ScienceDaily: Biochemistry News

DNA-guided assembly yields novel ribbon-like nanostructures

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:39:39 EDT

DNA "linker" strands coax nano-sized rods to line up in way unlike any other spontaneous arrangement of rod-shaped objects. The arrangement -- with the rods forming "rungs" on ladder-like ribbons -- could result in the fabrication of new nanostructured materials with desired properties.

X-ray tomography of living frog embryo

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:52:52 EDT

Classical X-ray radiographs provide information about internal, absorptive structures of organisms such as bones. Alternatively, X-rays can also image soft tissues throughout early embryonic development of vertebrates. Related to this, a new X-ray method allowed researchers to view three dimensional reconstructions showing developing embryos of the African clawed frog.

Squishy hydrogels may be the ticket for studying biological effects of nanoparticles

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:51:51 EDT

A class of water-loving, jelly-like materials with uses ranges ranging from the mundane, such as superabsorbent diaper liners, to the sophisticated, such as soft contact lenses, could be tapped for a new line of serious work: testing the biological effects of nanoparticles, according to scientists.

Engineered biomaterial could improve success of medical implants

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:28:28 EDT

Expensive, state-of-the-art medical devices and surgeries often are thwarted by the body's natural response to attack something in the tissue that appears foreign. Now, engineers have demonstrated in mice a way to prevent this sort of response.

Water governs cell movement: Aquaporins play key role, new research finds

Tue, 14 May 2013 08:53:53 EDT

Water gives life. Researchers now show how the cells in our bodies are driven mainly by water power -- a discovery that in the long run opens the way for a new strategy in cancer therapy.

Molecular basis of strawberry aroma

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:09:09 EDT

You know that summer is here when juicy red strawberries start to appear on the shelves. In Germany, this seasonal fruit has never been more popular: on average 3.5 kilos per head were consumed in 2012 -- a full kilogram more than ten years ago. Scientists decided to find out what gives strawberries their characteristic flavor.

Oxygen consumption of individual cells measured: Scanning electrochemical microscopy decisively optimized

Mon, 13 May 2013 08:30:30 EDT

How active a living cell is can be seen by its oxygen consumption. The method for determining this consumption has now been significantly improved. The problem up to now was that the measuring electrode altered the oxygen consumption in the cell's environment much more than the cell itself.

Better dyes for imaging technology

Sun, 12 May 2013 10:55:55 EDT

From microscopes to MRI scanners, imaging technology is growing ever more vital in the world's hospitals, whether for the diagnosis of illness or for research into new cures. Imaging technology requires dyes or contrast agents of some sort. Current contrast agents and dyes are expensive, difficult to work with and far from ideal. Now, chemists have discovered a new dye and proved its worth against any of the dyes currently available.

New advance in biofuel production

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:37:37 EDT

Researchers have developed an enzyme-free ionic liquid pretreatment of cellulosic biomass that makes it easier to recover fermentable sugars for biofuels and to recycle the ionic liquid.

New technique to track cell interactions in living bodies developed

Mon, 06 May 2013 18:16:16 EDT

Researchers have developed a new technique to see how different types of cells interact in a living mouse.

Unique method for creating uniform nanoparticles developed

Mon, 06 May 2013 11:40:40 EDT

Researchers have developed unique approach for the synthesis of highly uniform icosahedral nanoparticles made of platinum. Results showed that the key factors for the shape control include fast nucleation, kinetically controlled growth, and protection from oxidation by air.

Brilliant dye to probe the brain

Thu, 02 May 2013 08:17:17 EDT

To obtain very-high-resolution 3D images of the cerebral vascular system, a dye is used that fluoresces in the near infrared and can pass through the skin.

Printable functional 'bionic' ear melds electronics and biology

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:32:32 EDT

Scientists used off-the-shelf printing tools to create a functional ear that can "hear" radio frequencies far beyond the range of normal human capability. The researchers' primary purpose was to explore an efficient and versatile means to merge electronics with tissue. The scientists used 3-D printing of cells and nanoparticles followed by cell culture to combine a small coil antenna with cartilage, creating what they term a bionic ear.

'Super-resolution' microscope possible for nanostructures

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:42:42 EDT

Researchers have found a way to see synthetic nanostructures and molecules using a new type of super-resolution optical microscopy that does not require fluorescent dyes, representing a practical tool for biomedical and nanotechnology research.

Researchers devise method for enhancing CEST MRI

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:41:41 EDT

Researchers have created a novel way to enhance MRI by reducing interference from large macromolecules that can often obscure images generated by current chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) methods.

Patterned hearts: Bioengineers create rubber-like material bearing micropatterns for stronger, more elastic hearts

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:36:36 EDT

Bioengineers report creating artificial heart tissue that closely mimics the functions of natural heart tissue through the use of human-based materials. Their work will advance how clinicians treat the damaging effects caused by heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.

Comparing proteins at a glance: Technique for easy comparisons of proteins in solution

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:05:05 EDT

A revolutionary X-ray analytical technique enables researchers at a glance to identify structural similarities and differences between multiple proteins under a variety of conditions and has already been used to gain valuable new insight into a prime protein target for cancer chemotherapy.

Scientists control chirality in carbon nanotubes

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:49:49 EDT

An ultimate goal in the field of carbon nanotube research is to synthesise single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with controlled chiralities. Twenty years after the discovery of SWNTs, scientists have managed to control chirality in carbon nanotubes during their chemical vapor deposition synthesis.

Researchers 'capture' replication of human genome for first time

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:28:28 EDT

Scientists have for the first time obtained a panoramic photo of the proteins that take part in human DNA division, a process known as replication.

Bold move forward in molecular analyses

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:27:27 EDT

New metrics for analyzing data from small angle scattering experiments should dramatically improve the ability of scientists to study the structures of macromolecules such as proteins and nanoparticles in solution.

What planets are made of: Findings establish counterintuitive potential planet-forming materials

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:54:54 EDT

Scientists have made a startling prediction that challenges existing chemical models and current understanding of planetary interiors -- magnesium oxide, a major material in the formation of planets, can exist in several different compositions.

Recipe for low-cost, biomass-derived catalyst for hydrogen production

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:31:31 EDT

Researchers have described details of a low-cost, stable, effective catalyst that could replace costly platinum in the production of hydrogen. The catalyst, made from renewable soybeans and abundant molybdenum metal, produces hydrogen in an environmentally friendly, cost-effective manner, potentially increasing the use of this clean energy source.

Scientists map all possible drug-like chemical compounds: Library of millions of small, carbon-based molecules chemists might synthesize

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:49:49 EDT

Drug developers may have a new tool to search for more effective medications and new materials. It's a computer algorithm that can model and catalog the entire set of lightweight, carbon-containing molecules that chemists could feasibly create in a lab.

Technique unlocks design principles of quantum biology

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:09:09 EDT

Researchers have created a synthetic compound that mimics the complex quantum dynamics observed in photosynthesis and may enable fundamentally new routes to creating solar-energy technologies.

Nanoparticles found in everyday items can inhibit fat storage: Gold nanoparticles accelerate aging

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:21:21 EDT

An increase in gold nanoparticles can accelerate aging and wrinkling, slow wound healing and cause the onset of diabetes.

Discovery paves the way for ultrafast high-resolution imaging in real time

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:43:43 EDT

Ultrafast high-resolution imaging in real time could be a reality thanks to a new discovery. Researchers have demonstrated that ultra short durations of electron bunches generated from laser-cooled atoms can be both very cold and ultra-fast.

Scientists produce best image yet of atoms moving in real time

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:19:19 EDT

Call it the ultimate nature documentary. Scientists have recorded atomic motions in real time, offering a glimpse into the very essence of chemistry and biology at the atomic level. Their recording is a direct observation of a transition state in which atoms undergo chemical transformation into new structures with new properties -- in this case the transfer of charge leading to metallic behavior in organic molecules.

Paper-thin skin patch collects vitals: E-health made easier and more comfortable

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:22:22 EDT

The future of health care could be found in a tiny, paper-thin skin patch that collects vital information. The Bio-patch sensor is inexpensive, versatile and, best of all, comfortable to wear.

Neighbors move electrons jointly: Ultrafast collective electron transfer after excitation of single electron

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:22:22 EDT

Applying femtosecond x-ray methods, researchers have observed an extremely fast, collective electron transfer of ~100 molecular ions after excitation of a single electron in a crystal of transition metal complexes.

Molecular rings mystery solved after 20 years

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:51:51 EDT

Although the double benzene molecule tried to reveal its structure in experiments in 1993, chemists at the time were unable to find an explanation for the spectral peaks they saw. Now, 20 years later, theoretical chemists have come up with a theory.

Plant protein shape puzzle solved by molecular 3-D model

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:25:25 EDT

Researchers believe they have solved a puzzle that has long vexed science. The researchers provide the first three-dimensional model of an enzyme that links a simple sugar, glucose, into long-chain cellulose, the basic building block within plant cell walls that gives plants structure. Cellulose is nature's most abundant renewable biomaterial and an important resource for production of biofuels that represent alternatives to fossil fuels.

Surprising findings on hydrogen production in green algae

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:24:24 EDT

New research fuels hope of efficient hydrogen production with green algae may be possible in the future, despite the prevailing scepticism based on previous research.

Rigid growth matrix: A key to success of cardiac tissue engineering

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:36:36 EDT

A new study suggests that the elasticity of the physical matrix used for growing heart muscle cells outside of the body may be critical to the success of cardiac tissue engineering.

Implantable, bioengineered rat kidney: Transplanted organ produces urine, but further refinement is needed

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 19:34:34 EDT

Bioengineered rat kidneys successfully produced urine both in a laboratory apparatus and after being transplanted into living animals. The research team built functional replacement kidneys on the structure of donor organs from which living cells had been stripped, an approach previously used to create bioartificial hearts, lungs and livers.

Scientists use 'the force' (atomic force microscopy) to decode secrets of our gut

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:24:24 EDT

A new technique based on atomic force microscopy was developed to help "read" information encoded in proteins that make up the mucus layer that lines our gut.

Enzymes from horse feces could hold secrets to streamlining biofuel production

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 19:46:46 EDT

Stepping into unexplored territory in efforts to use corn stalks, grass and other non-food plants to make biofuels, scientists have now described the discovery of a potential treasure-trove of candidate enzymes in fungi thriving in the feces and intestinal tracts of horses.

Material screening method allows more precise control over stem cells

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:27:27 EDT

When it comes to delivering genes to living human tissue, the odds of success come down the molecule. The entire therapy — including the tools used to bring new genetic material into a cell — must have predictable effects.

Molecular 'superglue' based on flesh-eating bacteria

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:58:58 EDT

In a classic case of turning an enemy into a friend, scientists have engineered a protein from flesh-eating bacteria to act as a molecular "superglue" that promises to become a disease fighter.

Lights, chemistry, action: New method for mapping brain activity

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:16:16 EDT

Building on their history of innovative brain-imaging techniques, scientists have developed a new way to use light and chemistry to map brain activity in fully-awake, moving animals, opening a new window to the study of brain diseases.

Transparent brain using hydrogel process

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:12:12 EDT

Combining neuroscience and chemical engineering, researchers have developed a process that renders a mouse brain transparent.

Nanotechnology imaging breakthrough

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:18:18 EDT

Scientists have made a major breakthrough in measuring the structure of nanomaterials under extremely high pressures. They developed a new way to get around the severe distortions of high-energy X-ray beams that are used to image the structure of a gold nanocrystal.

A step toward optical transistors?

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:47:47 EDT

Researchers have demonstrated a new way to control light in semiconductor nanocrystals.

'Pharmaceutical' approach boosts oil production from algae

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:29:29 EDT

Taking an approach similar to that used for discovering new therapeutic drugs, chemists have found several compounds that can boost oil production by green microscopic algae, a potential source of biodiesel and other "green" fuels.

Moving cells with light holds medical promise

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:29:29 EDT

Scientists have shown they can coax cells to move toward a beam of light. The feat is a first step toward manipulating cells to control insulin secretion or heart rate using light.

Shape changers: Surface diffusion plays a key role in defining the shapes of catalytic nanoparticles

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:29:29 EDT

Controlling the shapes of nanometer-sized catalytic and electrocatalytic particles made from noble metals such as platinum and palladium may be more complicated than previously thought.

Tin nanocrystals for the battery of the future

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:32:32 EDT

More powerful batteries could help electric cars achieve a considerably larger range and thus a breakthrough on the market. A new nanomaterial for lithium ion batteries could come into play here.

Sweet success: Catalyzing more sugars from biomass

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 10:33:33 EDT

Using an ultrahigh-precision microscopy technique, researchers have uncovered a way to improve the collective catalytic activity of enzyme cocktails on cellulosic biomass, boosting the yields of sugars for the production of advanced biofuels.

Breakthrough in chemical crystallography

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 06:42:42 EDT

Scientists have made a fundamental breakthrough in single-crystal X-ray analysis, the most powerful method for molecular structure determination.

Building better blood vessels could advance tissue engineering

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:19:19 EDT

One of the major obstacles to growing new organs -- replacement hearts, lungs and kidneys -- is the difficulty researchers face in building blood vessels that keep the tissues alive, but new findings could help overcome this roadblock.

3-D printer can build synthetic tissues

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:24:24 EDT

A custom-built programmable 3-D printer can create materials with several of the properties of living tissues, scientists have demonstrated.

Chemistry: Elusive mechanism of widely used click reaction revealed

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:24:24 EDT

Scientists have illuminated the mechanism at the heart of one of the most useful processes in modern chemistry. A reaction that is robust and easy to perform, it is widely employed to synthesize new pharmaceuticals, biological probes, new materials and other products.

Catalyst for green chemistry: Amberlyst-15 can act as a catalyst for the acylation of phenols and alcohols

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:24:24 EDT

Researchers offer a novel and highly sustainable method for the acylation of phenols and alcohols. They found that Amberlyst-15 is an active catalyst for the acylation of phenols and alcohols by means of acetic anhydride as an acylating agent at room temperature under heterogeneous conditions. The scientists confirmed that applications of this catalyst allow mild and highly selective transformations and synthesis in a facile and environmentally friendly manner.

Third-generation device significantly improves capture of circulating tumor cells

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:14:14 EDT

A new system for isolating rare circulating tumor cells -- living solid tumor cells found at low levels in the bloodstream -- shows significant improvement over previously developed devices and does not require prior identification of tumor-specific target molecules.

Breakthrough in hydrogen fuel production could revolutionize alternative energy market

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 10:41:41 EDT

Researchers have discovered a way to extract large quantities of hydrogen from any plant, a breakthrough that has the potential to bring a low-cost, environmentally friendly fuel source to the world.

3-D scaffolds a new tool to fight cancer

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:48:48 EDT

Porous polymer scaffolds fabricated to support the growth of biological tissue for implantation may hold the potential to greatly accelerate the development of cancer therapeutics. Researchers report that three-dimensional scaffolds used to culture Ewing's sarcoma cells were effective at mimicking the environment in which such tumors develop.

Fighting listeria and other food-borne illnesses with nanobiotechnology

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:43:43 EDT

Engineering researchers have developed a new method to kill deadly pathogenic bacteria, including listeria, in food handling and packaging. This innovation represents an alternative to the use of antibiotics or chemical decontamination in food supply systems.

New clues in the search to rediscover the mysterious Maya Blue formula

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:11:11 EDT

The recipe and process for preparing Maya Blue, a highly-resistant pigment used for centuries in Mesoamerica, were lost. We know that the ingredients are a plant dye, indigo, and a type of clay known as palygorskite, but scientists do not know how they were 'cooked' and combined together. Now, a team of chemists has come up with a new hypothesis about how it was prepared.

Sorting out Parkinson's protein structure: Computer modeling may offer hints for new drug-design strategies

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 11:16:16 EDT

Clumps of proteins that accumulate in brain cells are a hallmark of neurological diseases such as dementia, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Over the past several years, there has been much controversy over the structure of one of those proteins, known as alpha synuclein. Computational scientists have now modeled the structure of that protein, most commonly associated with Parkinson's, and found that it can take on either of two proposed states -- floppy or rigid.

Artificial spleen to treat bloodstream infections: Sepsis therapeutic device under development

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 13:05:05 EDT

Scientists are developing blood-cleansing technology. The device will be used to treat bloodstream infections that are the leading cause of death in critically ill patients and soldiers injured in combat. To rapidly cleanse the blood of pathogens, the patient's blood is mixed with magnetic nanobeads coated with a genetically engineered version of a human blood 'opsonin' protein that binds to a wide variety of bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites, and toxins.

Researchers engineer plant cell walls to boost sugar yields for biofuels

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 16:12:12 EDT

Using the tools of synthetic biology, researchers are engineering healthy plants whose lignocellulosic biomass can more easily be broken down into simple sugars for the production of clean, green and renewable advanced biofuels.