UC San Diego researchers rewrite the textbook on gene regulation

A fundamental principle of molecular biology governs how proteins are made within the cell, which happens in two stages called transcription and translation. During transcription, information stored in DNA is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA). Then during translation, the ribosomes assemble proteins of one amino acid at a time based on the instruction specified on … Read more

SARS-CoV-2 and human cold coronavirus OC43 inhibit stress granule formation through Nsp15 protein

In a recent study published in the journal PLOS pathogensresearchers investigated the mechanisms through which the human common cold Betacoronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) inhibit the formation of stress granules. Study: Nsp1 proteins of human coronaviruses HCoV-OC43 and SARS-CoV2 inhibit stress granule formation. Image Credit: MIA Studio/Shutterstock Background Stress … Read more

Research reveals a novel viral strategy in modulating stress granule formation to promote virus infection

In a recent study published in PLOS pathogensresearchers illustrated a novel strategy likely employed by viruses to promote infection. Study: Targeting Nup358/RanBP2 by a viral protein disrupting stress granule formation. Image credit: Rost9/Shutterstock Background Viruses likely inhibit a host cell stress response by blocking the accumulation of stress granules (SGs). SGs are ‘sinks’ or ribonucleic … Read more

AI helps design synthetic DNA that controls cells’ protein production

With the help of an AI, researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have succeeded in designing synthetic DNA that controls the cells’ protein production. The technology can contribute to the development and production of vaccines, drugs for severe diseases, as well as alternative food proteins much faster and at significantly lower costs than today. … Read more

Protein levels in lung tumors may predict prognosis, improve treatment and diagnostics

Nov 15 2022 Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths globally and a top cause of cancer deaths in the Military Health System. However, the ability to determine which of these patients have aggressive tumors and which will respond better to certain treatments could soon be available through the collective analysis of proteins … Read more

COVID-19 amplifies damage to the central nervous system in Alzheimer’s disease

In a recent study published in the journal Annals of Diagnostic Pathologyresearchers Alzheimer in the United States evaluated the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on central nervous system (CNS) damage in’s disease (AD). Studies have reported that the human brain is highly susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-associated pathological changes. In … Read more

emerging technologies are capable of unlocking the promise of biologically targeted mRNA therapeutics

In a recent article published in Nature Biotechnologyresearchers reviewed technology advancements that will unlock the promise of biologically targeted messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) therapeutics beyond vaccines. Study: Unlocking the promise of mRNA therapeutics. Image Credit: nobeastsofierce/Shutterstock Background The first part of the review focused on the design and purification of the mRNA cargos, including novel … Read more

New control system could be used to finely tune the production of useful proteins

Using an approach based on CRISPR proteins, MIT researchers have developed a new way to precisely control the amount of a particular protein that is produced in mammalian cells. This technique could be used to finely tune the production of useful proteins, such as the monoclonal antibodies used to treat cancer and other diseases, or … Read more

Motif-based SARS-CoV-2 protein-human protein interactions as potential antiviral target sites

In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers performed a ProP-PD (proteomic peptide phage display) analysis to identify peptides from intrinsically disordered human (host) proteome regions that bind with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome-encoded folded protein domains (PDs). Study: Identification of motif-based interactions between SARS-CoV-2 protein domains and human … Read more