molecular

A groundbreaking study by UC San Diego researchers has uncovered thousands of new bile acids, shedding light on their critical roles beyond digestion and highlighting their potential in treating various diseases. This discovery marks a significant step forward in our understanding of the gut microbiome’s communication with the body and human metabolism.Scientists at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, part of the University of California San Diego, have discovered thousands of new bile acids. These…

Researchers at Hokkaido University have created molecules capable of rotating internally when exposed to light, potentially revolutionizing molecular switches, computing, and drug development. Inspired by natural processes, this breakthrough offers new avenues for precise molecular manipulation and applications in targeted therapies and bioactive systems.Molecules that are induced by light to rotate bulky groups around central bonds when exposed to light could lead to the creation of light-activated bioactive systems,…

Scraping ice off your car window might get a lot easier in the future thanks to a new spray coating developed by scientists in Austria. That's because of the way the molecules line up – or don't – during its high-tech creation process.While anti-ice coatings aren't new, there have always been problems with them, says a research team at Austria's Graz University of Technology (TU Graz). Primarily, they can often detach from the surfaces they are meant to keep free from freezing.So researchers there set out to improve upon…

A research team from Kyoto University has significantly advanced infrared spectroscopy technology by integrating a quantum light source, overcoming previous limitations of FTIRs regarding sensitivity and size. This breakthrough enables the creation of compact, efficient scanners that can accurately identify a wide array of materials, setting a new standard for portable, high-performance devices in various fields, including environmental monitoring, medicine, and security. Credit: KyotoU/Shigeki TakeuchiKyoto University…

New research found that imbalances in RNA communication, both within and from outside the organism, can shorten the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans, offering new insights into the aging process and genetic regulation.Research on the roundworm species C. elegans has demonstrated that disruptions in the transfer of RNA between cells across various tissues can lead to a shortened lifespan.Cells in various tissues interact by sharing RNA molecules. A study conducted by scientists from the State University of Campinas…

A team of researchers in Spain has achieved a breakthrough by capturing the world's first detailed images of a human cell's 'highway network' beginning to emerge.The high-resolution images and atomic-scale film help explain a longstanding puzzle of how small structures called microtubules form during cell division. The discovery could progress the development of targeted treatments for cancer, and many other conditions."Microtubules are critical components of cells, but all the images we see in textbooks describing the…

By St. Jude Children's Research Hospital February 17, 2024By looking at each individual component of the β2 adrenergic receptor and seeing how they contribute to the overall function of the protein, researchers from St. Jude along with international collaborators are able to view the network that allows ligand binding to be translated across the membrane to within the cell. Artwork by Zhaowen Luo. Credit: St. Jude Children’s Research HospitalScientists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, collaborating…

As It Happens6:05Spider webs catch more than prey. They're also jam-packed with animal DNAJosh Newton probably isn't very popular with spiders. After all, the Australian scientist has a tendency to go around undoing their hard work. "I liken it to when Princess Fiona in Shrek makes some cotton candy for Shrek from spider webs, where she collects a stick and just wraps around the spider web for him. But I do it with a clean, sterile stick," Newton, a PhD candidate in life sciences at Curtin University, told As It Happens…

Rice University scientists have discovered a revolutionary method to destroy cancer cells using molecular vibrations. By stimulating small dye molecules with near-infrared light, they cause cancer cell membranes to rupture with a 99 percent success rate in lab cultures. This technique, termed “molecular jackhammers”, offers a new, faster approach to cancer treatment, differing significantly from existing methods. The research, involving collaborations across multiple institutions, marks a significant advancement in the…

Scientists have demonstrated an intriguing new technique to treat cancer – “molecular jackhammers” that latch onto cancer cells, then vibrate vigorously to kill them when activated by infrared light.Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are currently our most effective treatments for cancer, but they have a shotgun effect, damaging healthy cells all through the body. Worse still, some cancers can develop resistance to these attacks, leaving few other options.But physical attacks are much harder, if not impossible, for cells…