New research shows: key molecules within nerve cells persist throughout life. Most human nerve cells last a lifetime without renewal. A trait echoed within the cells’ components, some enduring as long as the organism itself. New research by Martin Hetzer, molecular biologist and president of the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), and colleagues discovered RNA, a typical transient molecule, in the nerve cells of mice that remain stable for their entire lives. Published in Science, these findings contribute…
LMU biophysicists have demonstrated how heat flows through rock fissures could have created the conditions for the emergence of life. Life is complicated. What is true for our everyday existence also holds for the many complex processes that take place inside cells. Proteins constantly have to be synthesized, cell walls built, and DNA replicated. This can only work when reaction partners converge at the right time in sufficiently high concentrations while suffering little disruption from other substances. Over the course…
How small RNA molecules regulate viral infections of bacteria. Viruses need hosts. Whether it’s measles, the flu or coronavirus, viral pathogens cannot multiply or infect other organisms without the assistance of their hosts’ cellular infrastructure. However, humans are not the only ones affected by viruses: animals, plants and even microorganisms can all serve as hosts. Viruses that use bacteria as host cells are called bacteriophages (or simply “phages” for short) and are thought to be the most abundant biological entities…
A new development in biomedical research could open the door to a variety of new applications: Scientists* at the University of Bayreuth have found that certain polymers, called polyanions, can penetrate cells in a unique way without causing damage. The study, which was published in the journal “ACS Polymers Au”, may help to transport active substances into cells in a more targeted manner. What for? A team of researchers led by Prof. Dr. Meike Leiske, Junior Professor of Macromolecular Chemistry…
New research shows: key molecules within nerve cells persist throughout life. After two decades in the United States, Martin Hetzer returned home to Austria in 2023 to become the 2nd President of the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA). A year into his new role, the molecular biologist remains engaged in the realm of aging research. Hetzer is fascinated by the biological puzzles surrounding the aging processes in organs like the brain, heart, and pancreas. Most cells comprising these…
Building tissues and organs during embryonic development involves a remarkable cellular choreography. Orchestrating cells in this process requires special organizers, but it is unclear how these are set in the embryo. A collaboration between research groups at the Physics of Life Excellence Cluster of TU Dresden in Germany, the University of California, and Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s in Los Angeles, have now identified how these special organizers are located in the tissue to orchestrate the formation of teeth. Navigating the complex…
Conditions affecting the arterial vasculature present pressing challenges in global health. Yet, the complex mechanisms underlying artery formation remain elusive, impeding the development of novel treatments. A team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, led by Mara Pitulescu and Ralf Adams, have uncovered new insights into how arteries form. Building on their earlier discovery how Notch-signaling directs “tip” cells to become arteries, their latest study published in Nature Communications reveals the crucial role of EphB4 and…
Study shows neutrons can bind to nanoscale atomic clusters known as quantum dots. The finding may provide insights into material properties and quantum effects. Neutrons are subatomic particles that have no electric charge, unlike protons and electrons. That means that while the electromagnetic force is responsible for most of the interactions between radiation and materials, neutrons are essentially immune to that force. Instead, neutrons are held together inside an atom’s nucleus solely by something called the strong force, one of…
Recent research underscores the critical role of adipocytes in storing fat, vital for organismal survival. Dysfunctional adipocytes can lead to metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease, highlighting the importance of understanding lipid storage mechanisms. A team of scientists led by Helmholtz Munich have developed a novel approach merging proteomics with machine learning to map dynamic changes during adipogenesis. This method reveals new insights into protein regulation, offering potential targets for managing metabolic diseases. Unlocking the Secrets…
HIRI scientists develop a novel statistical approach for more accurate estimation of decay rates. The decay of ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a crucial mechanism for controlling gene expression in response to environmental stresses. Researchers from the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) and the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) have developed a statistical approach that allows a more accurate prediction of RNA half-lives in bacteria. Using this new method, the team discovered that the RNA half-life in Salmonella is three times…
Researchers led by Ralf Jungmann at the Max Planck Institute (MPI) of Biochemistry and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, in collaboration with Eugenio F. Fornasiero and Felipe Opazo, both group leaders at the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), and Helmholtz Munich, have developed a new super-resolution high-throughput imaging method. Using the new technique, the scientists were able to create a 3D neuronal cell atlas with single-molecule resolution and discovered a previously unknown type of synapse. The results of the study were published…
Low temperature, regenerative process saves energy and efficiently produces common chemical. Among the many chemicals we use every day, ammonia is one of the worst for the atmosphere. The nitrogen-based chemical used in fertilizer, dyes, explosives and many other products ranks second only to cement in terms of carbon emissions, due to the high temperatures and energy needed to manufacture it. But by improving on a well-known electrochemical reaction and orchestrating a “symphony” of lithium, nitrogen and hydrogen atoms, University of…
Researchers from Leipzig and Ulm break new ground for faster diagnosis of the dangerous virus. Researchers at Leipzig University and Ulm University have developed a new method to isolate HIV from samples more easily, potentially making it easier to detect infection with the virus. They focus on peptide nanofibrils (PNFs) on magnetic microparticles, a promising tool and hybrid material for targeted binding and separation of viral particles. They have published their new findings in the journal Advanced Functional Materials. “The…
Specialized nerve cells in the brain inhibit food intake during nausea. Satiety, nausea or anxiety can all lead to a loss of appetite. Delaying eating can be a healthy move by the body to prevent further damage and to gain time for regenerating. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence now identified the circuit in the brain that prevents mice from eating when they feel nauseous. The decisive role is played by special nerve cells in the amygdala…
What makes us human? According to neurobiologists it is our neocortex. This outer layer of the brain is rich in neurons and lets us do abstract thinking, create art, and speak complex languages. An international team led by Dr. Mareike Albert at the Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD) of TUD Dresden University of Technology has identified a new factor that might have contributed to neocortex expansion in humans. The results were published in the EMBO Journal. What makes us…
… to enhance systemic delivery of cancer immunotherapy. PLGA nanoparticles modified with ATP slowly release anti-cancer drugs and recruit immune cells to fight tumors. Purdue University researchers are developing and validating patent-pending poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid), or PLGA, nanoparticles modified with adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, to enhance immunotherapy effects against malignant tumors. The nanoparticles slowly release drugs that induce immunogenic cell death, or ICD, in tumors. ICD generates tumor antigens and other molecules to bring immune cells to a tumor’s microenvironment….
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