Tag Archives: protein
Yarrowia lipolytica: how a yeast becomes a workhorse for biotechnology
Yarrowia lipolytica is a yeast species belonging to the Ascomycota fungi phylum (like the well-known baker’s and brewer’s yeasts, both from Saccharomyces cerevisiae species). This innocuous yeast can be found in a large range of ecosystems (soils,
Targeted ion therapy using nanoparticles – a new direction
A living body is made of the smallest building block, called ‘cell’. It gives us a shape, helps us to perform physiological and biological activities, and so on. A eukaryotic cell contains a nucleus, buried in the
Antibodies at your pipette tips
Antibodies are essential in our immune system to fight against all sorts of diseases that we could encounter every day. The technological developments over the decade has allowed scientist to isolate target or disease-specific antibodies in the
Advancing medicine and agriculture using proteins that control energy and sugar production
Except for bacteria , most living organisms contain specialized cellular compartments termed mitochondria , that are responsible for breaking down sugars to produce energy for the cell. Plant cells possess a second compartment called chloroplasts , which
Dissecting how cells communicate to prevent cancer relapse
Protein kinases are a class of enzymes that are responsible for the transfer of phosphates onto other proteins. These phosphate groups, although small, can change the behaviour of the protein itself, or the behaviour of those it
Biodiesel synthesis in response to individual short chain fatty acids during mixotrophic mode of microalgal cultivation
Growing concern over fuel crisis and global climate change has led to substantial investment and research into alternative fuel sources. In this prospect, photosynthetic organisms have huge potential for biofuels production in a carbon neutral way with
Small or big, brain cells don’t like protein gunk that lead to diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s
An interdisiciplinary study by scientists at Trinity College Dublin (TCD, Ireland) have answered a hotly debated question in the neurodegenerative diseases research area: “Which protein aggregate form is the primary pathogenic agent in neurodegenerative diseases – (i) the prefibrillar oligomeric
Punching above their weight: how the smallest RNAs offer great promise for cancer biology
In recent decades, scientists have witnessed transformative developments in the field of RNA biology. RNA molecules are similar in composition to their more famous DNA counterparts (they are both nucleic acids), but are present in a variety
Computational refinement and validation protocol for proteins
HIV protects itself using a membrane layer of lipids which covers all proteins which could potentially be targeted by drugs. The only exposed proteins, gp120 and gp41 form spikes that protrude out of the lipid membrane. These
How to know transcription factors by the company they keep
The ENCODE project is a massive data-collection effort set out to understand the function of the human genome. The collection comprises many types of genomic data, including the localization of transcription factors onto DNA. Transcription factors are
Allergy: the latest technology in vitro in the service of an appropriate diagnosis
The countless and various allergen sources from both the plant kingdom is to the animal kingdom constantly stimulate our immune system.So the allergy diagnostics laboratory is evolving using new technologies such as molecular biology, nanotechnology to highlight
A resource for studying the role of RNA-binding proteins in human disease
Advances in science and technology have not only made accessing and analyzing the personal genomic information a reality but also rapid and cost effective. Every living organism is made of cells and every cell is made of
From cell to society: a nutritional intervention to offset the age-related loss in lean tissue mass
Society is aware of obesity. Defined by the WHO, obesity is an abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. A 40y person with normal BMI will progress to obesity at 70y through an annual gain
Potential for therapeutic intervention in lung diseases
The major function of the lung is to enable ambient oxygen uptake (essential for life) and eliminate carbon dioxide (a waste byproduct of metabolism) from the body. Surfactant protein A (SP-A), is a protein found in the
What is necessary to be prion-like domain?
Prions are infectious proteins that can assume various conformations, including amyloid fibrils that can serve as a matrix and “infect” other proteins both within and between the cells and between organisms. However, it was observed that yeast
Improved prediction of accessible surface area
Protein consists of a linear chain of amino acid residues connected by peptide bond. Protein performs an array of functions by its three dimensional (3D) shapes or structures and the shape can be determined from its one
Bioactive properties of milk proteins in humans
The importance of the diet in human health has been recognized for centuries. Milk is the primary source of nutrients for infants. It provides a nutritionally balanced source of both macronutrients (proteins, fats and carbohydrates) and micronutrients
Phospholipases have a second job, regulating their G proteins
Can we make a weak heart healthy? Can we prevent decline in memory and cognitive ability? The answer may depend on a class of enzymes, phospholipase C (PLC), and their under-investigated ability to directly regulate their specific
On their way out: Structural HIV proteins team up before escaping from infected cells
The human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV ) infects and eventually destroys the immune cells of infected patients. This causes the life-threatening medical condition called acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ( AIDS ). A cure for HIV/AIDS does not exist,
