Protein energy profiles offer clues about amyloids
.... Every protein has a characteristic shape, and it folds itself into that shape very soon -- generally in l...interactions that take place when a single protein folds itself into its characteristic shape. Despite this mystery and complexity, Clementi and colleagues b...Protein protecting brain from toxins also blocks some chemotherapy from reaching tumors
...as well as in membranes of the choroid plexus--the folds within the brain ventricles that make and release CSF. "This dual location for Mrp4 is unusual for this type of transporter," Schuetz said. "It suggests that Mrp4 blocks specific molecules from leaving the capillaries. And if such molecules slip ou...Visualizing the end of the human genome
...ined two distinct OB-folds. The grooves of the two folds align with one another, forming a continuous channel where the telomeric DNA can fit. They also learned that while the protein would bind to a ten-nucleotide sequence, the structure could also accommodate twelve nucleotides. "So it turns ou...$6.7 million for bionic war on disabilities
...eople by stimulating nerves that control the vocal folds (also known as vocal cords), which are the voice-producing folds of tissue in the voice box or larynx. The vocal folds open when we breathe and close when we sp...Scientists develop split green for tagging protein
...ayed. If the protein being produced, or expressed, folds correctly, then the attached GFP also will fold correctly as it too is expressed. If the protein being expressed does not fold correctly, then the GFP also will not fold correctly and not fluoresce green. After scientists discovered that the GFP had ...Harvard scientists discover how the venus flytrap snaps
...lastic lid or part of a cut tennis ball, each leaf folds back in on itself, and in the process of returning to its original shape, ensnares the victim in the middle. The hydrated nature of the leaf quickly dampens the vibrations caused by the movement, so the unlucky bug doesn't spill out. It then takes th...Scientists develop new color-coded test for protein folding
...a protein molecule attached to a gold nanoparticle folds or unfolds. The new technique, which works on the same principle as ordinary pH tests that measure the acidity of water, is described in the March 2005 issue of the journal Chemistry and Biology. "What we've developed is a simple and inexpensive sens...Study shows how retinoic acid enters a cell's nucleus
... now researchers have something new to look for -- folds in a molecule's structure and amino acids that flip when exposed to a hormone or a drug. Noy currently is working with an ILBP that she has pinpointed as a pro-carcinogen -- it promotes cancer. Armed with new tools and knowledge, she hopes to figure ...Same fold in viral shells point to common ancestry
... mostly on the sequence of amino acids. "If capsid folds have similar structures and amino acid sequences, then they probably have evolved from a common ancestor," Rossmann said. Purdue structural biologists led by Rossmann wrote a paper published last month announcing they had determined that the phi 29 v...Cure for common cold will need to wiggle to work, scientists say
...changes is a small, cigar-shaped cavity within the folds of a protein called VP-1 that forms around the capsid's pentagonal groups. "We've known that filling the cavity is key to curing the common cold," Post said. "Now we're learning why. The secret may be that filling the cavity stops the virus from chan...Beyond genes: Lipid helps cell wall protein fold into proper shape
...netically determined sequence that dictates how it folds so that it can function properly. Its lipid environment also plays a role," Dowhan said. "People used to assume that specific lipids made no difference." In the JBC paper, Dowhan and colleagues looked at how a protein called GabP, which transports a...Hopkins scientists uncover 'tags' that force proteins to cell surface
...ms unlikely to disrupt how the rest of the protein folds in a three-dimensional structure, but that's what most scientists think goes wrong if a protein doesn't go to the surface," says Li. "But now we know the problem might just be a faulty transportation signal." Given that proteins can be thousands of b...What mutations tell us about protein folding
...chain is what determines which structure a protein folds into. The three-dimensional structures in turn specify the functions of proteins, which range from the transport of oxygen in our blood, to the conversion of energy in our muscles, and the strengthening of our hair. During evolution, the protein sequ......ts of a sticky string of amino acids which usually folds up because of attractions between some of its atoms. This creates a bundle called a globular domain whose shape and chemistry determine what other molecules can bind to it. "If we could look at the chemical 'spelling' of a protein and guess what mach...Protein behavior may lead to better treatment of neurodegenerative diseases
...f. By learning how and why a protein occasionally folds incorrectly, researchers may be able to better tre...es. In addition, understanding how and why protein folds can help scientists design proteins to perform specific tasks. "In order to do that, we have to kno...The unfolding of amyloid's true colors
...M{alpha} (which they called recombinant rM{alpha}) folds into amyloids remarkably quickly. In fact, rM{alpha} formed amyloids at a rate four orders of magnitude faster than the rate of formation for other well-known amyloids--A{beta} and {alpha}-synuclein, which are implicated in Alzheimer and Parkinson d...Mining biotech's data mother lode
... novel. When a gene encodes a protein, the protein folds up into a unique shape, forming a 3D structure. This structure can only interact, or fit, with some proteins, but not others, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. BioGrid's protein interaction software includes a database of the 20,000 known protein struc...Gut protein found to protect against infection and intestinal breakdown
... found that FXR molecules heavily lined the inside folds of the intestine in adult mice. "It's perfectly positioned," Dr. Kliewer said. "It's expressed in just the right place to protect us from the environment." When the bile ducts of mice were tied off, preventing bile from reaching the intestine, adding...Test for dioxin sensitivity in wildlife could result from new study
...sequence of amino acids determines how the protein folds into a specific three-dimensional shape. Somewhere in that folded shape is a region where the dioxin molecule fits--the binding site. Once bound, the AHR-dioxin combination alters the function of other genes in the cell, triggering harmful effects. ...NYU scientists begin second phase of project to better understand disease
...attempt to fold the protein in the way it actually folds in the human body (accurately predict the structure). The best shapes/3D-structures identified for each protein are returned to the scientists for further study and public release. Knowing the shapes of proteins will help researchers understand how p...