All Proteomics & Enzymology articles
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NewsBioscientist wins NSF CAREER Award to investigate bacterial toxins, expand inclusion in STEM
Marcos de Moraes has received support to study the molecular mechanisms and evolutionary roles of bacterial toxins known as deaminases, as well as an educational outreach effort aimed at making biosciences open to all, including differently abled persons.
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NewsSmall protein, big impact: Insights into how bacteria stabilize a key outer membrane complex
Researchers reveal that a remarkably small protein is essential for the maturation of a component of the lipopolysaccharide transport system.
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NewsStudy discovers that soft drinks affect the communication of gut bacteria and the immune system
Gut bacteria can adapt to environmental changes through DNA inversions. Researchers investigating how these DNA inversions occur found that consuming soft drinks, which contain white sugar, can alter the DNA of gut bacteria and, in turn, impact the host’s immune system.
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NewsScientists discover tRNA methyltransferase with an unusual domain architecture and functional features
Scientists identified and characterized a novel tRNA modification enzyme in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis.
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NewsHidden bacterial redundancy could be antibiotic game-changer
Staphylococcus aureus possesses a surprising level of metabolic redundancy, allowing it to survive even when key enzymes are knocked out, a new study finds. However, when two specific enzymes are removed, staph doesn’t infect its host as readily.
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NewsNew insights into malaria: Proteins in the blood can reveal the severity of the disease
Researchers have identified over 250 proteins that are strongly affected by malaria, which could help predict the severity of the disease and thus enable faster treatment for the most critical patients.
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NewsScientists ID new drug target for treating cancer and viral infections
An international team of researchers has identified a molecular mechanism that regulates the activity of N-myristoyltransferases, enzymes that ensure the proteins’ function by chemically modifying them during their production.
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NewsAI used to create protein that kills E. coli
Scientists have used artificial intelligence (AI) to generate a ready-to-use biological protein that can kill antibiotic resistant bacteria like E. coli.
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NewsChemists boost the efficiency of a key enzyme in bacterial photosynthesis
Chemists have shown that they can greatly enhance a version of the photosynthesis enzyme rubisco found in bacteria from a low-oxygen environment. Using directed evolution, they identified mutations that could boost rubisco’s catalytic efficiency by up to 25 per cent.
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NewsScientists uncover ‘superfamily’ of bacterial predator proteins
Scientists have identified a new type of protein in bacteria that could change our understanding of how these organisms interact with their environments. It focuses on a protein called PopA, found in the bacterial predator Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus.
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NewsBlue proteins from cold-adapted microbes could offer blueprint for molecular on-off switches
Rare blue proteins from cold-adapted microbes can serve as prototypes to design molecular on-off switches for cells, a new study finds.
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NewsStudy reveals engineered bacterial vesicles to combat antimicrobial resistance
Researchers studying extracellular vesicles (EVs)-membrane-bound nanoparticles released by cells that transport biologically active molecules like proteins or nucleic acids have engineered EVs derived from lactic acid bacteria to carry pathogen-specific endolysins on their surface.
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NewsPair of malaria parasite proteins could lead to targeted therapies
Scientists have made an advance in the basic understanding of Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for the deadliest form of human malaria, that could make novel, highly targeted anti-malarial therapies possible.
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NewsScientists uncover shortcut to miniaturized hydrogen production
Researchers have figured out a way to simplify the highly complex hydrogenase biocatalyst to facilitate its integration into industrial processes, offering a route to clean energy.
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NewsEnzymes from fungi can help extract plant components for biofuels and bioplastics
Plant cell wall components such as cellulose are abundant sources of carbohydrates that are widely used in biofuels and bioproducts. Investigators have found that a combination of fungal enzymes can efficiently degrade plant biomass to allow for extraction.
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NewsImmune tolerance to gut microbes is initiated by a key bacterial sensor
A study has found that the body’s immune “tolerance” to gut microbes depends on an ancient bacterial-sensing protein called STING—normally considered a trigger for inflammation.
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NewsAI could accelerate protein engineering – key for developing new medicines
An AI approach developed by researchers from the University of Sheffield and AstraZeneca could make it easier to design proteins needed for new treatments.
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News Ribosome profiling identifies thousands of new viral protein-coding sequences
With the help of a technique called Massively Parallel Ribosome Profiling (MPRP), scientists have identified more than 4000 open reading frames (ORFs) across 679 human-associated viral genomes.
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NewsScientists target viral enzymes to strengthen brain immunity against HSV-1
A new study uncovers how HSV-1 disables the brain’s antiviral defense—and how this defense can be restored. The study offers a promising new therapeutic strategy for treating HSV-1 encephalitis by reactivating the host’s intrinsic immune system.
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NewsResearchers reveal lipid-based communication between body and gut microbes
A new study shows how a host protein can specifically recognize bacterial lipids, thus triggering beneficial immune responses. It also highlights a new way the body actively shapes the gut microbiome by communicating with microbes to maintain balance.