All Proteomics & Enzymology articles
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NewsAnti-CRISPR stops the protein assembly line in bacteria
Bacteria fend off invading viruses with molecular scissors that slice up viral DNA, but viruses can fight back with a molecular trick that stops the scissors from ever being made. A viral “anti-CRISPR” protein sits on the ribosome and jams it as a CRISPR protein named Cas12 begins to form.
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News‘Atomic snapshots’ of proofreading enzyme could lead to better COVID-19 drugs
A research team used images generated by a cryogenic electron microscope (cryo-EM) to observe the interplay between SARS-CoV-2 proofreading enzyme exoribonuclease (ExoN) and RNA incorporated with antivirals such as remdesivir, sofosbuvir and bemnifosbuvir.
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NewsStudy uncovers new kind of cold sensor
Investigators studying a bacterial protein have identified a new mechanism of sensing cold temperatures. The finding points to the possibility that this same type of mechanism exists in other organisms, including humans, and may have relevance for disorders involving faulty temperature regulation.
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NewsResearchers identify potential new route for antimalarial drug design
Researchers have uncovered a promising new potential target for drug discovery. The team focused on an enzyme called aminopeptidase P (PfAPP) from Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for the most severe form of malaria in humans.
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NewsFungi utilize ancient antimicrobial proteins to attack hosts and their microbiomes
An international research team has discovered the surprising evolutionary origin of fungal effector proteins: molecules that pathogens use today to infect their hosts appear to have evolved from ancient antimicrobial proteins.
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NewsPolymer ‘bristles’ could help repel proteins — and germs — from surfaces in medical settings
A non-toxic coating made of polydimethylsiloxane prevents proteins from sticking to surfaces — potentially offering a new tool in the fight against hospital-acquired infections.
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NewsJ. Craig Venter, genomics pioneer and founder of JCVI and Diploid Genomics, Inc., dies at 79
The J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) has announced that J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., the Institute’s founder, board chair, and chief executive officer, died in San Diego following a brief hospitalization for unexpected side effects that arose from treatment of recently diagnosed cancer.
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NewsResearchers uncover three families of ‘sponge’ proteins deployed by phages
Using an innovative research approach that combines artificial intelligence with experimental biology, researchers have uncovered new families of sponge proteins in phage genomes that disrupt immune communication in bacteria.
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NewsIn mice, viruses gain virulence in some individuals, depending on genetics and sex
New research demonstrates that some hosts appear to serve as “evolutionary accelerators” that could enable viruses to gain virulence more quickly.
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NewsMicrobes contribute a surprisingly large array of proteins in fermented foods
A study examining the proteins found in fermented foods like yogurt, cheese and bread found that a surprisingly large number, and percentage, of microbial proteins contribute to their overall protein content.
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NewsScientists catch a fungal enzyme open for business
A new study shows that caspofungin, a widely used antifungal drug, works only when its target enzyme is active, pointing the way toward designing better treatments.
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NewsResearchers disable antimicrobial resistance in cystic fibrosis-associated bacteria
A newly discovered mechanism renders antibiotic-resistant bacteria vulnerable by disabling both their individual resistance and a process known as cross-protection, the ability of resistant bacteria to shield nearby, otherwise sensitive strains.
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NewsNew research reveals cell proteins that drive severe viral infections
Researchers have identified two human cell proteins, NUP98 and NUP153, that play a crucial role in how viruses such as tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), West Nile virus, and dengue virus replicate in the body.
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NewsBlood test using artificial intelligence paves the way for early diagnosis of leprosy
A new blood test combined with a standardized questionnaire and artificial intelligence may transform the way leprosy is diagnosed in Brazil. The method showed potential for identifying the disease in its initial stages, when symptoms are subtle and traditional laboratory tests often fail.
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NewsNipah virus hijacks host protein NSUN2 to fuel replication
Researchers have decoded a critical survival strategy of the deadly Nipah virus (NiV), identifying a key host protein hijacked by the pathogen and translating this discovery into a promising new treatment approach.
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NewsSoil bacteria break down toxic chemicals in the environment
Soil bacteria can help to break toxic aromatic compounds down. For one of these, Rhodococcus opacus 1CP, researchers have analyzed the genome and identified many potential metabolic pathways that the bacterium can employ to act as a ‘clean-up specialist’.
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NewsScientists solve 40-year-old biological mystery behind sleeping sickness
Scientists have cracked a 40-year-old biological cold case by revealing how the parasite that causes sleeping sickness stays one step ahead of the human immune system.
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NewsResearchers move closer to preventing pandemics
Researchers have developed an AI tool that can help determine whether unfamiliar bacteria carry genetic features linked to disease. By enabling the detection of harmful bacteria before they infect humans, this could transform pandemic preparedness.
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NewsFluorescent imaging reveals how a global parasite develops, opening new paths for drug treatment
Researchers adapted a fluorescent imaging system typically used to study human cells, enabling real-time observation the parasite’s growth, a promising breakthrough against an organism that that infects both humans and animals.
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NewsFantastic fungi found with ability to freeze water
An international group of researchers has discovered the identity of fungal proteins that can catalyze ice formation at high subzero temperatures. One potential application of this discovery could be to engineer weather.