Under normal, healthy circulatory conditions, the von Willebrand Factor (vWF) keeps to itself. The large and mysterious multimeric glycoprotein moves […]
Broken mitochondria use ‘eat me’ proteins to summon their executioners
When mitochondria become damaged, they avoid causing further problems by signaling cellular proteins to degrade them. In a paper publishing […]
How herpesviruses shape the immune system
Cytomegalovirus is widespread and remains in the body for a lifetime after infection. In healthy individuals, this virus is usually […]
Protein dynamics: Molecular machines at work
Researchers from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich have used a special fluorescence-based imaging technique to track the shape changes that occur […]
Damaged liver cells undergo reprogramming to regenerate
In Greek mythology, Zeus punishes the trickster Prometheus by chaining him to a rock and sending an eagle to eat […]
How olive oil and sleep could stave off heart attacks and strokes: New study examines plasma protein’s role: Apolipoprotein A-IV linked with thrombosis in new study
Foods high in unsaturated fats may protect against cardiovascular disease, and new research published today in Nature Communications has uncovered […]
Biophysics: Self-centered
Essential biological processes, such as cell division, must be tightly regulated. For example, correct localization of the plane of cell […]
How do muscles know what time it is?
How do muscle cells prepare for the particular metabolic challenges of the day? Scientists at Helmholtz Zentrum München and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität […]
During HIV infection, antibody can block B cells from fighting pathogens: NIH scientists suspect process aims to curb immune-system hyperactivity
For the first time, scientists have shown that in certain people living with HIV, a type of antibody called immunoglobulin […]
Engineered genetic machinery derived from E. coli delivers new amino acids to proteins: By turning to a deadly bacteria, researchers devise method to incorporate non-canonical amino acids into proteins in human cells
Proteins — the molecular machines that drive the processes underlying biology — are made from just 20 canonical building blocks […]