All Proteomics & Enzymology articles
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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.
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NewsScientists ID previously unknown enzymes that can produce potentially antimicrobial agents
Micro-organisms generate potential agents for combating bacteria and fungi. Researchers have identified and optimized enzymes that can specifically generate a certain functional group of these natural substances, expanding the toolkit of potential agents.
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NewsPredictive AI model can help build vaccines for future versions of a virus
Researchers have created an AI tool called EVE-Vax that can predict and design viral proteins likely to emerge in the future. For SARS-CoV-2, panels of these “designer” proteins triggered similar immune responses as real-life viral proteins that emerged during the pandemic.
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NewsStudy identifies how malaria can lead to childhood cancer
New data has uncovered the role of Plasmodium falciparum infection (malaria) in the development of Burkitt lymphoma (BL), the most common childhood cancer in equatorial Africa and New Guinea.
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NewsNew tool for cutting DNA offers promising prospects for biotechnology
Researchers have developed a new genetic tool based on a family of specific enzymes called Ssn that allows targeted cuts to be induced exclusively in single-stranded DNA. They focused on one of these enzymes in the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis.
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NewsPlastic-degrading enzymes from landfills
Researchers identified and analysed the structure and predicted functions of potential plastic-degrading enzymes in collected landfills sample from around the world, in an effort to reduce plastic pollution.
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NewsWithout oxygen: How primordial microbes breathed
Scientists decode the fundamental mechanisms of a cell respiratory enzyme in ancient bacterial cells, with potential applications in removing greenhouse gases and drug development against pathogens.
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NewsIntranasal herpes infection may produce neurobehavioral symptoms, study finds
A new study finds that herpes infection through the nose can lead to anxiety, motor impairment and cognitive issues. The research is the first to show that, by exploiting a cellular enzyme, the virus can produce behavioral symptoms.