Berkeley scientists create first 3-D map of protein universe
...ound their way to fold into small alpha, beta, and alpha plus beta structures," Kim says. "The alpha slash beta fold structures do not appear until proteins of sufficient size rose through evolution an...First draft of 'periodic table' of protein structures helps visualize nature's universe of proteins
...s represent significant differences in folding. An alpha helix is one common structural element of protein ...ution." One evolutionary pathway elaborated on the alpha helix structure. Another developed from the basic beta sheet, a pair of side-by-side chains of amino...Estrogen and personality in women
...otide repeat polymorphism of the estrogen receptor alpha gene and personality traits in women." L Westberg ...of genetic variation in the estrogen receptor (ER) alpha to specific personality traits, the authors investigated a repeat polymorphism in the ER alpha gene ...Researchers discover protein defect linked to gastrointestinal cancer
...the enzyme platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA), may serve as a target for new "smart-bomb" therapies against gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). "PDGFRA is found in many body tissues, so it also will be important to determine whether mutations in this enzyme might play a role in othe...Scientists find insects can alter plant chemistry to help them find mates
...s without galls. It is the mix of two chemicals -- alpha and beta pinenes -- that males recognize. "Non-galled plants have a ratio of about 50-50, while galled plants have skewed ratios. If males find a stem with a 50-50 ratio," Tooker said, "they will move on. If they find a stem with a 70-30 or a 100-...Finding a 'Holy Grail': simulated and experimental protein folding compares nicely
...ations, the beta sheet formed first, in others the alpha helix formed first, and in still others the loop formed first. Because the protein can follow more than one pathway, a variety of folding times will result." By comparing absolute quantities through experiment and simulation, the researchers can det...Heart size and function uncoupled by researchers
...ompletely novel and unexpected." The PTEN and PI3K alpha and gamma proteins work in the body's immune syste...proteins were removed from hearts. Unchecked, PI3K alpha produces something that makes the heart bigger, Penninger explains. PTEN works as a negative regulat...A unique hemoglobin may help the baby kangaroo's journey to the mothers pouch
...lian blood. There were two embryonic chains of the alpha type (known as zeta). They were similar to alpha-t... larger molecule. Finding two different embryonic alpha type chains was noteworthy. They differed in 14 amino acids out of a total of 141, and this shows th...A thermodynamic history traces temperature's effect on Universe, Earth and humans
...enough to ponder radioactivity. "The radioactive alpha particle decay of a few kinds of nuclei heats the Earth's crust, which convectively creates fire just below the surface," he writes. "Forced up through the ocean bottom in hydrothermal vents, this activity somehow sustains life that evolves to creat...NHGRI funds two new centers of excellence in genomic science
...s cerevisiae that responds to the mating pheromone alpha factor as a model for their experiments. The MSI group plans to create new genomic and computational technologies for single-cell monitoring that are applicable to the study of other organisms, including humans. Their ultimate goal is to transla...New metabolic 'switches' discovered
...l's machinery. Since Gpa2 is highly related to the alpha subunit, the researchersexpected to find associated beta and gamma subunits -- but they were not present. According to Heitman, absence of these two subunits raised questions of whether the GPa2 functioned alone, or whether there existed as-yet-undis...SFVAMC study may revive old approach to high blood pressure therapy
.... Simpson plans to study how alpha-1 A/C and other alpha adrenergic receptor types affect the heart's growth and development. According to the American Heart Association, high blood pressure, defined as a systolic reading greater than 140 or diastolic greater than 90, increases risk of heart attack and str...Researchers identify protein linked to tumor invasion
... is found in association with another protein, the alpha 6 beta 4 integrin. This integrin has been linked with several hallmarks of metastatic tumors, including epithelial cell motility, cellular survival and carcinoma invasion. According to Toker, the next step for researchers will be to attempt to determ...Protein discovered that keeps hemoglobin in balance
...balance between two proteins in hemoglobin, called alpha and beta globin. An excess of either type of prote...e damage, or skin ulcers. The newly found protein, alpha hemoglobin stabilizing protein (AHSP), binds to free alpha globin and prevents it from forming a pre...U of Minnesota study: Adult bone marrow stem cells can become liver cells
...tients with genetic diseases of the liver, such as alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency, which affects 100,000 in the United States," she said. "It may also be helpful for some types of cirrhosis or acute liver failure due to medications. In addition, the cells might be used to create bio-artificial livers and r...New treatment for difficult-to-treat inflammatory disease
...ase mostly affects men. Steroids, hydroxyurea and alpha interferon have all been used to treat the disease, but often unsuccessfully. Even when those treatments do work, they often cause unwanted side effects. In a letter appearing in this week's The Lancet, Gerald Gleich, M.D., and colleagues from the...Rushing fireball developed its own form of sugar digestion
...nce. The 21 genes are involved in the digestion of alpha sugars such as maltose and starch. The piece probably plays an important role in the regulation of these genes. Since its discovery, Pyrococcus furiosus has attracted a lot of interest. The organism, discovered close to the beach on the Italian islan...Men regain evolutionary drivers seat
...suggest the male-female ratio of mutation rate or alpha is only about 2-to-1, a drastic decrease from ear...nd evolution, have restored the validity of a high alpha among humans and apes. Li and Makova studied part of the DAZ locus, a non-coding genetic sequence pr...April GEOLOGY and GSA TODAY media highlights
... world's oceans. Increase in evenness and sampled alpha diversity through the Phanerozoic: Comparison of early Paleozoic and Cenozoic marine fossil assemblages. Matthew G. Powell, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA, and Michal Kowalewski, ...Scientists find a way to detect which breast abnormalities may develop into cancer
...lls with receptors for the signals given out by ER alpha (an oestrogen receptor protein), Ki-67 (a nuclear protein which is only expressed in dividing cells), and hsp27 (an oestrogen-related heat shock protein). Dr. Shaaban said: Our data show that there are clear differences between various types of HUT. ...