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Categories: Biology: Molecular, Physics: Optics
Published A better way to make RNA drugs
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source RNA drugs are the next frontier of medicine, but manufacturing them requires an expensive and labor-intensive process that limits production and produces metric tons of toxic chemical waste. Researchers report a new, enzyme-based RNA synthesis method that can produce strands of RNA with both natural and modified nucleotides without the environmental hazards.
Published Neural networks made of light
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Scientists propose a new way of implementing a neural network with an optical system which could make machine learning more sustainable in the future. In a new paper, the researchers have demonstrated a method much simpler than previous approaches.
Published Muscle machine: How water controls the speed of muscle contraction
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The flow of water within a muscle fiber may dictate how quickly muscle can contract, according to a new study.
Published Light-induced Meissner effect
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have developed a new experiment capable of monitoring the magnetic properties of superconductors at very fast speeds.
Published Nanoplastics and 'forever chemicals' disrupt molecular structures, functionality
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have made significant inroads in understanding how nanoplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) -- commonly known as forever chemicals -- disrupt biomolecular structure and function. The work shows that the compounds can alter proteins found in human breast milk and infant formulas -- potentially causing developmental issues downstream.
Published Opening the right doors: 'Jumping gene' control mechanisms revealed
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source International joint research led by Akihisa Osakabe and Yoshimasa Takizawa of the University of Tokyo has clarified the molecular mechanisms in thale cresses (Arabidopsis thaliana) by which the DDM1 (Decreased in DNA Methylation 1) protein prevents the transcription of 'jumping genes.' DDM1 makes 'jumping genes' more accessible for transcription-suppressing chemical marks to be deposited. Because a variant of this protein exists in humans, the discovery provides insight into genetic conditions caused by such 'jumping gene' mutations.
Published First ever 3D reconstruction of 52,000-year-old woolly mammoth chromosomes thanks to serendipitously freeze-dried skin
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source An international research team has assembled the genome and 3D chromosomal structures of a 52,000-year-old woolly mammoth -- the first time such a feat has been achieved for any ancient DNA sample. The fossilized chromosomes, which are around a million times longer than most ancient DNA fragments, provide insight into how the mammoth's genome was organized within its living cells and which genes were active within the skin tissue from which the DNA was extracted. This unprecedented level of structural detail was retained because the mammoth underwent freeze-drying shortly after it died, which meant that its DNA was preserved in a glass-like state.
Published High-speed electron camera uncovers a new 'light-twisting' behavior in an ultrathin material
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Using an instrument for ultrafast electron diffraction (MeV-UED), researchers discovered how an ultrathin material can circularly polarize light. This discovery sets up a promising approach to manipulate light for applications in optoelectronic devices.
Published Atlas of proteins reveals inner workings of cells
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers discover how proteins behave inside cells using AI, which has the potential to guide drug design.
Published Big gain in battle against harmful bacteria
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source An unexpected find has enabled important progress to be made in the battle against harmful bacteria.
Published New one-step method to make multiple edits to a cell's genome
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A team of scientists have developed a new method that enables them to make precise edits in multiple locations within a cell -- all at once. Using molecules called retrons, they created a tool that can efficiently modify DNA in bacteria, yeast, and human cells.
Published Moving from the visible to the infrared: Developing high quality nanocrystals
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, quantum dots have a wide variety of applications ranging from displays and LED lights to chemical reaction catalysis and bioimaging. These semiconductor nanocrystals are so small -- on the order of nanometers -- that their properties, such as color, are size dependent, and they start to exhibit quantum properties. This technology has been really well developed, but only in the visible spectrum, leaving untapped opportunities for technologies in both the ultraviolet and infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Published Implantable LED device uses light to treat deep-seated cancers
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Certain types of light have proven to be an effective, minimally invasive treatment for cancers located on or near the skin when combined with a light-activated drug. But deep-seated cancers have been beyond the reach of light's therapeutic effects. To change this, engineers and scientists have devised a wireless LED device that can be implanted. This device, when combined with a light-sensitive dye, not only destroys cancer cells, but also mobilizes the immune system's cancer-targeting response.
Published New bio-based tool quickly detects concerning coronavirus variants
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have developed a bioelectric device that can detect and classify new variants of coronavirus to identify those that are most harmful. It has the potential to do the same with other viruses, as well.
Published Visualizing short-lived intermediate compounds produced during chemical reactions
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Immobilizing small synthetic molecules inside protein crystals proves to be a promising avenue for studying intermediate compounds formed during chemical reactions, scientists report. By integrating this method with time-resolved serial femtosecond crystallography, they successfully visualized reaction dynamics and rapid structural changes occurring within reaction centers immobilized inside protein crystals. This innovative strategy holds significant potential for the intelligent design of drugs, catalysts, and functional materials.
Published GeneMAP discovery platform will help define functions for 'orphan' metabolic proteins
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have developed a discovery platform to probe the function of genes involved in metabolism -- the sum of all life-sustaining chemical reactions. The investigators used the new platform, called GeneMAP (Gene-Metabolite Association Prediction), to identify a gene necessary for mitochondrial choline transport.
Published Single atoms show their true color
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new technique reveals single atom misfits and could help design better semiconductors used in modern and future electronics.
Published Never-before-seen view of gene transcription captured
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source New tech reveals findings that address long-standing theories about how bacteria begin the process of making RNA from DNA.
Published Do genes-in-pieces code for proteins that fold in pieces?
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new study offers new insights into the evolution of foldable proteins.
Published Researchers uncover key mechanisms in chromosome structure development
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers are making strides in understanding how chromosome structures change throughout the cell's life cycle.