Posts Tagged ‘biochemistry’
Science & Technology - Dec 28, 2009 11:49 - 0 Comments
Following the rules of cell division
INDIANA (US)—No matter how complex things get, it comes down to this: Cells are either directed to divide, or they are not. (more…)
Science & Technology - Dec 24, 2009 13:53 - 0 Comments
Unraveling the code to DNA’s ribbons
EMORY (US)—Researchers have determined the structures of two enzymes that customize histones, the spool-like proteins around which DNA coils inside the cell. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Dec 23, 2009 13:29 - 2 Comments
Soy peptide fights inflammation, leukemia
U. ILLINOIS (US)—Lunasin, a soy peptide often discarded in the waste streams of soy-processing plants, may have important health benefits that include fighting leukemia and blocking the inflammation that accompanies such chronic health conditions as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. (more…)
Earth & Environment, Science & Technology - Dec 23, 2009 11:59 - 2 Comments
Bacteria crank microgears to power machines
U. CHICAGO (US)—Scientists have discovered that common bacteria can turn microgears when suspended in a solution, providing insights for designs of bio-inspired dynamically adaptive materials for energy. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Dec 10, 2009 18:15 - 1 Comment
Surprising weakness found in H1N1
RICE (US)—The H1N1 influenza virus has been keeping a secret that may be the key to defeating it and other flu viruses as well. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Dec 10, 2009 12:08 - 0 Comments
Think you know that cell? Think again
BROWN (US)—Cells are not static. They can transform themselves over time—but change can have dangerous implications. Benign cells, for example, can suddenly change into cancerous ones. (more…)
Science & Technology - Dec 9, 2009 14:54 - 0 Comments
Why King Kong failed to impress
DUKE (US)—Humans have the same receptors for detecting odors related to sex as do other apes and primates. But each species uses them in different ways, stemming from the way the genes for these receptors have evolved over time. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Dec 9, 2009 12:33 - 0 Comments
Speedier way to diagnose pneumonia
UC DAVIS (US)—Doctors may soon be able to diagnose the cause of pneumonia-like symptoms by examining the chemicals found in a patient’s urine. (more…)
Science & Technology - Dec 7, 2009 14:11 - 0 Comments
Fly-off-the-handle pheromone—in flies
CALTECH (US)—Researchers have identified a pheromone in the vinegar fly that makes males behave aggressively, and they’ve pinpointed the neurons in the fly’s antenna that detect this pheromone and relay the information to the brain to elicit aggression. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Dec 7, 2009 10:55 - 1 Comment
AIDS forerunner hijacked animal gene
U. ROCHESTER (US)—An ancestor of the AIDS virus hijacked an entire gene—perhaps from some prehistoric cat it had infected. Researchers say the gene makes it easier for the virus to infect humans. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Nov 23, 2009 19:17 - 0 Comments
‘Sweet’ polymer is asthma’s kiss of death
JOHNS HOPKINS (US)—A sugar-coated polymer has been developed that selectively kills cells known to trigger aggressive allergy and asthma attacks. Scientists believe the advance could represent a significant step toward novel drug treatments. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Nov 23, 2009 13:47 - 15 Comments
Folic acid: Too much of a good thing?
UC DAVIS (US)—Taking folic acid, unless specifically advised by a physician, should be avoided because at elevated levels it may aggravate metabolic complications associated with vitamin B-12 deficiency, leading to anemia and neurological damage, a new study finds. (more…)
Science & Technology - Nov 19, 2009 19:08 - 2 Comments
Tool decodes biology’s key players
PRINCETON (US)—A team has engineered a faster, more accurate method for analyzing histones, enigmatic proteins that influence almost every aspect of how cells and tissues function. The approach offers a long-sought tool for studying stem cells, cancer, and other critical areas of biology and medicine. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Nov 12, 2009 17:38 - 4 Comments
Reading chemical memories of past drug use
VANDERBILT (US)—A research team is trying to determine if an individual’s white blood cells retain chemical memories of exposure to drugs—like cocaine and alcohol—that can be read reliably and unambiguously. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Nov 10, 2009 15:46 - 0 Comments
Molecules built to break up Alzheimer’s clumps
U. MICHIGAN (US)—Scientists have developed “bi-functional” small molecules that not only grab metal ions but also interact with peptides that clump to form plaques in the brain. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Nov 9, 2009 17:27 - 0 Comments
Molecules kick start body’s response to HIV
YALE (US)—Researchers have developed synthetic molecules capable of enhancing the body’s immune response to HIV and HIV-infected cells, as well as to prostate cancer cells. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Nov 6, 2009 12:37 - 3 Comments
Humans host melting pot of ‘personal’ bacteria
U. COLORADO (US)—People carry “personalized” communities of bacteria around that vary widely from our foreheads and feet to our noses and navels, says chemistry professor Rob Knight. He’s part of a research team that has developed the first atlas of bacterial diversity across the human body. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Oct 8, 2009 12:16 - 1 Comment
Younger muscles through biochemistry
UC BERKELEY (US)—Researchers have identified critical biochemical pathways linked to the aging of human muscle. By manipulating these pathways, the researchers were able to turn back the clock on old human muscle, restoring its ability to repair and rebuild itself. (more…)
