Building off previous groundbreaking research, a new study identifies genetic variants that have significant impacts on brain development and are shared across eight different psychiatric disorders.
Tag: Protein
Embargoed Autism Study in Journal Nature: Virtual Press Briefing
Researchers from IRB Barcelona will be available for a virtual press briefing on Tuesday, December 3
Self-assembling proteins can be used for higher performance, more sustainable skincare products
NYU Tandon researchers have created a novel protein-based gel as a potential ingredient in sustainable and high-performance personal skincare products. This innovation could also streamline the creation of more eco-friendly skincare products, offering increased efficacy and durability while addressing market demands for ethically sourced ingredients.
UTokyo and NARO develop new vertical seed distribution trait for soybean breeding
We have probably all seen a soybean plant, about 1 meter high with leaves and pods compactly arranged on a main stem with a few short side branches. The wild relative of the domesticated soybean is a long vine with pods widely distributed on many side branches. Plant breeding by farmers thousands of years ago is to thank for this dramatic change.
Researchers Find Ground Beef Packs Bigger Muscle-Building Punch than Soy-Based Alternative
New research from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) reveals that 100% ground beef packs a bigger punch for muscle protein synthesis than a soy-based counterpart. In fact, the study suggests that a person would need double the amount of soy-based protein to achieve the same results.
Published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the study examined the anabolic response — how the body builds muscle — after consuming a 4-ounce beef patty versus one or two 4-ounce patties of a soy-based product. The results? Just one serving of beef did the job, while two servings of the soy-based alternative were necessary to see the same muscle-building benefits.
National Poll: Many teens use protein supplements for muscle growth, sports performance
Protein bars, shakes and powders are increasingly popular among adults – but many teens may be jumping on the bandwagon too.
Americans are Meeting Minimum Needs for Essential Amino Acids
Essential amino acid intakes in the US population exceed recommended minimum requirements, but higher intakes were not correlated with muscle benefits in older adults.
Mouse study explores 3D structure of DNA in nerve cells
New mouse model research led by scientists at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, College of Medicine and Imperial College London explored how nerve cells repair themselves, which could lead to new treatments for nerve injuries.
Desugared sugarcane extract shows promising antioxidant and antidiabetic properties for nutraceutical applications
A research team reveals the nutraceutical potential of desugared sugarcane extract (DSE), a byproduct of sugar refining, as a rich source of bioactive compounds.
Egg-White Rice – an Innovative Alternative Food Rich in Nutrients that Appeals to the Health Conscious
Chula Faculty of Allied Health Sciences has launched a ready-to-eat flourless rice innovation made from egg whites, branded as “eggyday”. This product is low in calories, filled with good-quality protein, high in calcium, complete with dietary fibers, and free of gluten.
New AI Tool Captures How Proteins Behave in Context
In a marked advance over current AI models, the new approach captures how proteins act not in isolation but in their cellular and tissue environments.
Improvement and application of genetic resources of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)
Grass carp is one of the most productive freshwater fish and plays an important role in ensuring protein supply. This paper reviews the main research achievements of grass carp, such as morphology, cytogenetics, molecular population genetics and so on.
St. Jude identifies SARS-CoV-2 “mimic” contributing to pediatric inflammatory syndrome
Discover St. Jude research from Paul Thomas, PhD, linking SARS-CoV-2 infections and molecular mimicry with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children.
Controlling thickness in fruit fly hearts reveals new pathway for heart disease
Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys and Salk Institute for Biological Studies have uncovered a new role for a protein known for its role in the brain helping control feelings of hunger or satiety, as well as in the liver to aid the body in maintaining a balance of energy during fasting. The new study shows that this protein also supports the maintenance of heart structure and function, but when it is overactive it causes thickening of the heart muscle, which is associated with heart disease.
Formation of the spinal cord in the embryo: the role of a family of proteins elucidated
The discovery of the role of β-arrestins in the formation of the spinal cord at the embryonic stage opens up perspectives for exploring the mechanisms that would allow its lesions to be repaired.
Innovative Use of Hyperspectral Data and DCGANs Enhances Rice Protein Content Estimation
A research team used hyperspectral data and deep convolution generative adversarial networks (DCGANs) to improve the accuracy of rice grain protein content (GPC) estimation. By generating simulated data, they enhanced the model’s performance, achieving an R² of 0.58 and RRMSE of 6.70%.
Taking Protein Quality into Consideration When Formulating Innovative Protein Foods
New protein digestibility methods could encourage more frequent labeling of protein adjusted for quality and reduce the use of test animals.
Master autoimmune regulator gets by with a little help from its friends
See how St. Jude researchers investigated Foxp3 function as a transcription cofactor in regulatory T cells in immune system activation and suppression.
Combined therapy makes headway for liver cancer
A drug that targets a protein known as phosphatidylserine boosted the response rate for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients receiving immunotherapy without compromising their safety, according to results of a phase two clinical trial conducted by UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Mesothelioma Protein Identified With Cancer Inhibiting Effect
Malignant mesothelioma is a very aggressive cancer with a very poor survival and limited treatment options. Thus, a deeper knowledge of the mechanisms modulating mesothelioma initiation and progression is critical for novel therapeutic strategies.
Hahn Awarded CZI Grant to Monitor, Manipulate Proteins Important in Nervous System Function, Neurological Disease
Klaus Hahn, PhD, the Ronald G. Thurman Distinguished Professor of Pharmacology at the UNC School of Medicine, will co-lead this Chan Zuckerberg Initiative project with colleagues at Duke University and North Carolina State University.
Biochemists discover what affects the development of autoimmune diseases
The biochemist of RUDN University and Institute of Biomedical Chemistry was the first to study how variants of the protein that controls T-lymphocytes affect the development of autoimmune diseases using the example of multiple sclerosis. This will help find new approaches to the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
The immune system’s moonlighters
Our immune system is remarkably powerful. It quickly assembles teams of cells to eliminate threats inside our bodies.
The immune system’s moonlighters
Our immune system is remarkably powerful. It quickly assembles teams of cells to eliminate threats inside our bodies.
Eating too much protein is bad for your arteries, and this amino acid is to blame
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers discovered a molecular mechanism by which excessive dietary protein could increase atherosclerosis risk.
Pancreatic cancer hijacks a brain-building protein
Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) and the University of California, Davis have reached a new breakthrough in pancreatic cancer research—eight years in the making.
By growing animal cells in rice grains, scientists dish up hybrid food
From lab-grown chicken to cricket-derived protein, these innovative alternatives offer hope for a planet struggling with the environmental and ethical impacts of industrial agriculture.
A change in rigidity switches the function of protein condensates involved in sensing touch
A team of researchers describes in Nature Cell Biology the mechanism by which the MEC-2 protein condensates of the touch receptor neurons transition from fluid to solid-like states, switching their role in the transmission of mechanical forces. These findings pave the way for developing innovative therapies and treatments.
Doubling Down on Known Protein Families
Through a novel approach detailed in Nature, a massive computational analysis of microbiome datasets more than doubled the number of known protein families. This is the first time protein structures have been used to help characterize the vast array of microbial “dark matter.”
Protein key to placental heath could be target for reproductive conditions
Immune cells play a key role during pregnancy, adjusting immune system response in a way that enables the fetus to develop while also protecting the parent and fetus from outside assaults like viruses.
Researchers Report Protein Mutation Creates ‘Super’ T Cells with Potential to Fight Off Cancer and Infections
Using laboratory-grown cells from humans and genetically engineered mice, scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine say they have evidence that modifying a specific protein in immune white blood cells known as CD8+ T cells can make the cells more robust, potentially opening the door for better use of people’s own immune system T cells to fight cancer.
Protein p53 regulates learning, memory, sociability in mice
Researchers at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology have established the protein p53 as critical for regulating sociability, repetitive behavior, and hippocampus-related learning and memory in mice, illuminating the relationship between the protein-coding gene TP53 and neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.
Yogurt may be the next go-to garlic breath remedy
A new study conducted in a lab – with follow-up human breath tests being planned – showed that whole milk plain yogurt prevented almost all of the volatile compounds responsible for garlic’s pungent scent from escaping into the air.
Nutritional Content of Most Milk Alternatives Doesn’t Measure Up to Cow’s Milk
More people are drinking milk alternatives made from plant sources such as oats, soy, or almonds, but do plant-based products deliver the same nutrition as cow’s milk? Results from a new study suggest that most don’t.
2023 Warren Alpert Foundation Prize Honors Pioneer in Computational Biology
The 2023 Warren Alpert Foundation Prize has been awarded to scientist David J. Lipman for his visionary work in the conception, design, and implementation of computational tools, databases, and infrastructure that transformed the way biological information is analyzed and accessed freely and rapidly around the world.
New research finds mechanism that regulates PTSD in the female brain
From humans to plants to single-cell organisms, there’s a protein that rules them all. This protein does general housekeeping of the cells, regulating them through normal daily functions. Virginia Tech researchers found that one specific form of this ubiquitous protein has a different function in the female brains – it helps regulate events in the memory that cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Researchers identify a potential new therapeutic target in Parkinson’s disease
In a study published in Nature Communications, a team led by Krembil Brain Institute at UHN Senior Scientists, Drs. Lorraine Kalia and Suneil Kalia, and University of Toronto (U of T) Professor, Dr. Philip M. Kim, identified a protein-protein interaction that contributes to Parkinson’s disease. In the disease, a protein called α-synuclein (a-syn) accumulates in the brain and leads to cell death.
Stickiness may determine how influenza spreads
Influenza viruses have an enormous impact in the U.S., with an estimated 25 million illnesses and 18,000 deaths in the 2022-23 flu season alone. However, the majority of virus particles are not infectious or are only partially infectious. How, then, do they become such a contagious and deadly virus?
Researchers ID Protein as Mitochondrial Homeostasis Regulator
Article title: A20 binding and inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)-1 (ABIN-1)—a novel modulator of mitochondrial autophagy Authors: Rosetta Merline, Heiko Rödig, Jinyang Zeng-Brouwers, Chiara Poluzzi, Georg Tascher, Jonas Michaelis, Jaime Lopez-Mosqueda, Andrew Rhiner, Lisa Sophie Huber, Valentina Diehl,…
Pioneering approach advances study of CTCF protein in transcription biology
Scientists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital used the auxin-inducible degron 2 system on CTCF, bringing the novel approach to bear on a fundamental protein.
Chula Medicine Reveals Innovative Detection of Latent Dementia A 10-Year Awareness May delay Alzheimer’s Onset in Elderly
Thai Red Cross Emerging Infectious Diseases Health Science Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University has researched a blood test for markers of Alzheimer’s that can give a 10-year warning, so people can be prepared to slow down the development of dementia in old age.
UCSF Researchers Uncover New Pathway for Molecular Cancer Drug Therapies
In a study published December 8, 2022 in Science, UCSF researchers Kevin Lou, an MD-PhD student, Luke Gilbert, PhD, and Kevan Shokat, PhD, reveal the discovery of a cellular uptake pathway important for larger molecules. These large and complex molecules bind in unconventional ways to their targets, are efficiently taken up by target cells, and can be harnessed to create new drugs for the treatment of cancer and other diseases.
Researchers ID a Protein that Could Help Stop Cancerous Tumor Development
Article title: Decorin evokes reversible mitochondrial depolarization in carcinoma and vascular endothelial cells Authors: Thomas Neill, Christopher Xie, Renato V. Iozzo From the authors: “In conclusion, we have delineated a molecular axis focused on delivering prodepolarization signals to the mitochondrial…
How environmental changes affect the shapes of RNA in living cells
The impact of environmental conditions on the dynamic structures of RNAs in living cells has been revealed by innovative technology developed by researchers at the John Innes Centre.
Researchers identify protein connected to aging and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Findings provide the foundation for future therapeutic strategies by promoting repair of the pulmonary vascular system.
Study Finds Higher Protein Intake Improves Diet Quality When Trying to Lose Weight
New study concludes that boosting protein intake while dieting improves the quality of what we eat and may slow loss of lean body mass.
UTSW scientists identify protein key to inhibiting flu virus
A collaborative study from UT Southwestern scientists has identified a new function for a protein called TAO2 that appears to be key to inhibiting replication of the influenza virus, which sickens millions of individuals worldwide each year and kills hundreds of thousands. The findings were published in PNAS.
Rutgers Researchers Publish Paper Examining the Structure of Proteins Linked to Diseases
Rutgers researcher, Grace Brannigan, has co-authored a study published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) that centers around the connection between gene mutations in protein sequences and diseases.
Blood Protein Levels and Birth Control Pills May Increase Blood Clot Risk in Female Astronauts
Article title: Albumin, oral contraceptives and venous thromboembolism risk in astronauts Authors: Sara R. Zwart, Serena M. Auñón-Chancellor, Martina Heer, M. Mark Melin, Scott M. Smith From the authors: “We report here evidence of an association between oral contraceptive use…
Higher wheat yields and protein content on the horizon
A team of international researchers has discovered a way to produce higher quality wheat. The scientists from the University of Adelaide and the UK’s John Innes Centre have identified a genetic driver that improves yield traits in wheat, which unexpectedly can also lead to increasing protein content by up to 25 per cent.