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
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
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