Biochemistry

Sebastian Haas holds a piece of the salt crust from Last Chance Lake with green algae in the middle and black sediment at the bottom. Credit: David Catling/University of WashingtonCharles Darwin suggested the possibility of life originating in a “warm little pond” with a suitable mix of chemicals and energy. New research conducted by the University of Washington and published in Communications Earth & Environment highlights a shallow “soda lake” in western Canada as a potential match for these conditions. The findings…

A novel method for producing the key vaccine ingredient QS-21 in tobacco plants has been developed, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional extraction from the soapbark tree and enhancing vaccine manufacturing. Credit: SciTechDaily.comSoap bark discovery offers a sustainability booster for the global vaccine market, opening unprecedented opportunities for bioengineering vaccine adjuvants.A valuable molecule sourced from the soapbark tree and used as a key ingredient in vaccines, has been replicated in an…

The picture shows an RNA polymerase ribozyme thought to be implicated in the origin of life. The ribozyme is shown frozen in ice to symbolize how it was frozen in time for imaging and how it works best under ice-cold conditions. The active site is highlighted by a yellow/red light and the proposed position of the template-product helix is shown in transparent. Credit: Rune KidmoseRNA is thought to have sparked the origin of life by self-copying. Researchers from Aarhus University, Denmark, and MRC LMB Cambridge, England,…

Researchers at Newcastle University have made significant progress in understanding life’s origins on Earth by simulating ancient hydrothermal vent conditions. This led to the creation of key organic molecules, potentially forming the earliest cell membranes. Their findings, crucial for comprehending life’s early development, also hint at the possibility of life’s genesis under icy moons’ surfaces in our solar system.Newcastle University scientists, supported by the UK’s Natural Environmental Research Council, have been…

New findings indicate that isotopic effects in biochemical reactions are far greater than previously believed, leading to a need for recalibration in molecular dynamics simulations. Credit: SciTechDaily.comIn a recently published study, researchers at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics (MBB) at Karolinska Institutet have questioned the old paradigm surrounding isotopes of light elements—carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen. These isotopes have now emerged as more powerful than once…

The Rocky Mountains conjure up images of grey rugged peaks capped with white. But within the upper reaches of the harsh mountain landscapes, a rosier hue often blooms.Watermelon snow, also known as glacial blood, is caused by algae that turns the snow a startling shade of red.The algae blooms in summer, forming on the snowfields that linger on glaciers, frozen lakes, rugged peaks and icy valleys in the upper reaches of mountain terrain.The darker the snow, the faster it melts — and new research sheds light on the threat…

New research explores how amyloids, capable of forming under early Earth conditions and binding with RNA and DNA, may have played a key role in life’s emergence by increasing molecular stability and encouraging cooperation over competition.The question of how living organisms emerged from non-living matter remains one of the most profound mysteries in science. Despite numerous theories, a conclusive explanation remains elusive. This is hardly unexpected, considering these events occurred three to four billion years ago,…

In a groundbreaking study, scientists from BTI and Cornell University discovered acylspermidines, a new group of metabolites linked to sirtuins and aging. This finding, which has implications for human health and longevity, marks a significant advancement in the field of biochemistry. Credit: SciTechDaily.comScientists at BTI and Cornell University have uncovered acylspermidines, metabolites that could redefine our understanding of aging and disease treatment.In a significant advancement in the field of biochemistry,…

Glycobiology, evolving beyond its roots in carbohydrate chemistry, is now a key field in understanding life’s molecular mechanisms. Glycans, essential in various biological functions, are the focus of groundbreaking research and technological innovations, revealing their critical roles in health and disease. Credit: SciTechDaily.comResearchers are working to advance the field of glycoscience, illuminating the essential role of carbohydrates for human health and disease.In the narrowest sense, glycobiology is the study of…

Credit: SciTechDaily.comResearchers at the University of Bonn examine the inner workings of machine learning applications in drug research.Artificial intelligence (AI) has been advancing rapidly, but its inner workings often remain obscure, characterized by a “black box” nature where the process of reaching conclusions is not visible. However, a significant breakthrough has been made by Prof. Dr. Jürgen Bajorath and his team, cheminformatics experts at the University of Bonn. They have devised a technique that uncovers…