Futurity.org » biochemistry

Older flies with sexy smell turn on males

Mary Masson-Michigan — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:01:47 +0000

U. MICHIGAN (US) — Changes in pheromone production that occur with age can reduce sexual attractiveness, according to a recent study with fruit flies.

Pheromones are chemicals produced by an organism to communicate or attract another. The new study, published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, examined how pheromones play a role in the sexual attractiveness and aging process of the common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, says Scott D. Pletcher, senior author of the study, associate professor in the department of molecular and integrative physiology at the University of Michigan.

Use liquid lasers to find cancer genes

Nicole Casal Moore-Michigan — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:17:31 +0000

U. MICHIGAN (US) — A new technique could offer a better way to detect the slight genetic mutations that might predispose a person to a particular type of cancer or other diseases.

Researchers at the University of Michigan say using liquid lasers works much better than the current approach, which uses fluorescent dye and other biological molecules to find and bind to mutated DNA strands.

Protein’s arm controls iron-sulfur cluster

Jade Boyd-Rice — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:53:41 +0000

RICE (US) —Scientists have learned how a protein that plays a role in diabetes, cancer, and aging uses entwined arm movements to control a potentially toxic payload of iron and sulfur.

“We scrutinize proteins with an unconventional approach,” says José Onuchic, professor of physics and astronomy and co-director of the Center for Theoretical Biological Physics at Rice University.

New test spots staph infections faster

Abby Vogel Robinson-Georgia Tech — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:37:30 +0000

GEORGIA TECH (US) — Researchers have developed a new laboratory test that can rapidly identify the bacterium responsible for staph infections.

This new test, developed by researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), takes advantage of unique isotopic labeling combined with specific bacteriophage amplification to rapidly identify Staphylococcus aureus.

Quickly and accurately detecting infections caused by S. aureus is critical because the pathogenic bacterium causes a broad spectrum of infections, ranging from acute to chronic disease, which need to be treated in a prompt manner with the correct antibiotic.

The test uses mass spectrometry to quantify the number of S. aureus organisms in a large number of samples in just a few hours, compared to a day or two for culturing techniques typically used to detect this bacterium.

Cell’s mechanical changes nudge cancer

Tim Green-U. Texas — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:22:07 +0000

U. TEXAS-AUSTIN (US) — Mechanical property changes in cells may be responsible for the progression of cancer—a discovery that could pave the way for new ways to predict, treat, and prevent the disease.

To present a unique physics-based perspective, researchers devised a 3-D cancer model that shows that softening of cells and changes in cell binding cause cancerous behavior. These mechanical property changes cause cells to divide uncontrollably—making them less likely to die and resulting in malignant tumor growth.

Sugar in cells marks esophageal cancer

James Devitt-NYU — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:52:14 +0000

NYU (US) — Researchers say it may be possible to detect pre-cancerous cells in the esophagus by identifying changes in the patterns of sugar molecules that line the cells.

The discovery, reported in the journal Nature Medicine, could it much easier to detect and remove these cells before they develop into esophageal cancer—the fifth biggest cause of cancer death in the United Kingdom and the eighth leading cause of cancer deaths for men in the United States, with the number of people diagnosed increasing rapidly.

Chemical in cosmetics stalls tadpole brain

David Orenstein-Brown — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:47:15 +0000

BROWN (US) — Even very low concentrations of a chemical commonly used in cosmetics hinders brain development in tadpoles, new research shows.

In the cosmetics industry, the biocide methylisothiazolinone, or MIT, is considered safe at concentrations of less than 100 parts per million. Lab studies, however, have found that lower concentrations affect the growth of animal neurons.

How ‘molecular machines’ evolved

John Easton-Chicago — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:39:46 +0000

U. CHICAGO / U. OREGON (US) — New research explains how a few genetic mutations may account for the evolution of complex “molecular machines.”

Much of what living cells do is carried out by “molecular machines”—physical complexes of specialized proteins working together to carry out some biological function. How the minute steps of evolution produced these constructions has long puzzled scientists, and provided a favorite target for creationists.

‘Shadow state’ boosts solar cells by 40%

Lee Clippard-Texas — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:53:58 +0000

U. TEXAS (US) — Recent experiments show it’s possible to double the number of electrons harvested from one photon of sunlight using an organic plastic semiconductor material.

“Plastic semiconductor solar cell production has great advantages, one of which is low cost,” says Xiaoyang Zhu, a professor of chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin. He and his team report their discovery in the journal Science.

Mouth swab detects zinc deficiency

Robert Wells-Florida — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:23:24 +0000

U. FLORIDA (US) — Newly discovered biomarkers allow for accurate measurement of human zinc by a simple blood test or mouth swab.

Zinc deficiency is a worldwide problem, especially in developing countries where many people have limited access to good sources of the mineral, such as red meat. Signs of zinc deficiency are often skin rashes and infections.