Which came first, the moth or the cactus?
...networks of species." The results suggest that the structures of mutualistic communities compliment those of predator-prey food webs, a finding that presents the tantalizing possibility of developing an overarching scheme that incorporates elements of both....Features of replication suggest viruses have common themes, vulnerabilities
...branes of mitochondria, critical energy-regulating structures found in most eukaryotic cells. Squeezing into the space between the inner and outer membrane of the double-lined mitochondria, the virus creates tens of thousands of protein-lined, balloon-like pockets where it can make new copies of the viral ge...Abnormal fat metabolism underlies heart problems in diabetic patients
...ial for the operation of the energy-producing cell structures called mitochondria. When mitochondria lose a lot of their cardiolipin, they malfunction. Their malfunction not only interferes with the energy supply of heart muscle cells, it also increases the amount of damaging oxygen-containing substances in th...Scientists show that mitochondrial DNA variants are linked to risk factors for type 2 diabetes
...t genetic variants in mitochondriaenergy-producing structures harboring DNA that are inherited only from the motherare directly linked to metabolic markers for type 2 diabetes. The study, which highlights the role of mitochondrial genome variation in the pathogenesis of common diseases, is published online in ...European Science Foundation's Forward Look reaches out beyond the endless frontiers
...nt the opportunities and weaknesses of the current structures and dynamics of the European Research Area. Moreover, the priorities suggested by these reports are more explicit in the sense that they are not just seen as new emerging themes but as frameworks to coordinate the dynamics of these specific fields at......es, used scanning electron microscopy to visualize structures resembling bacteria biofilms on the surface of older flies. Tower and co-author Chunli Ren, a graduate student, took bacteria samples from the surface and interior of the flies throughout their life span, confirming that the axenically grown flies ...Role of thyroid hormones in slumber under investigation at Rutgers
...ections of thyroid hormones in sleep-related brain structures of rats. As in the Rutgers-Camden scientists previous research endeavors, undergraduate and graduate students will have an active role in this project. ...Computer graphics spills from milk to medicine
... of skin based on a detailed description of dermal structures other than hemoglobin and melanin. Understanding how structures within the skin scatter and absorb light could be important to the doctors who are using light to tr...Unlocking proteins from their cellular shell
...nn researchers used force to induce changes in the structures of cytoskeletal proteins and, employing fluorescent dyes, labeled proteins sequentially, visualized them, and molecularly pinpointed the newly exposed parts of proteins. By forcing proteins to unfold, hidden binding sites were thus revealed. Multico...Unknotting DNA clue to cancer syndrome
...he DNA strands are then exchanged to form four-way structures called Holliday junctions. To complete repair, these junctions are resolved in one of two ways: either leaving the original chromosomes intact, or exchanging the chromosome arms to form a crossover. Both yeast and human cells contain two copies of ...Testing the force of a shark's bite
...nally developed for the calculation of stresses in structures such as bridges. The collaborating investigator in the project for NSW DPI, Dr Michael Lowry, said one of the project aims is to identify the shark species responsible for damage to submarine cables and towed arrays. "Measurement of bite forces w...Carnegie Mellon scientists find key HIV protein makes cell membranes bend more easily
...embrane of another cell to form a series of hybrid structures called fusion intermediates. Through evolution,...k apart, blood cells and other man-made, cell-like structures called liposomes. FP-23 likely plays several roles in viral fusion, according to the researchers. ...Gene-transcription machinery seen poised for action, held in check until needed
...o regulate gene expression. Histones are molecular structures around which DNA is tightly spooled as part of the cells scheme for maintaining order in the genome and securely storing away genes until needed. Eight histones comprise a nucleosome, and long strings of nucleosomes coil in turn into chromatin, the b...Renewable energy wrecks environment
...0 square kilometers, would need to be covered with structures to extract, store, and transport the energy. One...een," asserts Ausubel", If we want to minimize new structures and the rape of nature, nuclear energy is the best option."...University of Leeds strengthens China links in membrane and neurobiology
...iseases. Studies are also being carried out on the structures of membrane transporters and receptors, which potentially represent targets for novel antibacterial, antiparasite and antidiabetic drugs. Complementing such studies, another major theme of the initiative concerns the flow of membranes between differe...Molecular detectors may refine cancer treatment
...amers to fold into well-defined, three-dimensional structures that bind to targets. The process relies on the fact that different types of cells exhibit unique surface features, so aptamers can recognize and bind with these target cells and only these cells even in the presence of other, closely related cells...Measuring the unseeable: Penn researchers probe proteins' dark energy
... drugs are designed generally based on the precise structures of their biological targets, active regions on proteins that are intended to inhibit key molecules. However, the number of designed molecules actually binding to their targets is low for many engineered molecules. We think that this is because the de...Nature's secrets yield new adhesive material
...mes at the end. These split ends contain cup-like structures called spatulae that vastly increase the hairs surface area. Whereas a human hair touches a surface just once, the gecko makes multiple contacts with the suction-like spatulae. With roughly a half million hairs on each foot, scientists estimate a g...Crystal structure enables tailoring of pharmaceuticals against asthma
...rmation has been available on two membrane protein structures from human. The scientists now believe that their ...l subunits, each of them consisting of four spiral structures that span the nuclear membrane. Also the exact position and characteristics of the active sites, whe...HWI researchers determine structure of protein from pathogen associated with CF and TB
...ple of the work my lab enjoys doing. We determine structures and functions of important proteins and provide insights into ways that these proteins can be modulated to improve human health. My lab, like several others at HWI, is most interested in human pathogens and learning new ways that we can block infect...