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The zebrafish has become a popular model organism to investigate many biological processes, in part owing to the combination of facile genetic manipulation and rapid, external embryonic development. The application of large-scale screening to identify chemical suppressors of a cancer-prone mutant highlights new technology for whole organism–based small-molecule discovery.
Development of small-molecule agonists against members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily remains a considerable challenge. Presentation of ligand-derived peptides on a trimeric scaffold may point the way toward development of potent small-molecule agonists against this biologically important protein superfamily.
Sir2 is a key regulator in promoting longevity in response to a low-calorie diet. A new role for nitric oxide in promoting mitochondrial synthesis may be the reason why.
Identification of the monocarboxylate transporter 1 as a target of a new class of immunosuppressants shows that aerobic glycolysis and lactate release are essential for the proliferation of activated lymphocytes.
During the past century, the sea lamprey colonized the Great Lakes of North America and decimated the commercial fishing industry. The isolation and characterization of a migratory pheromone from the sea lamprey expands options for control of this invading species.
In the brain, neurotransmitter-receptor binding represents the moment of stereochemical recognition in which one neuron senses the signal sent by another. Submillisecond time-resolved FTIR spectroscopy now provides a first glimpse of the generative protein-ligand interactions that lead to glutamate receptor ion channel activation.
Cross-species quorum sensing in bacteria is mediated by a small molecule autoinducer, AI-2. It has now been demonstrated that AI-2–mediated signaling can be sabotaged by bacteria that degrade AI-2.
Kinesins are the molecular motors responsible for movement of vesicles inside cells. Evidence is now presented for how kinesin moves forward, as well as side to side.
The process of cellular engineering is rapidly accelerating owing to advances in technologies to manipulate DNA and other biomolecules, giving rise to the field of synthetic biology. A meeting was held in August 2005 to present progress in the field and to discuss topics in ethics, safety and security.
Nitrite has now been proposed to play an important physiological role in signaling, blood flow regulation and hypoxic nitric oxide homeostasis. A recent two-day symposium at the US National Institutes of Health highlighted recent advances in the understanding of nitrite biochemistry, physiology and therapeutics.
Coelichelin is a new tetrapeptide siderophore from Streptomyces coelicolor originally discovered by gene sequence analysis. Surprisingly, this tetrapeptide is assembled by a trimodular nonribosomal peptide synthetase.
Unlike many site-specific recombinases that require accessory proteins, the Cre recombinase itself organizes a synaptic complex to initiate the recombination reaction. A new study suggests how Cre recombinase accomplishes this catalytic feat.
The high polyunsaturated fatty acid content of mammalian sperm cell membranes makes them vulnerable to damaging oxidation. A carbohydrate-antioxidant polymer has been developed that greatly increases antioxidant levels in sperm, counteracting any detrimental effects and improving sperm function.
Nitrite, a ubiquitous stable oxidation byproduct of nitric oxide (NO) metabolism, is now entering the pantheon of signaling biochemical molecules. Nitrite may have the unique properties of a blood and tissue NO reservoir activated by physiological and pathological hypoxia.
From the complex behavior of multicomponent signaling networks to the structures of large protein complexes and aggregates, questions once viewed as daunting are now being tackled fearlessly by protein scientists. The 19th Annual Symposium of the Protein Society in Boston highlighted the maturation of systems biology as applied to proteins.
