants Use Caffeine to Lure Bees

Researchers showed that the naturally caffeine-laced nectar of some plants enhances the learning process for bees, so that they are more likely to return to those flowers (Science)

Salt linked to autoimmune diseases

Th17 cells (interleukin-17-producing helper T cells) are highly proinflammatory cells that are critical for clearing extracellular pathogens and for inducing multiple autoimmune diseases. In three studies researchers showed that high salt diet triggers pathogenic Th17 development and promotes tissue inflammation (3 papers in Nature)

How ATP Molecule Transmits sweet, bitter, and umami Tastes to the Brain

Researchers discovered how ATP, the body's main fuel source, is released as the neurotransmitter from sweet, bitter, and umami taste bud cells. The CALHM1 ion channel protein, which spans a taste bud cell's outer membrane, releases ATP to make a neural taste connection (Nature)

Unreported Side Effects of a Drug Combination Found Using Internet Search Data

Using data drawn from queries entered into search engines, researchers were able to detect evidence of unreported prescription drug side effects before they were found by theFDA’s warning system; the combination of an antidepressant with a cholesterol lowering drug caused high blood sugar (J. Am. Med. Inform. Assoc.)

Why Fish Is Better Than Fish Oil Supplements?

Researchers showed that Slo1 BK channels (Calcium-activated potassium channels) are receptors for long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, and these fatty acids - unlike their ethyl ester derivatives in dietary supplements - activate the channels and lower blood pressure (2 papers in PNAS)

Nitration of Hsp90 induces cell death

Researchers showed that nitration of a single tyrosine residue of heat-shock protein Hsp90 is sufficient to induce motor neuron death (PNAS)

Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease with a Mediterranean Diet

Researchers showed that among persons at high cardiovascular risk, a Mediterranean diet reduced the incidence of major cardiovascular events. The clinical trial was stopped earlier because an interim analysis showed the clear benefit of the Mediterranean diet (NEJM)

Metal Ions Control Product Specificity of Enzyme

Researchers showed that in the horseradish leaf beetle isoprenyl diphosphate synthase can produce two completely different substances depending on whether it is regulated by cobalt, manganese or magnesium ions as a cofactor (PNAS)

A Series of Snapshots of Transcription Initiation

Using cryo-electron microscopy, researchers have produced the first step-by-step snapshots of the assembly of human general transcription factors and RNA polymerase II (Pol II) into a transcription pre-initiation complex (Nature)

Resurrection of 3-Billion-Year-Old Antibiotic-Resistance Enzymes

Researchers reported a sequence reconstruction analysis of several Precambrian β-lactamases , enzymes responsible for resistance to the family of antibiotics that includes penicillin, and the structural and functional characterization of their encoded proteins (J. Amer. Chem. Soc.)

Circular RNAs throw genetics for a loop

The versatility of RNA seems limitless.　The latest surprise comes from circular non-coding RNAs, which have been found to bind and deactivate microRNAs (2 papers in Nature)

Linking Gut Microbes to Blood Pressure

Researchers showed that short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by the gut microbiota fermentation modulate blood pressure via two SCFA receptors, Olfr78 (olfactory receptor 78) and Gpr41 (G protein-coupled receptor 41) (PNAS)

Cholesterol limits lose their luster

Revised guidelines for heart health are set to move away from cholesterol targets, which have never been directly tested in clinical trials

Neglected Tropical Disease: Biomarker for River Blindness

A urine biomarker, neurotransmitter tyramine metabolite from the filarial parasitic nematode was found to be linked to patient disease infection (PNAS)

Drug Delivery: ‘Don’t Eat Me’ Signal Allows Nanoparticles to Evade Immune Detection

CD47 protein binds to SIRPα receptor on the surface of macrophages to send a “don’t eat me” signal to the macrophage. Researchers showed that nanoparticles tagged with an artificial peptide modeled on CD47 get past the macrophage and stay in the body (Science)

Flu Drugs with Broad Spectrum Activity against Drug-resistant Strains

Researchers developed inhibitors that block active site of viral neuraminidase by a covalent mechanism, preventing the enzyme from cleaving sialic acid on host cell surface to let the virus spread (Science)

Dermcidin: Antimicrobial Peptide secreted in Sweat Glands

Structural and functional analyses revealed that human dermcidin forms an architecture of transmembrane channels perforating the cell membrane of bugs and water and charged particles flow across the membrane, eventually killing the harmful microbes (PNAS)

Retraction, and Introduction of Improved Method

Misconduct: Cell paper about imaging nerve connections retracted; new study addresses issues (PLoS ONE)

Variations in an enzyme cause divergence in moth sex pheromones

Researchers showed that amino acid polymorphisms of the pheromone biosynthetic fatty-acyl reductase (pgFAR) underlie changes in pgFAR substrate preference, leading to species-specific ratios of pheromone components (PNAS)

X-Ray Laser Pulse Sees Photosynthesis in Action

Researchers showed that femto¬second X-ray pulses facilitate simultaneous diffraction (overall protein structure) and spectroscopy (electronic structure of the Mn4CaO5) analyses of microcrystals of protein complex photosystem II, enabling study of radiation-sensitive, difficult-to-crystallize systems at room temperature (Science)

Antisense Arrives

After a two-decade of trials and tribulations, an antisense therapeutic that targets the messenger RNA for apolipoprotein B got first FDA approval

Brain Activity Map project

The Obama administration is planning a decade-long scientific effort to examine the workings of the human brain and build a comprehensive map of its activity.

C. elegans Longevity at Cold Temperatures

Researchers showed that cold air activates TRPA-1, a cold-sensitive TRP channel, which mediates calcium influx and a calcium-sensitive PKC that signals to the transcription factor DAF-16 associated with longevity (Cell)

Molecular signatures of G-protein-coupled receptors

Through a systematic analysis of high-resolution GPCR structures, researchers revealed characteristic features of GPCR fold and ligand binding (Nature)

Prion’s Useful Function

Prions come in two main forms: the normal version and the misfolded, infectious version. The normal version, known as cellular prion protein lends a hand in forming neuronal connections (J. Neurosci.)

Bacterial Nitric Oxide Extends the Lifespan of C. elegans

Researchers showed that bacterially derived NO enhances C. elegans stress resistance and longevity via a group of genes that function under the dual control of HSF-1 and DAF-16 transcription factors (Cell)

ω6 Fatty Acids Activate Autophagy

Researchers showed that supplementation of C. elegans or human epithelial cells with the ω6 fatty acids activates autophagy, a cell recycling mechanism that promotes starvation survival and slows aging (Genes Dev.)

Gut Bacteria Conspired in Melamine Poisonings

Researchers reported that cyanuric acid can be produced in the gut by microbial transformation of melamine and serves as an integral component of the kidney stones responsible for melamine-induced renal toxicity in rats (Sci. Transl. Med.)

February 13, 2013,,

Protein 'Filmed' While Unfolding at Atomic Resolution

Using a combination of cold denaturation with NMR spectroscopy, researchers depicted the unfolding process of the homodimeric repressor protein CylR2 (Nat. Chem. Biol.)

Old Asthma Drug for Treatment of Obesity

Using compound screening to search for compounds that inhibit IKKE and TBK1 to activate the metabolic system to burn more energy, the researchers hit upon an approved off-patent asthma drug amlexanox which showed profound beneficial effects in obese mice (Nat. Med.)

Protein Blocks HIV, Other Viruses

Researchers showed that interferon-inducible CH25H (cholesterol-25-hydroxylase) broadly inhibits growth of enveloped viruses including HIV by production of 25-hydroxycholesterol from cholesterol (Immunity)

European Initiative for Drug Discovery

Called the European Lead Factory, the consortium consisting of 30 academic and corporate partners, will build and curate a collection of 500,000 molecules for screening, 300,000 of which will come from the seven large pharmaceutical partners

Translation Error Tracked in the Brain of Dementia Patients

Expansion of a GGGGCC repeat of the C9orf72 coding region is the most common cause of familial frontotemporal lobar degeneration and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FTLD/ALS). Researchers showed that he expanded GGGGCC repeat is translated into aggregating dipeptide-repeat proteins in FTLD/ALS (Science)

Autophagy-Inducing Peptide

Researchers showed that a peptide Tat-beclin 1 derived from a region of an essential autophagy protein beclin 1 (Atg6) induces the autophagy process (Nature)

Genes Used by Mercury-Methylating Microbes

Researchers identified a two-gene cluster, hgcA and hgcB, required for mercury methylation. This two-gene cluster is present in all known mercury-methylating bacteria (Science)

Compound Stimulates Tumor-Fighting Protein

TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) is an endogenous tumor suppressor protein. Researchers identified a compound called TRAIL-inducing Compound 10 (TIC10) that induces a sustained up-regulation of TRAIL (Sci. Transl. Med.)

Most Common Form of Heart Valve Disease Linked to Unusual Cholesterol

Researchers found that having a genetic variant in the LPA gene, which codes for an unusual type of cholesterol called lipoprotein (a), also increases the risk of developing aortic stenosis by more than 50 percent (NEJM)

Gut Bacteria Liberate Hidden Toxins Found In Grains

Researchers showed that human gut bacteria can break down the chemically modified mycotoxins in food crops and release the toxins, which can cause gastrointestinal and neurological damage (Chem. Res. Toxicol.)

Protein That Allows Safe Recycling of Iron from Old Red Blood Cells

Researchers showed that HRG1 (Heme-responsive gene 1 protein homolog) is essential for heme transport during the breakdown and heme-iron recycling of old red blood cells (Cell Metabolism)

Arresting Cancers Rather Than Killing Them

Researchers showed that the combined action of two types of cytokines IFN-γ and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) induces permanent growth arrest in cancers without any signs of cancer cell destruction (Nature)

Structure of the Macromolecular Shredder for RNA

The crystal structure of a complete eukaryotic RNA exosome complex revealed how it recognizes and processes its substrate (Nature)

Structure of Cell Death Regulator Protein

Researchers obtained the three-dimensional images of apoptosis regulator Bax changing shape as it moved from its inactive to active form. The active form ruptures mitochondrial membranes, causing cell death (Cell)

Protein Senses High Levels Of Salt

Researchers found that in the nematode TMC-1, a member of transmembrane channel-like family proteins, is responsible for perceiving harmful quantities of salt (Nature)

Mass Spectrometer as a Diagnostic Tool for Brain Tumor Surgery

Mass spectral signatures based primarily on the altered phospholipid distribution help surgeons distinguish a tumor from surrounding healthy tissue (PNAS)

Protein Origami: Quick Folders Are the Best

Using phylogenomic and structural analyses, researchers observed an overall decrease in folding times between ~3.8 and ~1.5 billion years ago, which can be interpreted as an evolutionary optimization for rapid folding (PLoS Comput. Biol.)

Nanoscale NMR with Diamond Defects

Two reports described the use of near-surface nitrogen-vacancy (NV) defects in diamond for detecting nanotesla magnetic fields from very small volumes of material (2 papers in Science)

Mollusk Symbionts: Surprising Sources for Medications

Two studies identified bioactive polyketides from symbiotic bacteria of mollusks, one from shipworm (PNAS) and another from cone snail (Chem. & Biol.)

Microbes Survive High in the Atmosphere

Hurricanes lift many kinds of microbes into the atmosphere, where they can survive for days or even weeks (PNAS)

Searching for New Drug Leads from Bacteria's Antibiotic Resistance

While investigating how bacteria develop drug resistance, researchers discovered that strains of antibiotic-resistant soil actinomycete express more than 300 compounds not produced by their progenitors (PNAS)

Targeting HIV Virulence Factor Protein

Researchers showed that a diphenylpyrazolo compound binds to Nef, a critical HIV-1 virulence factor, and blocks Nef-dependent HIV replication with submicromolar potency (Chem. & Biol.)

Melanoma: Recurrent Mutations Not in the Protein Coding Regions

Two teams identified mutations in the promoter of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene, which encodes the catalytic subunit of telomerase (2 papers in Science)

D-enantiomer antimicrobial peptidomimetic

Researchers developed all-D-enantiomer antimicrobial peptidomimetics that target bacterial membranes of antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria, since the peptides made of L-amino acids are subject to routine destruction by host enzymes or those generated by the microbe (PNAS)

Diet Shaped Dog Domestication

Genome studies showed that dogs became adapted to eating starch because of the presence of active and efficient starch-digesting enzymes such as amylase ant maltase relative to wolves (Nature)

How Salt Stops Plant Growth

Researchers reported that the endodermis in the lateral roots is sensitive to salt and activates a stress hormone abscisic acid to stop root growth (Plant Cell)

How parainfluenza viruses counteract the immune response?

MDA5 (a RIG-I like receptor) polymerizes into filaments on long RNAs that indicate the presence of RNA viruses. Structural analyses revealed that parainfluenza virus V protein unfolds MDA5 via its hairpin loop insertion, preventing the RNA bound MDA5 filament formation (Science)

Charge Zippers : A New Concept for Folding and Assembly of Membrane Proteins

Researchers proposed a concept for the folding and self-assembly of the pore-forming TatA complex from the Twin-arginine translocase based on electrostatic “charge zippers” (Cell)

Four-strand DNA structure found in cells

Researchers provide strong evidence that G-quadruplexes do occur in cells and that these unusual structures may have important biological functions (Nat. Chem.)

Leprosy bug turns adult cells into stem cells

A new study suggests the leprosy bacterium can reprogram one type of nervous system cell to a stem cell-like state and use it to infiltrate other tissues in the body (Cell)

NIH Translational Center Progresses

New chief navigates tough path forward through drug development bottleneck

Unusually Flexible Structure of Protein Essential for Quality Control

Researchers used electron microscopy to distinguish more than 20 conformations of a quality-control protein Ltn1 (E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase listerin) for the cellular protein-making factory ribosome (PNAS)

Small Molecule Makes Cancer Cells Commit Suicide

Cancer-cell-surface death receptor 5 (DR5) is rarely expressed on normal cells but is present on a variety of cancer cells. By screening a library of about 200,000 compounds, researchers found that a small molecule bioymifi works by mimicking the ability of TRAIL, the natural DR5 ligand, to stimulate clustering of DR5, triggering apoptosis (Nat. Chem. Biol.)

Medicinal 'Toothbrush Tree' Yields Antibiotic to Treat Tuberculosis

A compound from the South African toothbrush tree, diospyrin, was found to inactivate DNA gyrase which is essential for bacteria and plants but is not present in animals or humans (J. Biol. Chem)

Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer Stops Norovirus Spread?

Alcohol-based sanitizers can reduce microbial counts on contaminated hands for strains of the flu, since they are coated in lipid envelopes that alcohol can rupture. But non-enveloped viruses, like norovirus, are generally not affected; better to use soap and water

Virus Caught in the Act of Infecting a Cell

Researchers used cryo-electron tomography to observe the detailed changes in the structure of T7 virions as they infect an E. coli bacterium (Science)

First Image of Insulin 'Docking'

For the first time, researchers captured the intricate way in which insulin uses the insulin receptor to bind to the surface of cells (Nature)

Taking Multiple Shots at Hot Target MCL1

Several types of cancers boost levels of a cell-survival protein MCL1 (Induced myeloid leukemia cell differentiation protein). Researchers found two families of fragment molecules that bound to MCL1 in neighboring spots on the protein and merged the two fragments together to form MCL1 inhibitors (J. Med. Chem.)

Automating Structure-Activity Relationships Analysis

Using an automated, computational version of techniques medicinal chemists use to optimize structure-activity relationships (SARs) of drug-lead compounds, researchers converted the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor donepezil into an agent with a completely different specificity and activity profile at multiple targets (Nature)

New Drug Leads Overcome Drug-Resistant Staph Infection

Researchers reported the discovery and X-ray crystallographic structures of 10 chemically diverse compounds that inhibit bacterial undecaprenyl pyrophosphate synthase (uppS), an essential enzyme involved in cell wall biosynthesis (PNAS)

Wasp larva disinfects its roach meal from within

Live-action video shows that the larva of the emerald cockroach wasp actively disinfects its roach host by exuding a cocktail of antibacterial chemicals from its mouthparts (PNAS)

Mechanism of Action of the Most-Used Diabetes Drug Metformin

Researchers showed that metformin leads to the accumulation of AMP in mice, which inhibits an enzyme called adenylate cyclase, thereby reducing levels of cyclic AMP and protein kinase activity, eventually blocking glucagon-dependent glucose output from liver cells (Nature)

p62: Novel Regulator in Good Fat Cell

Using adipocyte-specific p62-deficient mice, researchers showed that scaffold protein p62 (sequestosome 1; SQSTM1) regulates energy metabolism via control of mitochondrial function in brown adipose tissue (BAT) (J. Clin. Invest.)

TRIP-Br2: Novel Regulator in Fat Storage and Energy Metabolism

Researchers showed that when TRIP-Br2 (transcriptional regulator interacting with the PHD-bromodomain 2) is elevated by obesity and a high-fat diet, it suppresses HSL (hormone sensitive lipase) and Adrb3 (Beta3-adrenergic) receptors, resulting in a decrease in energy expenditure and an increase in fat accumulation (Nat. Med.)

iPS Cell Technology Could Help Harness Patients' Own Immune Cells to Fight Disease

Two research teams in Japan used iPS cell technology to successfully regenerate patients' immune cells, creating large numbers that were long-lived and could recognize their specified targets: HIV-infected cells in one case and cancer cells in the other (2 papers in Cell Stem Cell)

Memory enzyme dethroned

Two studies refute an enzyme’s essential role in remembering and forgetting (2 papers in Nature)

Rethinking Bacterial Persistence

Researchers revealed the role of an enzyme whose presence is necessary in order for the antibiotic to work and showed that the bacilli produced this enzyme in a pulsatile and random manner (Science)

Mimicking a Natural Defense Against Malaria to Develop New Treatments

Researchers found that human platelet factor 4 (hPF4) peptide secreted when platelets are activated kills malaria parasites that are inside red cells and identified small, nonpeptidic mimics of hPF4 (Cell Host & Microbe)

Reactivating p53 powerful tumor suppressor

In a wide range of cancers with wild-type p53 status, its function is inhibited through direct interaction with MDM2 oncoprotein. For the first time ever, three pharmaceutical companies are racing to develop their own versions of a drug they hope will reactivate the p53 function by blocking the MDM2-p53 interaction

Inner Workings of Chinese Herbal Medicine Used for Malaria Fever

Febrifugine is the active component of the Chinese herb Chang Shan. A detailed structural analysis of prolyl-transfer RNA synthetase (ProRS) in complex with halofuginone (a derivative of the febrifugine) shows that halofuginone gets its potency by blocking the active site of the ProRS enzyme where both the tRNA and proline come together (Nature)

The four opioid receptors structurally characterized this year

Two teams raced to publish the structures of four opioid receptors, which are GPCR family membrane proteins that mediate pain and pleasure in the body (4 papers in Nature)

Engineered, Fast-growing Salmon Moves a Step Closer to Approval

The AquAdvantage salmon is an Atlantic salmon that contains a growth hormone gene from the Chinook salmon and a promoter gene from the ocean pout, an eel-like creature. These genes enable it to grow year-round, rather than only during warm weather

ScienceShot: Comb Jelly Genome Sheds Light on ... Light

Researchers studying the genome of the comb jelly (ctenophore) discovered that the bioluminescent creatures pack in 10 proteins for generating light. They also have opsin proteins that detect light, even though comb jellies lack eyes (BMC Biology)

Targeting Taste Receptors in the Gut May Help Fight Obesity

Growing evidence suggests that obesity and related conditions might be prevented or treated by selective targeting of taste receptors on cells in the gut to release hormones that signal a feeling of fullness (Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism)

Link Between Inflammatory Process and Progression of Alzheimer's Disease

Researchers showed that NLRP3 (NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3) in microglial cell is activated in Alzheimer’s disease and contributes to pathology in mice, suggesting that NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition represents a new therapeutic intervention for the disease (Nature)

Catalytic Mechanism of Human Rab GTPase

Rab GTPases, key regulators of vesicular transport, hydrolyze GTP very slowly unless assisted by Rab GTPase-activating proteins (RabGAPs). By combining X-ray structure analysis and time-resolved FTIR spectroscopy, researchers revealed the detailed molecular reaction mechanism of a complex between human Rab and RabGAP in atomic detail (PNAS)

New Compound Reverses Fatty Liver Disease

Researchers demonstrated that the first selective synthetic inverse agonist (SR9238) for liver X receptors (LXRα and LXRβ) effectively suppresses hepatic lipogenesis, inflammation and hepatic lipid accumulation in a mouse model (ACS Chem. Biol.)

Novel Target for HIV Infection: Sialoadhesin

Dendritic cell receptor Sialoadhesin (Siglec-1 or CD169) is responsible for HIV entrance through the interaction of viral membrane gangliosides, and could therefore become a new therapeutic target (PLoS Biol.)

British Medical Journal Offers Dose of Fun for Holiday

For the past 30 years, BMJ has devoted its Christmas-week issue to a lighter and sometimes brighter side of medicine, publishing unusual articles that vary from simply amusing to bizarre to creative or potentially important. All are based on methodologically sound science (BMJ)

Interactome3D: Adding Structural Details to Protein Networks

Researchers provide structural details at atomic resolution for over 12,000 protein-protein interactions in eight model organisms (Nat. Methods)

Nanoparticles Make Tumor Signals to be Detected in Urine

Researchers created nanoparticles coated with peptides that are cleaved by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) overexpressed in tumor cells. The peptides then accumulate in the urine, where they can be detected using mass spectrometry (Nat. Biotechnol.)

Hypertension Traced to Source in Brain

Researchers showed that endoplasmic reticulum stress in the brain subfornical organ, a region outside the blood-brain barrier, mediates angiotensin-dependent hypertension (J. Clin. Invest.)

Drug Used to Treat HIV Might Defuse Deadly Staph Infections

CCR5, the receptor HIV uses to gain entry into T cells, was found to be the receptor for the pore-forming bi-component leukotoxin (LukE-LukD) S. aureus releases. Researchers showed that cell killing induce by the leukotoxin is blocked by CCR5 receptor antagonists, including the HIV drug maraviroc (Nature)

Resurrection of Extinct Enzymes

Researchers examined gene duplication events and changes in specificity and activity in evolution of a family of yeast enzymes that digest a group of sugars related to maltose (PLoS Biol.)

Skin Patches for More Medicines?

Transdermal delivery of drugs has proved challenging as the stratum corneum allows the passage of only small, oil-soluble molecules such as nicotine and estrogen. A study reports a surprising finding that Avicins, plant-derived glycosylated triterpenes with molecular weights greater than 2000, penetrate the human skin on their own (PNAS)

Healthy Genetic Variants Used to Make New Cholesterol Drugs

By mimicking variation of PCSK9 gene in people with naturally low levels of cholesterol, drug developers are evaluating PCSK9 inhibitors to create a new drug

Achilles' Heel of Ulcer Bug, H. Pylori

Helicobacter pylori uses urea channel to allow in urea from gastric juice and covert urea into ammonia, which neutralizes stomach acid. Researchers solved the structure of the urea channel (Nature)

Production of targeted cancer therapeutics in algal chloroplasts

Immunotoxins consist of an antibody domain for binding target cells and molecules of a toxin that inhibits the proliferation of the targeted cell. Researchers genetically engineered Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a green alga, to produce immunotoxin proteins (PNAS)

Disgust Circuit: Flies Sniff out and Avoid Spoiled Food

Researchers revealed that fruit flies detect toxic molds by sensing a volatile compound geosmin (“earthy smell”), which exclusively triggers a dedicated signaling pathway in the flies’ olfactory system via odorant receptor (Or56a). This circuit, upon activation, causes innate aversion and also prevents egg laying and feeding (Cell)

How Calorie Restriction Influences Longevity

Compound β-hydroxybutyrate (βOHB), a so-called "ketone body", is produced during a prolonged low-calorie or ketogenic diet. Researchers showed that at βOHB blocks histone deacetylases (HDACs) that would otherwise promote oxidative stress, thus protecting cells from aging (Science)

Obesity Reversed in Mice by Manipulating Production of an Enzyme

Researchers discovered that Tyk2 (tyrosine-protein kinase-2) helps regulate obesity in mice through the differentiation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) (Cell Metabolism)

Artificial Tongue Tastes Bitter Compounds

By coating polymer nanotubes with a human taste receptor, researchers made an electronic tongue that can taste bitter compounds at femtomolar levels (Nano Lett.)

Domain Antibody Inhibitors of Amyloid Fibril Assembly

Researchers reported that grafting small amyloidogenic peptides (6–10 residues) into the complementarity-determining regions of a single-domain (VH) antibody yields potent domain antibody inhibitors of amyloid formation (PNAS)

Novel Target for Alzheimer's Drug Development: Beta-arrestin-2

Researchers showed that β-arrestin 2 regulates Aβ generation and γ-secretase activity in Alzheimer's disease (Nat. Med.)

Novel Target for Alzheimer's Drug Development: Glyoxalase I

Researchers reported that restoration of glyoxalase enzyme activity precludes cognitive dysfunction in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease (ACS Chem. Neurosci.)

Worm Defends Itself by Chemical Detox

Researchers found that the roundworm C. elegans protects itself by glycosylating bacterial toxins it encounters (ACS Chem. Biol.)

Glowing Fish Shed Light On Metabolism

Of the thousands of compounds tested in the zebrafish, researchers identified two compounds as activators of fasting metabolism (Nat. Chem. Biol.)

Cell Surface Transporters Exploited for Cancer Drug Delivery

Researchers reported that transporter MCT1 (monocarboxylate transporter 1) on the surface of tumor cells is responsible for cellular entry of 3-bromopyruvate (3-BrPA), a drug candidate that inhibits glycolysis (Nat. Genet.)

X-ray Laser Produces First Protein Structure

Researchers have determined the structure of the precursor form of cysteine protease cathepsin B, key to the survival of the single-celled parasite Trypanosoma brucei (Science)

New Use of Old Drug: Roche, Broad Institute Band Together

Swiss drug giant Roche has agreed to let the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard screen more than 300 compounds that fell from grace during development at Roche for potential new uses

A Step Toward a Universal Cancer Blood Test

By sequencing the abnormal DNA that a tumor releases into a person's bloodstream, researchers are now one step closer to a universal cancer test. Although the technique is now only sensitive enough to detect advanced cancers, the test could eventually pick up early tumors as well (Sci. Transl. Med.)

Toward Treatments for COPD and Asthma

Researchers designed MAPK13 enzyme inhibitors to limit excess mucus production in airway cells that leads to life-threatening respiratory conditions including COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and asthma (J. Clin. Invest.)

New Use of Old Drug: Antiparasite Drug Effective for Tuberculosis

Researchers reported that a well-established avermectin family of drugs used to treat parasitic diseases is showing surprising potential as a therapy for tuberculosis (Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy)

A closer look at the genetic package of influenza virus

Two research teams reported the structure of influenza’s genomic RNA and associated proteins including RNA polymerase (2 papers in Science)

Tomato defense weapon

Researchers reintroduced the genes in a biosynthetic pathway for herbivore-deterring terpenes found in wild-type strains into commercial tomato plants. The plants produce 7-epizingiberene in their stems and leaves but not in their fruit, so tomato flavor should not be altered (PNAS)

Protein Folding: Past and Future

Researchers review the progress that has been made on three central questions: What is the code that relates sequence to structure? How do proteins fold so fast? Can protein structure be computationally predicted? (Science)

Hatching Ideas, and Companies, by the Dozens at MIT

Dr. Robert Langer, 64, at MIT has helped start 25 companies whose products treat cancer, diabetes, heart disease and schizophrenia, among other diseases, and even thicken hair.

Alzheimer's symptoms alleviated in mice

Researchers showed that pathological changes typical of Alzheimer's disease were reduced in mice by blockade of immune system transmitters (IL)-12 and/or IL-23 (Nat. Med.)

Autism symptoms reversed in mice

Neural 'hyperconnections' caused by runaway production of synaptic protein neuroligin can be undone (Nature)

Hypersomnia: Putting Themselves to Sleep

A new study suggests that some people suffer from excessive sleepiness due to a naturally occurring compound that acts like a sedative (Sci. Transl. Med.)

How Yeast Protein Breaks Up Amyloid Fibrils and Disordered Clumps

Researchers showed that for stable amyloids, yeast heat shock protein 104 (Hsp104) needs all six of its subunits, which together make a hexamer, to pull the fibrils apart, while for the non-amyloid clumps, Hsp104 required only one of its six subunits (Cell)

Accelerating Drug Discovery by Venture Philanthropy

Patient advocacy groups use venture capitalists’ tactics to remove some of the risk around a new drug target or class of compounds

Misfolded protein transmits Parkinson’s from cell to cell

Researchers injected a misfolded synthetic version of the protein α-synuclein into the brains of normal mice and saw the key characteristics of Parkinson’s disease develop, suggesting that the disease is spread from one nerve cell to another by the malformed protein (Science)

How Salmonella Bacteria Inactivate Immune Defenses

Researchers discovered that Salmonella injects an effector protein SifA to interfere with the trafficking of transport carriers that restocks the lysosomes with hydrolytic enzymes, protecting itself from being engulfed (Science)

New Way for Antibiotic Resistance to Spread

Researchers found an unlikely recipe for antibiotic resistant bacteria: Mix cow dung and soil, and add urine infused with metabolized antibiotic, then antibiotic-resistant E. coli will survive in the soil (PLoS ONE)

Alzheimer’s Tied to Mutation Harming Immune Response

In a surprising coincidence, two groups of researchers working from entirely different starting points have converged on a mutated gene involved in another aspect of Alzheimer’s disease: the mutation of TREM2 is suspected of interfering with the brain’s ability to prevent the buildup of plaque (2 papers in New Engl. J. Med.)

Open Access Initiative Reveals Drug Hits for Neglected Tropical Diseases

The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) announced the identification of three chemical series targeting the treatment of neglected tropical diseases – two for sleeping sickness and one for leishmaniasis

Targeted estrogen delivery: metabolic syndrome

Researchers reported the development of a gut hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) - nuclear hormone estrogen conjugate that improves insulin secretion, blood glucose, and body weight. The peptide-based targeting strategy prevents hallmark side effects of estrogen (Nature Medicine)

Understanding Antibiotic Resistance Using Crystallography and Simulation

Researchers combined X-ray crystallography with molecular dynamics simulations to investigate how a carbapenemase, one of the β-lactamases, recognizes and breaks down a carbapenem, a potent β-lactam antibiotics (J. Amer. Chem. Soc.)

It's Not Just What You Eat, but When You Eat It

Researchers showed that deletion of the clock gene Arntl, also known as Bmal1, in fat cells, causes mice to become obese, with a shift in the timing of when this nocturnal species normally eats (Nature Medicine)

Wound Healing and Immunity

Researchers showed that coagulation factor X, an important component of the blood clotting cascade, binds to adenovirus that has entered the blood stream, thereby allowing the immune system to sense the invader (Science)

Promising Biomarker Protein for Type 2 Diabetes

Researchers found that the protein SFRP4 (secreted frizzled-related protein 4), which plays a role in inflammatory processes in the body, was increased in serum from type 2 diabetes patients several years before the diagnosis (Cell Metabolism)

Centenary: The birth of X-ray crystallography

A century ago this week, physicist Lawrence Bragg announced an equation that revolutionized fields from mineralogy to biology

Designing protein folds from scratch

By following a set of rules, researchers designed five proteins from scratch that fold reliably into predicted conformations (Nature)

One-stop shop for disease genes

NIH database ClinVar integrates data from clinical genetic testing labs and literature. It also provides, for the first time, a central place in which clinical testing laboratories can deposit their data

Metabolomics Sheds New Light on Mechanism of Antibiotics

A 60-year-old tuberculosis drug, p-aminosalicylic acid (PAS), acts as a prodrug rather than by inhibiting a key bacterial enzyme directly (Science)

New Target Enzyme: Alzheimer's Disease

Researchers found that inactivation of monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), known for its role in metabolizing a cannabinoid produced in the brain, reduced the production and accumulation of beta amyloid plaques (Cell Reports)

New Target Enzyme: Food Allergy

Researchers reported that levels of the enzyme Pim 1 kinase rise in the small intestines of peanut-allergic mice. Inhibiting activity of Pim 1 markedly reduced the allergic response to peanuts (J. Allergy & Clinical Immunol.)

Heady Discovery for Beer Fans: Beer Foam Promoting Protein

Researchers isolated the cell wall protein Cfg1p from Saccharomyces pastorianus, which is responsible for beer foam stabilization (J. Agric. Food Chem.)

Structural genomics: Open collaboration is key to new drugs

Examples resulting from open collaborations between Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC) and scientists from industry and academia include inhibitors of proteins bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4), lysine-specific demethylase 6B (JMJD3) and histone-lysine N-methyltransferase EHMT2

Disassembly of Key Allergy-Inducing Complexes

Researchers discovered that an engineered protein inhibitor called DARPin E2-79 disarms IgE antibodies, pivotal players in acute allergies, by detaching the antibody from IgE-specific receptors FcRs (Nature)

Eating Without Fear: Treatments for Food Allergies

Immunotherapies and drugs offer the promise of safety to food-allergy sufferers and their loved ones

Drug Used to Treat Glaucoma Actually Grows Human Hair

A study shows how the FDA-approved glaucoma drug, bimatoprost, causes human hair to regrow (FASEB J)

Non-coding antisense RNA that stimulates protein production

Researchers found that a particular type of antisense RNAs stimulate the translation of the protein coding mRNAs in contrast with the current belief that antisense RNAs are associated to negative regulation of protein translation (Nature)

October 16, 2012,RIKEN Press Release,

Biological Basis of the Placebo Response

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is an important enzyme in the catabolism of dopamine, which is a possible integrator of the placebo response. Researchers reported that the COMT val158met polymorphism is a potential biomarker of placebo response (PLoS ONE)

3-D Structure of an Unmodified GPCR in Its Native Environment

CXCR1 is a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) to interleukin-8, which is a major mediator of immune and inflammatory responses implicated in many disorders. Using NMR, researchers reported the three-dimensional structure of human CXCR1 in phospholipid bilayers (Nature)

Electron Microscopy: Protein-Labeling for Visualization of Cellular Proteins

Researchers designed a green fluorescent protein (GFP) equivalent for electron microscopy - an ascorbate peroxidase (APX) tag that allows scientists to label and visualize proteins with unprecedented clarity (Nat. Biotech.)

Transcription Initiation Complex Analyzed

Structure shows how RNA polymerase recognizes gene sites and starts transcription (Science)

New Hope for Treating Pancreatic Cancer

Researchers showed that Minnelide, a water-soluble analog of triptolide derived from plants in China, is highly effective in reducing pancreatic tumor growth (Sci. Transl. Med.)

Unlikely Pair Share Toxin

Study reveals that a predatory sea snail and butterfly rely on a common 63-amino-acid peptide toxin called glacontryphan-M for defense (PNAS)

Polymer Matrix Produced by Cold Virus Protein Traps Tumor Suppressors

Researchers revealed that E4-ORF3, a cancer-causing protein encoded by adenovirus, self-assembles into a disordered, web-like structure that captures and inactivates different tumor suppressors (Cell)

How Appetite Hormone Leptin Binds to its Receptor

Researchers applied single-particle electron microscopy (EM) to characterize the architecture of the extracellular region of leptin receptor LEP-R alone and in complex with leptin (Mol. Cell)

Structure of GPCR: Neurotensin Bound to its Receptor

Neuropeptide hormone neurotensin modulates the activity of dopaminergic systems, analgesia and the inhibition of food intake in the brain and it regulates a range of digestive processes in the gut. Researchers reported the structure of neurotensin receptor NTSR1, a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), bound to neurotensin (Nature)

Neurotensin Increases Risk of Diabetes, Heart Attack and Breast Cancer in Woman

Researchers showed that plasma neurotensin is significantly associated with the development of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and breast cancer (JAMA)

Early Detection of Pleural Mesothelioma

Researchers identified fibulin-3 as a blood biomarker for pleural mesothelioma (NEJM)

Molecular Chaperone Therapy for Rare Lysosomal Storage Disorder

Schindler/Kanzaki disease, one of inherited lysosomal storage diseases, is caused by a deficiency in the α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (α-NAGAL) enzyme. With the aid of structural analyses, researchers showed that the iminosugar DGJNAc can stabilize and chaperone the defective α-NAGAL (PNAS)

Acetylene hydratase activity of the iron-sulphur protein IspH reductase

The iron-sulfur protein IspH is a reductase in the terpene metabolism of several pathogens. With the aid of structural analyses, researchers showed that IspH can hydrate acetylenes to aldehydes and ketones in addition to its role as a reductase (Nature Commun.)

NMR Visualization: RNA Structural Transitions towards Exited States

Researchers looked at transient structural changes in three types of RNA molecules, two of RNAs came from the HIV virus and an RNA involved in quality control inside the ribosome (Nature)

How Ketamine Defeats Chronic Depression

Researchers showed that in a series of steps ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, triggers release of neurotransmitter glutamate, which in turn stimulates growth of synapses (Science)

Bitter Taste Receptors Regulate Upper Respiratory Defense System

Researchers showed that T2R38 taste receptor polymorphisms underlie susceptibility to upper respiratory infection (J. Clin. Invest)

Parallel Evolution of Insects to Beat Poison in Plants

Researchers found that poison-leaf-eating insects have evolved mutations at a handful of positions in an ion transport protein ATPα. The mutations block any ingested cardenolides from binding (Science)

Painkiller Found In Snake Venom

Researchers found that the peptides isolated from the venom of black mamba snakes relieve pain by blocking acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) in the skin and central nervous system in mice (Nature)

Broccoli Can Silence Bacteria

Research shows that natural isothiocyanates produced by broccoli interfere with bug chatter (quorum sensing) by binding to communication proteins (MedChemComm)

Structural Biology: How A Bacterial Protein Outwits Arsenate

Hydrogen bond drives preference for phosphate, with implications for arsenic-based life saga (Nature)

Early Detection of Asbestos-Relateded Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Researchers discovered a panel of 13 blood protein markers to detect malignant mesothelioma (PLoS ONE)

Irreversible inhibitor of protein disulfide isomerase for ovarian cancer treatment

Researchers discovered a cytotoxic agent PACMA31 acts as an irreversible small-molecule inhibitor of protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) that is highly expressed in ovarian cancer, forming a covalent bond with the active site cysteines of PDI (PNAS)

Lab-Evolved Enzyme Starves Tumors

Realizing that cancer cells consume more methionine than healthy cells do, researchers modified cystathionine γ-lyase into a novel human enzyme that degrades the amino acid (ACS Chem. Biol.)

Obesity Hormone Found in Fruit Flies

Researchers found that nutrient-sensing protein Upd2 in flies is the "functional homolog" of human hormone leptin that helps control appetite and metabolism in humans (Cell)

Neutron Structure of Human Enzyme-Drug Complex

Researchers used neutron crystallography to determine the structure of a human enzyme, carbonic anhydrase, bound to a clinical drug, acetazolamide. They visualized hydrogens (or deuteriums), hydrogen bonding, and charge states --- molecular features that are not visible with conventional X-ray crystallography (J. Am. Chem Soc.)

Will an Aspirin a Day Keep Cancer Away?

A series of studies has offered the first evidence from placebo-controlled clinical trials that regular taking low doses of aspirin wards off several types of cancers (Lancet & Lancet Oncology)

Cancer Research Yields Unexpected New Way to Produce Nylon

In their quest for a cancer cure, researchers made a serendipitous discovery --- an enzyme necessary for cheaper and greener ways to produce nylon (Nature Chemical Biology)

Maize cells produce enzyme-replacement drug

Researchers produced alpha-L-iduronidase in maize by controlling protein modifications with plant-specific sugar molecules for the potential treatment of a lysosomal storage disease (Nature Commun.)

How Deadly Marburg Virus Silences Immune System

Researchers determined the structure of Marburg virus VP35 protein which surrounds the virus's double-stranded RNA, masking it from immune system detection (PLoS Pathogens)

D-Protein Inhibits Key Drug Target

Researchers used native chemical ligation, mirror-image phage display, and racemic protein crystallography to identify the first D-protein antagonist of vascular endothelial growth factor type A (VEGF-A) (PNAS)

Cholesterol-Cancer Link

Researchers demonstrated anticancer activity of the cholesterol exporter ABCA1 by keeping mitochondrial cholesterol low (Cell Reports)

Membrane Protein Network Expands

Using tandem mass spectrometry, researchers analyzed the purified yeast membrane proteins (MPs) and their interaction partners, identifying 1,726 MP - protein interactions, 1,110 of which had never been seen before (Nature)

Wiggly Proteins Prevent Aggregation

Researchers can improve the solubility of aggregation-prone proteins by tagging them with a disordered protein sequence that wiggles enough to disrupt protein clumping (Biochemistry)

Amino-acid deficiency underlies rare form of autism

Genetic mutations in metabolic pathway could be fixed with nutritional supplement (Science)

Databases fight funding cuts

Funding cuts by the US National Library of Medicine (NLM), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), are threatening five widely used biological databases and tools including BMRB (Biological Magnetic Resonance Data Bank) and CASP (Critical Assessment of Techniques for Protein Structure Prediction)

Human Genome Is Much More Than Just Genes

Researchers at ENCODE (Encyclopedia of DNA Elements) project reported that about 80% of the genome is biologically active and that much of RNA is an end product and is not used to make proteins (Nature, Science, Genome Research and Genome Biology)

Alzheimer’s Drugs: Hopes Pinned on Pre-emptive Clinical Trials

Three studies are set to begin by next year that will test whether anti-amyloid drugs can forestall early symptoms of Alzheimer’s and arrest cognitive decline in patients who, on the basis of genetic predisposition or amyloid levels, have been identified as being at increased risk of developing the disease

Cholesterol Inhibitors Block Lymphatic Vessel Growth

Chemical library screening identifies statins as inhibitors of lymphangiogenesis which plays an important role in promoting cancer metastasis to sentinel lymph nodes (PNAS)

Structure of the haptoglobin - hemoglobin complex

Researchers solved the structure of the protecting protein complex that forms when hemoglobin is released from red cells and becomes toxic with potential damaging effects on tissues (Nature)

The tuberculosis test you can do at home

Fluorescent probes cleaved from specific substrates of secreted tuberculosis (TB) β-lactamase enzyme can detect TB bacteria in sputum samples using a homemade light box and a mobile-phone camera (Nat. Chem.)

Specialist Enzymes vs. Generalist Enzymes

By analyzing metabolic networks in bacteria, researchers reported that specialist enzymes catalyzing a single chemical reaction on one specific substrate are essential to the growth of cell while generalist enzymes acting on a variety of substrates weakly contribute to the cell growth (Science)

How Oceans Can Produce Methane

Researchers revealed that a marine microbe called Nitrosopumilus maritimus has the biosynthetic machinery to make methylphosphonate, a molecule that other ocean organisms then metabolize to methane (Science)

Soil May Be Source of Drug-Resistant Bacteria

Researchers reported that dirt-dwelling microbes contain many of the same antibiotic resistance genes as human pathogens (Science)

Trendy 'Microgreens' Are More Nutritious Than Their Mature Counterparts

Analyses of the concentrations of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), carotenoids, phylloquinone (vitamin K1), and tocopherols (vitamin E) in 25 commercially edible microgreens showed that microgreens generally have higher concentrations of healthful vitamins and carotenoids than their mature counterparts (J. Agric. Food Chem.)

A New Look at Membrane Proteins in Living Cells

Researchers presented a label-free plasmonic microscopy method to map the distribution and the local binding kinetics of membrane proteins in their native environment (Nature Chemistry)

Enlisting the AIDS Virus to Fight Cancer

Exploiting the error-prone replication machinery of HIV-1 and its ability to stably introduce transgenes in human cells, researchers described the creation and screening of a library of 80 mutant proteins of the human deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) gene, involved in the activation of nucleoside analogues used in cancer treatment (PLoS Genetics)

Compounds Activate Glycolytic Enzyme to Interfere With Tumor Formation

Cancer cells use more glucose than healthy cells, feeding the growth of some types of tumors. Researchers identified compounds that delay the formation of tumors in mice, by targeting a pyruvate kinase (PKM2), which uses glucose to make additional cancer cells instead of energy production (Nat. Chem. Biol.)

Multiple Myeloma Drug Carfilzomib: From Discovery to Drug

How an academic pursuit to understand epoxomicin became the cancer treatment carfilzomib

Disarming Bacterial Type IV Secretion

Researchers targeted Brucella protein VirB8 in the type IV secretion system which translocates its virulence factors to the host organism. High-throughput screening identified several potent and specific inhibitors, and the target-binding site of these inhibitors was identified by X-ray crystallography (Chemistry & Biology)

Compound Boosts Effect of Vaccines against HIV and Flu

Researchers showed that polyethyleneimine is a potent adjuvant for test vaccines against HIV, flu and herpes when given in mice (Nature Biotechnology)

Small Molecules Target Toll-Like Receptors

Researchers developed a probe binds at the interface of the horseshoe-shaped TLR1 and TLR2 proteins, implicated in autoimmune diseases and cancers

Whole-Genome Sequencing Tracks a Hospital’s Deadly Outbreak

Researchers revealed a totally unexpected chain of transmission of Klebsiella pneumoniae resistant to nearly all antibiotics and the organism that can lurk undetected for much longer than anyone had known. The method used may eventually revolutionize how hospitals deal with hospital-acquired infections (Sci. Transl. Med.)

Systematically Exploring Evolution to Accelerate Drug Discovery

Evolutionarily repurposed networks revealed the well-known antifungal drug thiabendazole to be a novel vascular disrupting agent (PLoS Biology)

Potential Contraceptive Pill for Men

Researchers reported a compound called JQ1, which was originally developed as a cancer therapy, can also cause reversible infertility in male mice without apparent side effects for the rodents or their offspring (Cell)

Faster Route to Prostaglandins

Organic Synthesis: Shortened synthetic sequence could lead to less expensive drugs, novel analogs (Nature)

A New Use of an Investigational Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug for Ulcerative Colitis

An investigational drug currently under FDA review for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis was found to show positive results in patients with ulcerative colitis (NEJM)

E. coli strain linked to cancer in Mice

Researchers reported that DNA-damaging bacterium flourishes in the guts of mice with inflammatory bowel disease (Science)

Video Article: Interactions between Malaria Parasite and HIV

A new video article describes a technique that investigates how P. falciparum-infected red blood cells affect the replication of HIV-1 in monocyte-derived macrophages (J. Visualized Experiments)

Saccharomyces cerevisiae and social wasps

Humans have been benefiting from S. cerevisiae for at least 9,000 years, but no one has known where it spends its winters. Researches revealed the wasps have S. cerevisiae in their guts (PNAS)

Taking a Different Tack with Amyloid-beta

Researchers designed brain-penetrating compounds that block the thromboxane A2 receptor, a GPCR whose activation by oxidized lipids leads to an increase in amyloid-beta production (ACS Chem. Neurosci.)

Structure-Based Drug Design: Targeting the Influenza Virus Polymerase

Using X-ray crystallography and in vitro endonuclease activity assay, researchers developed inhibitors of the endonuclease of the polymerase (PLoS Pathogens)

Peptide Engineering: Database filtering yields effective peptides against MRSA

Researchers described a filtering method for generating compounds from their lab’s anti-microbial peptide database (J. Am. Chem. Soc.)

Transport Engineering: Improve the Nutritional Value of Crops

Researchers identified two transporter proteins responsible for long-distance translocation of toxic glucosinolate defense compounds to seeds (Nature)

Video: How the Cell Swallows

Researchers utilized time-resolved electron tomography to produce a 3-dimensional movie of how cells 'swallow' nutrients and other molecules by engulfing them (Cell)

Evidence Grows for Existence of Cancer Stem Cells

Three papers reported evidence that in certain brain, skin, and intestinal tumors, cancer stem cells are the source of tumor growth (two in Nature, one in Science)

Discovering New Uses for Old Drugs

Researchers developed a comprehensive new computer method that uses 11 factors to quickly pair likely drugs and diseases (J. Med. Chem.)

Dormant HIV gets rude awakening

Researchers tackle virus particles hiding in the immune system as part of efforts to find a cure for AIDS

Retinal Degeneration: Small Molecule Enables Blind Mice to Respond to Light

Researchers developed the photoswitch molecule AAQ. In the dark, AAQ is in its trans form, which blocks a potassium channel, but in white light it isomerizes to its cis form, unblocking the channel and allowing specific retinal neurons to fire, sending visual input to the brain (Neuron)

How Amino Acid Malnutrition Leads to Inflamed Intestines

Researchers identified ACE2 (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2) as a key regulator of dietary amino acid homeostasis, innate immunity, gut microbial ecology, and transmissible susceptibility to colitis (Nature)

Protein Unfolds and Refolds for New Function

Researchers revealed that an alpha-helix to beta-barrel domain switch transforms the transcription factor RfaH into a translation factor (Cell)

Targeted Protein Degradation: Destroy, Rather Than Inhibit, Target Proteins

Researchers discovered that proteins 'tagged' with small, synthetic, hydrophobic molecules are degraded by the cell's quality-control machinery. This finding could open up a wide range of proteins as targets for drug-discovery programs (Chem. Biol.)

Video: Protein Folding Simulation

Data from theoretical simulations of the folding of green fluorescent protein (GFP) agree well with previous experimental results on the thermodynamics and kinetics of the protein’s folding (PNAS)

Close-Up of G Protein-Coupled Receptor (GPCR)

The 1.8 angstrom high-resolution structure of a reengineered human A2a adenosine receptor revealed the potential role of structured water molecules, sodium ions, and lipids/cholesterol in GPCR stabilization and function (Science)

Towards Biological Clock-Based Therapeutics of Diabetes

Cryptochrome (CRY) regulates circadian clocks and also regulates glucose production in the liver. Researchers identified KL001, a small molecule that specifically interacts with CRY and prevents ubiquitin-dependent degradation of CRY, resulting in lengthening of the circadian period (Science)

Protective Mutation Slows Beta Amyloid Production

A study of a rare gene mutation in the amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) gene that protects people against Alzheimer’s disease provides the strongest evidence yet that excessive levels of beta amyloid are a driving force in the disease (Nature)

An Alzheimer's Warning 25 Years Before Symptoms Show

The rise and fall of proteins Abeta42 and tau can indicate dementia's onset decades before the appearance of symptoms (NEJM)

Peptide Hormone Adiponectin Curbs Depressive-Like Symptoms in Mice

All types of current antidepressants increase the risk for type 2 diabetes. Adiponectin, with its anti-diabetic activity, would serve as an innovative therapeutic target for depression treatments (PNAS)

Targeted Inhibition: Prodrug from Weed for Caner Therapy

Researchers engineered a prodrug G202 consisting of toxic thapsigargin from a weed Thapsia garganica coupled with tumor cell membrane aintigen-specific peptide (Sci. Transl. Med.)

Sequencing Search for a Cancer’s Vulnerable Target

A leukemia researcher developed the disease himself. Using the whole genome and mRNA sequencing, his colleagues at Washington University in St. Louis found an overactive gene FLT3 that was treatable with a drug sunitinib (Sutent) for advanced kidney cancer

Signaling Pathway that Controls both Obesity and Atherosclerosis

Researchers demonstrated that mice deficient in the Wip1 gene were resistant to weight gain and atherosclerosis via increased activity of the Ataxia telangiectasia mutated gene (ATM) which decreased mTor signaling, resulting in increased autophagy (Cell Metabolism)

Science in three dimensions: The print revolution

Three-dimensional printers are opening up new worlds to research

Cancer-assisting proteins: why targeted drug therapies rapidly lose their potency

Cancers can resist destruction by drugs with the help of proteins such as hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) recruited from surrounding tissues (2 papers in Nature)

Toward an Alternative for Antibiotics to Fight Bacterial Infections?

Researchers discovered that mice that do not produce the receptor protein NLRP6 in the immune response are better protected against bacterial infections. Compounds that neutralize NLRP6 could be a possible treatment option (Nature)

Weight-loss drug wins FDA approval

Belviq (lorcaserin) suppresses food cravings by mimicking the effects of serotonin in the brain, making people eat less and feel full (Obesity)

Peroxidase-producing white rot fungus capable of decaying lignin in wood

A comparative study of the genomes of 31 fungi has shed light on how white rot fungi evolved the ability to degrade lignin, the irregularly cross-linked phenolic polymer in the cellulose matrix (Science)

How Supermarket Tomatoes Taste Bland

Tomatoes from plants with a wild-type SlGLK2 gene have uneven pigmentation, whereas those from plants with a common mutation, which causes its protein to be truncated and inactive, have more uniform color but less sweetness and fewer sensory molecules such as lycopene (Science)

New drug candidates for treating radiation poisoning

Protein thrombomodulin helps generate activated protein C, which has both anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory activities. Researchers found that intravenous infusion of recombinant forms of either thrombomodulin or activated protein C protected mice from death after total body radiation (Nat. Med.)

Neuritin Protein Produces Antidepressant Actions

Researchers showed that neuritin knockdown produces depressive-like behaviors in rats and boosting their neuritin protein levels improves their symptoms (PNAS)

Single Amino Acid Forms Fibrils

The amino acid phenylalanine assembles into toxic fibrils, suggesting that the disease phenylketonuria could be a type of amyloid disease (Nat. Chem. Biol.)

Innate Immunity: Defensive Protein Weaves Cobweb-Like Nanonets to Snag Microbes

Researchers found that human alpha-defensin 6 (HD6) binds to microbial surfaces and forms "nanonets" that surround, entangle and disable microbes, preventing bacteria from attaching to or invading intestinal cells (Science)

Prions Partner Up With DNA

The disease-causing proteins bind to DNA and form toxic aggregates (Biochemistry)

Compounds Pinch Off Reactive Oxygen Species at the Source

A screen for compounds that interfere with assembly of the Nox2 (NADPH Oxidase 2) enzyme rather than targeting the catalytic site led to the identification of ebselen, a drug that has been tested previously in clinical trials in acute stroke and more recently, hearing loss (Chem. Biol.)

Three-Dimensional Structures of Membrane Proteins from Genomic Sequencing

Researchers showed that amino acid covariation in proteins, extracted from the evolutionary sequence record, can be used to fold transmembrane proteins (Cell)

Muscular Dystrophy: MG53 Protein Is Shown to Repair Cell and Tissue Damage

Recombinant human MG53 (TRIM72) protein purified from Escherichia coli fermentation provided protection against chemical, mechanical, or ultraviolet-induced damage to both muscle and nonmuscle cells (Sci. Transl. Med.)

Apple Peel Compound Boosts Brown Fat, Reduces Obesity in Mice

Researchers showed that ursolic acid found abundantly in apple peel reduces obesity and its associated health problems by increasing the amount of muscle and brown fat, two tissues recognized for their calorie-burning properties (PLoS One)

Cancer: Antibody-Drug Conjugates

Following the recent success of two antibody-drug conjugates, which use a targeted antibody to deliver potent chemotherapy directly to cancerous cells sparing healthy ones, companies are focused on developing the next generation of the cancer technology

Inhibitor of Shuttle Protein Shows Promise in Acute Leukemia

Researchers reported the anti-leukemic activity of a novel inhibitor of CRM1 (Exportin-1), a nuclear export receptor involved in the active transport of tumor suppressors such as p53 and nucleophosmin (Blood)

Structures of Immune Fighter STING Protein

STING (stimulator of interferon genes) was shown to directly bind c-di-GMP (cyclic diguanylate monophosphate) secreted from bacteria and to elicit strong interferon responses, which activates other immune cells that kill the invading parasites (Mol. Cell)

Budget cuts threaten Japanese scientists’ pay

Scientists in Japan are concerned about proposed belt-tightening measures that would decrease many public-sector salaries by up to 10%

Molecular Gastronomy Cooks Up Strange Plate-Fellows

Controversial theory of flavor pairing seeks to illuminate why foods go together well

New Way to Hit Alzheimer’s Target: Caspase-6 Inhibitor

Inhibitors against caspases have been found to cause serious side effects because the active sites of caspases are very similar to one another. Agent with novel mechanism improves selectivity for caspase-6 enzyme (Nat. Chem. Biol.)

Plant Hormone Salicylic Acid (1): Identification of Two Receptors

The identification of two receptors for salicylic acid reveals how the hormone controls cell death and survival during plant immune responses (Nature)

Plant Hormone Salicylic Acid (2): Pseudomonas Inhibits Salicylic Acid Accumulation

Toxin coronatine produced from plant pathogen Pseudomona syringae activates the jasmonic acid signaling pathway through mimicry of jasmonate and suppresses salicylic acid-mediated defense (Cell Host&Microbe)

How Bacterium Helicobacter Pylori Navigates through Acidic Stomach

The structure of H. pylori's acid-sensing receptor TlpB revealed that the receptor has an external protrusion bound by urea with high affinity and is poised to sense the external environment (Structure)

HIV-1 Inhibitors Targeting the Nucleocapsid Protein

Researchers identified two compounds that inhibit HIV's nucleocapsid protein, which is unlikely to mutate into drug-resistant forms (J. Med. Chem.)

Genome Data Aided Protein Structure Prediction

By exploiting the increasingly large database of genomic sequence information, researchers showed an increase in the accuracy of predicting the structures of folded proteins (PNAS)

Five More Companies Join NIH's Drug Reuse Program

A new program will let academic researchers test 58 abandoned compounds for new uses

Large-scale Computer Prediction of Drug Side Effects

Researchers used a computational strategy to predict the activity of 656 marketed drugs on 73 unintended ‘side-effect’ targets, based on the similarity between their chemical structures and those molecules known to cause side effects. Approximately half of the predictions were confirmed (Nature)

Notebooks Shed Light on Streptomycin Discovery

A lab notebook discovered in a dusty archive at Rutgers may help settle a 70-year argument over credit for the Nobel-winning discovery of streptomycin

First Tabletop X-Ray Laser

Potential applications of lab-scale source of attosecond pulses include monitoring and analyzing short-timescale chemical processes such as charge, spin, light, and energy interactions (Science)

Visualizing transient protein-folding intermediates

Researchers showed that transient states during protein folding can be characterized by measuring the fluorescence of tryptophan residues (Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol.)

Novel Druggable Brain GPCR Target for Appetite Control

Researchers revealed that G protein-coupled purinergic receptor GPR17 mediates orexigenic effects of FoxO1 in AgRP (agouti-related peptide) neurons (Cell)

Room temperature femtosecond X-ray diffraction of photosystem II microcrystals

Researchers demonstrated that the ”probe before destroy” approach using an X-ray free electron laser works even for the highly-sensitive Mn4CaO5 cluster in PS II at room temperature (PNAS)

Rink between Fungus in the Gut and Colitis

Researchers showed that the mammalian gut contains a rich fungal community that interacts with the immune system through the innate immune receptor Dectin-1 (CLEC7A) and identified a polymorphism in the gene for Dectin-1 that is strongly linked to a severe form of ulcerative colitis (Science)

'Good Bugs' Can 'Turn Bad' Outside the Intestine

Researchers showed that interleukin-22 (IL-22)–producing innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) regulate selective containment of lymphoid-resident bacteria to prevent systemic inflammation associated with chronic diseases (Science)

Virus Powered Microgenerator

Researchers used the M13 virus, which is harmless to humans, to create a piezoelectric device for producing power by converting mechanical force or motion to electricity (Nature Nanotechnology)

Lead Compound Development Based on Halogen Bonding

rom screening of halogen-enriched fragment libraries and subsequent structure-guided design, researchers developed substituted iodophenols that reactivate the mutated tumor suppressor p53 in affected cancer cells (J. Amer. Chem.Soc.)

Infectious Disease May Have Shaped Human Evolution

Researchers suggested that inactivation of two sialic acid-recognized signaling receptors (Siglecs-13 and 17) that are targeted by pathogens like Escherichia coli K1 may have conferred selected ancestors of modern humans (PNAS)

Shape-Shifting Protein Shell of Retroviruses Detailed

Researchers uncovered the detailed structure of the protein shell that surrounds the genetic material of retroviruses at an immature and potentially vulnerable stage in their life cycle (Nature)

A Novel Drug Inhibits Amyloid Cascade

Researchers reported that a new drug tafamidis inhibits transthyretin (TTR) amyloid fibril formation with the aid of analyses of more than 30 small molecule stabilizer-TTR structures (PNAS)

Direct and selective small-molecule activation of 'Death Protein’

Using computer-based screening among 750,000 small molecules from chemical libraries, researchers identified a small-molecule compound which selectively binds to BAX and flips its "on switch", triggering apoptosis (Nat. Chem. Biol.)

Bitter Taste Receptors for Stevia Sweeteners

Researchers reported that steviol glycosides activate two bitter receptors, hTAS2R4 and hTAS2R14, on the human tongue, and this elicits a bitter after taste in the mouth (J. Agri. Food Chem.)

The First Structure of a Wnt Protein in Complex with its Frizzled Receptor

A study reveals an unexpected three-dimensional shape that offers clues to how Wnt proteins function and interact with the Frizzled receptor (Science)

SFX for Analyzing Structures of Difficult-to-crystallize Proteins

Researchers applied SFX (Serial Femtosecond Crystallography) using an x-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) to obtain high-resolution structural information from microcrystals of the model protein lysozyme (Science)

Amyloid Precursor Protein Binds Cholesterol

The structure of C99 protein involved in Alzheimer's disease and the surprising discovery that it binds cholesterol could lead to new therapeutics for the disease (Science)

A Shortcut for Determining the Structure of Human Membrane Proteins

Researchers described a strategy for the rapid structure determination of human membrane proteins, using solution NMR spectroscopy with systematically labeled proteins produced via cell-free expression. New backbone structures of six membrane proteins were solved in only 18 months (Nature Methods)

Modified Bee Peptide Slays Deadly Bacteria

Using both natural and nonnatural amino acids, researchers turned an antimicrobial peptide made by honeybees into a potential medicine to treat infections of drug-resistant bacteria (ACS Chem. Biol.)

How to Salvage Rejected X-ray Crystallography Data

Including diffraction data that’s usually thrown away could improve crystal structures (2 papers in Science)

How Plants Know When to Flower

Researchers reported that when FKF1 photoreceptor protein is expressed during a longer day, it makes use of the light and activates the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) transcription, inducing flowering (Science)

Glycine in Cancer Cell Proliferation

Metabolite profiling identifies a key role for glycine in rapid cancer cell proliferation; glycine is rapaciously consumed in cancer cells that are rapidly dividing (Science)

Psychiatric Drug May Kill Cancer Stem Cells

After screening hundreds of compounds including approved drugs, researchers found that a dopamine receptor antagonist thioridazine, an antipsychotic drug used to treat schizophrenia, blocks the growth of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) stem cells (Cell)

DNA Destiny Lies In Its Solvation

Researchers developed a simple and accurate method for predicting whether a stretch of DNA codes for messenger RNA (mRNA), which translates into a protein, or transfer RNA (tRNA), which helps with protein synthesis, based on its interactions with water (J. Am. Chem. Soc.)

Hormone Plays Surprise Role in Fighting Skin Infections

Researchers identified parathyroid hormone (PTH) and PTH related peptide (PTHrP) as variables that serve to compensate for inadequate vitamin D during activation of antimicrobial peptide production in the skin to fend off infection-causing microbes (Sci. Transl. Med.)

A Novel Therapeutic Target for Treatment of Diabetes

Researchers found that apolipoprotein A-IV (apoA-IV), secreted by the small intestine in response to fat absorption, improves glucose homeostasis by enhancing insulin secretion (PNAS)

Structure of Bacterial Injection Needle

Using solid-state NMR spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and computer modeling, researchers deciphered the structure of the Salmonella typhimurium type III secretion system needle through which the pathogens introduce molecular agents into their host cell (Nature)

Just a Spoonful of Castor Oil

Researchers reported that the EP3 prostanoid receptor is specifically activated by ricinoleic acid that makes up about 90% of the oil and that it mediates the pharmacological effects of castor oil (PNAS)

New Use of Old Drug: Arthritis Drug Effective Against Amoebiasis

Researchers reported that an FDA approved arthritis drug, auranofin, is effective against amoebas by inhibiting parasite thioredoxin reductase, an enzyme involved in defense against oxygen damage (Nature Medicine)

Common Disease, Rare Variant: Many Rare Mutations May Underpin Diseases

Two studies find that most human genetic variants are rare, and that rare variants are more likely than common ones to affect the structure or function of proteins, and therefore to have biological or medical consequences (2 papers in Science)

When You Eat Matters, Not Just What You Eat

Researchers reported that time-restricted feeding without reducing caloric intake prevents metabolic diseases in mice fed a high-fat diet (Cell Metabolism)

Why Omega-3 Oils Help at the Cellular Level

Researchers revealed that omega-3 fatty acids inhibit an enzyme called cyclooxygenase (COX), which produces the prostaglandin hormones that spark inflammation (PNAS)

Life's First Circadian Clock?

Researchers reported that oxidation–reduction cycles of peroxiredoxin proteins constitute a universal marker for circadian rhythms in all domains of life (Nature)

Alzheimer’s Protein Causes Brain's Blood Vessels to Leak Toxins

Researchers found that the high-risk variant, ApoE4, triggers an inflammatory reaction that weakens the blood-brain barrier and damages the brain's vascular system (Nature)

CHAGAS DISEASE: Remarkable Insecticidal Paint Keeps Parasite Carrier Bugs Away

A key to the paint's effectiveness is the microcapsules' inclusion of insect growth regulator compounds, which prevents the insects from developing fully

Turning On Ruthenium To Kill Cancer Cells

Prodrug Design: After activation by light, a ruthenium complex becomes more potent than a widely used cancer drug, cisplatin (J. Am. Chem. Soc.)

Focus Issue: Series on Structural Biology

Research and commentary highlight the use of structural analysis to understand signaling molecules and events (Science Signaling)

Autophagy inhibitor with antitumor activity

Researchers reported the synthesis and characterization of bisaminoquinoline autophagy inhibitors that potently inhibit autophagy and impair tumor growth in vivo (PNAS)

Designed metalloenzymes with high levels of efficiency and longevity

Researchers reported the rational design of metalloenzymes with heme-copper centers, unusual efficiency, and more than 1,000 turnovers in catalyzing the reduction of oxygen to water (2 papers in Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.)

Structure of a cytochrome c - calixarene complex

The first complete structural analysis of a protein complexed with a cup-shaped calixarene molecule revealed that the pairing is dynamic, with the calixarene interacting at multiple binding sites (Nat. Chem.)

Amyloid-β Gets Toxic Helping Hand

Alzheimer’s peptide needs another pyroglutamate-modified peptide to misfold and eventually cause nerve cell death (Nature)

Get Back to Nature: The Great Outdoors Is Good for Allergies

Teens living in more rural environments harbor more anti-inflammatory microbes on their skin (PNAS)

Drug Repurposing: NIH, Companies Team Up to Give Researchers Access to Abandoned Drugs

NIH reached a deal with three major pharmaceutical companies to share abandoned experimental drugs with academic researchers so they can look for new uses

Black Pepper's Secrets as a Fat Fighter

Researchers showed that piperine, a pungent-tasting alkaloid of black pepper, inhibits adipogenesis by antagonizing PPARγ activity (J. Agric. Food Chem.)

The Origin of Blond Afros in Melanesia

Researchers identified an arginine-to-cysteine change at a highly conserved residue in tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1) as a major determinant of blond hair in Solomon Islanders (Science)

Modified Imaging Agents Useful in Counteracting Aβ Peptide Toxicity

Researchers found that fluorene compounds originall developed as imaging agents to detect amyloid with PET imaging bind and destabilize Aβ peptide and thereby reduce amyloid formation (PLoS ONE)

Determining Sugar Sequence Fidelity

Unlike their nucleic acid and protein siblings, carbohydrate biopolymers have no templates to guide their synthesis. Two groups reported that substrate analogs probe how carbohydrate polymerases install monosaccharides in correct order (J. Am. Chem. Soc. & Org. Biomol. Chem.)

Simple Probe Allows Drug Candidate Screening Without Tagging Labels

Researchers designed a new small-molecule probe that binds to a protein and emits a fluorescent signal only when a drug molecule displaces it (J. Am. Chem. Soc.)

Mitochondrial DNA that escapes from autophagy causes heart failure

Researchers revealed that mitochondrial DNA escapes when an autophagy process becomes less efficient under stress and triggers Toll-like Receptor 9 (TLR9) in immune cells because it resembles DNA from bacteria, causing inflammation in the heart cells (Nature)

Crystal Structure of Human Argonaute2

Knowing the precise structure of the protein paves the way to understand the RNA-silencing process and to harness it to treat diseases (Science)

Protein that Regulates IgA Selection and Bacterial Composition in the Gut

Researchers revealed that the inhibitory co-receptor PD1 (programmed cell death-1) is required for the proper selection IgA-secreting cells in the gut and that defective selection of IgA can perturb the careful balance that exists between the immune system and resident bacteria (Science)

How Probiotic Bacteria Protect Against Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Researchers found that lactocepin, a proteinase produced by certain lactic acid bacteria, selectively degrades inflammatory chemokines in diseased tissue (Cell Host & Microbe)

Sensitive Assay for Mycoplasma Contamination in Mammalian Cell Culture

Researchers presented a simple and sensitive assay to monitor mycoplasma contamination (mycosensor) based on degradation of the Gaussia luciferase reporter in the conditioned medium of cells (Anal. Chem.)

Computational Design of a Protein Crystal

A three-helix coiled-coil protein is designed de novo to form a polar, layered, three-dimensional crystal having the P6 space group (PNAS)

Anti-inflammatory Agents in Our Bodies

Researchers identified naturally occurring lipids (resolvins and protectins) in our bodies that work in the anti-inflammatory response to limit tissue damage by stimulating the body's white blood cells to contain, kill and clear the bacteria (Nature)

A New Antidandruff Drug Target and its Inhibition

Researchers reported that sulfonamides inhibit β-carbonic anhydrase from aungal pathogen that causes dandruff (J. Med. Chem.)

Tsetse Flies and Mammals Share a Milk Enzyme

Researchers reported that tsetse milk contains an enzyme sphingomyelinase that is also important in mammalian lactation. Production of the enzyme could be manipulated to help reduce the population of the flies, which spread sleeping sickness (Biol. Reprod.)

How Plants Can Make the "Decision" between Growth and Defense

Researchers found that the two hormones that control growth (gibberellins) and defense (jasmonates) literally come together in a crisis and figure out what to do (PNAS)

Mass Spectrometry: Structural Biology Team’s Rookie

X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry have long been the star players in structural biology. Now, mass spectrometry is finding its own place in the starting lineup, filling gaps left by other methods.

Common Antibiotic Mechanism Shown

Researchers reported that guanine oxidation is at the heart of the cell-killing abilities of many common antibiotics (Science)

3-D Structure Prediction of Complex RNAs

Researchers reported the development of a quantitative structure refinement approach using hydroxyl radical probing measurements to drive discrete molecular dynamics simulations for RNAs ranging in size from 80 to 230 nucleotides (Nature Methods)

Spring -Loaded Nanoparticles Sense Proteases

Researchers developed a nanoparticle squeezed by peptides could help detect active Proteases associated with disease (J. Am. Chem. Soc)

“Medicinal Plant 2012” - Liquorice Root Found to Contain Anti-Diabetic Substance

Researchers identified a family of natural products, the amorfrutins, from edible parts of legumes as structurally new and powerful antidiabetics by binding to and activating PPARγ (PNAS)

'Switch' in Plants to Create Flowers

Researchers showed that an endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein, FT-INTERACTING PROTEIN 1 (FTIP1), is an essential regulator required for florigen (FT protein) transport (PLoS Biol.)

Plant Hormone Auxin: (1) Shade-Induced Growth

Researchers showed that when a thale cress plant is placed in shade, photoreceptor phytochrome B triggers the accumulation of transcription factor PIF7 (phytochrome interacting factor 7), which then activates genes that direct the cell to produce auxins, hormones that stimulate stem growth (Genes & Dev.)

Plant Hormone Auxin: (2) Transport and Storage

Researchers identified a novel putative auxin transport facilitator family proteins PIN-LIKES (PILS) that regulate intracellular auxin accumulation at the endoplasmic reticulum and thus auxin availability for nuclear auxin signaling (Nature)

A Sharp Rise in Retractions

Retractions of published papers are on the rise, and some scientists fear the situation is out of control

A public-private partnership aims to find and share tool compounds for epigenetics

The Structural Genomics Consortium, a public-private partnership dedicated to open-access drug discovery research, is trying to tackle the probe problem and ignite research around epigenetics

Blood Type A May Predispose to Some Rotavirus Infections

Crystallographic studies revealed that the VP8* domain of the rotavirus spike protein VP4 specifically interacts with A-type histo-blood group antigen (Nature)

Natural Product Makes Leukemia Cells Less Harmful

Researchers showed that adenanthin, a diterpenoid isolated from a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine, inhibits two peroxiredoxin proteins in leukemia cells and can push cancerous blood cells to differentiate into less harmful cells (Nat. Chem. Biol.)

Ion Channel Caught In The Act

Researchers used a customized computer called Anton to perform all-atom calculations on a long-enough time scale to visualize the opening and closing of a voltage-gated potassium ion channel for the first time (Science)

Bright Infrared Lights Illuminate Cellular Secrets

Researchers focused infrared radiation from a synchrotron light source on single cells and measured protein phosphorylations as the cells developed into nerve cells (Anal. Chem.)

U.S. FDA Approves Possible Alzheimer's Test

When administered before a PET scan, a diagnostic imaging agent Amyvid, which binds to amyloid plaques, allows doctors to see whether amyloid has begun to build up

A Bit Touchy: Plants' Insect Defenses Activated by Touch

Researchers revealed that plants can use the sense of touch to fight off fungal infections and insects and that the touch-induced growth was regulated by a plant hormone called jasmonate (Current Biology)

One million-bottle wine cellar

As the world’s largest chemical company, BASF’s headquarters site in Ludwigshafen, Germany, is home to the world’s biggest chemical complex and is also home to the chemical industry’s largest wine cellar

Protein Spurs Stem Cells to Self-renew and Grow New Hair: RNA Interference Screen

Researchers discovered that a protein called Tbx1 helps hair follicle stem cells remain self-renewing, a characteristic that means the stem cells can continue to spawn the production of new hairs (Nature)

Compound Makes Stem Cells Regenerate Cartilage: High- throughput Compound Screen

Researchers found a small molecule called kartogenin, which causes mesenchymal stem cells found in joints to differentiate into chondrocyte cells that can build cartilage where it has been destroyed (Science)

Finding a Flu Fighter: In Silico Docking Screen

Researchers used a computer program to screen 3 million compounds and found 32 molecules that could disrupt the RNA polymerase complex and one compound emerged as being particularly effective (PNAS)

Putrid Pathway Probed

Structural and mechanistic analyses revealed how two bacterial enzymes biosynthesize the terpenoid odorant 2-methylisoborneol (MIB). The work could lead to ways to mitigate MIB musty odors in food, beverages, and the water supply (2 papers in Biochemistry)

Targeted Nanoparticles Improve Chemotherapy's Efficacy

A targeted polymeric nanoparticle containing the chemotherapeutic docetaxel for the treatment of patients with solid tumors appears safe and effective in an early human trial (Sci. Transl. Med.)

Proteins In Small Packages

Nanotechnology: Lipid vesicles synthesize proteins on command for targeted drug delivery (Nano Lett.)

Former Pro Pitcher Now Keeps 'Strike Zone' in Proteins

Researchers uncovered the structural mechanism by which caspase-6 phosphorylation results in inhibition (Structure)

DNA’s Power to Predict Illness Is Limited

Personalized disease forecasts and therapies are not the wave of the future, research on twins suggests (Sci. Transl. Med.)

How Stress Influences Disease: Inflammation as the Culprit

Researchers proposed a model wherein chronic stress results in glucocorticoid receptor resistance that, in turn, results in failure to down-regulate inflammatory response (PNAS)

Discovery Paves Way for Improved Painkillers

Researchers revealed that morphine creates neuroinflammation via the activation of an innate immune receptor, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and not via classic opioid receptors (PNAS)

Duality of Longevity Drug Rapamycin

Rapamycin, an inhibitor of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), extends the life spans of several model organisms. Researchers demonstrated that rapamycin disrupted a second mTOR complex, mTORC2, and impairs glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity (Science)

Compounds Dramatically Alter Biological Clock and Lead to Weight Loss

Researchers synthesized a pair of small molecules that dramatically alter the core biological clock in animal models, highlighting the compounds' potential effectiveness in treating a remarkable range of metabolic disorders (Nature)

Living Lab Structural Biology Center

NIH and instrumentation company FEI created a novel structural biology facility on the NIH campus to accelerate structure determination of molecular complexes and proteins that are important in human diseases utilizing cryogenic electron microscopy

One Drug to Shrink All Tumors

Researchers found an antibody that blocks leukocyte surface antigen CD47, a "do not eat" signal normally displayed on tumor cells, coaxes the immune system to destroy the cancer cells (PNAS)

Apoptosis to Cancer

Researchers developed a short peptide mimetic, which binds tightly to four critical inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins, as an anticancer drug candidate that turns the apoptosis pathway back on in cancer cells (J. Med. Chem.)

Why the Flu Is Life-Threatening for Some, and Quite Mild for Others?

Researchers found when interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3), a first line defender against infection, is present in large quantities, the spread of the virus in lungs is hindered, but if the protein is defective or absent, the virus can spread more easily, causing severe disease (Nature)

Opioid receptors revealed

A team led by Ray Stevens has solved the atomic structure of the κ-opioid receptor, and a team led by Brian Kobilka has solved the medically crucial μ-opioid receptor. The structures, published in Nature, bring the tally of GPCR structures solved this year alone up to five (2 papers in Nature)

Numbers of young scientists declining in Japan

Government policies are hampering the country's next generation of research leaders, advisory body says.

A New Solid-State NMR Method to Reveal Structure of Proteins

Researchers reported a new solid state NMR method that uses paramagnetic tags to help visualize the shape of protein molecules (Nature Chemistry)

Integrative Personal Omics Profiling Lets Scientist Discover, Track His Diabetes Onset

Michael Snyder and colleagues present the first personalized medicine study on an individual - Mike himself. Genome sequencing, transcription profiling, and quantitative metabolomic analyses for 14 months offers a comprehensive view of healthy and disease states, including two viral infections and the onset of type 2 diabetes (Cell)

Metal Ions Guide Protein Assembly

By using zinc ions to link protein molecules to one another, researchers have assembled proteins into elaborate and flexibly modifiable sheets, tubes, helical chains, and other objects (Nat. Chem.)

Salt-Tolerant Durum Wheat

Researchers introduced a salt-tolerant gene HKT1 (Na+ transporter) into a commercial durum wheat in field tests (Nat. Biotechnol.)

Obesity: Novel Target Protein that Controls Browning of White Fat

Researchers showed that transcriptional regulator PRDM16 can throw a switch on fat cells, converting them from ordinary calorie-storing white fat cells into calorie-burning brown fat cells (Cell Metabolism)

A trip to the gym alters DNA

Researchers reported that acute exercise changes the methylation status of metabolic genes in actual muscle cells (Cell Metabolism)

With Extra Gene Pten, Mice Are Footloose and Cancer Free

Researchers reported that mice overexpressing Pten are protected from metabolic damage associated with aging by turning on brown fat (Cell Metabolism)

Solving Mystery of How Sulfa Antibiotics Kill Bacteria

The structure of dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS), sulfa drugs target, explains how the antibiotics function and how resistance causing mutations help bacteria withstand them (Science)

Unusual Ring Route Revealed

The first X-ray crystal structure of a biosynthetic enzyme Lsd19 and quantum chemical calculations have resolved a long-standing mystery about how bacteria are able to use a typically slow, seemingly unworkable type of chemical reaction to make six-membered rings in polyether antibiotics lasalocid (Nature)

Structure of enterovirus 71, which causes hand, foot and mouth disease

Two research teams are reporting new findings about the structure of the virus, proposing a way to design an antiviral drug to treat the infection (Science and Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol.)

Levitating Beads Reveal Protein Interactions

Researchers have demonstrated a new way to analyze the interaction of a protein with various ligands: magnetic levitation (J. Am. Chem. Soc.)

European Institutes Form Structural Biology Resource

A new distributed research infrastructure for the science of structural biology called “Instruct” has been launched in Europe

February 23, 2012,Instruct Press Office,

How a Botulinum Toxin Avoids Digestion

The structure of a botulinum neurotoxin bound to a nontoxic protein shield provides clues as to how the toxin survives the digestive tract (Science)

Modified Bone Drug Kills Malaria Parasite

Researchers found that a chemically altered osteoporosis drug inhibits a key enzyme geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (GGPPS) in isoprenoid biosynthesis of the malaria parasite (PNAS)

Circadian Clock Governs Highs and Lows of Immune Response

Researchers demonstrated that the circadian clock controlled the expression and function of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9), an immune system protein that can sense bacterial and viral DNA (Immunity)

Two New Blood Types Identified

Two transporter proteins ABCB6 and ABCG2 were found to specify new blood group Langereis and Junior, respectively (2 papers in Nature Genetics)

Small Molecules Targeting the RNA that Causes Myotonic Dystrophy

Researchers designed a series of small molecules that act against an RNA defect directly responsible for the most common form of adult-onset muscular dystrophy (J. Amer. Chem. Soc. and ACS Chem. Biol.)

How Good Cholesterol Turns Bad?

Researchers found new evidence to explain how cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) mediates the transfer of cholesterol from "good" high density lipoproteins (HDLs) to "bad" low density lipoproteins (LDLs) (Nat. Chem. Biol.)

Cellular NMR: Bridging the gap between structural and cellular biology

Using a solid-state NMR approach, researchers obtained structural information of a recombinant integral membrane protein and the major endogenous molecular components in a bacterial environment (PNAS)

Crystal Structure of a Lipid G Protein-Coupled Receptor

Researchers determined the structure of lipid G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) S1PR1, which is critical in controlling the onset and progression of multiple sclerosis and other diseases (Science)

First 3D Look at Interaction between Immune Sensor and Flagellin Protein

Researchers determined the structure of Salmonella flagellin protein bound to Toll-like receptor TLR5, the only TLR that binds a protein (Science)

Protein That Sends 'Painful Touch' Signals Identified

Researchers identified a family of sensory nerve proteins known as piezo proteins are ion channel proteins essential to the sensation of painful touch (2 papers in Nature)

Memories’ Sweet Origin: O-GlcNAc Modification

Researchers found that O-linked β-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (O-GlcNAc) discourages memory formation when it’s attached to the transcription factor CREB and that memory improves when it’s removed or absent (Nat. Chem. Biol.)

Tipsy Fruit Flies on a Mission

They’re not just recreational drinkers: Flies of the drosophila melanogaster species consume alcohol from rotting fruit to kill off tiny wasps that lay eggs inside fly larvae (Current Biology)

Drug Delivery Hooked on Sugar

Researchers demonstrated that a protein decorated with a boronate called benzoxaborole reacts with cell-surface sugars and can slide into the cell’s cytoplasm (J. Am. Chem. Soc.)

Cancer Drug Helps Mice With Alzheimer’s

The FDA-approved cancer drug bexarotene stimulates retinoid X receptors, which in turn help stimulate the production of the protein ApoE, which is crucial for clearing the brain of excess amyloid-β (Science)

Cellular Sodium-Calcium Exchange Illuminated

A clearer picture of how cells traffic calcium comes from a new structure of a membrane ion-exchange protein (Science)

Molecular Secrets of Ancient Chinese Herbal Remedy Discovered

Febrifugine, the bioactive constituent of one of the 50 fundamental herbs of traditional Chinese medicine, binds glutamyl-prolyl-tRNA synthetase (EPRS), inhibiting prolyl-tRNA synthetase activity (Nat. Chem. Biol.)

“Danger Signals” From Dying Cells Jolt Immune System into Action

Controversial hypothesis finds solid support from new study. Researchers found that in mice, infection with a particular virus triggers a surge in interleukin-33 as an alarmin, driving the immune system (Science)

Anti-Trypanosome Drug Shows Potential for Treating Leishmaniasis

Researchers found that metabolites of fexinidazole, a drug currently in phase 1 clinical trials for treating African trypanosomiasis, shows promise for treating visceral leishmaniasis (Sci. Transl. Med.)

Protein design - now with metals!

Researchers computationally-designed zinc-containing enzymes that can degrade analogs of the nerve agent sarin (Nat. Chem. Biol.)

Resolving Confusion about Resveratrol

Researchers showed that the red wine compound resveratrol increases levels of cyclic AMP, one of the first molecule produced when cells are low on energy, by blocking phosphodiesterase enzymes that break down cyclic AMP (Cell)

Japan plans to merge major science bodies

Drive to save money could increase bureaucracy

Faulty Protein Is Like a Virus in Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease seems to spread like an infection from brain cell to brain cell, two new studies have found in genetically engineered mice that expressed abnormal human tau, but only in their entorhinal cortexes. But instead of viruses or bacteria, what is being spread is a distorted protein known as tau (PLoS One and Neuron)

Massage’s Mystery Mechanism Unmasked

The massaged legs had 30% more PGC-1alpha, a gene that helps muscle cells build mitochondria, the "engines" that turn a cell's food into energy. They also had three times less NFkB, which turns on genes associated with inflammation (Sci. Transl. Med.)

The low-level nuclear threat

Europe is making a good start on learning about the health risks of low-dose radiation with a program MELODI to share cold-war data and set research priorities. But the effort needs to be global

Road map unveiled to tackle neglected diseases

Thirteen drug companies, the governments of the United States, Britain and the United Arab Emirates, the World Bank, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Lions Club and other smaller charitable organizations on Monday announced a joint effort to tackle 10 neglected tropical diseases in a coordinated fashion.

Prostate Cancer Target Analyzed

To understand better how two new anticancer agents work, researchers have obtained the first X-ray structures of a key cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP17A1 to which they bind (Nature)

Biological Time-Keeper Linked to Diabetes

Researchers demonstrated that mutations in the melatonin receptor MTNR1B lead to an almost sevenfold increase in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (Nature Genetics)

Genetic Screens Bring New Hope for Tackling Sleeping Sickness

Researchers tested all five current African trypanosomiasis drugs for genome-scale RNA interference target sequencing (RIT-seq) screens in Trypanosoma brucei and found a total of 50 genes, and therefore 50 proteins, that are linked to drug action and resistance (Nature)

New Compound Corrects Badly Behaved RNA

Targeting RNA: Small molecule selectively binds to CAG trinucleotide repeats associated with Huntington’s disease (ACS Chem. Biol.)

Entry Point for Hepatitis C Virus

Researchers showed that the Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1) cholesterol receptor is an HCV entry factor and the clinically available FDA-approved NPC1L1 antagonist ezetimibe potently blocks HCV uptake (Nat. Med.)

Brown Fat Burns Calories in Adult Humans

Researchers showed that when healthy adult men are exposed to cold their brown fat burns energy to generate body heat (J. Clin. Invest.)

First Airborne Amphibian Pheromon

Chemical Ecology: Madagascar frogs use volatile small molecules to communicate (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.)

Crowdsourced biomolecule design

The online game Foldit has 240,000 registered players, 2,200 of whom were active last week. By posing a series of puzzles to Foldit players and then testing variations on the players’ best designs in the lab, researchers have created an enzyme that catalyses Diels-Alder reaction with more than 18-fold higher activity than the original (Nat. Biotech.)

Structure of the Cellular Protein Degradation Machinery

Researchers determined the molecular architecture of the 26S proteasome by an integrative approach (PNAS)

Sweeping Genetic Analysis of Rare Disease Yields Common Mechanism of Hypertension

Researchers identified that mutations in kelch-like 3 (KLHL3) and cullin 3 (CUL3) cause hypertension and electrolyte abnormalities (Nature)

Rat helps pinpoint pain molecule

Random screen of metabolites in rats with surgically damaged paws could offer new routes to drug targets for pain relief (Nat. Chem. Biol.)

New Study Sheds Light On Evolutionary Origin of Oxygen-Based Cellular Respiration

Researchers at the RIKEN have clarified the crystal structure of quinol dependent nitric oxide reductase (qNOR), a bacterial enzyme that offers clues on the origins of our earliest oxygen-breathing ancestors (Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol.)

Manganese May Have Potential in Neutralizing Deadly Shiga Toxin

Researchers found that the widely available manganese cation blocked endosome-to-Golgi trafficking of Shiga toxin and caused its degradation in lysosomes by targeting the cycling Golgi protein GPP130 (Science)

Biofuels from Seaweed

Using seaweed as a raw material for biofuels has received little attention, because their primary sugar constituent, alginate, is not readily fermented by industrially tractable microbes. Researchers demonstrated that metabolically engineered bacteria can degrade seaweed and subsequently ferment the sugars into ethanol at laboratory scale (Science)

Solving the Mystery of an Old Diabetes Drug That May Reduce Cancer Risk

Researchers revealed that metformin reduces DNA damage by reducing levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (Cancer Prev. Res.)

Clearer Picture of A Proteasome

Structural Biology: Arrangement of proteasome’s components provides clues to function (Nature & PNAS)

Discovery Could Lead to an Exercise Pill

A newly identified hormone named irisin pushes cells to transform from white fat - globules that serve as reservoirs for excess calories - into brown fat, which generates heat (Nature)

The $1,000 genome: are we there yet?

The race to the US$1,000 genome heated up as Life Technologies announced that it will debut a new sequencing machine this year that will eventually be capable of decoding entire human genomes in a day for less than $1,000

New Drug Leads for Protein Misfolding

Screen of some 900,000 molecules turns up hit compounds that promote proteostasis by increasing cellular production of molecular chaperones and help prevent unwanted protein aggregation (Nat. Chem. Biol.)

Octopuses Rewrite Their RNA to Beat the Cold

A study shows that an octopus dwelling in the frigid waters of the Antarctic uses a trick called RNA editing to customize crucial nervous system channel proteins to work at low temperatures (Science)

New Protein That Regulates Body Weight Discovered

Regulator of G protein signaling 9-2 (RGS9-2), a protein that is highly enriched in a brain region that mediates motivation, movement and reward responses, is implicated as a factor in regulating body weight (PLoS One)

Global View of How HIV/AIDS Hijacks Cells During Infection

A study identified nearly 500 human-HIV protein interactions and discovered that an HIV protein Vif interacts with a human transcription factor protein CBF-β to counteract APOBEC3G, a host factor that protects cells from HIV infection (2 papers in Nature)

Legumes Give Nitrogen-Supplying Bacteria Special Access Pass

Researchers report that the plant supplies pectate lyase to break down its own cell walls pectin and allow bacteria access (PNAS)

Breakthrough of the Year, 2011: HIV Treatment as Prevention

The Runners-Up: Hayabusa at Itokawa, the structure of photosystem II, a new malaria vaccine, senescent cells and aging, the microbiome, and more

Possible Cure for Leukemia Found in Fish Oil

Researchers found that compound delta-12-prostaglandin J3 (D12-PGJ3), produced from an Omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil, targeted and killed the stem cells of chronic myelogenous leukemia in mice (Blood)

How Bacteria Fight Fluoride in Toothpaste

Researchers revealed that riboswitches in many bacteria, including those that contribute to tooth decay, selectively triggered by fluoride to activate their defense systems (Science)

The Tree of Life Gets a Makeover

Newly mapped evolutionary relationships between plants may provide clues for improving agricultural practices (PLoS Genetics)

Supercharging the Stress Response Pathway towards Drought Tolerance in Crops

Researchers modified the abscisic acid receptors so that they can be turned on at will and stay on (PNAS)

Closing The Loop

Microbiology: Cyanobacteria do have a complete tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle (Science)

Why Tuberculosis Is So Hard to Cure

Asymmetrical cell division may help disease-causing bacteria survive antibiotics (Science)

Sugar Pump in Plants Identified

Carbohydrates produced through photosynthesis in the leaves are mainly transported in the phloem in the form of sucrose. Researchers identified a subfamily of SWEET sucrose transporters (Science)

PubChem Gets More Data

More than 2.4 million chemical compounds data pulled from about 4.7 million patents and 11 million biomedical journal abstracts from 1976–2000 by IBM will be added to PubChem, a freely available database of chemical structures of small organic molecules and information on their biological activities

Engineered Lipase Cuts Out Trans Fats

Researchers created a variant of a fat-cleaving lipase originated from the yeast Candida Antarctica that selectively hydrolyzes trans and fully saturated fatty acid chains (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.)

Positive Charges Increase Protein’s Appetite Boost

Tinkering with the sequence of an agouti-related protein (AGRP) that stimulates appetite, researchers have produced a super-potent version that greatly increases weight gain in rats (ACS Chem. Biol.)

Predicting the Structure of a Protein from its Sequence Alone

A research team was for the first time able to compute remarkably accurate shapes from sequence information alone for a test set of 15 diverse proteins, with no protein size limit in sight, with unprecedented accuracy (PLoS ONE)

Proteins from the Ancient Past

Researchers identified 126 proteins in a 43,000-year-old woolly mammoth femur found in Siberia (J. Proteome Res)

Making a Better Enzyme

Researchers designed, created, and tested the artificial enzyme that acts as a hydrolase with unprecedented efficiency (Nat. Chem.)

A Hit in Silico

Researchers screened more than 2 million compounds using Schrödinger’s Glide docking software to find a reverse transcriptase inhibitor with unprecedented potency against HIV-1 activity (J. Med. Chem.)

Protein Interactions In Membranes

NMR Spectroscopy: A multistep method distinguishes among three ways proteins can interact with one another in membranes - specific association, forced cohabitation or nonspecific association (J. Am. Chem. Soc.)

How A Horseradish Sensor Helps Tylenol Work

Acetaminophen exerts its pain-relieving effects with help from a cation channel protein TRPA1, a sensor for irritants such as compounds in horseradish. The discovery suggests that TRPA1 could be a viable target for new pain relievers (Nat. Commun.)

New Compound Defeats Drug-Resistant Bacteria

Bacteria can use efflux pumps to rid themselves of antibiotics, becoming drug-resistant. By blocking those pumps with dipeptide inhibitors, the potency of old antibiotics could be restored (Bioorg. Med. Chem.)

Mitochondrial Priming for Death

Differences in chemotherapeutic response may be due to pretreatment differences in the readiness of tumor cells to undergo apoptosis (“mitochondrial priming”). Patients with highly primed cancers were found to have a superior clinical response to chemotherapy (Science)

Getting Rid of Mr. Mitochondrion

Researchers found that autophagy in C. elegans is induced by the penetrated sperm immediately after fertilization and selectively eliminated the paternal mitochondria in embryos (2 papers in Science)

Chew Gum, Lose Weight?

Researchers demonstrated that the appetite suppression peptide hormone PYY could be delivered into the bloodstream orally through the vitamin B12 uptake pathway (J. Med. Chem.)

Weak Spot Discovered On Deadly Ebolavirus

Researchers isolated and analyzed an antibody that neutralizes Sudan virus, a major species of ebolavirus, in a way that links two segments of its coat protein, hindering the virus's ability to infect cells (Nat. Struct Mol. Biol.)

Grid Computing: Public Computational Research Project To Fight Against Malaria

Scripps Research and IBM are encouraging anyone in the world with a personal computer to join World Community Grid, a sort of "supercomputer of the people" that will crunch numbers and perform simulations for "GO Fight Against Malaria"

How Legionnaires' Bacteria Proliferate, Cause Disease

Legionella promotes eukaryotic proteasomal degradation to generate amino acids needed as carbon and energy sources for bacterial proliferation (Science)

Video: Happy Anniversary, PDB!

One researcher celebrates the Protein Data Bank with Legos.

New Target for Treating Cancer: Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy

Researchers detected unusually high levels of chaperone-mediated autophagy, one of the types of autophagy (“self-eating”), in cells from more than 40 types of human tumors (Sci. Transl. Med.)

Drug Clears Chronic Urinary Infections

Urinary tract infections in mice were prevented using novel derivatives of mannose that inhibit FimH protein of pathogenic Escherichia coli (Sci. Transl. Med.)

How Worms Avoid Food Poisoning?

Some strains of C. elegans are better than others at recognizing which bacteria will make them sick. Researchers discovered a gene that helps some worms to stay away from bacteria (Nature)

Creation of the Largest Human-Designed Protein Containing 242 Amino Acids

Researchers designed and successfully synthesized a variant of a protein that nature uses to manufacture the essential amino acid histidine (J. Amer. Chem. Soc.)

How Sickle Cell Mutation Mutes Malaria

Electron microscopy imaging: Closeup of cellular machinery reveals that the genetic anomaly prevents parasite from building its transport network (Science)

Fuse of 'Vietnamese Time Bomb' Identified

Researchers isolate deadly toxin in melioidosis bacterium (Science)

Botulinum Toxins Could Soothe Inflammation

Researchers use modified neurotoxins to block immune cell signaling (Biochemistry)

Malaria’s Master Key

Newly discovered protein interaction between cell surface protein PfRh5 of malaria parasite and host membrane protein Basigin is essential for parasite's entry into red blood cells (Nature)

Novel Drug Shrinks Monkeys' Waistlines

Researchers attached a cell-killing drug to a peptide that traveled to blood vessels in fat tissue. The treatment led to weight loss in mice and monkeys (Sci. Transl. Med.)

Tear Drops May Rival Blood Drops in Testing Blood Sugar in Diabetes

Researchers developed an electrochemical sensor device that has the potential to measure blood sugar levels from tears instead of blood (Anal. Chem.)

Why Measles Spreads So Quickly

Researchers found the measles virus uses a protein (called nectin-4) in the host to infect and then leave from the strategic location of the throat (Nature)

Search Tool Accentuates the Negative, Eliminates the Positive

Researchers have developed a new search engine BioNOT for finding null results (BMC Bioibformatics)

Workings of Molecular Motor Revealed

An international team has used highly sensitive mass-spectrometry to piece together a picture of how the motor, the energy-converting protein adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase, interacts with the fatty acids that form the membranes around our cells (Science)

How a Cancer-Causing Bacterium H. pylori Spurs Cell Death

Researchers revealed how VacA, a protein toxin produced by H. pylori, induces host cell death (PNAS)

Rice seed yields blood protein

Human serum albumin from transgenic rice could ease shortages of donated blood (PNAS)

Live Longer With Fewer Calories? Key Enzyme Involved in Aging Process Found

Using yeast cells as a model, researchers revealed that active peroxiredoxin 1, Prx1, an enzyme that breaks down harmful hydrogen peroxide in the cells, is required for caloric restriction to work effectively (Molecular Cell)

Microscopy Reveals New Layout For Measles Virus

The measles matrix protein was thought to cover the inner part of the viral membrane. New data obtained with cryoelectron microscopy suggest it coats sections of the helical nucleocapsid instead (PNAS)

Novel Strategy Stymies SARS and Other Viruses: Versatile Inhibitor Prevents Viral Replication

Researchers identified cyclophilins as target for pan-coronavirus inhibitors (PLoS Pathogens)

How Proteins Fold

Experimental and computational reports probe single protein chains as they spontaneously unfold and refold (2 papers in Science)

Modifying Messenger RNA

Researchers revealed that the enzyme FTO, linked to obesity and diabetes, can remove the methyl group from mRNA (Nat. Chem. Biol.)

How Plants Synthesize Their Growth Hormone?

Researchers have succeeded in unraveling the complete chain of biochemical reactions that controls the synthesis of auxin, the hormone that regulates nearly all aspects of plant growth and development (2papers in PNAS)

How Plants Sense Low Oxygen Levels to Survive Flooding?

Researchers observed that plants with an overexpression of ethylene-responsive transcription factor proteins show an enhanced tolerance to submergence and a better recovery after flooding events (2papers in Nature)

Separate Colon Cancer Studies, but a Single Suspicion of Bacteria

An unexpected finding: A bacterium never particularly prevalent in the colon seems to have an affinity for colon cancers (2 papers in Genome Research)

Structural Biology: Early-Warning System for Invading Viruses

Researchers discovered the precise structural mechanism by which a pattern recognition receptor RIG-I is activated in response viral RNA (2 papers in Cell)

Gut Bacteria Lend a Molecular Hand to Viruses

Viruses cover themselves with bacterial cell wall molecules lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a natural trigger of immune system receptor TLR4, to make viral infection possible (2 papers in Science)

Gut Bacteria May Affect Whether a Statin Drug Lowers Cholesterol

Researchers identified three bile acids produced by gut bacteria that were evident in people who responded well to a common cholesterol-lowering drug. Bile acids and statins share transporter routes to the liver and intestines - they are basically in competition for a ride - producing more or less of certain bile acids could improve or diminish the drug's effects (PLoS ONE)

Eating Green Veggies Improves Immune Defenses

Researchers reported that the numbers of intra-epithelial lymphocytes (IELs), key immune cells in intestines, depend on levels of a cell-surface protein called the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), which can be regulated by dietary ingredients found primarily in cruciferous vegetables (Cell)

Why Does Morphine Make You Itch?

Opioid drugs such as morphine interact with receptors on nerve cells. The drug relieves pain by interacting with one form of the receptor (MOR1) and causes itching when it interacts with a different form of the receptor (MOR1D) (Cell)

Mass Spec Maps Disordered Proteins

Researchers reported that amide hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (H/D-MS) is an effective tool for mapping the unstructured regions of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and their transitions to well-folded forms in complexes (Biochemistry)

New Method Isolates Membrane Proteins

Protein Purification: When researchers apply an electric potential across a lipid bilayer, membrane proteins line up with others that have the same charge and size (Anal. Chem.)

Why Anti-Rejection Drugs for Organ Transplant Patients Cause Hypertension

Researchers reported that the calcineurin inhibitor tacrolimus, which is instrumental in preventing organ rejection in transplant patients, activates the renal sodium chloride cotransporter to cause hypertension (Nature Medicine)

Orexin Prevents Obesity by Activating Calorie-Burning Brown Fat

Researchers discovered that orexin, a hormone produced in the brain, is critical for the formation of mature brown fat from its precursors in mice (Cell Metabolism)

A Key NAD Intermediate Helps Reverse Diabetes

Researchers found that nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) in a chain of reactions leading to production of NAD, a vital molecule that harvests energy from nutrients and puts it into a form cells can use, ameliorates defects in glucose and lipid metabolism in age-induced diabetic mice (Cell Metabolism)

Protein Signaling In Motion

Using hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, researchers have learned more about how G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) transmit signals (Nature)

Enantiomeric Effects Of Pain Drugs Unfold

S and R enantiomers of anti-inflammatory drug naproxen bind to the same spot in COX-2 but inhibit oxygenation of different substrates, with different pain-relieving effects (Nat. Chem. Biol.)

Nanostructures Sop Up Radioactive Ions

Titanate nanotubes and nanofibers could offer an inexpensive means for removing radioactive cesium and iodide ions from contaminated water (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.)

Japan Boost Science Spending, Reduce Support for Nuclear Power

Japan's ministry of education wants to boost overall science-related spending next year by 5.8%, to $14.7 billion

Fatty Acid Test: Why Some Harm Health, but Others Help

Researchers offered an explanation, and a framework that could lead to dietary supplements designed to treat obesity at the molecular level. Saturated Fatty Acids Induce c-Src Clustering within Membrane Subdomains, Leading to JNK Activation (Cell)

Structural Insight Into Fighting Viral Infections

Structure of human pathogen recognition receptor RIG-I bound to double-stranded RNA was reported (Nature)

Sour-To-Sweet Miracle Mechanism Revealed

Japanese researchers learn how African red berry’s glycoprotein alters human taste (PNAS)

Alzheimer's Protein Kills Nerve Cells in Nose

Amyloid precursor protein (APP) kills nerve cells that detect odors, shedding light on why people with Alzheimer's disease often lose their sense of smell early on in the course of the disease (J. Neuroscience)

Tweezing Apart Amyloids

Therapeutics: A claw-like molecule can unravel the aberrant protein snarls behind diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, possibly serving as a new strategy to treat a broad range of protein-misfolding diseases (J. Am. Chem. Soc.)

Virus Repellent

Natural Products: Cationic sterol, squalamine, found in sharks blocks infection by a wide variety of viruses (PNAS)

Longevity Research on Sirtuin Raises Hopes, and Questions

With a flurry of papers on the effects of proteins known as sirtuins, British and American researchers disagree on how to establish solid science in a relatively new field (2 papers in Nature)

Gamers Succeed Where Scientists Fail: Molecular Structure of Retrovirus Enzyme Solved

With names like Foldit Contenders Group and Foldit Void Crushers Group, the gamer teams were fired up for the task of real-world molecule modeling problems and they solved the structure of retroviral protease (Nature Struct. Mol. Biol.)

A Cell-based Therapy May Thwart HIV

Clinical studies to make the immune system resistant to HIV by crippling a receptor CCR5 on T cells that the virus uses during the infection process are promising

First Fluorescence-Guided Ovarian Cancer Surgery

Most malignant ovarian tumors express high numbers of receptors for the molecule folate (vitamin B9), so by attaching the fluorescent molecule to folate, researchers created a cancer-cell probe, making it easier for surgeons to remove them (Nature Med.)

Genome of Microbe Linked to Autoimmunity

Researchers deciphered the genome of Th17 Cell-Inducing Segmented Filamentous Bacteria (Cell Host & Microbe)

Lowering The Brain’s Drawbridge

Drug Delivery: New technique shepherds large molecules across the blood-brain barrier in mice

"Pro-drugs" that upon exposure to radiation, permanently stick to and inhibit their protein targets

A structural analysis of 14-3-3 protein in complex its small molecule inhibitor revealed that X-ray radiation creates a covalent linkage to 14-3-3 protein, leading to persistent 14-3-3 inactivation (PNAS)

Enzyme that controls the brain's response to nicotine and alcohol in mice

A study suggests that protein kinase C (PKC) epsilon could be a target for the treatment of comorbid nicotine and alcohol addictions (PNAS)

Protein That Controls Chronic Pain

Researchers revealed that HCN2 ion channels play a central role in inflammatory and neuropathic pain (Science)

How pathogens endure our acidic stomachs?

A major acid-protection chaperone HdeA is essential for preserving the protein homeostasis for enteric pathogens to survive in the extremely acidic mammalian stomach (Nature Chem. Biol.)

New Class of Anti-Diabetic Compound Established

A novel compound, SR1664, with potent antidiabetic activity was developed by specifically targeting the obesity-linked Cdk5-mediated phosphorylation of PPARγ (Nature)

MIABE Standard: Minimum Information about a Bioactive Entity

An international consortium has agreed on a new standard for describing the effect of a compound on a biological entity. The Minimum Information about a Bioactive Entity (MIABE) standard makes it possible to enhance the interchange of public data on drug discovery success and attrition (Nature Reviews Drug Discovery)

Dracula may have had it right: Young blood can restore an aging body

Researchers discovered that blood from a 3-month-old mouse can coax the brain of an older mouse into making new brain cells, suggesting that we could potentially affect brain aging and degradation by targeting factors in the periphery rather than having to target the brain directly (Nature)

Human metabolic individuality

An analysis of genotype-dependent metabolic phenotypes via a genome-wide association study with non-targeted metabolomics revealed 37 genetic loci associated with blood metabolite concentrations, e.g. a previously unknown association of mannose, a natural sugar, with diabetes-associated variants (Nature)

Antibiotic resistance is ancient

Researchers used some of the ancient DNA fragments preserved in ice for more than 30,000 years to recreate a vancomycin resistance gene and its protein product. It showed the same activity and had almost the same structure as its modern counterpart (Nature)

Phosphoserine On Demand

Adjusting protein translation allows insertion of the unnatural amino acid anywhere in a protein (Science)

More Hits Tallied for Cardiac Amyloidosis

High-throughput screen finds new drug candidates for the heart disease that’s caused by transthyretin protein aggregation (Sci. Transl. Med.)

Bacteria Genome Sequencing Offers Latest Tools Against Diseases

Advanced methods of quickly sequencing entire microbial genomes are changing all aspects of microbiology

Could New Drug Cure Nearly Any Viral Infection?

Researchers designed a drug that can identify cells that have been infected by 15 different viruses ranging from common cold to HIV, then kill those cells to terminate the infection (PLoS ONE)

Why Influenza B Virus Exclusively Infects Humans?

Structural analyses of non-structural protein 1 of influenza B (NS1B) protein in complex with the human interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) protein that fights infections revealed that the sequence of ISG15 found only in humans binds to NS1B, immobilizing ISG15 and preventing it from fighting the virus (PNAS)

Slim Down by Targeting the Hormone Uroguanylin

Prouroguanylin is a prohormone that is secreted after nutrient ingestion. Researchers found that prouroguanylin is converted to uroguanylin in the CNS, which can activate guanylyl cyclase 2C (GUCY2C) receptors in the brain to reduce food intake in mice (J. Clin. Invest.)

Cell Receptor Could Allow Measles Virus to Target Tumors

Researchers discovered that a tumor cell marker PVRL4 (Nectin 4) is a receptor for measles virus, suggesting the possible use of measles virus to help fight cancer, since PVRL4 is highly expressed on the surfaces of lung, breast, colon, and ovarian cancer cells (PLoS Pathogen)

Protein Essential for Ebola Virus Infection Is a Promising Antiviral Target

Researchers revealed that Ebola Virus entry requires the cholesterol transporter Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1) embedded in the lysosomal membrane and identified small molecule inhibitors of NPC1 (2 papers in Nature)

Cytokine IL37 Protects Mice from Colitis

Researchers discovered that expression of a human cytokine, interleukin 37 (IL-37), protects mice from colitis (PNAS)

Whole-Genome Study Nails Haiti-Nepal Cholera Link

A new study has yielded the most solid evidence yet that U.N. peace-keeping forces from Nepal inadvertently brought cholera to Haiti last year, setting off an epidemic that has killed more than 6000 people so far (mBIO)

Unnaturally Productive

Ventures advance development of protein drugs containing unnatural amino acids in human clinical trials

Most Naturally Variable Protein in Dental Plaque Bacterium

Researchers revealed that the extreme variability of TvpA protein in the bacterium Treponema denticola evolved to adhere to the hundreds of different kinds of other bacteria that inhabit people's mouths (PNAS)

Corralling Llama Antibodies For Small Molecules

Rare single-domain antibodies from llamas are remarkably stable, making them attractive for therapeutic and biotechnology (Anal. Chem.)

Database Finds New Uses for Old Drugs

Researchers devised a new way of predicting such unexpected benefits of existing drugs, and they confirmed two potential new therapies just to prove the point (2 papers in Sci. Transl. Med.)

New Clue to Parkinson's: Shape of Key Protein Surprises Researchers

Alpha-synuclein, a protein key to Parkinson's disease, appears to have a radically different structure in healthy cells than previously characterized as a natively unfolded protein that lacked structure. (Nature)

Slowing the “Allergic March”

What causes a pandemic of ailments called the "allergic march" and how to derail it has remained elusive. Researchers identified that expression of the protein TSLP, an inflammation-producing cytokine, may influence susceptibility to multiple allergic diseases by regulating the maturation of basophils (Nature)

Worm’s Amino Acids Go Unnatural

Researchers engineered a whole animal to build its proteins with a synthetic amino acid (J. Am. Chem. Soc.)

Workings of Mysterious, but Critical TB Drug

Researchers revealed that Pyrazinamide (PZA), frequently used to treat multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (TB), binds to ribosomal protein S1 (RpsA) and inhibits trans-translation, a process that enables the TB bacteria to survive under stressful conditions (Science)

‘Serial Killer' Immune Cells Put Cancer in Remission

By inserting a new gene into T cells to trick them into attacking cancerous B cells, the cause of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), researchers converted T cells to be tumor specific　(Sci. Transl. Med. and NEJM)

‘Good’ Prion-Like Proteins Boost Immune Response

Researchers revealed that a prion-like conformational switch of MAVS (mitochondrial antiviral signaling) protein activates and propagates the antiviral signaling cascade (Cell)

Screening Effort at NIH Turns Up Multiple Potential Anti-Malaria Compounds

Researchers at the NIH Chemical Genomics Center (NCGC) report their screening of 61 parasite lines against more than 2,800 compounds in the NCGC Pharmaceutical Collection. By combining with the results of their genome-wide association analyses, they identified 32 compounds that were highly active at killing at least 45 of the 61 strains (Science)

Novel Target Protein for Leukemia

Researchers have pinpointed a Brd4 protein as a novel drug target for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in the RNAi screen and demonstrated that a drug compound that inhibits the activity of Brd4 suppresses the disease (Nature)

Why Diets Don't Work: Starved Brain Cells Eat Themselves

When we don't eat, hunger-inducing neurons in the brain start eating bits of themselves. That act of self-cannibalism - autophagy - turns up a hunger signal to prompt eating (Cell Metabol.)

How Do You Stop Tasting? Taste Terminator Protein Inside Taste Cells

Researchers identified a taste terminator protein inside of taste cells that acts to shorten bitter taste signals (PLoS ONE)

Proteins chaperone drugs into development

Molecules that help others to fold emerge as targets for cancer drugs

NMR Spectroscopy: Proteins Reveal Their Secrets Under Pressure

Researchers have developed a device that can apply pressure to proteins during NMR experiments, providing chemists with atomic-level details about important conformations (J. Am. Chem. Soc.)

Largest-Ever Map of Plant Protein Interactions

An international team of scientists has described their mapping and early analyses of thousands of protein-to-protein interactions within the cells of Arabidopsis thaliana (2 papers in Science)

Powerful Fluorescence Tool Lights the Way to New Insights Into RNA of Living Cells

Researchers reported how they developed an RNA mimic of green fluorescent protein (GFP), dubbed Spinach, and described how it would help unlock the secrets of the complex ways that RNA sustains human life as well as contributes to disease (Science)

Increasing Potency of HIV-Battling Proteins

Cyanovirin-N (CV-N) protein is produced by a type of blue-green algae and has gained attention for its ability to ward off several diseases caused by viruses, including HIV and influenza. Researchers found that oligpmers of CV-N can boost the protein's battling prowess (PNAS)

A Cell-Based Screening Assay Finds Compounds That Regulate Cancer Cell Invasion

Researchers identified regulators (inhibitors and activators) of invadopodia formation. Several compounds that inhibited invasion have been characterized as cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitors (Science Signaling)

A Cell Phone Counts Cells

With a simple attachment, a cell phone can run diagnostic tests for diseases such as cancer (Anal. Chem.)

A Personal Meter For Everything

Researchers have devised a way to use inexpensive personal glucose meters (PGMs) to detect and measure a wide variety of substances in solution, including cocaine, biomolecules like adenosine and interferon, and metal ions like uranium (Nat.Chem.)

RNA-Based Cholesterol Drug Is Readied for Human Tests

siRNA, encapsulated into a lipid-based nanoparticle designed to be taken up by liver cells, blocks transcription of the gene that produces an enzyme PCSK9 involved in clearing cholesterol from the blood

Decoding DNA With Semiconductors

The inventor of a new machine that decodes DNA with semiconductors has used it to sequence the genome of Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel, a leading chip maker (Nature)

Cell signaling caught in the act

β2 adrenergic receptor imaged in embrace with its G protein

Driving Drug Discovery with Computational Chemistry

A startup is banking on new software that incorporates the energy of water molecules into chemical models

Novel Anticancer Compound that Targets Oxidative Stress Response

Researchers discovered a novel compound piperlongumine derived from the fruit of a pepper plant that blocks this response to oxidative stress selectively in cancer cells (Nature)

'Evening' Protein Complex That Regulates Plant Growth

Researchers demonstrated that the complex composed of Early Flowering3 (or ELF3), ELF4 and LUX puts the brakes on the activity of PIF4 and PIF5 transcription factors that are important in promoting plant growth (Nature)

Meals Modify Proteins

Proteomics: Levels of protein acetylation may change in response to feasting or fasting

Chemokine CXCL5 Regulates Sunburn Pain

Researchers found that sun-scorched human and rat skin produces CXCL5, a family of cell-signaling proteins that can call inflammatory immune cells to an injured site, at elevated levels and that the molecule increases sensitivity to pain in the tissue (Sci. Transl. Med.)

Cancer: When antioxidants are bad

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) get a bad press, as evidenced by the notable trend in the use of dietary and cosmetic antioxidants. New work suggests, however, that ROS might have a role in mitigating certain cancers (Nature)

Body’s Natural Marijuana-Like Chemicals Make Fatty Foods Hard to Resist

Researchers discovered that when rats tasted something fatty, cells in their upper gut started producing endocannabinoids. Sugars and proteins, the researchers noted, did not have this effect (PNAS)

Unexpected Culprit behind Fat-induced Cell Suicide

Researchers revealed that when large amounts of fat are present in the cell, small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) molecules move outside of the nucleus and into the cytoplasm of the cell, where they trigger cell death (Cell Metabolism)

Overlooked Peptide Reveals Clues to Causes of Alzheimer's Disease

Researchers have shed light on the function of a little-studied amyloid peptide Aβ43 in promoting Alzheimer's disease (Nature Neuroscience)

Sensing Sugars On Proteins

Glycoprotein Analysis: Raman spectroscopy reveals a protein's glycosylation state (Anal. Chem)

Reproductive Behavior of the Silkmoth Is Determined by a Single Pheromone Receptor

Pheromone preference is determined by the specificity of a single sex pheromone receptor expressed in a population of olfactory receptor neurons in the silkmoth (PLoS Genetics)

New Drug Hope for 'Aging' Kids

The immunosuppressant drug rapamycin clears a mutant protein progerin from cells, offering a new strategy to treat children with rare disease (Sci. Transl. Med.)

Okinawa goes recruting

Research freedom proves trump card for interdisciplinary Japanese institute

Plutonium Transport Into Cells

Plutonium gets inside cells by hitching a ride on the iron-transport protein transferrin, but only when iron comes along for the ride (Nature Chem. Biol.)

Hitting Sleeping Sickness Where It Lives

Researchers have crafted a compound that kills the parasites that cause sleeping sickness in the blood and the brain (PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)

Peptides Block Fibril Formation

Peptides designed to interact with a specific small fraction of an amyloid-forming protein can inhibit fibril formation by the intact protein as well (Nature)

RNA-Targeted Drug Discovery: Hitting Moving RNA

Researchers quantitatively predict binding energies for small molecules that bind different RNA conformations and report the de novo discovery of six compounds that bind TAR, an RNA from HIV-1, with high affinity (Nature Chem. Biol.)

NIH's Secondhand Shop for Tried-and-Tested Drugs

A new project by the National Institutes of Health aims to persuade drug companies to open up their troves of abandoned drugs to academics, who would look for new uses

A Family Affair

Organic Synthesis: Selective reactions create resveratrol oligomers (Nature)

Protein crystallization facilitated by molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs)

Researchers have shown that MIPs can act as nucleation-inducing substrates (nucleants) by harnessing the proteins themselves as templates (PNAS)

Ursolic Acid Might Keep The Doctor Away

Natural product found in apples is identified as a promising compound to treat muscle weakening. It seems the adage “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” might have real therapeutic merit (Cell Metab.)

Nanoparticles hit tumors with one-two punch

By harnessing the body's blood-clotting system, researchers have designed nanoparticles that scout out tumors and then call in a second type of nanoparticle to deliver cancer-killing drugs (Nature Materials)

Nirogen- Fixing Bacterial Symbiont Promises Trove of Natural Products

Researchers reported that soil-dwelling bacteria of the genus Frankia, nitrogen-fixing bacteria that live in symbiosis with actinorhizal plants, have the potential to produce a multitude of natural products, including antibiotics, herbicides, and anticancer agents (Applied and Environmental Microbiology)

Whole-Genome Sequencing Helped Diagnose, Treat Twins' Rare Disease

Researchers described how the sequencing of the children's whole genome along with that of their older brother and their parents zeroed in on the gene that caused the children's genetic disorder, which enabled physicians to fine-tune the treatment of their disorder (Sci. Trans. Med.)

Structure Of Brassinolide's Receptor Solved

The receptor that detects that plant hormone brassinolide adopts an unexpected superhelix conformation (2 papers in Nature)

Why Smokers Are Skinny?

New research reveals how nicotine, the active ingredient in tobaccos, works on the nicotine receptor in the brain to suppress smokers' appetites (Science)

First Wood-Digesting Enzyme Found in Bacteria Could Boost Biofuel Production

Researchers identified the gene for breaking down lignin in a soil-living bacterium called Rhodococcus jostii. Although such enzymes have been found before in fungi, this is the first time that they have been identified in bacteria (Biochemistry)

Clues to Autism Emerge in Protein Network

Different types of the disorder may share a common pathway accessible to drugs (Sci. Trans. Med.)

Novel Enzyme Inhibitor Alleviates Symptoms in Huntington's and Alzheimer's Mice

A team found that a new compound called JM6 blocks kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), an enzyme implicated in neurodegenerative diseases. JM6 does not pass the blood-brain barrier, but works by inhibiting KMO in the blood. The blood cells then send a protective signal to the brain, preventing neurodegeneration (Cell and Current Biology)

New Bitter Blocker Discovered

Researchers found that probenecid, a molecule frequently used in receptor assays, is an inhibitor of a subset of bitter taste receptors TAS2Rs (PLoS One)

New compounds to confuse blood-seeking mosquitoes

Researchers identified three classes of volatile odor molecules that can severely impair the mosquitoes' carbon dioxide detection machinery (Nature)

Similarities Cause Protein Misfolding

Using single-molecule fluorescence energy transfer, researchers revealed that misfolding is more frequent if the sequence of the amino acids in the neighboring protein domains is very similar (Nature)

Ubiquitins In Four-Part Harmony

Biomacromolecular Synthesis: Tetraubiquitin is the longest protein made chemically　(Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.)

Salmonella infection and clearance via selective autophagy pathway

Researchers revealed that the critical intracellular signals are ubiquitin that decorates Salmonella and optineurin that acts as an autophagy receptor critical for targeting of Salmonella to the degradation in the lysosome (Science)

Wildlife threatened by Fukushima radiation

Leaked isotopes likely to affect marine ecosystems more than terrestrial ones (Environ. Sci. Technol.)

Protein-protein interactions: Pull-down for single molecules

An innovative marriage of techniques, combining the principles of common protein pull-down assays with single-molecule fluorescence microscopy, opens up new ways of visualizing cellular protein complexes (Nature)

Engineered antibodies cross blood-brain barrier

Researchers report the design of an antibody that is capable of penetrating the shield of tightly packed cells known as the blood-brain barrier. The approach could be used to generate antibody-based therapies for brain diseases (2 papers in Sci. Trans. Med.)

An iron boost for rice

An iron transporter in rice that is important for plant growth and development is identified (Nature Communications)

Simple Method of Safely and Rapidly Containing Harmful Radioactive Iodine

Researchers created a solid material for immobilisation of iodine with the formula Pb5(VO4)3I, by heating a mixture of lead iodide, lead oxide and vanadium oxide in a microwave oven (J. Nuclear Materilas)

Two Studies in Conflict on Growth of Bone

Two groups of researchers have come to different conclusions on how serotonin levels affect bone density and production (J. Bone Miner. Res. & Nat. Med.)

Big Squeeze Clears Out Protein Garbage

X-ray crystallography has revealed how a huge cellular enzymatic machine called ClpP - used by pathogenic microbes to break down proteins - spits out its waste: A large conformational change squeezes the protease’s cylinder, thereby creating large equatorial pores from which the refuse diffuses away (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.)

Gut Bacteria Linked to Behavior: That Anxiety May Be in Your Gut, Not in Your Head

Working with healthy adult mice, the researchers showed that disrupting the normal bacterial content of the gut with antibiotics produced changes in behaviour; the mice became less cautious or anxious. This change was accompanied by an increase in brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) linked to depression and anxiety (Gastroenterology)

Design of New Anti-Flu Virus Proteins Using Computational Methods

Researchers reported the de novo modeling of protein-protein interactions to design high-affinity binders to the conserved stem region on hemagglutinin, which is a prime candidate for influenza therapies. Crystal structure analyses supported the predicted binding interface (Science)

Bacterium Found to Kill Malaria in Mosquitoes

Researchers reported that the Enterobacter bacterium is part of the naturally occurring microbial flora of the mosquito's gut and kills the parasite by producing reactive oxygen species (Science)

Popular Diabetes Drugs' Cardiovascular Side Effects Explained

Diabetes drugs, thiazolidinediones (TZDs), have downside effects on the kidneys that lead to fluid retention. Researchers at U. Tokyo found that TZDs rapidly stimulate sodium-coupled bicarbonate absorption from renal proximal tubules (Cell Metabolism)

Jolting The Diels-Alderase Hunt

A new study establishes how the insecticide spinosyn A is made in nature and introduces the first enzyme that exclusively catalyzes the Diels-Alder reaction (Nature)

Several Baffling Puzzles in Protein Molecular Structure Solved with New Integrated Method

Researchers demonstrated the value of computational modeling in helping scientists to determine the structures and functions of molecules that are difficult to study using current techniques (Nature)

High-Resolution “Snapshots” of a Defluorinase in Action

Biochemists capture the first detailed molecular view of the biocatalytic activity of rare enzymes that break C−F bonds (J. Am. Chem. Soc.)

Mechanism behind Anti-HIV Drug Nelfinavir's Cancer-fighting Effects

Although some kinases linked to tumor growth have very different functions from HIV enzymes, their shapes are similar enough to allow nelfinavir to bind and disrupt their activity (PLoS Computational Biology)

Drug Repositioning: Comprehensive Collection of Approved Drugs Created to Identify New Therapies

Researchers have begun screening the first definitive collection of thousands of approved drugs for clinical use against rare and neglected diseases. The systematic repurposing effort is coordinated by the National Institutes of Health's Chemical Genomics Center (NCGC) (Sci. Trans. Med.)

New drug targets raise hopes for hepatitis C cure

As the first targeted therapies (protease inhibitors) edge towards regulatory approval, attention turns to the targets including EGFR (Nature Medicine)

In Search Of Amyloidogenic Misfolded Proteins

Clinical Diagnostics: New method could detect early stages of diseases such as Alzheimer's and type 2 diabetes (Biochemistry and PLoS One)

Learning to Tolerate Our Microbial Self: Bacteria Co-Opt Human Immune Cells for Mutual Benefit

Researchers demonstrate that a symbiosis factor (polysaccharide A) of the prominent gut commensal, Bacteroides fragilis, is sensed by TLR (Toll-like receptor) 2 and activates the TLR pathway to establish host-microbial symbiosis (Science)

Gut study divides people into three types

Bacterial populations fall into three distinct classes that could help to personalize medicine (Nature)

Overcoming barriers to membrane protein structure determination

New approaches to solving membrane protein structures based on recent technological advances (Nature Biotechnology)

Water Serves As A Protein Glue

Adhesive water bridges help stabilize hydrophilic protein-protein interactions and guide the molecules together (Nat. Commun.)

Genetic Tag For Electron Microscopy

Imaging: Biobased label enables scientists to pinpoint proteins in cells, tissues (PLoS Biology)

Structure Formed by Strep Protein Can Trigger Toxic Shock

Researchers reported the precise architecture of a superstructure formed when the bacterial protein called M1 links with a host protein, fibrinogen, that is normally involved in clotting blood (Nature)

Stapled Peptides: Drugging the Undruggable

A chemical "staple" creates mobile peptides with staying power

Dying for a long life

Basic Yellow 1 (Thioflavin T) that lights up the protein clumps characteristic of Alzheimer's disease also slows ageing in worms (Nature)

Cancer: A Protein Aggregation Disease

Misfolded and aggregated proteins–longtime hallmarks of brain disorders–also appear to play a role in cancer (Nat. Chem. Biol.)

A Bacterium That Acts Like a Toothbrush

Researchers have identified a new ally in the war against tooth decay: an enzyme produced by a mouth bacterium that prevents plaque formation (Appl. Environ. Microbiol.)

Probing Probiotic Cheese

Food Science: NMR generates metabolic profiles of probiotic cheese (J. Agri. Food Chem.)

Algae holds promise for nuclear clean-up

Organism's ability to distinguish strontium from calcium could help in dealing with nuclear waste (ChemSusChem)

Chernobyl's legacy

Twenty-five years after the nuclear disaster, the clean-up grinds on and health studies are faltering. Are there lessons for Japan?

Radiation Risks Outlined by Bombs, Weapons Work, and Accidents

Risk calculations are based heavily on a 63-year study of 94,000 people who survived the two atomic bombs dropped on Japan in August 1945. It is one of the largest, longest population studies ever done; for radiation safety, it is the gold standard.

Japan’s Research Facilities Down But Not Out

Two of Japan's major physics facilities were knocked out indefinitely, and many laboratories along the eastern seaboard have lost instruments and research materials or are shuttered due to rolling blackouts. In a glimmer of good news, the university hardest hit by the quake suffered no fatalities at its campuses.

Candidate Radiation Drugs Inch Forward

Over the past 5 years, a few promising candidate drugs designed to ward off the effects of radiation exposure have begun to undergo animal, and even human, testing. Still, only a few companies and academic groups are addressing this unmet need.

The long road back

For now, Japan's scientists have higher priorities than rebuilding their research infrastructure, but when they do get to it, they will need help from the international scientific community

Two New Targets for Melanoma Therapies

Researchers used the zebrafish model to discover two new melanoma-promoting proteins, DHODH and SETDB1, that could be targets for therapy (2 papers in Nature)

A Genomic Blueprint for Cancer

The largest cancer genome sequencing project yet highlights molecular pathways at the heart of an aggressive blood cancer. The findings point to new targets for drug development, and also suggest that some patients will respond to drugs currently being tested for melanoma (Nature)

New lead on deadly pancreatic cancer

Immune cell-activating molecule boosts survival for pancreatic cancer patients (Science)

How to Make Skinny Worms Fat and Fat Worms Skinny

Researchers uncovered a handful of chemical compounds that regulate fat storage through their “worm screening” (Nat. Chem. Biol.)

Quake shakes Japan's science

Natural disaster leaves researchers struggling with broken equipment and a crippled infrastructure

Mutant Prions Help Cells Foil Harmful Protein Misfolding

Cells' own quality assurance system: two different beneficial mutant prions managed to foil the amplification of harmful clumps of misfolded proteins in yeast (Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol.)

A New Heartbeat Helper

Drug Discovery: Small molecule powers cardiac myosin to counteract heart failure (Science)

Sperm’s Come-hither Channel

The female sex hormone progesterone readies human sperm for fertilization with help from an ion channel, two studies report (2 papers in Nature)

Amphotericin B Mystery Solved

Decade-long question about Antifungal Agent’s Mechanism is answered (PNAS)

Behind Olive Oil’s Bite

Lone protein’s locale explains distinctive sting (J.Neurosci.)

GPCR Structures: 1. An Agonist-Bound Human A2A Adenosine Receptor

Researchers obtained the structure of the human A2A adenosine receptor, a member of the GPCR family sometimes referred to as the "caffeine receptor," bound to a full agonist (Science)

GPCR Structures: 2. Light Receptor Protein Rhodopsin

Researchers solved the structure of rhodopsin in its light-activated state and in a stable form (Nature)

Fluoride Blocks Enzyme Site

Blocked active site allows scientists to visualize enzyme-inhibitor complexes that couldn’t be seen before (J. Amer. Chem. Soc)

First Hit For A Cancer Target

Drug Discovery: Academic collaboration leads to nanomolar inhibitor for phosphatase methylesterase-1 (PNAS)

‘Good Cholesterol' Structure Identified, Could Help Explain Protective Effects

Researchers showed that the majority of physiological interactions with HDL occur at the particle surface, which is dominated by the cardioprotective protein apolipoprotein A-I (Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol.))

Structural biology: Breaking the protein rule

A central tenet in molecular biology states that the function of a protein depends on its fully folded three-dimensional structure. In the new view, protein segments can function when transiently or durably disordered.

Nanodiamonds deliver on cancer treatment

Carbon nanoparticles promise multifaceted benefits in transporting drugs (Sci. Trans. Med.)

Making Genome Sequencing Part of Clinical Care

Researchers are taking pioneering steps to make whole-genome sequencing a standard part of diagnostic testing for children with rare inherited disorders not easily diagnosed by traditional methods

NIH revamp rushes ahead

Translational-science centre remains on the fast track, despite concerns about upheaval

Traditional drug-discovery model ripe for reform

Academic researchers set to play much greater role in pharmaceutical development

Flood Tolerant Rice Plants Can Also Survive Drought

Researchers reported that at the molecular level Sub1A serves as a convergence point between submergence and drought response pathways, allowing rice plants to survive and re-grow after both extremes of precipitation (Plant Cell)

Big Enzyme Takes On Tiny Target

Researchers induced cytochrome P450 (CYP) to work on the exceptionally small target, methane, by introducing a chemical “guest” into the active site to fill the unused space (Angew. Chem.)

Peptide Induces Hair Regrowth In Mice

A research team, which was originally investigating how stress affects gastrointestinal function, found a peptide called astressin-B that induces hair growth entirely by accident (PLoS One)

Social Networking's Newest Friend: Genomics

The first large-scale study to combine whole-genome sequencing and social-network analysis solves a mysterious TB outbreak in Canada. It was found to be linked to an increase in crack cocaine use in the community (New England Journal of Medicine)

Point-of-care Micro-NMR for Cancer Diagnosis

Researchers have developed a quantitative micro-NMR system for rapid, multiplexed analysis of human tumors (Sci. Transl. Med.)

Video: Organ Development in 3D

One of the most "striking and technically excellent" of the animations submitted to this year's Wellcome Image Awards in London

Meet the Mastermind Behind That E. coli Google Logo

Researchers dyed some lab bacteria different colors, streaked it onto an agar plate in the shape of the Google logo, creating a Google homepage image one might call infectiously charming

Connecting Bacteria

Bacteria build nanotube channels to share the innermost contents of their cells with individuals of the same or different species (Cell)

Silkworms’ Colorful Diet

Slipping rhodamine dyes in with mulberry leaves is a potential green, low-cost method for making colored silks (Adv. Mater.)

Public-private partnership proposed to develop pharmaceuticals

Chas Bountra, head of the Structural Genomics Consortium at the University of Oxford, is proposing a more collaborative model of early drug discovery, which would eliminate duplicative work

Flies sniff out heavy hydrogen

Insects' ability to discriminate isotopes reignites debate over a controversial theory of olfaction (PNAS)

Reshuffling NIH

Plan to create drug development center spurs fierce debate

How Omega-3 Fatty Acids Help Prevent Several Forms of Blindness

Researchers identified a metabolite of the omega-3 fatty acid, known as 4-HDHA, that has the beneficial effects in mice and the enzyme (5-lipoxygenase) that produces it (Sci. Transl. Med.)

Lipid Cues Meningitis Bacteria’s Lethality

Chemical modification switches bacteria from harmless to potentially pathogenic (Science)

Virus, Parasite May Combine to Increase Harm to Humans

Researchers reported that some Leishmania strains are infected with a virus that can cause more harm when it infects animal and human hosts (Science)

The Staph Bug's Achilles' Heel

Blocking the activity of a protein known as RnpA stopped the RNA recycling machinery of Staphylococcus aureus, leading to a new type of antibiotic (PLoS Pathogens)

Newly Discovered Squid Pheromone Sparks Extreme Aggression on Contact

Scientists have identified a protein pheromone produced in the female reproductive tract and embedded in the outer surface of eggs that triggers immediate and dramatic fighting in male squid that come into contact with it (Current Biology)

Public Sector Research Responsible for Many New Drug Discoveries, Researchers Find

Researchers reported that public-sector research has had a more immediate effect on improving public health than was previously realized (New England Journal of Medicine)

Pharmaceutical industry must take its medicine

To fix the drug pipeline, governments must take on drug-makers instead of capitulating to their every demand

Turning Bacteria Against Themselves

Researchers found that the antitoxin is bound to the toxin in a way that keeps the toxin inactive in a Streptococcus (Structure)

Researchers Turn Salmonella Into Antiviral Gene Delivery Agent

Researchers have reprogrammed Salmonella to safely transport virus-stopping enzymes into cells without causing disease (PNAS)

New Explanation for Heart-Healthy Benefits of Chocolate

Japanese researchers reported that cocoa polyphenols increased apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), a protein that is the major component of "good" cholesterol, and decreased apolipoprotein B (ApoB), the main component of "bad" cholesterol (J. Agric. Food Chem.)

Tiny Membrane Protein Crystals, Giant Virus Show X-Ray Laser's Power and Potential

Two studies demonstrate how the unique capabilities of the world's first hard X-ray free-electron laser (LCLS) could revolutionize the study of life (2 papers in Nature)

Do Gut Bugs Practice Mind Control?

Mouse study indicates that intestinal bacteria may influence brain development, behavior (PNAS)

Genetically Engineered Probiotics

A twist on a traditional therapy shows promise for treating bowel disease (PNAS)

Target Of Traditional Chinese Medicine Triptolide Found

Uncovering natural product’s cellular target will facilitate the design of new anticancer and other drug leads (Nat. Chem. Biol.)

CJD diagnosis just got easier

Test for Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease raises hopes of speedier diagnosis (Nat. Medicine)

Discovery of "probiotic transporters" unlocks secrets of infection-preventive bifidobacteia

Japanese researchers have uncovered how gut bifidobacteria protect the body against lethal infection by enhancing the defenses of colonic epithelium (Nature)

January 27, 2011 ,RIKEN Press Release,

Protein hormone boosts memory

Preliminary work in rats suggests that a hormone, insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II), that promotes growth and repair in certain cells may be instrumental in the formation and retention of memories (Nature)

Probing Chemical Time-Keeping

A new role for posttranslational modification in circadian rhythms: cellular time-keeping involves a repetitive sequence of oxidations and reductions of a cysteine thiol on a peroxiredoxin protein (2 papers in Nature)

Tagging Cholesterol

Posttranslational cholesterylation: Click chemistry helps label cholesterylated proteins (Chem. Comm.)

Defensins: From the Folded Inactive Form To the Unfolded Active Form

To activate the human beta-defensin 1 (hBD-1), a human antibiotic naturally produced in the body, the thioredoxin protein opens the three disulphide bridges of hBD-1 (Nature)

Enabling NMR In The Field

Researchers couple portable NMR with capillary electrophoresis (Anal. Chem.)

ScienceShot: Parasite Invasion Caught on Camera

For the first time, the tiny malaria parasite has been caught on camera breaking and entering a red blood cell (Cell Host & Microbe.)

Spotting Alzheimer's Disease Early

A tracer molecule designed to bind to amyloid plaques can accurately detect the protein in the living human brain (Journal of the American Medical Association)

Cataracts Via Protein Interactions

Experimental, theoretical tools reveal a new route to the eye disease (PNAS)

CO2 Helps Crystals Change Shape

Pharmaceutical chemistry: Polymorphs convert under mild conditions (J. Am. Chem. Soc.)

Japan Boosts Competitive Grants at Expense of Big Science

The education ministry's science budget will rise 3.3% to $20.2 billion in 2011, with small grants winning the lion's share of the increase

Near -action shots of vital proteins

Structures of G-protein-coupled receptors visualized in near-active states (3 papers in Nature)

RNA Game Lets Players Help Find a Biological Prize

Each week the best designs created by game players and chosen by the gaming community will be synthesized at Stanford

Nature Gets in the Open Access Game

“Scientific Reports” will be an online, open-access journal with articles covering the natural sciences

Alzheimer's blood test 'most accurate' so far

The blood of patients with the brain disease contains antibodies not found in healthy people (Cell)

Detecting Tuberculosis: No Microscopes, Just Rats

Researchers say that the Gambian pouched rat can smell the difference between tuberculosis bacilli and other germs that inhabit human phlegm (Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg.)

Fixing the economy the scientific way

Beyond creating jobs alone, scientific research can also "save society a fortune" in shared healthcare costs. We need to recognize that the cost of basic science, and the time it takes, require a sustained government commitment

You Are What Your Father Ate

Paternal Diet Affects Lipid Metabolizing Genes in Offspring (Cell)

Smorgasbord of genomes for food lovers

Drafts of cacao and strawberry sequences unveiled (2 papers in Nature Genetics)

From 7 to 70,000: The PDB Reaches a New Milestone

As the year 2010 draws to a close, the number of biomacromolecular structures available in the PDB archive now exceeds 70,000

December 21, 2010,wwPDB News,

Many Cancer Cells Found to Have an 'Eat Me' Signal

Researchers discovered that many forms of cancer display the protein calreticulin, or CRT, which invites immune cells called macrophages to engulf and destroy them (Science Translational Medicine)

Placebos Work -- Even Without Deception

For most of us, the "placebo effect" is synonymous with the power of positive thinking; it works because you believe you're taking a real drug. But a new study rattles this assumption (PLoS ONE)

Details, Reaction of Tight U.K. Science Budget Emerge

The detailed allocations of the science budget have just been released on December 20

Enzyme’s Dual Nature Revealed

A crystal structure of the enzyme taxadiene synthase confirms a theoretically predicted link between two enzyme classes in the evolution of some biomolecules that biosynthesize terpenes (Nature)

An Immune Aid for Aging

An old drug lenalidomide, a cousin of thalidomide, gets new use as an immune boost for the elderly by stimulating cytokine production and increasing T-cell proliferation (Clinical Immunology)

Staph’s Trail Points to Human Susceptibilities

Researchers are delving into why staph infections can be fatal for some people and hardly a nuisance for others (Cell Host & Microbe)

What Shall We Do With the X-ray Laser?

A newfangled x-ray source exceeds expectations in creating new conditions of matter, probing materials, and deciphering the structures of proteins

Will Homebody Researchers Turn Japan Into a Scientific Backwater?

Few young Japanese scientists these days opt for long-term overseas experience; research leaders hope to find ways to broaden their horizons

How plant hormone Abscisic Acid Fights Inflammation

Researchers revealed that abscisic acid interacts with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ(PPARγ) to block inflammation and the subsequent onset of disease (JBC)

Pathogenic Effects of Microbes on Plants: From Blight to Powdery Mildew

Four reports analyze microbial genomes in order to understand better how plant pathogens function (4 papers in Science)

Drought Boosts Resveratrol in Cabernets

A water deficit boosts production of one form of the beneficial compound resveratrol in wine grapes (J. Agric. Food Chem.)

Author of Controversial Arsenic Paper Speaks

The paper’s lead author, Felisa Wolfe-Simon has put a statement on her Web site

Democratizing DNA Sequencing

A cheap new machine to read DNA could allow many more labs to start sequencing

Microbe gets toxic response

Researchers question the science behind last week's revelation of arsenic-based life

Europe’s X-ray Powerhouse Hit by Budget Cuts

The governing council of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility agreed to requests from the United Kingdom and Italy to temporarily reduce their contributions to running the facility

Structure of Bacterial Enzyme Responsible for Caries

Researchers deciphered the structure and functional mechanism of the glucansucrase from the lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri, which is present in the human mouth and digestive tract and is responsible for dental plaque sticking to teeth (PNAS)

Online Video Game: First Foldit, Now Phylo

Community power: Foldit for structural biology and Phylo for comparative genomics

New Findings Detail How a Virus Prepares to Infect Cells

Two teams revealed how the changing arrangement of envelope proteins enables alphaviruses to invade and fuse with host cells (2 papers in Nature)

Sticking Fast To Foil Hepatitis C

Researchers have designed selective irreversible blockers of a protease enzyme essential for hepatitis C virus replication based on the comprehensive structural analysis of hundreds of proteases (Nature Chem. Biol.)

Why Diets Fail

Short-term dieting makes mice more sensitive to stress, which increases their craving for sweets (J Neurosci.)

Macromolecular Crowding: Close Quarters

Crowded conditions such as those in cells can affect proteins’ structure, function, and activity

Elusive protein factory mapped at last

Victory claimed in race to determine structure of eukaryotic ribosome (Science)

How Pathogens Hijack Host Plants

Researchers discovered a novel family of pore proteins, called SWEETs, that transport sugar out of the plant. Bacteria and fungi hijack the pores to access the plant sugar for food (Nature)

In Search of Cysteins

Chemical Biology: New technique finds super reactive cysteines in proteins (Nature)

Your Blood Holds Clues to Your Birthday

A team found a correlation between the number of T cell DNA circle fragments and age, one strong enough to pinpoint how old a person was, plus or minus 9 years (Current Biology)

First close-up of a dopamine receptor

Researchers have determined the structure of a receptor that responds to the neurotransmitter dopamine (Science)

Three-part receptor for jasmonate plant hormones

The receptors for several important plant hormones have been identified in recent years, including those for auxin, the gibberellins and abscisic acid, and structure - function studies have revealed their mechanisms of action. Now the mechanism by which plant cells recognize the jasmonate phytohormones - key players in growth regulation, development and defence responses - is reported (Nature)

Molecular Animation: Where Cinema and Biology Meet

Building on decades of research, scientists and animators are recreating in detail the complex inner machinery of living cells

No rest for the bio-wikis

Biologists' collaborative data repositories come of age

Elusive Enzyme Species Trapped

Two groups have captured and characterized critical intermediates in oxidation reactions catalyzed by two key enzyme families: cytochrome P450 monooxygenases and DNA-repair dioxygenases (Science & Nature)

Rice research goes global

The 5-year US$600-million global partnership known as the Global Rice Science Partnership (GRiSP) will be the biggest global science partnership on rice

New Malaria Drug Could Save Tens of Thousands Annually

A study showed that compared with an older drug called quinine, a new one called artesunate reduces the risk of death from severe malaria in African children by 23% (Lancet)

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis Drugome

Researchers reported a computational approach that integrates structural bioinformatics, molecular modeling, and systems biology to construct a drug-target network on a structural proteome-wide scale (PLoS Computational Biology)

HIV immunity is all in the amino acids

Tiny changes to the structure of the HLA-B protein confer immunity to HIV (Science)

Alleviating Cancer Drug Toxicity by Inhibiting a Bacterial Enzyme

Toxicity of the anticancer drug CPT-11 (Irinotecan) is alleviated by inhibiting a enzyme, beta glucuronidase, in human symbiotic gastrointestinal bacteria (Science)

Jack-Of-All-Trades Detergents

Biohemistry: Versatile molecules aid multiple stages of membrane-protein structure determination (Nature Methods)

Bacteria can drive the evolution of new species

Symbiotic bacteria that live on the fruitfly can affect their host's choice of mate by altering the fly's pheromones (PNAS)

The GPU Revolution

Designed for video games, Graphics Processing Units bring once-impossible simulations within reach for chemists

Revealing How Plants Breathe

Structural Biology: An ion channel that controls opening, closing of pores in leaves has a rare protein fold (Nature)

Background Adaptation: Newly Discovered Gene Enables Fish to 'Disappear'

The new gene, agrp2, has been found exclusively in bony fish, including zebrafish, trout and salmon. The protein it encodes enables fish to change color dramatically to match their surroundings (PNAS)

Science Shot: Giant Virus May Be Ocean's Largest

Virus packs in more DNA than some bacteria, may blur line between life and non-life (PNAS)

Taste receptors in the lungs?

Discovery of Bitter Taste Receptors in the Lungs Could Help People With Asthma Breathe Easier (Nature Medicine)

Entire Issue of Scientific Journal Devoted to Joint Center for Structural Genomics

A multi-institutional consortium led by The Scripps Research Institute scientists, the Joint Center for Structural Genomics (JCSG), is the sole focus of a special issue of the journal Acta Crystallographica Section F.

Dad’s Diet May Give Children Diabetes

Researchers found the first direct evidence that a father's diet, not just his genes, can increase his offspring's risk of diabetes and other diseases, at least in rats (Nature)

Research Avoids U.K. Budget Bloodbath

The U.K. government calls for a flat science budget over the next 4 years. While inflationary costs mean that the budget will likely see a cut of about 10% in real terms over that period.

Broadcasting Science

Deepwater Horizon spill shows how the internet accelerates reporting of the science of disasters

Custom-Built Supercomputer Brings Protein Folding Into View

Computational biologists led by computer scientist and former hedge fund manager David Shaw report that they ran a specially built supercomputer for about 3 weeks to simulate a relatively small protein going through 15 rounds of folding and unfolding over 200 microseconds (Science)

Cystine Imposters Curb Crystallization

Crystal Engineering: Molecular mimics suggest therapeutic strategy for rare kidney disease (Science)

Counting collaboration

"Science is not looking at its productivity scientifically" Can metrics be designed to measure researchers' collegiality? (Science Translational Medicine & Scientometrics)

A Chill in China-Japan Academic Relations

A diplomatic tiff stemming from a collision last month between a Chinese trawler and two Japanese coast guard vessels has chilled academic exchange between the two countries.

Does Britain Want World's Best Footballers, But Not Its Best Scientists?

Scientists are protesting immigration curbs on scientists and engineers that may be put in place next spring.

Video: Bacteria Can Stand-Up and 'Walk'

Protein-based "legs" allow some microbes to walk upright (Science)

New NIH Research Award Will Let Young Scientists Skip the Postdoc

Called the Early Independence Award Program, it will fund up to 10 young researchers each year to pass almost immediately from completing a PhD to running their own laboratories.

What is Killing off the Honeybees? Scientists and Soldiers Solve a Bee Mystery

A fungus tag-teaming with a virus have apparently interacted to cause the problem (PLoS ONE)

Damaged cell powerhouses linked to Parkinson's

The results could warrant clinical trials of existing drugs currently used to treat other diseases (e.g., Actos for type 2 diabetes) that the activate PCG-1α protein pathway able to repair and replace broken mitochondria (Science Translational Medicine)

Hormone Acting as 'Molecular Glue' Could Boost Plant Immune Systems

A study reveals how the plant hormone jasmonate binds two proteins (JAZ repressor protein and the F-box protein COI1) together and identifies the receptor's crystal structure to provide the molecular view of how plants ward off attacks by insects and pathogens (Nature)

“Science is Vital” Campaign in UK

British scientists begin to mobilize in the fight against research funding cuts.

Amino Acid Supplement Makes Mice Live Longer

Branched-chain amino acids promote survival and support cardiac and skeletal muscle mitochondrial biogenesis in middle-aged mice (Cell Metabolism)

NIH/NIGMS Awards up to $290M for PSI-III

With these new grants, the PSI begins its third 5-year phase, PSI:Biology. A key aim is to utilize the high-throughput methods developed during the PSI’s first decade to generate protein structures for functional studies.

September 30, 2010,NIGMS News,

Structural Genomics Consortium Releases 1,000th Protein Structure

The Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), an international public-private partnership that aims to determine three-dimensional structures of medically important proteins, announced the release into the public domain of its 1000th high-resolution protein structure.

Epitope - scaffold strategy to fight HIV

A way to nail down the shape of a viral protein segment could spur vaccine development (PNAS & Structure)

Communication between proteins that cause apoptosis

Researchers revealed that membrane remodeling induced by the dynamin-related protein Drp1 Stimulates Bax oligomerization (Cell)

Assay for key Ghrelin enzyme

A new type of assay based on click chemistry will make it possible to carry out high-throughput screens to find inhibitors of the gut hormone ghrelin, a target for obesity and diabetes medications (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.)

U.K. Research Leaders Makes Final Stand Against Science Cuts

Top officials from six U.K. universities joined Martin Rees, president of the Royal Society, in London in a last-ditch attempt to avert the government's expected cuts in science funding

A Selective Inhibitor of a Key Protein in Squamous Carcinoma

The disease is caused by a chromosomal translocation which gives rise to an abnormal, fused protein BRD4 (Bromodomain-containing protein 4) - NUT. An inhibitor of BRD4 is found and its potency and selectivity is explained by co-crystal structures (Nature)

Malaria's Newest Pathway Into Human Cells Identified

Researchers showed that CR1 (Complement receptor 1) is the host erythrocyte receptor for PfRh4, a major P. falciparum ligand essential for invasion (PNAS)

Enzymes for Sunscreen Synthesis

Cyanobacteria biosynthesize small molecules termed mycosporine and mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) to protect them from harmful UV exposure. A formulation containing MAAs is used as a sunscreen in skin care and cosmetic products. Researchers identified and characterized the all four enzymes in MMA biosyntheses (Science)

Pheromonal Signaling as a Measure of Population Density

Pheromones are often used for sexual communications in animals, but they can also serve as a measure of population density. A peptide named SNET-1 and a homolog of a mammalian transmembrane peptidase neprilysin were found to mediate pheromonal regulation of the population density in C. elegans (Science)

Structures of Efflux Pumps: (1) Multidrug Resistance Pump NorM

The NorM transporter is responsible for widespread resistance to a variety of antibiotics and pharmaceuticals. A team solved the two crystal structures of the NorM on the outside surface of V. cholera; the transporter by itself and the pump powered by sodium ions (Nature)

Structures of Efflux Pumps: (2) Inner Membrane cation transporter CusA

The X-ray crystal structure of CusA, a part of cation efflux system, has been determined in the absence and presence of bound Cu(I) or Ag(I) ion (Nature)

Salmonella Creates Environment in Human Intestines to Foster Its Own Growth

When Salmonella invades the surface of the intestine, our immune system responds by producing oxygen radicals to kill some of them. However, many more benefit: the oxygen radicals create a sulfur compound called tetrathionate, which Salmonella are able to use instead of oxygen for respiration (Nature)

China pushes for the proteome

Strategy to build a complete catalogue of human proteins could put the country in a leading position.

NOX4: Novel Drug Target for Stroke Therapy

Researchers identified an enzyme involved in generating reactive oxygen species, known as NADPH oxidase type 4 (NOX4) as a major source of oxidative stress and an effective therapeutic target in brain injury due to stroke (PLoS Biology)

How HIV Virus Resists an AIDS Drug AZT

AZT, a drug widely used to treat AIDS, works by inhibiting an enzyme, reverse transcriptase, which HIV needs to produce DNA from RNA, and thus replicate itself. Researchers used X-ray crystallography to describe in atomic detail how the AZT-resistance mutations allow reverse transcriptase to recruit ATP to excise the AZT (Nature Struct. Mol. Biol.)

Biochemical Link Between Biological Clock and Diabetes

Researchers found that a key protein, cryptochrome, that regulates the biological clocks of mammals also regulates glucose production in the liver and that altering the levels of this protein can improve the health of diabetic mice (Nature Medicine)

Location Matters for the Two Independent Signaling Pathways

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 7 and 9 recognize viral pathogens and induce two distinct signaling pathways leading to the activation of proinflammatory cytokines and antiviral type I interferons. Researchers reported that subcellular localization is key for the two independent signaling cascades (Science)

Visualization: How mRNA Molecules Escape from Cell's Nucleus

Researchers revealed the dynamic and surprising mechanism by which nuclear pores "translocate" messenger RNA molecules from the nucleus into the cytoplasm (Nature)

Visualization: Secondary Structures of F-actin by Electron Cryomicroscopy

Japanese researchers reported the F-actin structure at 6.6 Å resolution, made obtainable by recent advances in electron cryomicroscopy (Nature)

Researchers in Asian Countries Raise Their Scientific Profiles Worldwide

While researchers in many Western countries fret about declining budgets, scientists in many Asian nations are translating huge investments into impressive gains in research output.

Spying On Fleeting Proteins

NMR-based method allows scientists to catch a rare glimpse of protein-folding intermediates (Science)

Fe ion and Zn ion in Alzheimer's disease

Researchers revealed that amyloid precursor protein (APP) possesses iron-export ferroxidase activity, which is inhibited by zinc ion trapped by accumulated amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides in Alzheimer's disease (Cell)

Strategy Discovered to Prevent Alzheimer's-Associated Traffic Jams in the Brain

Amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides, which build up to toxic levels in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease, impair the axonal transport of diverse cargoes such as mitochondria and growth factor receptors. Researchers discovered that reducing the level of microtubule-associated protein tau can prevent Aβ from causing such traffic jams (Science)

Mosquito’s Antiplasmodial Immunity: How Mosquitoes Fight Malaria

Researchers figured out how the insect's immune system conquers the parasite−knowledge that could be used to combat the spread of malaria in humans (Science)

Microbial Immunity: How Bacteria and Archaea Fight Viruses

Microbes deploy a nucleic acid-based immune system that revolves around a genetic element CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats). The crystal structure of Cas4 enzyme with the CRISPR RNA transcript revealed how the protein specifi cally recognized RNA repeats, as well as the mechanism of endonucleolytic cleavage (Science)

NIH Offers $1.5M for PSI:Biology Respository

The PSI:Biology Materials Repository will be a resource for the collection, validation, storage, and distribution of the expression and sequence clones that are generated in the PSI:Biology centers in order to make these materials available to the biomedical research community.

Structures in Free and Bound Three Intrinsically Disordered Proteins Determined

Researchers depicted ensemble models of three protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) regulators, I-2 (PPP1R2), spinophilin (PPP1R9B), and DARPP-32 (PPP1R1B), which bind to and regulate PP1 (Structure)

Regulated destruction

A novel regulatory mechanism in which proteasomal activity is modulated by the length of ubiquitin chains was identified. The deubiquitinating enzyme USP14 can inhibit the degradation of ubiquitin-conjugated substrates by trimming ubiquitin chains. Furthermore, a small molecule IU1 was found to inhibit Usp14 and to allow the proteasome to dispose of proteins more quickly (Nature)

Novel Sensing Mechanism Discovered in Dendritic Cells to Increase Immune Response to HIV

Dendritic cells, the grand sentinels of the immune system, nearly always fail to respond adequately to HIV. A team revealed that the sensing mechanism of the dendritic cell recognizes the capsid of the virus, rather than the genetic material inside (Nature)

Transport proteins : sodium-free protein exchange

Researchers reported the structures of the sodium-independent membrane antiporter CaiT that catalyses transmembrane exchange of L-carnitine and γ-butyrobetaine (Nature)

Rare victory in fight against melanoma

A drug targeted a B-RAF protein mutation was proven to be effective in a small clinical trial (New England J. Med.) and in a mechanistic study (Nature). The drug selectively blocks mutated B-RAF by filling the unique pocket that the genetic mutation etches into the protein's three-dimensional structure.

Perturbing parasitic plants

Strigolactone, an important 'branching hormone' in plants, released by plant roots serves as an invasion cue for a parasitic plant Striga. Researchers identified small molecules cotylimides that block parasitic plant infestations (Nature Chem. Biol.)

Are Genetically Modified Salmon Headed to the Supermarket?

A genetically modified strain of Atlantic salmon that's designed to carry the gene for growth hormone from a closely related species, Chinook salmon and to grow twice as fast as its unaltered cousins may soon be eligible for dinner in USA

Technique Combo Beats NMR Solo

Researchers have combined nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) with X-ray and neutron scattering to solve the largest protein solution structures to date (J. Am. Chem. Soc.)

New Type of Anti-Malarial Compound Discovered

An international team has discovered a promising new drug candidate family, spiroindolones. They obtained evidence for a decrease in drug sensitivity in strains bearing amino acid mutations in the P-type ATPase, indicating possible mechanisms of action and/or resistance (Science & J. Medicinal Chem.)

Mechanisms and Function of a Type of Mysterious Immune Cell Discovered

Lymphocytes in the skin known as γδT cells provide an important barrier against infection and injury. Two studies identified a junctional adhesion molecule, JAML, as a new costimulatory receptor for γδ T cells that binds to the ligand CAR (coxsackie and adenovirus receptor) expressed on keratinocytes. The crystal structures of CAR/JAML were reported (2 papers in Science)

Molecules Involved in 'Touch' Identified: Could Lead to New Treatments for Pain, Deafness and Cardiac Function

Researchers identified two ion channel proteins, Piezo1 (Fam38A) and Piezo2 (Fam38B) involved in the cellular response to mechanical stimulation (Science)

Why Fish Oils Work Swimmingly Against Inflammation and Diabetes

Researchers identified a G-protein receptor GPR120 on macrophages abundantly found in obese body fat. Omega-3 fatty acids activate this macrophage receptor, resulting in broad anti-inflammatory effects (Cell)

Finding Suggests New Aim for Alzheimer’s Drugs

A discovery by Paul Greengard, an 84-year-old scientist and Nobel winner, has illuminated a new direction (Nature)

Ion-pump structure linked to neurological disease

Neurological disease mutations compromise a C-terminal ion pathway in the Na+/K+-ATPase (Nature)

Bacterial charity work leads to population-wide resistance

Experiments using Escherichia coli exposed to an antibiotic show that a few drug-resistant mutants can protect the majority of the population. These resistant isolates produce the signaling molecule indole, which activates drug efflux pumps in susceptible kin (Nature)

New App Shows 2-D Structure of Thousands of RNA Molecules

Researchers used a deep-sequencing approach to determine the structure of the entire transcriptome of the yeast. The results provide interesting hints about the role of secondary structure in translation (Nature)

When It Comes to the Immune System, We're All More Alike

Researchers sequenced more than five million T-cell receptor DNA strands from each of seven healthy donors and found the strong similarity in the adaptive immune cells between different people (Science Translational Medicine)

Metal-Mining Bacteria Are Green Chemists

Researchers revealed that the common soil bacterium Desulfovibrio desulfuricans recovers the precious metal palladium from industrial wastes by reducing palladium ion with its hydrogenase enzymes located on the surface membrane (Microbiology)

You give me fever

How the "fever molecule" interacts with its receptors is reported. These findings could potentially lead to the development of new anti-inflammatory treatments (Nature Immunology)

A new target against addiction

Inhibiting the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH-2) may have therapeutic potential against cocaine addiction (Nature Medicine)

Hydroxyurea's Revised Sickle Cell Role

Researchers determined that hydroxyurea stimulates the production of nitric oxide in red blood cells. The boost in NO increases the cells’ ability to release adenosine triphosphate, which in turn improves blood flow (Eur. J. Pharmacol.)

Human Adenovirus Structures

Human adenoviruses may be a common cause of acute infections in humans, but they can also be used as vectors for vaccine and therapeutic gene transfer. Two papers described the structure of human adenovirus using complementary techniques (2 papers in Science)

Stress Protein Hsp12 Folds to Protect Cell Membranes Against Leaks and Ruptures

Hsp12 of S. cerevisiae is upregulated several 100-fold in response to stress. Researchers revealed that normally unfolded within the yeast cell's aqueous cytosol, Hsp12 folds into helical structures to stabilize the cell membrane against heat shock and other kinds of stress (Molecular Cell)

Novel Mechanism Protects Plants Against Freezing

Researchers described how a gene SENSITIVE TO FREEZING 2 (SFR2), which encodes a galactolipid remodeling enzyme, leads to the formation of a lipid that protects chloroplast and plant cell membranes from freeze damage in Arabidopsis (Science)

Advanced Melanoma: New Targeted Therapy Successful in More Than 80 Percent of Patients

In more than half of all melanomas, the BRAF mutation keeps the protein constantly activated and driving cell growth. Use of an experimental targeted drug PLX4032, an inhibitor of the BRAF protein, was successful in a phase 1 clinical trial (New England Journal of Medicine)

Growing Drought-Tolerant Crops Inching Forward

Pyrabactin, a synthetic chemical that mimics a key stress hormone Abscisic acid (ABA), led to the discovery of a 14-member family of ABA receptors. Researchers compared the crystal structures of multiple ABA receptors in complex with pyrabactin (2 papers in Nature Struct. Molec. Biol.)

Structure of RCC1 chromatin factor bound to the nucleosome core particle

Researchers solved the crystal structures of the protein RCC1 (regulator of chromosome condensation, a protein critical for proper separation of chromosomes during cell division) bound to the nucleosome (Nature)

Double Scissor Movement in Anti-Stress Protein Hsp90

Researchers uncovered that the dimer of Hsp90 (heat shock protein) opens and closes in a scissors-like manner at the C terminal as well as the N terminal (PNAS)

Broad changes in protein phosphorylation induced by plant hormone abscisic acid

Researchers found that 50 different phosphopeptides had their phosphorylation state significantly altered by abscisic acid (ABA) (PNAS)

Breast cancer protein is finally purified

Isolation of BRCA2 could help understanding of cancer risk and aid drug screening (Nature & 2 papers in Nature Struct. Molec. Biol.)

Antidepressant's Unusual Speed Explained

Ketamine, which can overcome depression in hours, stimulates rapid synapse formation (Science)

Smart Fungus Disarms Plant, Animal and Human Immunity

The fungus Cladosporium fulvum causes leaf mould on tomato plants. One of the ways tomato plants sense infections is by detecting chitin, a component of fungal cell walls. Researchers reported that the effector protein Ecp6 of the fungus mediates virulence through perturbation of chitin-triggered host immunity (Science)

Shellfish-Borne Bacterial Protein Disrupts Host Cell Membrane Integrity

The marine bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus causes gastroenteritis in humans. Researchers found that its effector protein VPA0450 is a phosphatase and hydrolyzes a phosphate from the plasma membrane phospholipid that is critical to holding the cell together (Science)

Structure of Torque Ring of Flagellar Motor

The bacterial flagellar motor drives the rotation with the direction regulated by the flagellar switch complex. The structure of a ring-shaped protein FliG, one of its component, has been determined (Nature)

Propionyl-coenzyme A carboxylase structure

The mitochondrial biotin-dependent enzyme propionyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (PCC) is essential for the catabolism of several amino acids, cholesterol and some fatty acids. The structures of the α6β6 dodecamer of PCC have been determined (Nature)

Doubt on Tactic in Alzheimer’s Batttle

The failure of a promising Alzheimer’s drug in clinical trials highlights the gap between diagnosis - where real progress has recently been made - and treatment of the disease.

Sharing of Data Leads to Progress on Alzheimer’

No one would own the data. No one could submit patent applications. ANDI (Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative) is bearing fruit with a wealth of recent scientific papers on the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s using methods like PET scans and tests of spinal fluid.

Nickel allergy tracked to a single receptor

Molecular pathway reveals why allergen triggers reaction in humans but not in mice (Nature Immunology)

Structural Basis for Biosynthesis of Mysterious 21st Amino Acid

Researchers determined the crystal structures of the archaeal selenocysteine-specific tRNA – protein kinase (PTSK) complex to elucidate the mechanism essential for the UGA-specific encoding of selenocysteine (Molecular Cell)

A Gut Feeling

Special immune controls are necessary in the gut to prevent the immune system from reacting to the commensal microbiota and dendritic cells (DCs) are important for maintaining gut tolerance. Researchers found that β-catenin dependent signaling is required for DC-mediated gut tolerance in mice (Science)

Salmonella: Bad for Food, Good for Fighting Cancer?

Researchers described a mechanism for spurring successful antitumor responses by enhancing the transfer of tumor-specific antigens to antigen-presenting dendritic cells induced by Salmonella infection of the melanoma tumor (Sci. Transl. Med.)

NIGMS ‘Glue Grant’ Creates International Team to Study Membrane Proteins

NIGMS will fund the project totaling $22.5 million over 5 years. The project, called the Membrane Protein Structural Dynamics Consortium, includes investigators from 14 institutions in four different countries.

August 10, 2010,NIGMS Announcement,

Widespread Protein Aggregation as an Inherent Part of Aging in C. elegans

Do normal proteins form insoluble clumps when normal, healthy individuals age? Researchers identified roughly 700 proteins in a C. elegans worm that become insoluble as the animal ages (PLoS Biology)

Nitrogenase Makes Hydrocarbons

Vanadium nitrogenase, which catalyzes the conversion of nitrogen to ammonia, can also reduce carbon monoxide to form ethylene, ethane, and propane (Science)

Inhibitor Targets Glycoprotein Of Unknown Structure

Fragment-based drug discovery, combinatorial chemistry, and in situ click chemistry have been teamed together to rapidly identify a carbohydrate-like inhibitor for a key glycoprotein of unknown structure (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.)

Iron Balance (1): Ferroportin in Breast Cancer Progression and Prognosis

Ferroportin, the exporter of intracellular non–heme-associated iron, is a pivotal protein in breast biology and a strong and independent predictor of prognosis in breast cancer (Science Transl. Med.)

Iron Balance (2): Proteins That Ensure Iron Supply and Demand

Researchers found that a group of proteins named iron regulatory proteins(IRPs) secure mitochondrial iron sufficiency and function (Cell Metabolism)

Image of New Antibiotic in Action

The topoisomerase enzyme helps DNA to replicate and is a vital part of the bacteria's inner workings. Researchers captured a snapshot of the new antibacterial compound latched on to the enzyme and prevents it from performing its function (Nature)

Video Game Helps Solve Protein Structures

"Human computers" outwit a supercomputer in solving a tricky biological problem (Nature)

Cells Use Water in Nano-Rotors to Power Energy Conversion

Researchers have provided the atomic-level glimpse of the rotor element, called the c-ring of Bacillus, the turbine of the ATP synthase (PLoS Biology)

No cycling in malaria parasite

The tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle is a central hub of carbon metabolism, connecting glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, respiration, amino-acid synthesis and other biosynthetic pathways. TCA metabolism in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is shown to be largely disconnected from glycolysis, and is organized along fundamentally different lines (Nature)

Cellular Housekeeper Enzyme Caught in Action

Tripeptidyl peptidase II (TPP II), the largest known eukaryotic protease (6 MDa), cleaves tripeptides from the N termini of longer peptides. Researchers applied a hybrid approach combining X-ray crystallography and single-particle cryo-EM to generate a structural model of the TPP II (Nat Struct Mol Biol.)

Helicobacter pylori Targets Tumor-Suppressor Protein

A virulence protein CagA produced by Helicobacter pylori targets a host tumor suppressor protein RUNX3 for proteasome-mediated degradation (Oncogene)

Cellular suicide spurs cancer

New role for protein 'suicide switch' in aiding and abetting cancer. Two studies look at the role of a protein PUMA, which triggers cell death in response to damaged DNA. PUMA is activated by the tumour-suppressor protein p53, sometimes called 'the guardian of the genome' (2 papers in Genes Dev.)

Feeling the shapes of molecules

The atomic structure of an alkaloid can be revealed by atomic force microscopy (Nature Chemistry)

Protein mapping gains a human focus

Next phase of the US Protein Structure Initiative enlists biologists to help crack tough human receptors

ADAM10 Protein: New Approach to Alzheimer’s Therapy

ADAM10 acts like a pair of molecular scissors to cut the amyloid precursor protein (APP) from which beta-amyloid is formed, effectively preventing the formation of beta-amyloid (EMBO J.)

Microbial Biosynthesis of Alkanes

Researchers describe an alkane biosynthesis pathway in cyanobacteria that converts intermediates of fatty acid metabolism to alkanes and alkenes (Science)

Protein Complex Reveals Molecular Mechanism of Innate Immune Response

Researchers provide the detailed framework for understanding the architecture of RAR1- SGT1-HSP90 protein complexes, whose role in immune defense is shared in both plants and animals (Molecular Cell)

Clocking on to diabetes

During periods of feeding, pancreatic islets secrete insulin to maintain glucose homeostasis — a rhythmic process that is disturbed in people with diabetes. Researchers demonstrated that a local tissue clock integrates circadian and metabolic signals in pancreatic β-cells (Nature)

Leap Forward in Efforts to Develop Treatments for Huntington's Disease

Scientists have discovered that a family of enzymes, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), is involved in the breakdown of proteins that modify the production of toxic fragments that lead to the pathology of Huntington's disease (Neuron)

'Spontaneous generation' of prions observed

Steel wires 'catalyze' appearance of rogue proteins from healthy brain tissue (PNAS)

Obscure Immune Cells Thwart Ticks

New technique for deleting cells allows researchers to pin down their function (J. Clinical Investigation)

Metalloproteins' Ranks Swell

Rather than purifying proteins and seeing what metals they contain, researchers purified metal peaks and then tried to see what proteins were associated with the metal, demonstrating that metal-containing proteins are more diverse than thought (Nature)

Ageing cells lose protein pumps

Longevity of cells could be linked to levels of cellular pumps −multidrug resistance (MDR) transporter proteins − that get rid of toxic cell products (Nature Cell Biol.)

Legionnaire’s Disease Bacteria Tap Into the Material Transport in Immune Cells

Structural and biochemical analyses of the Legionella protein DrrA revealed that the permanent activation of a human membrane traffic regulatory protein Rab1 by DrrA could ensure its own survival (Science)

Pain Relief From Snail Spit

By linking the N-terminus of α-conotoxin Vc1.1 − a compound derived from Conus victoriae −to its C-terminus, researchers could make the 16-residue peptide orally active (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.)

Link Between Metabolic Disease, Bone Mass; Breakdown of Bone Keeps Blood Sugar in Check

Two new studies revealed that insulin signaling in bone favors whole-body glucose homeostasis by activating a bone-derived hormone osteocalcin (2 papers in Cell)

SIRT1 (sirtuin1): Protein Linked to Aging Also Linked to Alzheimer's

Researchers showed that sirtuin 1, a protein previously implicated in the aging process, activates the production of an enzyme that cleaves amyloid precursor proteins (APPs) into harmless fragments instead of the Alzheimer's-associated amyloid peptides (Cell)

SIRT1 (sirtuin1): Protein Important for Memory

Two new studies revealed that mice lacking the protein sirtuin 1 exhibited impaired memory and learning (Nature & J. Neuroscience)

Diabetes drugs offered fresh start

As FDA advisers vote for restrictions on Avandia, researchers reveal a way to make such drugs safer (Nature)

Sex pheromones: grounds for separation

Variation in a fatty-acyl reductase gene essential for pheromone biosynthesis in a moth accounts for the phenotypic variation in female pheromone production, leading to race-specific signals (Nature)

Sugar Derivative Solidifies Oil

Gelation process could turn spilled oil into skimmable fat for easy cleanup (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.)

Identification of a protein required for cellulose biosynthesis

Researchers identified cellulose synthase-interactive protein 1 (CSI1) associated with cellulose synthase (CESA) isoforms and involved in primary plant cell wall synthesis (PNAS)

Gut Bacteria Affect Multiple Sclerosis

Researchers demonstrated a connection between multiple sclerosis (MS) and gut bacteria. When germ-free mice are colonized with symbiotic segmented filamentous bacteria, Th17 cell differentiation is induced in the gut, which in turn promotes an animal model for MS (PNAS)

What Protects Farm Children from Hay Fever?

Researchers have isolated the substance in cowshed dust that possibly protects farm children from developing allergies - namely the plant polysaccharide arabinogalactan (Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology)

New Toxin May Be Key to MRSA Severity

A research project to identify all the surface proteins of methicillin-resistant form of the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has resulted in the identification and isolation of a novel leukotoxin proteins (PLoS ONE)

Nature's Insect Repellents Discovered

Researchers identified two hydrocarbons, n-heneicosane and n-tricosane, emitted by backswimmers (mosquito predators) that make the mosquitoes less inclined to lay eggs. The findings may lead to practical applications for repelling disease-carrying insects (Ecology Letters)

Mystery RNA spawns gene-activating peptides

Short peptides that regulate fruitfly development are produced from 'junk' RNA (Science)

Biochemistry: Reengineering Enzymes

Two different approaches show how enzymes can be engineered to make them part of the organic chemist's toolkit (2 papers in Science)

Kidney Disease Is Parasite-Slaying Protein's Downside

Researchers describe two genetic variations that can lead to kidney shutdown but may also fend off a microorganism that causes sleeping sickness in thousands of people in Africa (Science)

A new world of bacterial viruses in our intestines

Researchers report that the composition of virus populations inhabiting the tail ends of healthy intestines is unique to each individual and stable over time (Nature)

The ribosome in motion

Researchers have processed 1.9 million single-particle electron cryomicroscopy images of the ribosome to visualize these dynamic changes. They conclude that the conformational changes are thermally driven (or 'Brownian') and that they cause directed movement of transfer RNAs on a narrow path through the ribosome (Nature)

A force of nature: n→π* interaction

A careful comparison of computational analysis and high-resolution crystal structures indicates that the an intimate interaction between backbone amides arises from the delocalization of a lone pair of electrons (n) from an oxygen atom to the antibonding orbital (π*) of the subsequent carbonyl group (Nature Chemical Biology)

GPCR assembles in view

The development of improved fluorescent ligands for time-resolved spectroscopy confirms the existence of GPCR dimers and oligomers in native tissue (Nature Chemical Biology)

The Vaccine That Came In From the Cold

By replacing essential genes in a mammalian pathogen with their counterparts from Arctic bacteria, researchers have created strains that provoke a protective immune response in mice - but that don't spread to the warm parts of the body where they could do serious harm (PNAS)

Antibodies Found That Prevent Most HIV Strains from Infecting Human Cells

NIH researchers reported the discovery of exceptionally broadly neutralizing antibodies called VRC01 and VRC02 to HIV and the structural analysis of VRC01 in complex with HIV-1 gp 120 core that explains how they work (2 papers in Science)

Antibody May Help Treat and Prevent Influenza Outbreaks

Researchers have discovered a monoclonal antibody with the extended breadth of activity against multiple, genetically distinct strains - "Avian" H5N1, seasonal H1N1 and the 2009 "Swine" H1N1 influenza (PLoS Pathogen)

BK Channel Cytoplasmic Domain

BK potassium ion channels comprise an integral membrane pore, an integral membrane voltage sensor domain, and a large cytoplasmic region that confers Ca2+ sensitivity. The crystal structure of the cytoplasmic domain of the human BK channel has been determined (Science)

Identification of a pheromone regulating caste differentiation in termites

Researchers have found a combination of two chemical compounds in a pheromone emitted by egg-laying female neotenics known as secondary queens can inhibit other termites from developing into new queens (PNAS)

Offsetting the Cost of Parasitism

Researchers discovered that a species of Spiroplasma bacterium that is found in flies, and that is transmitted from mother to offspring, protects its host from the effects of a nematode worm parasite. The worm sterilizes the female flies, but when flies were infected with Spiroplasma, their fertility was rescued (Science)

Potassium channels: the active-to-inactive switch

Researchers solved the X-ray crystal structures of the K+ channel KcsA to elucidate its C-type inactivation originating from conformational transitions at the selectivity filter (2 papers in Nature)

Esterase defect causes autoimmunity

The enzyme sialic acid acetylesterase (SIAE) is involved in B-cell activation and is required for the maintenance of immunological tolerance in mice. A sequencing study shows that rare, inherited and functionally defective variants in the SIAE gene associate with a variety of autoimmune diseases in humans (Nature)

Uncapping the Mystery Behind the Mechanism of Cap Removal from Actin Filaments

Japanese researchers have presented the X-ray crystal structures of the actin capping protein (CP) complexed with its inhibitor proteins, V-1 and CARMIL, and demonstrated that the two regulators modulate the filament capping activity in very different manners (PLoS Biol.)

Structure of the cell-entry protein complex from herpes virus

Researchers revealed the unusual structure of the glycoprotein complex that allows a herpes simplex virus type 2 to invade cells (Nat Struct Mol Biol.)

SIRT1 Enzyme Must Exist in Specific Brain Cells to Prevent Diet-Induced Obesity

POMC(proopiomelanocortin) neurons are found in the hypothalamus region of the brain and are known to play an important role in suppressing appetite and inducing weight loss. Researchers showed that SIRT1 deacetylase in POMC neurons is required for preventing diet-induced obesity (Cell Metabolism)

X-Ray Laser Resurrects a Laboratory No Longer in the Vanguard

The outdated particle accelerator at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in Menlo Park, Calif., was converted into the world’s brightest X-ray laser.

Architecture of the Largest Protein Complex of Cellular Respiration Elucidated

The structural model of mitochondrial complex I (NADH dehydrogenase) provides new insights in energy conversion at nanoscale. A molecular coupling device links pump modules in the membrane arm of the huge enzyme complex (Science)

Scientists Cite Fastest Case of Human Evolution

Biologists found that at least 30 genes had undergone change as Tibetans adapted to life on the high plateau (2 papers in Science and one in PNAS)

Driven to tears: TPRP Research Advance

TPRP researchers have shown that the ESP1 peptide secreted in male tears makes females sexually receptive, and have identified its specific vomeronasal receptor (V2Rp5) (Nature)

Shaping Up Protein NMR

Techniques borrowed from solid-state NMR sharpen proteins' broadened spectral lines (J. Amer. Chem. Soc.)

Genetic Code 2.0: Novel Artificial Proteins for Industry and Science

Researchers were able to integrate three different synthetic amino acids into one protein in a single experiment (Angew. Chem.)

A protein map of autophagy

A proteomic analysis of the autophagy interaction network in human cells reveals a network of 751 interactions among 409 candidate interacting proteins, with extensive connectivity among subnetworks (Nature)

Different Amide Biosynthesis Route

Biosynthesis: ATP-independent pathway could be used to tailor natural products for use as drugs. In the newly discovered pathway, carboxylate activation is due to S-adenosylmethionine instead of ATP (Nat. Chem. Biol.)

Crystal Growth In Retrospect

Just as tree rings reveal the secrets of a tree’s growth, a new technique that involves peering at a crystal’s cross section permits researchers to follow the growth of a crystal retrospectively (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.)

Gestational Diabetes Linked to Serotonin and Dietary Protein

The cause of diabetes during pregnancy is directly controlled by serotonin, a chemical produced by the body and normally known as a neurotransmitter, and is influenced by the amount of protein in the mother's diet early in pregnancy (Nature Medicine)

Temporal Tomography

Researchers have adapted an ultrafast electron microscope to perform tomography with subpicosecond resolution (Science)

Recipe for Disease: A Gene and a Virus

Finding in mice helps explain how genes and environment can interact to produce chronic diseases (Science)

The genome's shield from sunlight

Enzyme (DNA polymerase eta) structure reveals how cells avoid DNA damage caused by ultraviolet rays (2 papers in Nature)

New Method of Peptide Synthesis

The new approach addresses one of the key limitations of current methods of peptide synthesis: the difficulty of incorporating non-natural amino acids (Nature)

Plastic Antibodies in Live Organisms

Researchers have developed the first "plastic antibodies" to match and encase melittin, a peptide in bee venom that causes cells to rupture, releasing their contents through the bloodstream of mice (J. Amer. Chem. Soc.)

Drugmakers Share Data

Collaboration: A collection of Alzheimer’s disease trial results could speed drug development (Coalition Against Major Diseases)

New Strategy to Target BCL2 Family Proteins

MCL-1, which is emerging as a critical survival factor in a broad range of human cancers, belongs to the anti-apoptotic BCL-2 (B-cell lymphoma 2) family. X-ray crystallography and mutagenesis studies revealed that the MCL-1 BH3 helix is itself a potent and exclusive MCL-1 inhibitor (Nat. Chem. Biol.)

Trojan Horse For B-Cell Lymphoma

Drug Delivery System: Chemical synthesis yields agents that target cancer cells. B cells bind sialic acid-based ligands on doxorubicin-armed liposomes, which kill the cells (Blood)

Protein Identified That Modulates Metabolic Dysfunction in Obesity

Adipose tissue secretes a variety of cytokines, referred to as adipokines. Researchers discovered that Sfrp5, secreted frizzled-related protein 5, is an anti-inflammatory adipokine in animal models of obesity and type 2 diabetes (Science)

Structural biology: Immunity takes a heavy Toll

Toll receptors trigger immune responses through adaptor proteins and kinase enzymes. Structural studies reveal that hierarchical assembly of these proteins into a helical tower initiates downstream signaling events (Nature)

Gene linked to autoimmune diseases

Differences in the sequence of a single gene, which codes for an enzyme sialic acid acetylesterase (SIAE) that regulates the immune system's B cells, may be partly responsible for causing around 2% of relatively common autoimmune disorders including diabetes and arthritis (Nature)

Hormone Influences Sensitivity to Sweetness

Glucagon, a peptide hormone secreted by the pancreas, raises blood glucose levels in opposition to insulin. A team found that glucagon and its receptor are expressed in mouse taste receptor cells and influence the taste system's sensitivity to sweetness (FASEB J.)

Fundamental Processes in Endosomal / Lysosomal Function and Protein Degradation

Researchers showed that the functions of endosomes and lysosomes not only depends on the pH, but also on chloride ion accumulation in their interior (2 papers in Science)

Key Anti-HIV Antibody Analyzed

Structure revives hopes for an effective AIDS vaccine (PNAS & J. Virol.)

How Mutations in Presenilin Gene Cause Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease

Researchers reported that lysosomal proteolysis and autophagy require presenilin 1 and are disrupted by Alzheimer-related PS1 mutations (Cell)

Better Rice Through Fungi

A bit of fungal cultivation helps rice plants grow up to five times as fast (Current Biology)

Collagen Manufactured from Transgenic Tobacco Plant

A team has succeeded in producing a replica of human collagen with the co-expression all the five essential genes in transgenic tobacco plants (Biomacromolecules)

Polyphenols in Red Wine and Green Tea Halt Prostate Cancer Growth

Researchers showed that the inhibition of the sphingosine kinase-1/sphingosine 1-phosphate (SphK1/S1P) pathway was essential for green tea and wine polyphenols to kill prostate cancer cells (FASEB J.)

Insight Into Structure of HIV Protein Could Aid Drug Design

A team solved the crystal structure of the HIV protein called Tat complexed with the human protein (P-TEFb) that the virus hijacks during infection (Nature)

Palm-Size NMR

The portable but powerful magnet could be used in doctors' offices to spot blood clots, bacteria, or cancer proteins in a patient's blood (Angew Chem Int Ed Engl)

X-Ray Diffraction Microscope Reveals 3-D Internal Structure of Whole Cell

A team has reported the quantitative 3-D imaging of a whole, unstained cell at a resolution of 50 to 60 nanometers using X-ray diffraction microscopy (PNAS)

Plant memory in changing and fluctuating climates

Researchers measured the internal state of plants by quantifying the expression level of a flowering-time gene called FLC of Arabidopsis halleri, showing that the regulatory network of the FLC stores the information of temperatures over the past six weeks (PNAS)

June 7, 2010,Press release from U. Zurich,

New Molecular Way To Combat The Flu

Researchers have uncovered a new protein target, nucleoprotein, for treating influenza A, along with a small molecule that prevents viral replication by blocking the protein (Nature Biotechnology)

Metabolites Turn On Pathogen's Virulence

A new report p reveals that pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus bacteria use nonribosomal peptide secondary metabolites called aureusimines to attack humans. Finding chemicals that block aureus¬imine production could lead to new antibiotics against this widespread pathogen (Science)

Gates Open on Understanding Potassium Channel Controls

A team determined that once the conformation of a regulatory domain - which is the part of the potassium channel that sits inside the cell - changes, it allows the ion selectivity filter to act as an on/off switch (Cell)

The Dilemma of Plants Fighting Infections

A group has tracked down a variant of the ACD6 gene in Arabidopsis, which functions as a universal weapon in the fight against predators, but at the same time it slows down the production of leaves and limits the size of leaves, so that these plants are always smaller than those that do not have this variant (Nature)

Plants Spice Up Their Sex Life With Defensin

Researchers showed that special forms of defensins are released by the egg apparatus in maize to open up potassium-ion channels in the pollen tube resulting in an explosive release of male sperm cells (PLoS Biology)

Peaches, Plums Induce Deliciously Promising Death of Breast Cancer Cells

Researchers have identified peach and plum polyphenols with chemopreventive potential against estrogen-independent breast cancer cells (J. Agric. Food Chem.)

New Way to Fluorescently Label Proteins

Researchers designed a new way to overcome the disadvantages of bulky GFP in which a fluorophore ligase attaches a blue fluorescent probe to the short tag on the target protein (PNAS)

Fruitfly larvae smell the light

Researchers expressed one of two light-sensitive proteins instead of the normal odor receptors in an olfactory nerve of the larvae's dorsal organs so that they respond to blue light instead of smells (Front. Behav. Neurosci.)

Scientists Decipher Structure of Nature's 'Light Switch', phytochrome

Researchers have pieced together for the first time a detailed structure of a whole phytochrome (PNAS)

Protein Interactions: Similar Molecules, Opposite Effects

Researchers have solved the mystery of the opposing effects - activation and inhibition - of two similar small organic molecules on bacterial heat-shock protein 70 (Hsp70), a molecular chaperone involved in protein folding and other cell functions (ACS Chem. Boil.)

How Acupuncture Pierces Chronic Pain

Needles spur release of natural pain reliever, adenosine (Nature Neuroscience)

Microbes Quickly Degrade A Popular Biofuel

Microbes hydrolyze biodiesel, a mix of fatty acid methyl esters, to generate hydrogen sulfide and organic acids which degrade steel (Energy Fuels)

New Weapon, Plectasin, Against Highly Resistant Microbes Within Grasp

Plectasin , a small protein molecule, belongs to the class of defensins which are widespread among fungi, animals and also plants. Researchers reveal that plectasin binds to a cell-wall building block called lipid II and disrupts the forming of the cell wall in bacteria (Science)

Scientists Find Bitter-Blocking Ingredient

Human bitter taste is mediated by the hTAS2R family of G protein-coupled receptors. A team employed a high-throughput screening approach to discover a novel bitter receptor antagonist (GIV3727) that inhibits six hTAS2Rs (Current Biology)

Power base: architecture of respiratory complex I

Complex I is the first enzyme of the respiratory chain, playing a central role in cellular energy production in the mitochondria by coupling electron transfer between NADH and quinone to proton translocation. The structures of the membrane domain of complex I from Escherichia coli, and of the entire complex I from Thermus thermophilus have been determined (Nature)

Signal peptide binding to SRP545

The signal recognition particle (SRP) mediates targeting of nascent proteins. Researchers reported the crystal structure of SRP54 and a signal peptide from Sulfolobus solfataricus, which reveals the mode of signal peptide recognition (Nature)

Discovery May Lead to Safer Drinking Water, Cheaper Medicine

Researchers discovered exactly how the AceK protein acts as a switch in some bacteria to bypass the energy-producing cycle that allows bacteria like E. coli and salmonella to go into a survival mode and adapt to low-nutrient environments, such as water (Nature)

Protein Regulates Enzyme Linked to Alzheimer's Disease

People with Alzheimer's disease typically have higher levels of beta-secretase 1 (BACE1 : Beta-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1) in their brains. A team revealed that ubiquitin regulates trafficking protein GGA3-mediated degradation of BACE1 (JBC)

Preventing Cells from Getting the Kinks out of DNA

Structural study revealed how the enzyme Type II topoisomerase binds a broken DNA strand and stitches it back together before releasing it (Nature)

Genetic Discovery Promises to Boost Rice Yields

Two groups find gene variant that boosts test plot yields by 10% (2 papers in Nature Genetics)

Colonizers give up sequence secrets

The US Human Microbiome Project has sequenced the genomes of 178 members of the community of microbes that calls the human body home (Science)

A Most Versatile Enzyme

In the Prochlorococcus genus of ocean-dwelling cyanobacteria, researchers have discovered and begun to characterize an enzyme that can loop together either a serine or a threonine with a cysteine, regardless of where those amino acids are found on peptide chains of up to 32 residues long (PNAS)

Data on Potential New Treatment Targets for Malaria Released

An international team has released data detailing the effectiveness of nearly 310,000 chemicals against a malaria parasite. They identified more than 1,100 new compounds with confirmed activity, studied 172 in detail and launched a public database to share the results (Nature)

New research identifies promising leads to follow in search for medicines to fight malaria

A screening of more than 2 million compounds in GSK’s chemical library for inhibitors of the malaria parasite identified 13,533 ‘hits’ which are accessible on public websites. More than 80% of these molecules are proprietary to GSK, and therefore the information will be new to the research community (Nature)

Kinase Target in Toxoplasma: Function and Structure

Functional and structural studies have identified the protein, calcium dependent protein kinase 1 (CDPK1), from the toxoplasmosis parasite as an attractive drug target (Nature and Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol.)

Big Bang in the Protein Universe?

The work takes its inspiration from the astronomer Edwin Hubble to study protein evolution. The extrapolation of Hubble's approach to proteins shows that proteins that share a common ancestor billions of years ago continue to diverge in their molecular composition (Natrure)

Discovery of High-Affinity Protein Binding Ligands – Backwards

Rather than beginning with a protein in order to produce an antibody, the new technique involves building an antibody first. A 20-unit random sequence of amino acids are joined together to form a peptide. By uniting two of these peptide chains, a synthetic antibody, or synbody, is created, which then be screened against a multitude of proteins (PLoS ONE)

Inhibiting HIV replication by blocking protein-protein interaction between a viral protein and a cellular host factor

Interaction between the HIV-1 enzyme, integrase, and the cellular cofactor LEDGF/p75 plays a crucial role in viral integration. Researchers design small molecules which block this interaction and inhibit HIV replication, even with HIV strains that are resistant to clinically used integrase inhibitors (Nat. Chem. Biol.)

Scientists Identify Mechanism T-Cells Use to Block HIV

A team discovered that a tiny host protein prothymosin-alpha (PTMA) binds to an important cell receptor called TLR4, and stimulates these cells to produce interferon (PNAS)

Healthy Omega-3 Fatty Acid Metabolites

Researchers revealed that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) generates anti-inflammatory mediators from omega-3 fatty acids (Nat. Chem. Biol.)

The Genetics of High-Altitude Living

Two gene variants help Tibetans use oxygen more efficiently than people who live at low altitudes (Science)

The Scent That Makes Mice Run Scared

Mice are hard-wired to detect urinary proteins secreted by a wide variety of predators (Cell)

Bacterial Genes That Improve Plant Growth by 40% Identified

Researchers decoded the genome of a plant-dwelling microbe they'd previously shown could increase plant growth by 40 percent, and identified a wide range of genes that help explain this symbiotic success story (PLoS Genetics)

GM crop use makes minor pests major problem

Pesticide use rising as Chinese farmers fight insects thriving on transgenic crop (Science)

Spider silk's dual identity

Spider silk proteins They are remarkably soluble when stored at high concentration yet can convert to extremely sturdy fibres on demand. The molecular mechanism that makes this possible is not yet clear, but two structural studies provide new clues (2 papers in Nature)

New Details of Tuberculosis Protein-Cleaving Machinery Revealed

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the bacterium that causes tuberculosis, possesses a proteasome system to resist killing by the host immune system. The detailed assembly process and the gating mechanism of Mtb proteasome have been reported (EMBO J.)

Biomarkers for kidney damage should speed drug development

Researchers describe the validation of seven specific biomarkers for kidney damage that are found in urine. Drug-safety indicators are the first fruits of a collaboration (FDA's 2004 Critical Path Initiative) between academia, industry and regulators (4 papers in Nature Biotechnology)

X-Rays Reveal Chemical Link Between Birds and Dinosaurs

Using the bright X-ray beam of the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, an international team has revealed this transformative glimpse into one of the most important fossils ever discovered: the Archaeopteryx, a half-dinosaur/half-bird species (PNAS)

Bandages For Fighting Bad Bacteria

A majority of pathogenic bacteria secrete virulence factors such as toxins and lipases that actively damage cell membranes, while nonpathogenic bacteria do not. Researchers created phospholipid vesicles filled with microbicide sodium azide (NaN3); when exposed to toxins released by pathogenic bacteria, the vesicles leak or burst (JACS)

Illuminating Tumor Cells

Diagnostics: The approach uses fluorescent imaging agents “fluorocoxibs” to signal the presence of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), an enzyme produced at much higher levels in premalignant and malignant tumors than in normal tissues (Cancer Research)

Inflammation Enzyme Regulates the Production of Brown Fat Tissue

Scientists revealed that COX-2 inflammation enzyme stimulates the formation of new brown fat tissue in mice. Since brown fat tissue transforms energy into heat, mice with increased COX-2 production have a higher energy consumption and are slimmer (Science)

How Aging Damages Memory

Prior research suggested that gene expression employed for memory consolidation is partly controlled by acetylation of histones, the proteins around which DNA is wrapped. Working with mice, researchers now report that aging reduces the ability to acetylate a lysine on the H4 histone, which hampers gene expressions involved in memory formation (Science)

Peroxisomes Are Signaling Platforms for Antiviral Innate Immunity

A team revealed that the MAVS proteins on peroxisomes activated a quick antiviral immune response (Cell)

Tracking H1N1 through the Internet

HealthMap, a free online tracking system, keeps tabs on infectious disease (NEJM)

The code within the code

A team reports the first attempt to define a second genetic code: one that predicts how segments of messenger RNA transcribed from a given gene can be mixed and matched to yield multiple products in different tissues, a process called alternative splicing (Nature)

How Cells Maintain the Spatial Distribution of Peripheral Membrane Proteins

Researchers revealed that cycles of depalmitoylation and repalmitoylation critically control the steady-state localization and function of various peripheral membrane proteins, such as Ras proto-oncogene products (Cell and Nature Chemical Biology)

Mosquitoes inherit DEET resistance

Genetic trait explains how some insects are unaffected by powerful repellent (PNAS)

Scientists Resurrect Mammoth Hemoglobin

Woolly mammoth hemoglobin contains unique regions that interact with other regions to deliver oxygen at a steady rate regardless of temperature (Nature Genetics)

Transfer of Genetic Material Between Chagas Disease Causing Insect and Mammals

Researchers found evidence of horizontal transfer of transposon, a segment of DNA, from a South American blood-sucking bug and a pond snail to their hosts (Nature)

ScienceShot: Stolen Fungus Gene Turned Aphids Red

Tiny insects aphids picked up the genes needed to produce carotenoids from a fungus during their evolutionary history. That makes aphids the first animal known to produce its own carotenoids, the potent antioxidants (Science)

D-Amino Acids Dismantle Bacterial Biofilms Communities

Bacteria release amino acids with the D rather than the biologically more common L stereochemistry to break up the microbial communities they live in, commonly known as biofilms (Science)

How Vesicles Form ?: Structure of Dynamin GTPase

The structure of a fusion protein derived from Dynamin-1, the master regulator of endocytosis, has been reported (Nature)

A Clamp for Emerging Flu Viruses: Structure of Dynamin-like MX1 GTPase

Researchers have unraveled the structure of the ring-shaped oligomer of the MX1 (myxovirus resistance) protein. Components of the influenza virus are clamped by the ring leading to inhibition of virus replication (Nature)

Enzyme's Active Site Sighted

A team has solved a long-standing controversy in the field of bioinorganic chemistry about the identity and location of metal atoms in a key methane-oxidizing metalloenzyme. Methane monooxygenase may use dicopper center to make methanol (Nature)

Why Cholesterol Damages Arteries ?

Cholesterol crystals, which activate an "inflammasome" complex within the scavenger cells, lead to Life-Threatening Inflammation in Blood Vessel Walls (Nature)

Protein jab mends broken bones

Researchers found that injecting mice with cell signaling Wnts proteins packed inside lipid bubbles, or liposomes , triggers new bone growth within a few days (Science Translational Medicine)

Lensless Imaging of Whole Biological Cells With Soft X-Rays

A team has used x-ray diffraction microscopy to make images of whole yeast cells, achieving the highest resolution - 11 to 13 nanometers - ever obtained with this method for biological specimens (PNAS)

Tracking GPCR activation using non-natural amino acid probes

A new technique for tagging proteins with p-azido-L-phenylalanine revealed previously unobserved changes in the structure of rhodopsin, the light sensitive cell receptor, which is a model for G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) (Nature)

Solving A Protein Mystery

Protein Synthesis: Discovery connects transcription and translation in bacteria (Science)

How We Can Sense Temperatures: TPRV1 (capsaicin receptor)

Temperature-activated transient receptor potential ion channel TRPV1 is known to enable temperature sensation and involved in inflammation and the communication of pain to the brain. Scientists were able to identify a domain of the protein that enabled temperature sensitivity (Nature Neuroscience)

How We Can Sense Pain: TPRV1 (capsaicin receptor)

Heat generates oxidized linoleic acid metabolites that activate TRPV1 and produce pain (J. Clinical Investigation)

Long-Sought Protein Subunits of GABA-B Receptors

GABA receptors are important neurotransmitter receptors of the central nervous system. A team identified four new components of the GABA-B receptor complexes: KCTD proteins, which determine the pharmacological characteristics of the GABA-B receptors (Nature)

Project Fruit Fly: What Accounts for Insect Taste?

A report raises the possibility that a channel protein TRPA1 in sensory cells on the "tongues" of fruit flies is a new molecular target for controlling insect pests. TRPA1 responds to aristolochic acid, a naturally occurring chemical produced by plants to prevent themselves from being eaten by insects (PNAS)

New Concerns About Deadly Fungus Found in Oregon

Microbiologists uncover clues to virulence, worry about spread to neighboring regions (PLoS Pathogens)

Making more of X-ray crystallography

Researchers show that information from comparative modeling can be combined in a statistically controlled fashion with the observed diffraction data in order to achieve a structure from low-resolution diffraction data that has a similar quality as a high-resolution structure (Nature)

How FTO targets obesity

The fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) protein, a DNA/RNA demethylase, is associated with increased body weight and obesity risk. Now the crystal structure of human FTO in complex with the mononucleotide 3-meT has been determined (Nature)

Key Molecular Step to Fighting Off Viruses Identified

Researchers discovered that a certain form of the "death" protein ubiquitin interacts with RIG-I, but does not mark it for destruction. Instead, this form of ubiquitin binds to and activates RIG-I, which is known to trigger the body's immune system when a virus invades a cell (Cell)

β-2 Adrenergic Receptor: Promising New Drug Target for Alzheimer's Disease

A new study found that amyloid-β binds to a different region on the β-2 adrenergic receptor than that normally engaged by neurotransmitters and hormones (FASEB Journal)

Smell Less, Live Longer

Fruit flies whose antennae lack CO2-smelling neurons live longer than flies that do (PLoS Biology)

Sweeter Enzyme Inhibitor

A novel glycosyltransferase inhibitor could aid glycobiology research and drug discovery (Nature Chemical Biology)

A Shield Against Ricin

Drug Development: Small molecule defeats potential bioterrorism agent. The compound blocks transport of ricin within a cell into the cytosol, preventing ricin from disrupting ribosomes (Cell)

Primordial Path To Painkillers

Heat stability of enzyme from Archaea microbe facilitates anti-inflammatory drug synthesis. The enzyme transforms racemic aldehyde starting materials to S alcohol NSAID precursors (JACS)

Calorie restriction: Its ability To Promote Good Health Throughout Life

Researchers review how cutting calorie intake between 10 percent and 50 percent decreases the activity of nutrient-sensing pathways involving insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), glucose and TOR (target of rapamycin), and considerably increases lifespan in animals (Science)

A single ribosome in action

Researchers have utilized single-molecule approaches with a recently developed technique known as zero-mode waveguide detection to follow binding of tRNAs to the ribosome and find that tRNA release from the E and A sites is uncoupled (Nature)

Fascin an anticancer target

Analogues of the natural product migrastatin are potent inhibitors of tumour cell migration and metastasis. X-ray crystal structural studies reveal that migrastatin analogues bind to one of the actin-binding sites on fascin (Nature)

Plant Pathogen Genetically Tailors Attacks to Each Part of Host

A tumor-causing maize fungus with the unsavory-sounding name "corn smut" wields different weapons from its genetic arsenal depending on which part of the plant it infects. The discovery marks the first time tissue-specific targeting has been found in a pathogen (Science)

Sequence Is Scaffold to Study Sleeping Sickness

A team has generated a genome sequence for the strain of Trypanosoma brucei that is responsible for human African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness (PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)

DNA Analysis Suggests Whale Meat from Sushi Restaurants in L.A., Seoul Originated from Japan

An international team has uncovered an apparent illegal trade in whalemeat, linking whales killed in Japan's controversial scientific whaling program to sushi restaurants in Seoul and Los Angeles (Biology Letters)

Harnessing the Web and Supercomputers to Track Pathogens as They Evolve

Supramap (supramap.osu.edu) integrates sequences of pathogens with geographic information so that researchers can track the spread of a disease and follow the emergence of key mutations across time and space. Users can submit raw sequence data and obtain a phylogenetic tree of strains of pathogens. The resulting tree is projected onto the globe and can be viewed with Google Earth (Cladistics)

Genes Critical to Moths’ Complicated Sexual Communication and Their Evolution Uncovered

A specific small set of odorant receptor genes have been identified for the sexual isolation of male moths (PNAS)

Smoke Signals: Karrikins

Seeds sprout in the ashes of forest fires, thanks to small molecules karrikins in smoke (PNAS & J. Nat. Prod.)

Obesity Clue In View

Structural Biology: Close-up of methyl-clipping enzyme might help probe its obesity connection (Nature)

Faulty Clean-Up Process May Be Key Event in Huntington's Disease

One mechanism for cleaning up cells involves forming "membrane garbage bags" (autophagosomes) around the proteins requiring removal. A team found that the defective huntingtin proteins stick to the inner layer of autophagosomes, preventing them from gathering garbage (Nature Neuroscience)

Structurally "evasive" proteins

A group has developed a refined method to obtain structural information about intrinsically disordered proteins (JACS)

New Peptide Helps Cancer Drugs Break Into Tumors

All cancer drugs share a problem: They penetrate just a few cells into the tumor. Now a team of biologists has identified a molecule that helps cancer treatments dive deep into tumors, at least in mice (Science)

Japanese Guts Are Made for Sushi

Japanese people harbor seaweed-digesting enzymes that North Americans lack (Nature)

Lipids on the move

VEGF-B, a vascular endothelial growth factor that is highly expressed in heart, skeletal muscle and brown adipose tissue, has been found to have an unexpected role in targeting lipids to peripheral tissues (Nature)

Fly Protein Tunes In To Water

A newly discovered ion channel protein that helps fruit flies sense water could help further understanding of how animals regulate water intake, an essential process for life (Nature)

Twisting Hepatitis C Out Of Commission

Structure shows how antiviral agent straightens RNA bend that virus uses to attack its hosts (PNAS)

Proteins Tied In Knots

Knots found in denatured forms of two proteins (PNAS)

The Skinny on Brown Fat

Last year, researchers made a game-changing realization: brown fat, the energy-burning stuff that keeps babies warm, isn't just for the youngest among us. Brown adipocytes are in some ways more like muscle tissue than white adipocytes (Cell Metabolism: five minireviews)

Notorious Drug Stanches Bleeding

Thalidomide eases symptoms of rare blood vessel disease (Nat Med.)

Prostate Cancer: How Two Key Proteins Interact at the Molecular Level

A team revealed that steroid receptor coactivator-3 (SRC3) is a preferred coactivator for androgen receptor AR and determined the crystal structures of AR-SRC3 complex (JBC)

Structure of Key Protein in Common HIV Subgroup Uncovered

Researchers reported the structure of a complex of molecules consisting of a gp120 monomer of HIV-1, a CD4 receptor, and an anti-HIV antibody known as 21c (Nat Struct Mol Biol.)

Slimming Soybeans Are on the Horizon

Researchers found that soybeans rich in beta-conglycinins limit lipid accumulation in fat cells by inhibiting an enzyme called fatty acid synthase (FEBS Journal)

Seaweed to Tackle Rising Tide of Obesity

A team found that alginate -- a natural fibre found in sea kelp -- stops the body from absorbing fat better than most anti-obesity treatments currently available over the counter (ACS Meeting)

Cranberry Juice Keeps Infections At Bay

Home remedy prevents bacteria from forming biofilms (ACS Meeting)

Science, Nature Team Up on New Journal

Merger will revolutionize scientific publishing - or no - say experts

A new antitrypanosomal

A new study validates T. brucei NMT (N-myristoyltransferase) as a viable protein target for antitrypanosomals, and a potent inhibitor with drug-like properties has been identified (Nature)

Lights, camera, action for cells

Time-lapse films reveal the functions of human genes involved in cell division

Japan's Science Budget Faces Scrutiny - Again

A Japanese cabinet member said today that research institutes will be among the targets of a new effort to identify wasteful governmental spending

How Ducks Host Influenza Unharmed?

Ducks are often resistant to influenza viruses capable of killing chickens. The influenza virus sensor, RIG-I, is found to be present in ducks and plays a role in clearing an influenza infection, whereas chickens lack RIG-I (PNAS)

Plant Hormone Jasmonic Acid Triggers Nectar Accumulation in Rapeseed Flowers

Jasmonic acid has different functions in the different plant tissues: whereas the hormone activates defense mechanisms against herbivores in the leaves and the shoot of the plant, it regulates nectar production in the flower tissue (PLoS ONE)

Scientists Reverse Alzheimer's-Like Memory Loss in Fruit Flies

β-amyloid associated with Alzheimer's disease directly increase the activity of PI3 kinase, which in turn causes memory loss and increases the accumulation of plaque in the brain (PNAS)

Single Gene Dramatically Boosts Yield, Sweetness in Tomato Hybrids

A mutation in only one copy of the florigen gene causes the hybrid to produce more flowers in less time -- the key to improved yield (Nature Genetics)

Tumors Hide out from the Immune System by Mimicking Lymph Nodes

Some tumors can secrete chemokine CCL21 to transform the outer layer of the tumor into lymphoid-like tissue (Science)

How Cells Recognize Viral Toxins

Researchers has identified how class A scavenger receptors on the surface of cells bind to a viral double-stranded RNA molecule and bring it into the cell, jumpstarting the immune response to a virus (PLoS Pathogen)

Comet crash creates potential for Life

Shock waves could force amino-acid forming chemistry

How 1918 flu antibodies fend off swine flu

Structural similarities reveal why some elderly people were spared in the recent pandemic (Science Express & Science Translational Medicine)

Plant Breeding Breakthrough: Offspring With Genes from Only One Parent

The technique could dramatically speed up the breeding of crop plants for desirable traits (Nature)

Detecting Parasites

Quick, inexpensive test uses arsenic-based dyes to identify parasitic diseases

Nanoparticle kit could diagnose disease early

Colour change shows the presence of minuscule amounts of key enzymes

Controlling HIV: Highly Promising New Compound Developed

Lectin receptor DC-SIGN on the surface of dendritic cells captures pathogens by recognizing characteristic oligosaccharides. A mimic compound of the oligosaccharides saturates the receptor, preventing HIV from using the receptor to travel to the lymphoid tissues (ACS Chem. Biol.)

Poorly Understood Cell Plays Role in Immunity Against the Flu

Researchers reveal that dendritic cells capture flu viruses and show them to B-lymphocytes that recognizes germs and launches an antibody attack (Nature Immunol.)

Bizarre models for human diseases

Plants shed light on disfigured faces, and yeast and blood vessels find common ground (PNAS)

RNA-Loaded Nanoparticles Fight Cancer

In first human trial, particles successfully reach cancer cells and silence the target gene (Nature)

New Function For tRNA

Transfer RNA keeps apoptosis in check. Binding of tRNA to cytochrome c released by a mitochondrion limits formation of a complex that promotes apoptosis (Mol. Cell)

Molecular Brake for the Bacterial Flagellar Nano-Motor

Researchers discovered that E. coli, and probably many other bacteria can actively regulate their swimming velocity in response to changing environments. This behaviour is governed by a molecular motor-brake protein (Cell)

Video: Sperm wars illuminated

Insect sperm fight one another with brute force and chemical weapons (Science)

Researchers Turn Mosquitoes Into Flying Vaccinators

Insects could theoretically protect against various diseases, but concept is unlikely to take off (Insect Mol. Biol.)

Japan Maps Out Big Science Plans

TOKYO - For the first time ever, Japanese scientists have produced a roadmap of where they see major research programs heading in the mid-term-about 10 years out

Evolution of Primordial Chemical Sensor, Nociception, Sniffed out

Chemical nociception, the detection of tissue-damaging pungent chemicals like those found in wasabi and tear gas, is triggered by a protein receptor TRPA1 conserved across ~500 million years of animal evolution (Nature)

Fruit Flies and Test Tubes Open New Window on Alzheimer's Disease

A small engineered binding protein binds with nanomolar affinity to the aggregation-prone regions of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide, preventing their aggregation into toxic forms, and it also acts to dissolve pre-formed Aβ aggregates (PLoS Biol.)

Chemical in Bananas Identified as Potent Inhibitor of HIV Infection

Researchers discovered BanLec, a lectin in bananas, can inhibit HIV infection by binding to the HIV-1 envelope protein, gp120, and blocking its entry to the body (JBC)

Researchers Solve a Molecular Mystery in Muscle

When oxygen levels are normal, insulin-like growth factor (IGF) promotes muscle cell differentiation; when oxygen levels are below normal, IGF promotes muscle cell division (PNAS)

CSI's Latest Clue - Bacteria

Unique skin microbes might allow identification of criminals (PNAS)

Freshwater Polyp Hydra Genome Sequenced

Researchers found genes linked with Huntington's disease and with the beta-amyloid plaque formation seen in Alzheimer's disease, suggesting the possible use of Hydra as a research model for these two diseases (Nature)

Snake infrared detection unravelled

Snakes can 'see' in the dark thanks to protein channels that are activated by heat from the bodies of their prey (Nature)

Unlocking the Opium Poppy's Biggest Secret: Genes That Make Codeine, Morphine

Researchers have discovered the unique genes that allow the opium poppy to make codeine and morphine, thus opening doors to alternate methods of producing these effective painkillers (Nature Chem. Biol.)

Unraveling Thalidomide's Tragic Effects

Cell Biology: Researchers discover a protein involved in causing birth defects related to the drug (Science)

Discovery of Cellular 'Switch' May Provide New Means of Triggering Cell Death, Treating Disease

Researchers found that a well-known caspase has an entirely different effect on an enzyme Dicer. When caspase cleaves Dicer, it does not kill it but instead changes its function, causing Dicer to break up chromosomes and kill the cells that house them (Science)

Barrier in Mosquito Midgut Protects Invading Pathogens

Scientists studying the Anopheles gambiae mosquito have found that the act of feeding triggers two enzymes to form a protective barrier that prevents the mosquito's immune defense system from clearing disease-causing agents that can be passed on to humans (Science)

The Mode of Action of Certain Toxins That Accumulate in Seafood

3D structures of the complexes that formed between neurotoxins and an acetylcholine- receptor revealed that each toxin inserts itself at the heart of the binding site for acetylcholine, the natural neurotransmitter of this receptor (PNAS)

Disease Cause Is Pinpointed With Genome

Two research teams have independently decoded the entire genome of patients to find the exact genetic cause of their diseases (New England Journal of Medicine and Science)

The retroviral intasome

The integrase protein of retroviruses such as HIV-1 catalyses insertion of the viral genome into the host's. The crystal structure of full-length retroviral integrase from the non-pathogenic retrovirus known as prototype foamy virus has been determined, in complex with its cognate viral DNA (Nature)

Salt to taste

Mice genetically engineered to lack the drug's target sodium channel, ENaC, in taste receptor neurons have been found to lack both salt sensing and sodium taste responses (Nature)

Plant Hormone Increases Cotton Yields in Drought Conditions

Applying naturally occurring plant hormones called cytokinins to cotton seeds or young cotton plants can increase yields 5 to 10 percent under drought conditions

Study Provides Better Understanding of How Mosquitoes Find a Host

The potentially deadly yellow-fever-transmitting mosquito detects the specific chemical structure of a compound called octenol as one way to find a mammalian host for a blood meal (PLoS ONE)

A Novel Neurotoxin from King Cobra

Snake venoms contain a rich mixture of pharmacologically active peptides and proteins. Researchers have added another member to this class of valuable peptides, providing a detailed structural and functional characterization of a novel neurotoxin from the venom of the king cobra (JBC)

March 9, 2010,JBC Papers of the Week,

Asexual Plant Reproduction May Seed New Approach for Agriculture

Researchers report that they have moved a step closer to turning sexually-reproducing plants into asexual reproducers by highlighting the role of Argonaute 9 in plant reproduction, a finding would eventually allow agricultural companies and farmers to simplify the labor-intensive cross-hybridization methods (Nature)

Potential for Using Algae to Produce Human Therapeutic Proteins Shown

Scientists picked seven proteins that were either currently being used as standard treatments for diseases or are now undergoing human clinical trials and found that the four algal-produced proteins showed biological activity comparable to the same proteins produced by traditional commercial techniques (Plant Biotechnology Journal)

New Ways to Disarm Deadly New World Hemorrhagic Fever Viruses

New World hemorrhagic fever viruses are rodent transmitted agents that cause severe disease. The structure of Machupo virus glycoprotein 1 subunit in complex with human transferrin receptor 1 is described (Nat Struct Mol Biol.)

Vitamin D Crucial to Activating Immune Defenses

The researchers found that the T cells -- the killer cells of the immune system -- rely on vitamin D in order to activate and they would remain dormant if vitamin D is lacking in the blood (Nat Immunol.)

Glycoproteins Made To Order

Chemical Biology: First homogeneous, eukaryote-type N-glycoproteins from prokaryotes (Nat. Chem. Biol.)

Intestinal Bacteria Drive Obesity and Metabolic Disease in Immune-Altered Mice

New research finds that mice lacking a gene called TLR5 have an altered ability to recognize and control bacteria in their intestines, leading them to develop obesity and insulin resistance (Science)

Protein Shown to Be Natural Inhibitor of Aging in Fruit Fly Model

Scientists showed that Sestrin, whose structure and biochemical function are conserved between flies and humans, is needed for regulation of a signaling pathway that is the central controller of aging and metabolism (Science)

Carbon-Fixing Enzymes Line Up

Blue-green algae arrange carbon fixation enzyme compartments for maximum efficiency (Science)

Wasps' Nursery Defense

Chemical Ecology: Beewolf digger wasps use bacterial antibiotics to protect the next generation (Nat. Chem. Biol.)

How the cell's powerhouses turn deadly

Mitochondria can trigger a lethal immune response after injuries (Nature)

Mitochondrial Genome Diversity Unexpectedly High, Study Finds

Researchers found variability in the mitochondrial DNA sequences within normal cells and between different tissue types from the same individual. This variation was even more pronounced in cancer cells, which contained mitochondrial mutations that could also be detected in patient blood samples (Nature)

SIRT3 regulation of fatty acid oxidation

Work in mice shows that sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), which mediates deacetylation of several mitochondrial proteins, is induced in liver and brown adipose tissue during fasting, suggesting that acetylation is a novel regulatory mechanism for fatty acid oxidation (Nature)

New Way to Control Disease-Spreading Mosquitoes: Make Them Hold Their Urine

When mosquitoes consume and process blood meals, they must urinate to prevent fluid and salt overloads for flying away. Researchers discovered a key protein expressed in the mosquito's renal system that contributes to urination (Am J Physiol)

Alzheimer's Associated Protein May Be Part of the Innate Immune System

Amyloid-beta protein - the primary constituent of the plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients - may be part of the body's first-line system to defend against infection (PLoS ONE)

Sea Squirt Offers Hope for Alzheimer's Sufferers

Researchers identified the sea squirt, our closest invertebrate relative, as a potential new resource for drug development (Disease Models & Mechanisms)

Biogenic Insecticides Decoded

Researchers report on their discovery of a new mode of action of insecticidal toxins from an Enterobacteriaceae bacterium which lives in a symbiotic relationship with nematodes (Science)

Soil bacteria could yield drug to treat roundworm

Biologists discovered that a protein from a soil bacterium used to kill insects naturally on organic crops is a highly effective treatment for intestinal parasitic roundworms (PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)

New Technique Allows Study of Protein Folding, Dynamics in Living Cells

Evidence yielded from the new method indicates that an in vivo environment strongly modulates a protein's stability and folding rate (Nat. Methods)

Lassoing Your Target

The noose that bacteria use to strangle their competitors might turn out to be a beneficial rope trick in pharmaceutical design

New Way To Screen α-conotoxins

Drug Discovery: Work could lead to medications based on these neuroactive peptides (JACS)

Barnacles Stick With Amyloid Adhesive

Traditionally associated with disease, amyloid gives the crustaceans their grip (Langmuir)

Structure Determination of Biomolecules in Their Natural Environment: Putting Pieces in Together

An Efficient Protocol for NMR-Based Structure Determination of Protein Complexes in Solution was reported (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.)

A Protein That Aids Forgetting

Neuroscience: Protein kinase Rac helps the fruit fly brain remove short-term memories (Cell)

The Philippines Triples Its Rice Yield

In the last fifty years, the Philippines has more than tripled its rice yield, while the world average rice yield has increased only about 2.3 times.

Tiny RNA Molecule With Big Implications for Life's Origins

A ribozyme -- a form of RNA that can catalyze chemical reactions -- with only five nucleotides was created (PNAS)

Tiny Tongue of a Fruit Fly Could Offer Big Clues in Fight Against Obesity

The 'clock' that influences Drosophila's decision to eat or not to eat is found inside the taste sensing cells and has a very direct link to its eating habits (Current Biology)

Sugary Boost Without The Calories

Heterocyclic compounds act on taste receptors to enhance the sweetness of sugar and artificial sweeteners (PNAS)

Flightless Mosquitoes Developed to Help Control Dengue Fever

Infected female mosquitoes transmit the virus causing dengue fever, but they are rendered flightless in a new genetically engineered strain (PNAS)

Expanding The Genetic Code

Using directed evolution, chemists have created a novel ribosome that can insert multiple unnatural amino acids into a single protein in cells (Nature and JACS)

Examining the Backbone

Researchers describe their method for determining the structure of larger proteins using NMR and backbone-only data, demonstrating the generation of accurate structures for proteins up to 25kD (Science)

Fighting Back Against a Superbug

Gram-negative Pseudomonas bacteria are opportunistic pathogens, and drug-resistant strains present a serious health problem. Researchers describe a peptidomimetic that disrupts the function of a bacterial protein LptD, which protrudes from the outside of the cell wall and is found only in Pseudomonas (Science)

Metabolic Regulation Through Acetylation

Two papers suggest that lysine acetylation may represent an important regulatory mechanism controlling the function of metabolic enzymes (Science)

To Degrade or Not to Degrade

Researchers find that acetylated N-terminal methionine is a degradation signal (degron), recognized by Doa10 ubiquitin ligase in the yeast (Science)

Dolphin 'Diabetes' Could Be Important Model for Humans

Dolphins regularly shift their blood chemistry in a way that can cause problems strikingly similar to those associated with diabetes in humans, such as insulin resistance, excess iron, and kidney stones (J. Comparative Medicine)

Vaccines that Can Beat the Heat

A new process could keep vaccines stable at tropical temperatures (Science Translational Medicine)

Conformational change in SUMO E1

Post-translational modification by ubiquitin (Ub) and ubiquitin-like (Ubl) proteins such as SUMO regulate a broad array of cellular processes. The structural details of the E1 catalytic cycle have been revealed (Nature)

Discovery of the Nutrient 'Mining Machine' in Plants

Researchers discovered that a master regulatory gene called RSL4 acts like a switch; hair cells grow when the gene is turned on and growth stops when it is off (Nature Genetics)

New Weapon to Fight Disease-Causing Bacteria, Malaria Developed

Researchers report an unusual chemical reaction mechanism that allows malaria parasites to survive. The team also has developed the first potent inhibitor of this chemical reaction (PNAS)

Chickens 'One-Up' Humans in Ability to See Color

Scientists mapped five types of light receptors in the chicken's eye (PLoS One)

Butterfly Vision, Wing Colors Linked

Heliconius erato butterflies have evolved photoreceptors in their eyes for detecting UV colors and express UV-yellow pigment on their wings (PNAS)

Protein Study Shows Evolutionary Link Between Plants, Humans

Inserting a human protein important in cancer development was able to revive dying plants, showing an evolutionary link between plants and humans (Plant Physiology)

Slaying Cancer At Its Roots

Revival of classic hypothesis opens auspicious avenues to treatments

Cancer Connections Everywhere

Researchers worldwide are studying the many links between cancer and metabolism

Bacteria-Killing Proteins Cover Blood Type Blind Spot

A set of proteins found in our intestines can recognize and kill bacteria that have human blood type molecules on their surfaces (Nature Medicine)

How Cholera Bacteria Becomes Infectious

Researchers describe the structure of a protein called ToxT that controls the virulent nature of Vibrio cholerae, and were surprised to find a fatty acid buried within ToxT that appears to inhibit ToxT, which prevents the bacteria from causing cholera (PNAS)

Decoding a Second-Messenger's Message

Microorganisms can switch from a planktonic, free-swimming life-style to a sessile, colonial state, called a biofilm, which confers resistance to environmental stress. Researchers identify the transcriptional regulator VpsT from Vibrio cholerae as a master regulator for biofilm formation (Science)

What Doesn't Kill Microbes, Makes Them Stronger

Antibiotics trigger the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) inside bacteria, which in turn cause mutations in the bugs' DNA including some that happen to cause resistance (Molecular Cell)

Spiders Seeking Sex

Arachnid courtship pheromones point to a new class of natural products (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.)

Host factors in flu infectivity

Two genome-wide RNA interference screens identify human host factors required for influenza A virus replication. These studies should provide a number of potential targets for host factor-directed antivirals (Nature)

Genome of a model grass

Availability of the genome sequence should help establish Brachypodium, which is easily cultivated and amenable to genetic manipulation, as a model for developing new energy and food crops (Nature)

Amino acid antiporter recognition mechanisms

Some bacteria rely on the amino acid antiporter AdiC to expel protons by exchanging intracellular agmatine for extracellular arginine. Researchers solved the X-ray crystal structure of an AdiC variant bound to Arg (Nature)

Cells Send Dirty Laundry Home to Mom

Researchers have shown how newly formed yeast daughter cells transport damaged and aged proteins back to the mother cell, guaranteeing that the new cell is born young and healthy (Cell)

Beer Is a Rich Source of Silicon and May Help Prevent Osteoporosis

A new study suggests that beer is a significant source of dietary silicon, a key ingredient for increasing bone mineral density (J. Sci. Food Agric.)

Study Strengthens Alzheimer’s Link To Cholesterol

Findings on the mechanism of a cholesterol metabolism pathway could aid development of new therapeutics (PNAS)

New Kinase Matchmaker

Photoactivated ATP analog is the first phosphorylation-dependent tool for mediating kinase-substrate cross-linking (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.)

Biofilms: Discovery of a New Mechanism of Virus Propagation

Researchers have shown that certain viruses are capable of forming complex biofilm-like assemblies, similar to bacterial biofilms (Nature Medicine)

Teamwork Tackles Larger Protein Structures

Combining NMR data with computer modeling allows researchers to solve NMR structures of larger proteins (Science)

Double life of flu virus protein

The antiviral agents amantadine targets the M2 protein, a multifunctional membrane-spanning proton channel. The high-resolution structure of the M2 channel in a phospholipid bilayer, determined using solid-state NMR spectroscopy, reveals two amantadine-binding sites: one high affinity and one low (Nature)

Protease antimalarial target

The Plasmodium cells export several hundred proteins, which contain a conserved motif called PEXEL, into the host blood cell. Two independent studies reveal the identity of the enzyme that cleaves the PEXEL motif as the aspartyl protease plasmepsin V (Nature)

Bad News for Mosquitoes: Scent Receptor Research May Lead to Better Traps, Repellents

Researchers have found more than two dozen scent receptors in malaria-transmitting mosquitoes that detect compounds in human sweat (Nature)

NMR: Breaking the billion-hertz barrier

Researchers in France have switched on the world's most powerful nuclear magnetic resonance instrument.

Progesterone Proof

Natural Products: New evidence confirms suspicion that plants can also make well-known hormone (J. Nat. Prod.)

Nature launches iPhone App, signals EPUB support next

iPhone and iPod Touch users can search, browse, read and bookmark full text content from Nature and Nature News, and search PubMed.

'Broad Spectrum' Antiviral Fights Multitude of Viruses

Researchers reported a broad-spectrum antiviral compound capable of stopping a wide range of highly dangerous viruses, including Ebola, HIV, hepatitis C virus, West Nile virus, Rift Valley fever virus and yellow fever virus, among others (PNAS)

Newly Found Enzyme Degrades 8-Oxoguanine

A deaminase that converts 8-oxoG to uric acid helps explain what might happen to 8-oxoG after it is excised during DNA repair (JACS)

HIV Researchers Solve Key Puzzle After 20 Years of Trying

The three-dimensional structure of integrase bound to viral DNA has been solved using a version of integrase borrowed from a little-known retrovirus called Prototype Foamy Virus (PFV) (Nature)

WINNER OF SCIENCE PRIZE FOR ONLINE RESOURCES IN EDUCATION

Making Genetics Easy to Understand: An integral pair of Web sites - Learn.Genetics and Teach.Genetics

Britain grants patent for iPS cells

The first issued outside Japan for reprogrammable stem cells credits different Japanese inventors

Prion Diseases: No Accomplice Needed

Researchers show that misfolded proteins behind mad cow act alone (Science)

Structure of a warfarin target

Vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKOR) catalyses the generation of vitamin K hydroquinone, a decisive step in the vitamin K cycle that is required to sustain blood coagulation. The X-ray crystal structure of a bacterial homologue of VKOR has been determined (Nature)

Fluorinase Success

Biosynthesis: In a chemical first, an engineered microbe yields a bioactive fluorinated compound (J. Nat. Prod.)

Zebrafish Swim Into Drug Development

By combining the tools of medicinal chemistry and zebrafish biology, a research team has identified compounds that may offer therapeutic leads for bone-related diseases and cancer (ACS Chem Biol.)

Healthy prions protect nerves

The proteins that can cause CJD have a vital role in the nervous system (Nature Neuroscience)

Hear That? Bats and Whales Share Sonar Protein

Similar genetic changes helped echolocation evolve in disparate species (Current Biology)

Ebola's Clever Cloak

Structural Biology: Protein that hides viral RNA prevents immune system's detection of deadly virus (J. Virol.)

Attacking Amyloids

Efforts to deter protein misfolding yield promising drug candidates for degenerative diseases

Greedy Virus Helps Spread Disease

By keeping a cell to itself, vaccinia forces other viruses to continue infecting (Science)

GlaxoSmithKline goes public with malaria data

Company to place structures and properties of drug leads in the public domain.

EMBL Launches Genomic-Based Drug Data Resource

The new open access genomics-based small molecule database is hosted by the European Bioinformatics Institute.

The giant panda genome

The panda lacks digestive cellulase genes. It may therefore depend on its gut microbiome to handle its famously limited bamboo diet (Nature)

Folding cycles in group II chaperonins

Chaperonins are large, cylindrical complexes that assist in the folding of cellular proteins. Researchers determine the cryo-electron microscopy structure of an archael chaperonin called Mm-cpn in the nucleotide-free (open) and nucleotide-induced (closed) states (Nature)

Human Ancestors Were an Endangered Species

New genetic studies shows humans were as rare as chimpanzees 1.2 million years ago (PNAS)

Enzyme Structure Could Lead to New Drugs for Sleeping Sicknes

Scientists have determined the structure of an enzyme essential to the survival of the protozoan parasites that cause sleeping sickness, Chagas disease and leishmaniasis (JBC)

January 19, 2010,NIGMS News,

Key Nutrients Decline In Transgenic Rice

Genetic modifications aimed at improving pest resistance have unintended consequences (J. Agric. Food Chem.)

The Art of Artemisia

Researchers have created the first genetic map for the medicinal herb Artemisia annua, which contains an extract called artemisinin that is used to help treat some forms of malaria (Science)

Parasitoid Wasp Genomes

Parasitoid wasps, which prey on and reproduce in host insect species, play important roles in plant herbivore interactions, and may provide valuable tools in the biological control of pest species (Science)

Sleep with the Fishes

Zebrafish larvae are a surprisingly compatible stand-in for humans as researchers test the next generation of insomnia drugs (Science)

Oil Drop Navigates Complex Maze

Scientists "train" drops of fluid to act like lab rats (JACS)

An added dimension

To produce an image of an object in three dimensions it is necessary to measure it from multiple viewpoints or to scan it section-by-section. A way of producing 3D images at the nanoscale from a single exposure using a monochromatic incident beam was proposed (Nature)

Spoiling for a fight: an aggression pheromone in Drosophila

The volatile pheromone cVA (cis-vaccenyl acetate) produced by the male fruitfly promotes male-to-male aggression by activating olfactory sensory neurons expressing a cVA receptor protein, Or67d (Nature)

Rebuilding Rubisco

Rubisco form I, the most abundant protein in nature, catalyses the absorption of atmospheric CO2 in photosynthesis. The formation of cyanobacterial form I Rubisco has been analyzed by in vitro reconstitution and cryo-electron microscopy (Nature)

Photoactivated phytochromes

Phytochromes regulate photoresponses through their ability to photointerconvert between a ground state (Pr) and a photoactivated state (Pfr). The three-dimensional solution structure of the bilin-binding domain as Pfr of the cyanobacterial phytochrome was reported (Nature)

Disease Enzyme Scrutinized

X-ray structure of a conformationally flexible drug target reveals how its inhibitors work (Nat Chem Biol.)

Needling Molecules

A simple method may solve the problem of getting stuff into cells (PNAS)

Infectious Prions Mutate Structurally

Researchers have discovered that misfolded prions can refold, suggesting a new approach to drug design (Science)

Ubiquitin Unfolds Doomed Proteins

Besides tagging proteins for destruction, ubiquitin also assists in the process by helping unfold the proteins (PNAS)

JAPAN: 2010 Science Budget Not Apocalyptic, as Feared

Although some projects will absorb big hits, the first budget of Japan's new administration, approved by the Cabinet at the end of December, calls for relatively minor changes in science priorities.

Dissecting TFIIB Mechanics

A newly reported crystal structure of an RNA polymerase II‐general transcription factor TFIIB complex reveals the carboxyl-terminal region of TFIIB whereas the previous structure revealed the amino-terminal region (Science)

Ligand-specific changes in GPCRs

Researchers found that drugs that bind within the transmembrane core with different efficacies towards G-protein activation of beta-2 adrenergic receptor stabilize distinct conformations of the extracellular surface. New therapeutic agents that target this diverse surface could function as allosteric modulators with high subtype selectivity (Nature)

Turning the HEAT on DNA-PKcs

The structure of the catalytic subunit DNA-PKcs, a serine/threonine protein kinase comprising a single polypeptide chain of 4,128 amino acids, of human DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) has been reported.

Ubiquitin-like proteins in Archaea

Structural homologues of ubiquitin (small archaeal modifier proteins or SAMPs) are shown to form a large number of protein conjugates in the archaeon Haloferax volcanii.

NIGMS Plans New PSI Grants

The Protein Structure Initiative funding will support the development of tools for studying high-throughput structure determination.

Much-Maligned Mother of Many Beloved Wines

In a new look at the DNA in chloroplasts in a dozen grape varieties, researchers discovered that gouais blanc was the maternal parent of nine.

Bacterial Compartmentalization

In diverse bacteria, reactions that involve toxic or volatile metabolites are carried out by enzymes inside proteinaceous microcompartments. Researchers report crystal structures for four homologous proteins that are constituents of the shell that sequesters the metabolism of ethanolamine in bacteria.

Hopes of a tumour test for Tasmanian devils

Pinpointing nerve-insulating cells as the origin of devil facial cancer could aid diagnosis and vaccination.

Cavity Causer Goes Under the Microscope

Sequence of bacterium's genome reveals why it is such a pain in the tooth

Antitumour drugs: novel EGFR inhibitors

The efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase inhibitors in EGFR-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer is limited by the development of drug-resistance mutations, including the additional T790M mutation. Researchers have developed a new class of EGFR inhibitor that selectively inhibits the mutant receptor, rather that the wild type, and also inhibits the T790M mutant.

Bacterial DNA transfer

Most pathogenic bacteria in humans are Gram-negatives in which the type IV secretion system mediates the transfer of DNA from one bacterium to another. The crystal structure of the outer membrane complex of a type IV secretion system has been determined.

A nitric oxide reductase by desig

The successful design of a structural and functional model of the metalloprotein nitric oxide reductase (NOR) and the confirmation of an X-ray crystal structure of the designed protein have been reported.

Revoking Flu's Enemy-With-Benefits Status

Understanding how human cells help influenza thrive could be the way to stop it

Unexpected Route To Crystallization

Electrostatic repulsion between peptide-alkyl chain fibers in dilute solution leads to 3-D ordering

Arsenicin A: A Unique Natural Product

Chemists report the synthesis and structure of the first known natural product to contain multiple arsenic atoms

Bio Diodes

The crystal structure of an inward rectifier potassium channel provides a basis for understanding its rectification

Solving Pseudokinases

Mutations of the protein kinase LKB1 are associated with cancer in humans. Structure of the LKB1-STRAD-MO25 complex reveals an allosteric mechanism of kinase activation.

Proteins In Transition

Chemical Biology: Conformational change proceeds along surprising path

Bacteria Can Transform Minerals Electrically

Researchers begin to unlock a promising biochemical process

Glutamate transport

The crystal structure of a bacterial glutamate transporter trapped in its 'inward facing' state has been determined to propose a molecular mechanism for the sodium-coupled uptake of glutamate.

DNA repair: A heavyweight joins the fray

Tagging of DNA-damage-associated proteins by ubiquitin is key to coordinating the DNA-damage response. The ubiquitin-related protein SUMO is revealed as a crucial regulator of ubiquitylation in DNA repair.

Hope for Japan's key projects

Science council recommends funding for research threatened by budget cuts.

Scientists Crack Mystery of Protein's Dual Function

Researchers have solved a 10-year-old mystery of how a single protein from an ancient family of enzymes can have two completely distinct roles in the body

December 15, 2009,NIGMS News,

Findings Could Lead to Water-wise Crops

Biologists have identified plant enzymes that may help to engineer plants that take advantage of elevated carbon dioxide to use water more efficiently

December 15, 2009,NIGMS News,

Making Drugs Survive Longer in Blood

Longer-lasting drugs could mean more effective treatments

Good Beer Is All In The Fold

Partially-folded protein from barley steadies brew’s tiny bubbles

Revisiting Resveratrol

More results question molecular link between red wine compound and its antiaging activity

Getting membrane proteins into the fold

A new preparation method promises to bring a challenging but clinically important subset of proteins within easier reach of scientists (contribution from TPRP)

Hollywood gives biologists a helping hand

Pixar software could help simulate molecular interactions inside cells

New DNA binding motif that has heretofore escaped description

Two groups have discovered how the repeats in the TAL proteins of plant pathogens encode the specificity needed for the proteins to find their host DNA targets. Each repeat is specific for one DNA base pair.

Dissecting Ephrin-Receptor Interaction

Ephrins are transmembrane proteins that bind ephrin receptors on adjacent cells, leading to propagation of biochemical signals within both cells. Researchers devised a way to use differential isotopic labeling to distinguish cells and to monitor bidirectional signaling events by mass spectrometry.

Endogenous Regulator of mGluR5

Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are critical neurotransmitter sensors implicated in central neuronal functions. Norbin, a neuron-specific protein, is found to physically interact with mGluR5, to increase the cell surface localization of the receptor, and to positively regulate mGluR5 signaling.

Editorial changes

Alanyl tRNA synthetases can sometimes bind a glycine or a serine, instead of alanine.　 Crystal structures revealed how this problem is overcome through the evolution of the editing protein, AlaXps.

Structural biology: Molecular coin slots for urea

Membrane-bound protein channels that allow only urea to pass through are vital to the kidney's ability to conserve water. Crystal structures show that the channels select urea molecules by passing them through thin slots.

First steps in DNA repair

Repair of DNA damage requires first that the lesion be detected in an excess of undamaged DNA. Researchers described a series of snapshots of the initial encounter between the enzyme and either normal or damaged DNA and defined the subsequent pathway.

Role of 2-hydroxyglutarate in cancer

A high percentage of glioblastomas has been found to harbour mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1). The predominant mutation is shown to act as a gain-of-function mutation, enabling IDH1 to convert ketoglutarate to 2-hydroxyglutarate.

How Angiosperms Took Over the World

Leaf plumbing, not flowers, made all the difference, say researchers

Breakthrough Flu Drug Might Already Exist

Recombining fragments of known drugs could lead to a more robust antiviral for H1N1 and other flu variants.

Nascent Proteins Caught in the Act

Two landmark papers use cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM) to obtain information at subnanometer resolution, enabling the direct visualization of nascent polypeptide chains in the ribosomal tunnel.

Targeting DNA Gyrase

DNA gyrase is essential in bacteria, but missing in humans, and is thus an important antibiotic target. Biochemical and structural studies showed that antibiotics symocyclinones do not inhibit DNA gyrase GTPase activity, but instead inhibit binding to DNA.

Metamorphosis Receptor Identified

In insects, the metamorphosis is activated by the brain-derived neuropeptide, prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH). Almost a century after this brain hormone was discovered, the PTTH receptor and its signaling cascade have been identified.

RNA Silencer Shows Promise for Hepatitis C

Strategy targets a molecule produced by the host, not the virus

Plant biology: Signal advance for abscisic acid

The hunt for the receptor for abscisic acid, initially marked by false starts and lingering doubts, has met with success. Converging studies now reveal the details of how this plant hormone transmits its message.

Altered states: in search of hidden protein structures

Researchers used both of X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy to identify and characterize a hidden high-energy substate of human cyclophilin A, a proline isomerase.

Extending the ubiquitin chain

The proposal that ubiquitin chains are built on substrates by sequential transfer of single ubiquitin molecules has been supported

Screen Nets Self-Destruction Stoppers

Chemical Biology: Strategy finds selective ligands for rogue T cells

Japan budget threat sparks backlash

Nobel laureates and leading researchers rally to protest at proposed spending cuts

Sparring Intensifies Over Japan's Science Budget

The struggle for public and political support between Japan's scientific community and a budget-cutting task force is escalating

A Beetle, Its Eggs and the Secrets of a Glue

An insect that glues its eggs to the branches of the asparagus plant may help scientists learn to protect the plants

'Temple of the mind' unlocked

Map of fundamental brain receptor opens doors to treatments

Urea-RNA Disruption

Researchers reveal how urea hydrogen bonds and stacks with RNA's bases, making normal interaction between bases impossible

Freeze Protector Is Protein-free

Biochemistry: First-in-class natural antifreeze from alaskan beetle has carbohydrate and lipid components

Tsunami of protest: Japanese scientists rally against government cuts

Packed meeting hears a chorus of lament from Nobelists

Pre-MicroRNA Export Machinery

The crystal structure of pre-miRNA complexed with the exportin Exp5 and the small nuclear GTPase RanGTP shows that Exp5 and RanGTP protect the miRNA from degradation by nucleases, as well as facilitate transport to the cytoplasm

RSV in 3D

The crystal structure of a decameric, annular ribonucleoprotein complex of the RSV nucleoprotein (N) bound to RNA has been determined

Revealing the RNA World?

Researchers determined the structure of an in vitro-evolved RNA ligase ribozyme that catalyses a chemical reaction essentially identical to that of proteins that replicate RNA

Simply Mycoplasma

Three papers provide a comprehensive and quantitative analysis of the proteome, the metabolic network, and the transcriptome of M. pneumonia

Democratic fallacy

Japan's effort to make budget allocations by public hearing could be good for the country and for science, but not as currently planned.

Membrane proteins in situ

A study combining neutron diffraction, solid-state NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations provides a detailed picture of the structure and hydration of lipid bilayer membranes containing S1-S4 voltage-sensing domains, which are used by membrane proteins to sense and react to changes in membrane voltage

Mutation by stealth

Work in HeLa cells shows that about 1% of methionine residues used in protein synthesis are aminoacylated to 'textbook-incorrect' tRNAs

In it together

Homocitrate from the host plant is essential for nitrogen fixation by rhizobia, highlighting the interdependence of the co-evolving symbiotic partners

Computational microscope peers into the working ribosome

Two new studies reveal in unprecedented detail how the ribosome interacts with other molecules to assemble new proteins and guide them toward their destination

November 25, 2009,NIGMS News,

Snapshot Catches Protein Motor in Action

Researchers have captured a critical action snapshot of an enzyme that is vital to the survival of all biological cells

November 25, 2009,NIGMS News,

Seeing Disulfides Via Diselenide Proxies

Replacing cysteine with selenocysteine in proteins improves NMR observation of disulfide bridges

Giant Leap For Obstinate Targets

Sugar Chemistry: Parallel combinatorial synthesis yields 12 hard-to-make oligosaccharides

Prion Aggregator Discovered

A glycosylated protein may shepherd prion protein associated with brain disorders into its infectious form

Japan's Scientists Fight Proposed Budget Cuts

A-Maize-ing

The availability of the maize genome will help to guide future agricultural and biofuel applications

JAPAN: Belt-Tightening Could Claim Some Scientific Scalps

TOKYO - Attempting to rein in Japan's yawning budget deficit, a government task force last week recommended tens of millions of dollars in cuts in science spending in the fiscal year beginning next April that would hit everything from research grants to big-ticket items such as a next-generation supercomputer.

Ants Eat Well, Thanks to Bacteria

Researchers uncover nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the ants' gardens

Gene transcription: new readers start here

The crystal structure of the complete Pol II (RNA polymerase II, the central enzyme of gene transcription) / TFIIB (a general transcription factor) complex suggests a six-step mechanism of transcription initiation

Allostery goes dynamic

A new study suggests that the notion of purely structurally regulated activity in allosteric proteins should be revised to include a frequently dominating contribution from protein dynamics

Signal peptides as allosteric activators

Cleavable N-terminal signal peptide of secreted "preproteins", which mediate their targeting and translocation across membranes, are shown to have a new role as allosteric activators of protein translocases

Access Denied?

Information-sharing resources are essential to biologists and deserve international support.

Plant genetics database at risk as funds run dry

National Science Foundation to cut support for Arabidopsis resource

Japanese science faces deep cuts

The government's election promises vowed more support for science, but so far budgets look set to shrink

Scientists Guide Immune Cells with Light and Microparticles

A new approach to studying how immune cells chase down bacteria in our bodies is reported

November 16, 2009 ,NIGMS News,

Electron-Transfer Proteins Tweaked

Modifications for better control of redox potential and reactivity

Seams in HIV Coat Could Lead to New Drugs

Structural biologists have identified functionally important "seams" within the coat that surrounds the HIV genome.

November 12, 2009 ,NIGMS News,

M cells in immunity

Glycoprotein 2, specifically expressed by M cells, is reported to serve as a transcytotic receptor for mucosal antigens.

Language evolution: The importance of being human

A comparison of the human and chimpanzee FOXP2 proteins highlights the differences in function in the two species.

Direct inhibition of the NOTCH transcription factor complex

The design of synthetic, cell-permeable, stabilized peptides that disrupt protein-protein interactions in NOTCH is reported.

Inside green fluorescent protein

Femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy is shown to reveal skeletal motions involved in the proton transfer that produces the fluorescent form of GFP protein.

Transport Tag Team

Two-protein complex forms in cells' copper-transport pathway

Chocolate Cake: The New Heroin?

Yo-yo diets may lead to food addiction

Bacterial Trigger of Plant Protection

Researchers have identified the bacterial gene that encodes the protein, Ax21 (activator of XA21-mediated immunity), to which the rice receptor protein XA21 responds to activate the plant's defenses

Small-Molecule Activators of a Proenzyme

Researchers have identified small molecules that activate the apoptotic procaspases-3 and -6.

An Enzyme Reveals An Unexpected Inclusiveness

Protein Binding: Bacterial enzyme's active site welcomes both enantiomers of a chiral molecule at the same time

Targeting KRAS cancers

Researchers identify TBK1 as a kinase in the NF- B signaling pathway that is essential for the survival of KRAS-transformed cells

HMGB protein sentinels

The chromosomal HMGB proteins are shown to be essential for all nucleic-acid receptor-mediated activation of innate immune responses

Getting A Clue About Cortistatin's Activity

Crucial isoquinoline ring in natural product's structure leads researchers to a set of potential kinase targets for cancer and vision therapies

Cut-And-Paste GFP

Protein Engineering: Method opens green fluorescent protein to better scrutiny, design

Light Commands Ion Channel

Chemical Biology: Photosensitive reaction opens or shuts potassium's flow

Emergency Drug Fills Vaccine Void

Pandemic: FDA allows use of unapproved flu drug while vaccine supplies lag

Proteins Moonlight to Control Genes

A study has uncovered more than 300 proteins that appear to control gene expression as well as perform other roles in cells.

November 1, 2009,NIGMS News,

New targets for old drugs

A computer program predicts thousands of previously unknown drug-target associations.

Ribosomes Caught in Translation

The crystal structure of the ribosome bound to two elongation factors have been reported.

How can DNA-binding proteins find targets in the midst of vast amounts of non specific DNA?

A new analysis of the three-dimensional structures of protein-DNA complexes suggests that DNA shape is key to recognition.

To Mosquitoes, We Smell Like Bird

Common odor may explain transmission of West Nile Virus

Naked Mole Rat Wins the War on Cancer

Novel mechanism could point to new therapies for humans

Seeing Molecules With A New Light

Microscopy: Technique relies solely on light that nonfluorescent compounds absorb

Molecular Structure Helps Explain Drought Tolerance

New structure shows how hormone-sensing protein helps plants survive dry droughts.

October 24, 2009,NIGMS News,

Dissecting Megaenzyme Mechanisms

Scientists report in vitro reconstitution of the complete catalytic function of lovastatin nonaketide synthase (LovB), the megasynthase that works to complete nearly 40 chemical steps required to construct the core of the cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin.

Why Fish and Red Wine Don't Mix

Japanese researchers discover basis for unpleasant aftertaste

Why Sleepyheads Forget

Scientists pinpoint how lack of sleep undermines memory

Tools For Protein Folding

Techniques provide ways to manipulate and understand protein folding

Herbicides, Drugs Block Taste Receptor

Such weed killers and lipid-lowering drugs interfere energy metabolism, glucose regulation

Enzyme Lets You Enjoy the Bubbly

Researchers identified a class of taste-receptor cells in the tongue that respond to carbon dioxide (CO2), the gas that gives sparkling beverages their fizz.

New Helper For Bulky Amino Acids

Asymmetric Synthesis: Stripped-down small-molecule catalyst improves synthesis of key chiral intermediates

Cell invasion caught on camera

Videos show T cells breaching the central nervous system's defences

Chemical keeps male sex drive in check

A single pheromone ensures a male fruitfly's urge to mate targets the right sex.

Case Closed: Famous Royals Suffered From Hemophilia

Russian bones solve centuries-old mystery

Chronic Fatigue and Prostate Cancer: A Retroviral Connection?

A new study links chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) to a possibly contagious rodent retrovirus, XMRV, which has also been implicated in an aggressive form of prostate cancer.

The Human Genome in 3-D

Researchers theorize that DNA molecules inside the cell nucleus are packed into a compact, unknotted structure called a fractal globule (or ramen noodles), making it easy to pack and unpack.

Metabolite Arrays (Retracted on November 12, 2010)

Researchers report a method to sample the global metabolic state of an organism or mixture of organisms using an array of more than 1500 metabolites linked to a glass slide.

X-ray free-electron lasers fire up

California's project has the lead as its facility goes live, but Europe aims for its own rapid-fire device.

Life on leaves

The surface of plant leaves, the phyllosphere, is home to many microbes. A 'community proteogenomics' approach offers a fresh look at what it takes to survive and thrive in this unique habitat.

Microgel Enzyme Inhibitor

A molecularly imprinted polymer selectively inhibits trypsin better that one of the enzyme's known small-molecule inhibitors

Helping Crops Shed Pesticides

Dousing plants with their own hormones helps them expel toxic chemicals

Enzyme Could be Key to Treating Tuberculosis

Researchers have identified an enzyme that helps tuberculosis bacteria resist humans' natural defense system.

October 3, 2009 ,NIGMS News,

Aging Is RSKy Business

A report uncovers an important role for an enzyme, a ribosomal S6 protein kinase (RSK) called S6K1 and a target of mTOR, as a determinant of mammalian aging.

A second type of macroautophagy

A second mode of autophagy that is independent of the Atg genes is described.

Chemical reactions X-rayed

Researchers design a robust porous network material that acts as a 'reaction medium' to trap unstable reaction intermediates and to reveal their structures.

Getting By On Little Water

Advances in breeding and basic science confer drought tolerance to crops

Targeting RNA

Unique challenges face developers of drugs that hit disease-related RNAs rather than disease-related proteins

Bacterial Chemoreceptor Architecture Described

Researchers have visualized the precise arrangement of chemoreceptors - the receptors that sense and respond to chemical stimuli - in bacteria.

September 28, 2009 ,NIGMS News,

Physicists shrink X-ray source

Laser accelerator almost fits on a tabletop.

Unearthing Nature's Bounty

Chemical Biology: Mass spectrometry anchors tactic for finding new natural products from microbes

A Connection Between Sleep and Alzheimer's?

Sleep deprivation enhances pathological plaque formation in the brains of mice

Chemical biology: Caught in the activation

A crystal structure reveals how a protein kinase is activated by the binding of a small molecule at a pocket far from the catalytic site. This opens the door to the design of modulators of protein phosphorylation.

The raf oncogene: dimerization drives RAF kinase

The activation mechanism of RAF is shown to involve a dimeric conformation of its kinase domain.

Dylan to Darwin: Don't Look Back

A study of million-year-old proteins shows that evolution doesn't go in reverse

New Tuberculosis Drug Target

Microbiology: Inhibitors affect mycobacterial, not human, proteasome

Now Shown in 3D

Researchers have undertaken a major technological challenge: to integrate biochemical data with experimentally determined or predicted three-dimensional structures of all proteins involved in the central metabolism of a bacterial cell

Anyone for D?

While in all kingdoms of life, cells predominantly use L-amino acids, researchers present the unanticipated observation that diverse bacteria release large amounts of various D-amino acids into the environment

Desperately Seeking Glucose

Glucose deprivation may help to drive the acquisition of cell growth–promoting oncogenic mutations during tumor development

A trick of the tail-anchored protein

The crystal structure of ATPase chaperone Get3 provides a mechanistic understanding for nucleotide-regulated binding and release of tail-anchored membrane proteins

Killing TB In Its Sleep

An antiparasitic drug can kill tuberculosis bacteria, whether they are actively replicating or not, hinting at a possible new treatment

Seeing Double

Single-particle electron microscopy analysis of an archaeal ribonucleoprotein reveals its dimeric structure

Crystal Clear

Structural analysis of DOCK9-Cdc42 complexes demonstrates that activation of Rho GTPases by DOCK exchange factors Is mediated by a nucleotide sensor

It's a Gas

Endogenous nitric oxide protects bacteria against a wide spectrum of antibiotics

Apoptosis: how cells become targets

Apoptotic cells are shown to release ATP and UTP that act as a 'find me' signal and chemoattractant for phagocytes expressing the P2Y2 ATP/UTP receptor

Membrane proteins: structures without crystallization

Researchers report the structure of a membrane protein, the human large-conductance calcium- and voltage-activated potassium (BK) channel, in its native membrane environment using single-particle electron cryomicroscopy

New Bond In Biology

Biochemistry: Sulfilimine connection toughens tissue

Potent HIV Antibodies Spark Vaccine Hopes

A large team of researchers has identified the most powerful, broad-acting antibodies yet against multiple strains of HIV

Sugary Achilles' Heel Raises Hope For Broad-Acting Antiviral Drugs

A protein that binds sugar groups on the outermost proteins of HIV, gumming up the virus's machinery for entering cells, does nearly as well against the SARS and Ebola viruses, showing promise as a broad-spectrum antiviral.

Watch the Clock to Lose Weight

New research suggests that meal timing and an immune system gene could help people shed pounds

Cancer: The fat and the furious

Evidence linking metabolic alterations to cancer progression is accumulating. It seems that cancer cells must sustain their energy production and remain well fed to survive detachment from their normal habitat.

Ribozyme's Kick Is In Its Fold

Folding a ribozyme into a three-dimensional structure can adjust the reactivity of the RNA catalyst's nucleotide bases

Genes That Make Us Human

Intensive computer search turns up three newly formed human genes

Knockout rats made to order

Customized disease models made by deleting rat embryo genes may be on sale soon

Atoms and Bonds of Molecule Visualized

High-resolution AFM technique makes even hydrogen atom positions visible

Odors Inhibit Fly CO2 Response

Chemicals that modulate the insects' response to carbon dioxide could lead to new insect repellents

A Breathalyzer for Cancer

Gold nanoparticles help researchers detect lung cancer in exhaled air

Hidden Pockets of Resistance

Analysis of the culturable aerobic gut microbiome revealed genes highly similar to antibiotic resistance genes harbored by human pathogens

Tapping the Mitochondrial Proteome

A mitochondrial protein (Sdh5) is required for the activity of respiratory complex II and its mutations were found in individuals with hereditary paraganglioma, a rare neuroendocrine tumor

Breathe easy

Why inhaled fungal spores do not provoke an immune reaction

Biotech Bacteria Could Help Diabetics

Genetically engineered gut bacteria trigger insulin production in mice

Protein Synthesis Initiation Complex

Formation of the First Peptide Bond: The Structure of EF-P Bound to the 70S Ribosome

Translational Rearrangements

Structures of the Ribosome in Intermediate States of Ratcheting

APC Transporter Structure

Structure and Mechanism of a Na+-Independent Amino Acid Transporter

Blast-Resistant Rice

New Strategy Promises Lasting Resistance to a Rice Plague

SNORKEL beats the monsoon

Japanese researchers have identified the genes that trigger internode elongation in deepwater rice, called SNORKEL1 and SNORKEL2.

The AdiC proton pump

Crystal structure of AdiC, an arginine-agmatine antiporter from Escherichia coli was reported

Engineered protein-like molecule protects cells against HIV infection

Researchers has created a set of peptide-like molecules that successfully block HIV infection of human cells

August 17, 2009 ,NIGMS News,

Nacre's Trade Secrets Revealed

Two proteins aid the orderly formation of calcium carbonate crystals that gives pearls and oyster shells their iridescent luster

Early Risers Are Mutants

Scientists find first gene in humans linked to sleep duration

Lysine Acetylation Catalog

Advances in mass spectrometry made it possible for researchers to assess the prevalence of lysine acetylation throughout the whole proteome.

A screen for cancer killers

Method identifies drugs that target the cells behind cancer growth.

Bacteria Interfere With Painkillers

Gut microbes manipulate acetaminophen metabolism

DNA Bar Codes For Chemical Libraries

Methods have screened 800 million compounds for kinase inhibitors

Immortality improves cell reprogramming

Knocking out genes with a role in cancer prevention helps produce stem cells.

Early Evolution of Protein Editing

Researchers demonstrate how enzyme functions have evolved, particularly in proofreading the sequences of newly made proteins.

August 7, 2009,NIGMS News ,

Birds' Light Meter Discovered

Protein helps birds sense when spring has sprung

Inside HIV-1: structure of an entire RNA gnome

The secondary structure of a complete HIV-1 RNA genome has been determined, based on analysis of authentic HIV RNA extracted from infectious virions.

Crystals grown in a flash

A nanopulse of laser light is enough to trigger crystallization.

Structure of Promising New Antibiotic

A study shows how a promising new "last resort" antibiotic called ramoplanin can kill bacteria.

August 4, 2009 ,NIGMS News,

Rapid TB Detector

An ultrasensitive test can spot bacteria in a half hour.

GM crop lures pest killers

Transgenic maize emits chemical that summons insect-killing nematodes.

Patience, My Dear Polymerase

How a transcribing polymerase gets past the protein spools that stand in its way

Sabotage At Energy Department Facility

Former employee destroys 4,000 protein crystals under study at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

Expanding Sulfonylurea Mechanisms

Sulfonylureas, important drugs used for diabetes, were identified in a screen for substances that modify the activity of the cAMP sensor Epac2, suggesting that Epac2 would be a novel target of antidiabetic drugs.

Monitoring Monocyte Reservoirs

Researchers demonstrate that the spleen serves as a critical reservoir of monocytes in addition to the primary monocytes reservoirs, the bone marrow and blood.

Maintaining Mutual Ignorance

Innate and adaptive immunity cooperate flexibly to maintain host-microbiota mutualism.

Structural biology: Trimeric ion-channel design

The structure of an ATP-activated ion channel reveals its architecture. And the intriguing interior design is found in another type of ion channel too.

NIGMS to Fund New Protein Structure Programs

The PSI: Biology initiative has begun with two new programs funded with up to $40 million.

Tailored evolution

Targeting genetic changes to specific regions of a genome allows researchers to rapidly evolve microbes.

DNA barcodes for plants a step closer

Biologists agree on genetic sequences to uniquely identify plant species.

Special Online Collection: Complex Systems and Networks

This special section shows how scientists are pushing network analysis to its limits across disciplinary fields.

Phytoplasma Research Begins to Bloom

Spread by insects, bacteria called phytoplasmas co-opt plant development, sometimes creating beauty but more often bringing devastation.

Connecting Organelles

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) -mitochondria connections are important for interorganellar phospholipid exchange.

Neuronal SNARE complex structure

A team solved the X-ray crystallographic structure of an extended neuronal SNARE complex, which suggest that these proteins operate like nanomachines whose zippering all the way into the membranes triggers their fusion.

Rapid detection and profiling of cancer cells in fine-needle aspirates

A diagnostic magnetic resonance (DMR) sensor that combines a miniaturized NMR probe with targeted magnetic nanoparticles measures the transverse relaxation rate of water molecules in biological samples.

PSPP: A Protein Structure Prediction Pipeline for Computing Clusters

A standalone protein structure prediction software package suitable for high-throughput structural genomic applications

July 20, 2009 ,PLoS ONE,

Protein Structure Helps Decipher Route To Selenocysteine

X-ray structure of selenocysteine's transfer RNA coupled to the SepSecS enzyme provides a better view of selenocysteine biosynthesis

Pheromone Tells Fly Suitors to 'Buzz Off'

Researchers report on a newly discovered pheromone produced by male fruit flies.

July 17, 2009 ,NIGMS News,

Researchers Image Crucial Anthrax Protein

Researchers have determined the structure of a protein crucial to the virulence of anthrax bacteria.

July 14, 2009 ,NIGMS News,

New Drugs Faster From Natural Compounds

A new advance will enable scientists to rapidly characterize ring-shaped nonribosomal peptides, a class of natural compounds with a high potential to yield new pharmaceuticals.

July 14, 2009 ,NIGMS News,

New Class Of Drugs For Avian Flu

Saponin derivatives that prevent the H5N1 virus from entering its host cells could serve as a novel class of avian flu remedy

How Membrane Proteins Self-Organize

Researchers have taken a unique look at how thousands of bacterial membrane proteins assemble into clusters that direct cell movement to select chemicals in their environment.

July 11, 2009,NIGMS News,

Anti-obesity drugs: Improving sleep may promote weight loss

T-type Ca2+ channels regulate both sleep and weight maintenance, suggesting that sleep regulation might represent a potential therapeutic strategy for obesity.

Toward Drug Development

Drug Discovery and Natural Products: End of an Era or an Endless Frontier?

Calorie-Counting Monkeys Live Longer

Researchers report first data on dietary restriction and aging in primates

Early indicator of sight loss

CCR3 is found to be a target for age-related macular degeneration diagnosis and therapy

CD14 in apoptosis

CD14, a molecule that, in conjunction with other receptors, recognizes the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of bacterial cell wall. is shown to regulate dendritic cell apoptosis after LPS stimulation

Microorganism behaviour: be prepared

Escherichia coli passing through the gut and yeast through the various stages of fermentation 'anticipate' their next experience and assemble the metabolic pathways to cope with it.

Fountain of Youth on Easter Island?

Compound found in soil extends life span of mice

Carbohydrate Size Control

Tethering mechanism regulates length of sugar chains for tuberculosis bacterial cell wall

Biogenic Amine Receptors

Researchers explored the family of ion channels that respond to biogenic amines in the worm Caenorhabditis elegans.

Immunology: A metabolic switch to memory

Two therapeutic drugs have been found to enhance memory in immune cells called T cells, apparently by altering cellular metabolism.

Site of Alcohol Action in Brain

X-ray crystallography revealed a binding site for alcohol in an ion channel that plays a key role in several brain functions associated with drugs of abuse and seizures.

July 1, 2009,NIGMS News,

Study Refutes Protein's Role in Heart Attacks

Companies chasing c-reactive protein may be on wrong path, say experts

How Amyloid-beta Harms Neurons

Soluble amyloid-beta oligomers are found to interfere with the normal reabsorption of the neurotransmitter glutamate at brain synapses

Mercury's Paths In Rice

Mass spec study of the toxic metal advances understanding of plants' chemical response to mercury contamination

Opening the Portico

The structure of the 40-kD homotrimer of E. coli diacylglycerol kinase (DAGK), a family of integral membrane phosphotransferases, was determined by NMR spectroscopy.

Antibiotics in Nature: Beyond Biological Warfare

A body of evidence emerges that the infection-quelling miracle drugs of biomedicine play more basic roles in the metabolism of microbial communities.

Plant hormones: ten and counting

There has been rapid progress in research into the molecular mechanisms of plant hormones old and new.

New protein structures replace the old

Dutch software to weed out errors in Protein Data Bank.

Antiporter Antics

The crystal structure of AdiC, an arginine:agmatine antiporter, suggests how the antiporter senses the pH and responds to transport the reaction product agmatine out of the cell and Arg into the cell.

Protein Wavers Between Two Forms

Researchers have found that a bacterial protein thought to exist in a single three-dimensional structure can twist itself into a second form.

June 19, 2009,NIGMS News,

Beyond the prion principle

It seems that many misfolded proteins can act like prions - spreading disease by imparting their misshapen structure to normal cellular counterparts. But how common are bona fide prions really?

Malaria: The gatekeeper revealed

A molecular machine used by the malaria parasite to export its protein armoury into the host cell has at last been identified, providing researchers with a potentially invaluable therapeutic target.

Inflammation: Wound healing in zebrafish

What is the first signal that directs the rapid influx of immune cells to a wound to stave off potential infection? A study in the zebrafish reveals an unusual but well-qualified candidate - a gradient of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) emanating from the wound.

Structure of the HIV Protein Shell

A study has provided a close-up look at the hexagonal protein building blocks that make up the HIV capsid.

June 15, 2009,NIGMS News,

Lilly To Provide Free Access to Drug Discovery Platform Under New Collaborative Initiative

Findings from the initiative "could ultimately form the basis for collaboration or licensing agreements between Lilly and external institutions," the company said.

Tantalizing clues to the chemical origins of life

A synthetic molecule can reshuffle itself to match a DNA template.

A New Twist on Prion Disease

Study proposes how misfolded proteins destroy neurons

Enzyme Makes A Tough Cut

Crystal structure of bacterial enzyme suggests route to a challenging bond cleavage

Sexual gene shuffling suppressed in plants

Asexual cell division could hold the key to a breakthrough in plant breeding

A Termite Terminator?

Blocking termite immunity could thwart destructive pests

Case Closed: Scientists Nab Birds That Brought Down Airplane

Forensic analysis of feathers fingers culprit in Hudson River crash

Rhes-olving Huntington's Disease?

Researchers show that Rhes, a small G protein very highly localized to the striatum, binds mutant huntingtin (mHtt) and augments its neurotoxicity, suggesting that Rhes-Htt binding might provide a therapeutic target.

Blocking Wayward Immune Cells

Small molecule prevents differentiation of cell involved in autoimmune diseases

Exploiting Cortistatins' Essence

Simple analogs of a complex natural product may protect against loss of vision

Membrane-protein structure: Piercing insights

Pore-forming proteins are deadly biological weapons that punch holes in target-cell membranes. The structure of the pore formed by a bacterial toxin suggests that diverse pore formers have similar assembly pathways.

Drug giants unite to develop cancer therapy

Merck and AstraZeneca collaboration could launch a new trend — if their work yields results.

Allosteric Effects Govern Nuclear Receptor Action: DNA Appears as a Player

DNA sequences regulate glucocorticoid receptor activity.

Finding Crystallization Sweet Spots

Automated Device Mixes Nanoliter Quantities Of Membrane-Protein Components

Probing More Of That Vast Chemical Space

Including chemical scaffolds in libraries aids screening

Cancer cells need normal, non-mutated genes to survive

A study suggests that normally functioning genes, not just mutated ones, could be important targets for cancer drugs.

May 30, 2009,NIGMS News,

NIH Seeks Chemical Library Development

The initiative will support development of new chemical libraries for use in the Molecular Libraries Probe Production Centers Network by funding up to eight programs in 2010 with up to $2.5 million.

Disorderly Proteins Turn Predictable

Chemists have found evidence that floppy, unstructured proteins contain regions prone to binding small molecules.

Disorder in Protein May Provide Wiggle Room

Researchers found that sections of a protein previously thought to be disordered may in fact have a biological role.

May 26, 2009,NIGMS News,

New Structure Revisits History

Enzyme played key role in World War I and history of enzymology

Stressed Out Over a Stress Hormone

The hormone ABA lets plants handle rough times and holds promise for making drought-resistant crops, if only researchers could nail down its molecular partners.

NIH Announces New Program to Develop Therapeutics for Rare and Neglected Diseases

The $24 million program jumpstarts a trans-NIH initiative called the Therapeutics for Rare and Neglected Diseases program, or TRND.

May 20, 2009,NIH News,

Flagship drug-development initiative picks projects

European project awards pharmaceutical research funding.

Detecting Aircraft Pathogens Before It's Too Late

A new study suggests that single particle detectors should be used to help control pandemics.

Tumors Trigger Cancer Blues

Biochemical signals from tumors cause anxiety and depression in rats

CAS Launches Free Online Database

Designed for the public, Common Chemistry offers information about nearly 8,000 chemicals of general interest

How Plants Survived Chernobyl

Research sheds light on how soybeans and other vegetation respond to nuclear fallout

Tracking Activity At Single Synapses

New fluorescent compound makes it possible to visualize neurotransmitter release and uptake

RNA world easier to make

Ingenious chemistry shows how nucleotides may have formed in the primordial soup.

Japan to pay firms to relieve postdoc glut

Japan's science and education ministry has announced a 500-million (US$5-million) plan to pay companies to hire postdoctoral students.

Ammunition for the TB Wars

Using comparative transcriptome analysis and high content screening, researchers found that a benzothiazinone kills Mycobacterium in infected cells and in mice.

Fluorescent Proteins Go Invisible

Infrared proteins allow researchers to track molecules deep within the tissues of living animals

Protein structures: Structures of desire

What do protein crystallographers dream of ? The eukaryotic ribosome, the spliceosome, the nuclear-pore complex, the HIV trimer and almost any transmembrane protein, finds Ananyo Bhattacharya.

China joins world-class synchrotron Club

Nation's costliest science facility is unveiled.

New Path To Cyclodipeptides

Enzyme uses amino acid-loaded tRNAs to make cyclodipeptides

New Plant Hormone Partners

Two studies uncover a protein family that mediates abscisic acid's activity, which includes controlling fruit ripening and stress

Tactical Target

Specific inhibition of APh1B gamma-secretase complexes may be a useful strategy to lower Abeta production while avoiding Notch-related side effects.

The Birds and the Dinosaurs

The ancient collagen sequences of an 80-million-year-old hadrosaur revealed a close relationship between birds and dinosaurs

HIV's undercover route to infection

Virus needs to hitch a ride across the membrane before infecting cells.

Plants genes get fine tailoring

Technique allows plant researchers to target and replace specific genes.

Making Heart Cells

A cocktail of proteins converts embryonic cells into cardiac cells that might someday replace damaged tissue.

Green glow deciphered

Mysterious jellyfish gene widely used in biology find its place in nature.

Safer Stem Cells?

New technique produces stem cells without potential for DNA damage

The Mystery of PolyP Polymerase

Structural and biochemical studies showed that a domain in a yeast vacuolar transporter chaperone complex generates polyP from ATP.

Bovine basics

Cow genome sequence opens the door to a new era of breeding.

Expanding The RNA Roster

Chemical screen finds new small molecule-RNA conjugates

World's First X-ray Laser Powers Up

Technology opens new scientific frontiers and a new chapter for a storied lab

Genes Know How to Network

New approach elucidates the complex genetic crosstalk within cells

Disrupted Copper Regulation Linked to Prion Diseases

Researchers have found hints that copper regulation is disrupted in prion disease.

April 18, 2009,NIGMS News,

Noncoding DNA Rules

Variations in the DNA sequences modulate the structure and activity of one particular regulatory factor, the glucocorticoid receptor, indicating that DNA sequence is not simply a docking site, but a signal that influences gene expression.

Anchors away

The finding that the mechanism of a crucial enzyme in certain disease-causing bacteria differs from that in mammals offers scope for drug discovery.

Sequestering Cholera

Peptide mimic binds multisubunit toxin and could lead to new treatments

Cells Don't Always Respond According to Genetics

Researchers have studied how genetically identical cells have different amounts of proteins that can affect their response to drugs.

April 14, 2009,NIGMS News,

Flowering Plant Sheds Light on Human Clock

The model 3D structure of a plant protein that is similar to proteins that control human clock

April 12, 2009,NIGMS News,

Proteins in Motion

A special series on protein dynamics presents several review articles exploring how protein-protein interactions and protein conformation relate to function.

Fighting Flu

Crystal structures of the antigen-binding region of a broadly neutralizing human antibody in complex with two different antigen hemagglutins from flu viruses

Giving Malaria a Double Whammy

Compound reverses resistance, acts as antimalarial agent

Researchers Find "Good" Fat in Human Adults

Energy-eating tissue may help people slim down

Open-access policy flourishes at NIH

Researchers, institutions and publishers have complied with the mandate, but it still has its opponents.

A tiny litmus test for cells

Nanomachine senses cellular pH in real time.

Fluorescent Anesthetic May Expedite Drug Discovery

NIGMS-funded researchers have identified a fluorescent anesthetic that should help in future research to discover and understand anesthetics.

April 5, 2009,NIGMS News,

How do plants prime themselves to resist systemic pathogenic infections?

Azelaic acid and AZI1 gene are components of plant systemic immunity involved in priming defenses.

The beneficial side of prions

The infectious agents could aid yeast survival in harsh conditions.

Better Bisphosphonates

Lipophilic compound kills more cancer than traditional analog

Identifying the Proteins to which Small Molecules Bind in Cells

A research group has used quantitative proteomics (SILAC) and affinity enrichment to provide comprehensive identification of the proteins that bind to small-molecules.

Anti-HIV protein made in plants

One greenhouse could produce a million doses of virus-blocking chemical.

Peptide Disciplines Dishevelled Protein

Researchers find a potent inhibitor of the Dishevelled protein that is associated with colorectal and other cancers

Dissecting Drug Expulsion Portal

Crystal structures of P-glycoprotein, a transmembrane transporter with broad specificity, with and without inhibitors

Protein by Design

Researchers built a functioning protein from scratch

March 25, 2009,NIGMS News,

Ideas Gel for Better Diagnostics

Stacked pyridine molecules inspire possibilities for detecting lung cancer, tuberculosis

Networking out of natural disasters

Open-source software could transform response to disease outbreaks and natural disasters.

Finding Early Signs of Mad-Cow Disease

A comprehensive study of gene-expression changes could lead to new diagnostic tests.

Double Trouble on World TB Day

Number of people diagnosed with both HIV and TB higher than previously recognized

Darwin's College Bills

Storage-room discovery sheds light on famed naturalist's spending habits

Promiscuous antibody targets cancer

Single molecule can bind firmly to two different antigens.

Route To Pancreatic Cells

Small molecule directs differentiation

NIH to Assist Molecular Probe Screening

The MLPCN will support high-throughput screening research through the Molecular Libraries Roadmap Initiative.

Researchers 'watch' as individual alpha-synuclein proteins change shape

Dance by protein linked to Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases reveals unprecedented twists and turns

March 16, 2009 ,NIGMS News,

Southpaw Solar System

Meteorites might have seeded early Earth with "left-handed" amino acids

A Crayon Box For The Biotech Set

DNA-like labels light up biological systems in a rainbow of colors

A Toxin a Day Keeps the Maggots Away

Infested caterpillars self-medicate by eating poisonous plants

Body clock regulates metabolism

Researchers have discovered how circadian rhythms regulate energy levels in cells.

March 12, 2009 ,NIGMS News,

Missing Piece of Plant Clock Found

Researchers have identified a key protein that links the morning and evening components of the daily biological clock of plants.

March 12, 2009 ,NIGMS News,

There is more to life than sequences

The shape of DNA can play a crucial role in genetics.

Tissues that Build Themselves

Specially engineered cells arrange themselves into three-dimensional microtissues

Gouda Cheese Surrenders Its Secrets

A taste panel and analytical techniques reveal the source of Gouda flavor characteristics

Creating Cell Parts from Scratch

A newly made synthetic ribosome is an important step in the quest to create artificial life forms.

Target Under Fire

Inhibiting fatty acid synthesis may not be a promising antibiotic strategy after all.

Malaria Drug Is Found to Curb Deadly Infections Spread From Animals

Two new viral infections seem to have an effective treatment in an old antimalaria drug

Web usage data outline map of knowledge

Analysis offers fresh perspective on role of humanities and social sciences.

Peering at proteins inside cells

Nuclear magnetic resonance spies the atomic details of proteins in action.

Something wiki this way comes

Stephen Friend and Eric Schadt reveal their vision for an open-access platform in medical research.

A Vaccine Offers Instant Immunity

A new approach primes antibodies to instantly attack cancers, HIV, and other diseases.

Why Nicotine Prefers Brains Over Brawn

Single amino acid change helps explain the first step in smoking addiction

Skeleton Key May Defuse Flu

Antibodies bind a flu protein nook common to many viral strains

Drug Combo Kills Resistant TB

Inhibitor and antibiotic work together against tuberculosis

'Harmless' prion protein linked to Alzheimer's disease

Non-infectious form of prion protein could cause brain degeneration.

Aphids Play Doctor

Social bugs can heal plant wounds

Nanopore Sequencing to Identify DNA Bases

A British company has demonstrated an important step for a new sequencing technique.

New antibodies block a range of influenzas

Discovery hints at the possibility of broad-spectrum vaccines.

Software Speeds Enzyme Redesign

An NIGMS-funded team has developed a computer program that can show how to change enzymes to make natural antibiotics.

February 21, 2009 ,NIGMS News,

A Rodent's Anti-Aging Secrets

Healthier proteins may be the key to the long life span of naked mole rats.

Researchers Find Protein Domain To Serve as Cancer Drug Target

NIGMS-funded researchers have found that drugs that inactivate a specific part of matrix metalloproteinases may target tumors without damaging side effects.

February 17, 2009,NIGMS News,

Plants Make Bilirubin, Too

Scientists discover that the colorful tetrapyrrole-based pigment derived from heme in animals also occurs in colorful plant seeds.

Taking Stock of A Cell's Protein Production

New technique shows just how efficiently ribosomes translate messenger RNA into proteins.

GPR3 and Alzheimer's Disease

Researchers identified the G protein-coupled receptor, GPR3, as a modulator of amyloid-beta peptide production and thus as an attractive drug target.

Unconventional Attraction

A pheromone directly exported from yeast cells by a transporter of the Mdr family, rather than being secreted by the classical secretary pathway.

Receptor's Binding Partner Identified

Shamans' hallucinogen that is also produced by the body binds to nervous system receptor.

Ancient Virus Gave Wasps Their Sting

Parasitic wasps inject caterpillars with a virus to disable their natural defenses and allow wasp larvae to grow within caterpillars' bodies.

Prostate cancer marker found in urine

A simple urine test for sarcosine could be used to detect cancer.

Lighting Up Cells in 3-D

A new technique pushes the boundaries of super-resolution light microscopy.

Flu: It's the Humidity. Absolutely

Study suggests that absolute, not relative, humidity explains why influenza is seasonal

Hope For A Rare Disease

Solubilizing agent reverses Niemann-Pick C disorder in mice

Genome sequencing: the third generation

Companies unveil data from their latest technologies.

What causes schizophrenia?

Tests designed to stretch working memory had surprising effects on dopamine receptors.

Cell biology: How to combat stress

Life is full of stress, and all life forms from bacteria to humans have evolved ways of sensing and responding to it. The latest findings shed light on how cells deal with stress.

Luciferase Reporter Could Skew Drug Screening, Study Suggests

Researchers from the NIH's Chemical Genomics Center warn that the firefly luciferase enzyme may show enhanced activity with some compounds; potentially leading to false positive results.

In a Worm, a Mutation to Survive in Low Oxygen

Researchers have discovered the molecular basis for how some C. elegans worms can survive on very low levels of oxygen.

MS stem-cell trial shows promise

Multiple sclerosis treatment seems to reverse symptoms.

Two Classes of Chemicals Disrupt Wnt Pathway

Screening a chemical library of 200,000 compounds led to identification of two new classes of compounds

January 30, 2009,NIGMS News,

Serotonin Makes Locusts Swarm

Findings could point the way to new pest-control strategies

Plant genomics: Sorghum in sequence

The drought tolerance of sorghum is just one of the features that make it a valuable crop plant. There is much for agronomists to learn from the complete genome sequence of this type of grass.

Protein Racemate Yields Crystals

Racemic crystallography gives structures of uncrystallizable proteins

Small Molecule Stops Cancer-Related Hedgehog Protein

A novel drug blocks a signaling protein head-on rather than attacking a downstream part of the signaling pathway

Structural biology: Actin in a twist

How monomers of the cytoskeletal protein actin join to form the stable polymers crucial to muscle contraction and cellular motility has been a long-standing question. A state-of-the-art approach provides an answer.

Molecular biology: Concealed enzyme coordination

Coordination between subunits is crucial for the proper functioning of multi-component molecular machines. A single-molecule study now allows glimpses into the mechanism used by subunits of one such machine.

Blocking Enzyme Prevents Obesity

Chowhound mice stay lean but show elevated risk of diabetes.

Vanderbilt Forms Pact With J&J

Unique deal reflects novel drug discovery program at the university.

Protein Loss Sparks Cartilage Breakdown

An age-related decrease in the production of HMGB2 protein leads to osteoarthritis, a finding that could lead to better therapeutics.

Chemical biology: Fluorescent timers

New fluorescent 'timers' that gradually change colour from blue to red could allow researchers to track the age and dynamic behaviour of proteins in living cells.

MRI for Viruses

An imager 100 million times more powerful than traditional MRI could create 3-D images of viruses.

Bacterial Export Machine Unveiled

Scientists report the first structure of the mammoth type IV secretion complex that bacteria use for shipping out DNA and proteins

EVOLUTIONARY ROOTS: On the Origin of Life on Earth

In the first of a monthly series of essays celebrating the Year of Darwin, Carl Zimmer discusses attempts to unravel how life originated on Earth by recreating the process in the laboratory.

A never-ending dance of RNA

The recreation of life's origins comes a self-catalysing step closer.

Genetic Code Sees Double

Protozoan peculiarity may force rethink of 40 years of scientific dogma

Anticancer drug target pictured

Not only is the aromatase enzyme implicated in a common form of breast cancer, but it also catalyses an unusual biochemical reaction. Its crystal structure therefore offers both practical and fundamental insights.

A taste of umami

Molecular mechanism behind perception of the umami

Errors rectified in retrospect

During protein synthesis, mistakes in adding amino acids to the growing polypeptide chain are usually prevented. If they are not, a quality-control mechanism ensures premature termination of erroneous sequences.

2008: Signaling Breakthroughs of the Year

This year's signaling breakthroughs extended from protein crystals to cells and subcellular structures to whole genomes.

NINDS, NIAAA, NIDA to Fund Small-Molecule Probe Studies of Neurological & Drug-related Diseases

Wellcome Trust Gives $5.9M to Fund UK, US Chemical Probe Partnership

NHGRI Informatics Training Programs Could Become Bioinformatics Centers

Reprogrammed skin cells provide testing ground for new drugs

Induced pluripotent stem cells pass key milestone.

A Whiff of Mad Cow

Normal form of protein linked to neurodegenerative conditions may aid sense of smell

Is Morphine a Guy Drug?

New research may explain why males benefit more from opioid painkillers

How genes are silenced

Molecular snapshot reveals the mechanics of RNA interference

Publish in Wikipedia or perish

Journal to require authors to post in the free online encyclopaedia

Tryptophan Clarifies Antidepressant Drug Binding

An X-ray structure indicates an alternative starting point for designing new drugs

First Dynein Protein Structure Reported

Scientists unveil an atomic-level view of the motor protein dynein, which carries cargo along microtubule tracks in cells

Briny Food Textures

A small amount of salt can alter the secondary structure of proteins, and thus the texture of some foods

Vaccine failure explained

Immunologists show how deaths in 1966 could have been avoided

MALARIA:Vaccine Comes Another Step Closer

The most advanced candidate vaccine for malaria has cleared another major hurdle and is now ready for its last and biggest test: a phase III trial of 12,000 to 16,000 children at 11 locations in seven African countries

Plant hormone study pulled

Canadian lab retracts work on abscisic acid.

Three-Dimensional View of Core Replication Machinery

Structural biologists have obtained a detailed structure for the core of the replisome, molecular machinery assembled to copy DNA

December 11, 2008,NIGMS News,

A One-Two Punch Against Sleeping Sickness

Drug combo could save thousands of lives in Africa

From Gut to Bone

Serotonin produced by the gut reduces bone mass.

Blue Light Response

Blue light triggers the association of a photoreceptor, transcription factor, and DNA site, thus inducing expression for the gene FT (flowering time) and initiating flowering.

More biologists report plastic contamination

Chemicals from lab equipment are ruining experiments worldwide.

Fertilization Illuminated

Crystallography offers peek at a mammalian sperm receptor.

Fetal Immune System Hushes Attacks on Maternal Cells

Researchers provide an explanation for why some maternal cells that cross the placenta escape attack by the fetal immune system.

Proteins that read DNA backwards

Some enzymes transcribe DNA in the 'wrong' direction to create puzzling RNAs

Bravo, Beamline

BBC reports that the European Light Source, a synchrotron based in Grenoble, France, is due for a £150 million upgrade.

Agronomy: Five crop researchers who could change the world

The current crisis in worldwide food prices reinforces the need for more productive agriculture. Emma Marris meets five ambitious scientists determined to stop the world from going hungry.

Plant Puberty

Structure of receptor of key plant hormone gibberellin reveals how molecule works.

Bryostatin, Faster

Highly selective catalysis dramatically reduces steps to multiring structure.

Micropatterning for quantitative analysis of protein-protein interactions in living cells

Human protein factory for converting the transcriptome into an in vitro-expressed proteome

Global protein stability(GPS) for proteomes

Epitope mapping of antibodies using bacterial surface display

Gene networks: Network analysis gets dynamic

Mice share yeast's ageing system

Sirtuin proteins linked to lifespan in mammals.

Mass Spec Mania

This week's issue of PNAS focuses on mass spectrometry and "attempts to illustrate the breadth and uniqueness of applications of molecular MS to a variety of scientific fields with current examples.

Tiny Protein Provokes Bonding Between Cells

Alpha-catenin allows cells to recognize neighboring cells as 'friends', leading to strong bonds that are hard to break, according to a new NIGMS-supported study.

November 25, 2008,NIGMS News,

Cancer Cell 'Bodyguard' Turned Into Killer

NIGMS-supported researchers have developed a peptide that converts the Bcl-2 protein from a cancer cell's friend to a foe.

November 24, 2008,NIGMS News,

Scientists Shed Light on How DNA Is Unwound

NIGMS-supported researchers have figured out how a molecular machine unwinds DNA tangles so that the genetic information can be read and used.

November 24, 2008,NIGMS News,

Unearthing New Protease Substrates

Mass spectrometry helps elucidate glucose -regulating enzyme's activity in greater detail

Cast of 1000 Proteins Shines in Movies of Cancer Cells

Systems biologists describe online in Science this week how fluorescent markers and a time-lapse microscope have allowed them an unprecedented view of the fluctuating locations and levels of about 1000 proteins inindividual human cancer cells.

Human genomes in minutes?

Not yet, butbiotechnology company is on track for 2013.

Web data predict flu

Search engines provide information about epidemics.

Rhesus protein stops blood becoming acidic

Blood-group-factor family has a role in pH control.

Darwin 200: Beyond the origin

Celebrating the man and the book.

Tumor Secrets Written in Blood

Cancer cells release telltale traces into bloodstream

Beat the itch

Scratch it by knowing first which type you have.

Acrobatic HIV Enzyme Caught In Action

New mechanistic finding on reverse transcriptase's sliding and flipping catalytic motions could help advance AIDS drug design

Network pharmacology: the next paradigm in drug discovery

Combination chemical genetics

Targeting and tinkering with interaction networks

Learning biological networks: from modules to dynamics

Native mass spectrometry: a bridge between interactomics and structural biology

CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH: Statin Therapy Reduces Disease in Healthy Volunteers--But How, Exactly?

Some experts are calling the 17,800-person JUPITER trial a huge success in preventing cardiovascular disease and proving the value of c-reactive protein, an indicator of inflammation, as a risk marker for heart disease. The trial comes with a host of caveats, however, muddying the picture of inflammation's role in cardiovascular disease.

How does bleach bleach?

The ubiquitous disinfectant may kill bacteria by unfolding their proteins.

Billion-dollar bid for stem-cell treatments

Genzyme, a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, announced last week that it will invest up to US$1.4 billion in two adult stem-cell therapies being developed at Osiris Therapeutics.

Neuroscience: The plaque plan

Neuroscientists are pretty sure they know what causes Alzheimer's disease, but their theory has not yet given rise to effective drugs.

Cholesterol Drug Tackles Inflammation--or Does It?

Patients were helped, but experts differ on how to incorporate findings into health care

Shiga Toxin Inhibitor Could Help Combat Food Poisoning

A polymer bound ligand helps hold together an E. coli toxin and an immune protein, which safely whisks the toxin away

HIV vaccine failure explained?

Failed vaccine makes immune cells easier to infect in culture.

Growing up under the guidance of bacteria

Scientists discover how microbes help the mouse gut to mature.

Human genes are multitaskers

Up to 94% of human genes can generate different products (alternative splicing).

Redefining A Protein

Amino acid chain length is not as big a factor as folding dynamics in deciding what constitutes a protein, researchers in Japan say.

New Leads Found For Alzheimer's Therapies

Two potential treatments target enzymatic pathways to reduce amyloid ß-protein levels in mice.

Transporter in Action

The outward facing open and substrate-bound occluded conformations for a nucleobase transporter were reported.

Clocking Clock Components

The structural features of the three essential clock components - KaiA, KaiB, and KaiC - combined with biochemical and biophysical data, reveal molecular mechanisms of biological timekeeping.

Genomic-scale prioritization of drug targets: the TDR Targets database

http://tdrtargets.org : Identification and ranking of targets against neglected tropical diseases

Study Clears Protein Long a Suspect in Artery Damage

Molecule blamed for heart disease might be a bystander

Immune to Anxiety

"Allergy" cells in the rodent brain may keep baseline anxiety under control.

Not Your Garden-Variety Tomato

Researchers engineer cancer-fighting purple tomatoes

Choosing Metals

The cellular location in which an enzyme folds helps it select the right metal catalyst.

Spotting Nascent Protein Crystals

Optical technique reduces background noise and could cut screening times and costs.

Protein Regulation, By Design

Researchers have designed a hybrid protein in which the activity of one protein is controlled by that of another.

Double RNAi Screen Provides Insights Into Signaling Networks

DIABETES: Paradoxical Effects of Tightly Controlled Blood Sugar

Researchers are puzzling over recent trials that had great success in lowering blood sugar in type 2 diabetics, but no success in reducing deaths from cardiovascular disease.

Protein Aggregates Probed

Inclusion bodies may have more diverse structures than anticipated.

Cholera Turn-On

Chemical switch activates disease-enhancing toxin.

Lights! Camera! Action! Zebrafish Embryos Caught on Film

A set of unusual movies, described online this week in Science and available on the Web, shows all the movements and divisions of cells in a zebrafish embryo during its first day of development.

New Data Resource to Advance Computer-Aided Drug Design

The University of Michigan will lead an NIGMS-supported effort to expand and enhance the molecular data needed to develop computer programs that more accurately predict potential drug candidates

October 9, 2008,NIGMS News,

Making Clinical Data Widely Available

Granting public access to drug trial results and sharing patient data among researchers will make products safer and advance science, proponents say.

Cholesterol Veers Off Script

Recent trials of drugs that either lower "bad" cholesterol or raise the "good" kind have produced surprising results; along with genetics research, these findings have put in question some long-held beliefs

Great glowing jellyfish! It's the Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Green fluorescent protein bags the biggest gong in science.

Collaboration: Group theory

What makes a successful team? John Whitfield looks at research that uses massive online databases and network analysis to come up with some rules of thumb for productive collaborations.

Virus discoveries secure Nobel prize in medicine

Work on HIV and human papilloma virus already offers health benefits.

Nobel Prize Surprise

HIV, HPV Researchers Honored, but One Scientist Is Left Out

More Misfortune for Mammals

Half of life's furry creatures are declining in number, according to new database

Peptide-Producing Powerhouses

Researchers are getting a clearer picture of massive microbial assembly-line enzymes.

Rapid Tagging Of Biomolecules

Cycloaddition never before used biologically could help assemble sophisticated probes.

Bacterial Stress Reliever

First comprehensive view of stressosome complex.

A Giant Leap for Wheat Genome

Researchers make significant progress toward sequencing highly complex crop

A Viral Blast From the Past

Fifty-year-old sample sheds light on when HIV jumped from chimps to humans

Non-Coding, 'Ultraconserved' DNA Rarely Lost from Mammalian Genome

Researchers Trace Small RNAs Back to Early Animal Evolution

A very public battle

The fight to buy ImClone highlights the value of new cancer drugs #20; especially if they're difficult to copy.

Proteins Caught In The Act

X-ray scattering technique captures conformational changes on nanosecond time scale.

Opsin's Active Conformation

Crystal structure of G-protein-coupled receptor provides new insight for how this class of proteins senses chemical and light signals

Amino Acid Switch Turns Protein From Binder To Cleaver

By replacing a single naturally occurring amino acid with an unnatural amino acid

Plants' Aspirin SOS

Walnut trees under stress fill the air with significant quantities of methyl salicylate

Systems-level metabolic flux profiling identifies fatty acid synthesis as a target for antiviral therapy

Conquering Malaria Once and For All

New plan, unveiled today, calls for billions to fight the disease

PROTEOMICS: Proteomics Ponders Prime Time

Improved technologies for tracking thousands of proteins at once have spawned talk of a full-scale project to reveal all the proteins in each tissue--but the price tag would be daunting.

PROTEOMICS: Will Biomarkers Take Off at Last?

After years of disappointments, proteomics researchers say they're cautiously optimistic that they will be able to detect proteins that are markers for specific diseases.

AGING: Searching for the Secrets of the Super Old

More and more people are living past 110. Can they show us all how to age gracefully?

Conquering Malaria Once and For All

New plan, unveiled today, calls for billions to fight the disease

Cell 'rebooting' technique sidesteps risks

Virus reprograms cells without disrupting genome.

Are Bacteria Foes of Diabetes?

In mice, researchers uncover link between microbes and metabolic? disease prevention

Antibiotic Ideas

Studies advocate blocking cell-division protein, essential metabolic pathway.

NIH Awards $138M for 'Deep Innovation,' Including Genomics, Proteomics Research

Building consensus spectral libraries for peptide identification in proteomics

Japan fast-tracks stem-cell patent

Kyoto University secures first award for induced pluripotent cells.

SCHOLARLY PUBLISHING: House Weighs Proposal to Block Mandatory 'Open Access'

Last week, members of a powerful House committee held the first-ever congressional hearing on a controversial policy requiring researchers to make their papers freely available to the public at a U.S. National Institutes of Health Web site--and floated a proposal to overturn it.

GM Crops Make Good Neighbors

Cotton engineered to produce natural pesticide also protects nonmodified plants nearby

Fat Molecule Fights Weight Gain

Compound prevents mice from storing unhealthy fat

FBI to Request Scientific Review of its Anthrax Investigation

National Academy of Sciences will evaluate evidence that implicated Army researcher

NIGMS Protein Structure Initiative Partners with Nature to Relaunch Knowledgebase

Researchers Merge Sequencing, Proteomics to Analyze Nitrogen-Fixing Cyanobacterium

Rethinking schizophrenia

Advances could spur treatments for more symptoms than current drugs address.

Oleic Acid's Hypotensive Effect

Olive oil component lowers blood pressure through physical, not metabolic, means.

Broad Gives $400 Million More to Cambridge Institute

Last week, Los Angeles businessman Eli Broad announced a $400 million gift that will allow the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, already a genomics research powerhouse, to become a self-sustaining entity.

Protein engineering: The fate of fingers

Proteins with 'zinc fingers' designed to bind almost any DNA sequence will soon be available to any lab that wants them #20; from two very different sources. Helen Pearson reports on a revolution in designer biology.

Investigation into lost bacteria collection raises concerns about biobanks

Destruction of specimens leaves legislators worried about biological research collections.

Telomerase Component's Structure Solved

Catalytic subunit forms doughnut.

Megaenzyme Revealed

Chemical screening centers get funding boostChallenging Assumptions

Nine centres in the United States receive $280 million to hunt for useful biochemicals.

GENETIC PRIVACY: Whole-Genome Data Not Anonymous, Challenging Assumptions

The discovery that a type of genetic data that is widely shared and often posted online can be traced back to individuals has prompted the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the Wellcome Trust to strip some genetic data from their publicly accessible Web sites and NIH to recommend that other institutions do the same.