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Categories: Biology: Cell Biology, Energy: Technology
Published New discovery reveals how the egg controls sperm entry
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source After the egg has been fertilized by a sperm, the surrounding egg coat tightens, mechanically preventing the entry of additional sperm and the ensuing death of the embryo, a new study finds. The work also explains how mutations in egg coat proteins can cause female infertility and may eventually lead to new contraceptive methods.
Published Even cells know the importance of recycling
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers uncovered the mechanistic details behind how several proteins interact to help cells recognize and remove damaged mitochondria. Optineurin (OPTN) and its interactions are needed to provide a contact site for another protein, Tank-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), during this process. The OPTN-TBK1 relationship is necessary for these mitochondria to be recognized and eliminated from the cell. This mechanism may have relevance for developing drugs to treat Parkinson's disease.
Published New simpler and cost-effective forensics test helps identify touch DNA
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Research has found a less expensive and easier to use test to learn more about forensic touch DNA. This research has important implications for forensic investigations and being able to identify DNA from a primary contact -- someone who may have committed the crime -- as well as secondary DNA that was inadvertently and indirectly transferred through touch.
Published Sulfur and the origin of life
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new study shines a spotlight on sulfur, a chemical element that, while all familiar, has proved surprisingly resistant to scientific efforts in probing its role in the origin of life.
Published Tryptophan in diet, gut bacteria protect against E. coli infection
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Gut bacteria and a diet rich in the amino acid tryptophan can play a protective role against pathogenic E. coli, which can cause severe stomach upset, cramps, fever, intestinal bleeding and renal failure.
Published Scientists use novel technique to create new energy-efficient microelectronic device
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have created a new material that uses 'redox gating' to control the movement of electrons in and out of a semiconducting material.
Published Study shows important role gut microbes play in airway health in persons with cystic fibrosis
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Findings from a new study reflect the important role that the gut microbiome (communities of bacteria) plays in the airway health of persons with cystic fibrosis.
Published Steroid drugs used for HRT can combat E. coli and MRSA
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have combined computational and microbiology laboratory approaches to identify existing drugs that can be repurposed to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. This research has revealed that a class of steroid drugs currently used in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can also stop the growth of antibiotic-resistant E. coli and effectively kill MRSA.
Published New computational strategy boosts the ability of drug designers to target proteins inside the membrane
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Hitting targets embedded within the cell membrane has long been difficult for drug developers due to the membrane's challenging biochemical properties. Now, chemists have demonstrated new custom-designed proteins that can efficiently reach these 'intramembrane' targets.
Published Simple trick could improve accuracy of plant genetics research
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have published a simple trick that improves the accuracy of techniques that help us understand how external variables -- such as temperature -- affect gene activity in plants.
Published Milk to the rescue for diabetics? Cow produces human insulin in milk
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source An unassuming brown bovine from the south of Brazil has made history as the first transgenic cow capable of producing human insulin in her milk. The advancement could herald a new era in insulin production, one day eliminating drug scarcity and high costs for people living with diabetes.
Published A simple and robust experimental process for protein engineering
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A protein engineering method using simple, cost-effective experiments and machine learning models can predict which proteins will be effective for a given purpose, according to a new study.
Published Batteries for airborne electric vehicles that take off and land vertically
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers are taking cleaner transportation to the skies by creating and evaluating new batteries for airborne electric vehicles that take off and land vertically. Researchers are developing new energy-dense materials, learning how these materials degrade under extreme conditions, and developing battery control systems.
Published Scientists find weak points on Epstein-Barr virus
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Studies of interactions between two lab-generated monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and an essential Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) protein have uncovered targets that could be exploited in designing treatments and vaccines for this extremely common virus.
Published Spiral wrappers switch nanotubes from conductors to semiconductors and back
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source By wrapping a carbon nanotube with a ribbon-like polymer, researchers were able to create nanotubes that conduct electricity when struck with low-energy light that our eyes cannot see. In the future, the approach could make it possible to optimize semiconductors for applications ranging from night vision to new forms of computing.
Published How a natural compound from sea squirts combats cancer
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Trabectedin, a promising drug derived from the sea squirt Ecteinascidia turbinata, has shown potential in combating cancers resistant to conventional treatments. However, its precise mechanism of action has remained elusive -- until now.
Published A coral superhighway in the Indian Ocean
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Despite being scattered across more than a million square kilometers, new research has revealed that remote coral reefs across the Seychelles are closely related. Using genetic analyses and oceanographic modelling, researchers demonstrated for the first time that a network of ocean currents scatter significant numbers of larvae between these distant islands, acting as a 'coral superhighway.'
Published Gene flow in giraffes and what it means for their conservation
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Giraffes, with their bizarre body plan, have always held a special place in the minds of evolutionary biologists and non-experts alike. In a new study whole-genome sequencing data was used to investigate the evolutionary processes occurring within giraffes. In particular, the authors were interested in establishing whether different populations of giraffes really have been isolated from each other for extended periods of time, which is normally a requirement before new species can arise.
Published Giving particle detectors a boost
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have tested the performance of a new device that boosts particle signals.
Published Study illuminates the protective role of fluorescence in neon-colored sea anemones
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A team of researchers has uncovered a direct genetic link between fluorescence and color in sea anemones -- those soft and tentacled tide pool creatures often encountered by beachgoers.