Cryo-electron microscopy (CryoEM) is a revolutionary technique in structural biology that allows for the visualization of biological molecules in near-native states at atomic resolutions. This method involves rapidly freezing biological samples in a way that preserves their natural structure without the need for dyes or fixatives. The frozen samples are then imaged with an electron microscope, which captures thousands of projections that are computationally combined to produce high-resolution three-dimensional structures of complex proteins, viruses, and other cellular components.
Recent findings illustrate how RNA polymerase interacts with DNA to initiate transcription, captured in milliseconds using advanced microscopy techniques. This breakthrough provides new insights into…
Max Plank researchers from Dortmund have revealed the molecular mechanisms by which ring-shaped formin proteins facilitate the growth of actin filaments in cells. Actin is…
A recent re-emergence and outbreak of Mpox brought poxviruses back as a public health threat, underlining an important knowledge gap at their core. Now, a…
Scientists captured the first true-to-life 3D image of the thick filament in mammalian heart muscle. Atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and stroke are among the severe…
An advance in cryo-EM could be a significant boon for research on potential cancer therapies. A technology called cryo-electron microscopy, or cryo-EM, enables scientists to…
When organisms pass their genes on to future generations, they include more than the code spelled out in DNA. Some also pass along chemical markers…
Researchers from the Victor Chang Cardiac Institute have uncovered a molecule that plays a key role in how cells detect when they are being pushed…
Scientists have illuminated the process by which a highly infectious virus, recently transmitted from animals to humans, gains entry into human cells. Dr. Ariel Isaacs…
Collaborative efforts from teams at the MPI Institutes located in Dresden, Dortmund, Frankfurt am Main, and Göttingen have led to the first evidence of a…
A recent study conducted by a multidisciplinary team of researchers sheds light on the underlying mechanisms of circadian rhythms, providing new hope for managing jet…
Exciting new findings shed light on the interaction between the protein calmodulin and an ion channel in the eye, potentially unlocking the secret behind our…
A group of scientists collaborated to release comprehensive structures of the entire human opioid receptor family, with the aim of facilitating the development of more…
A powerful plant-derived toxin with a unique way of killing harmful bacteria has been identified as one of the most promising new antibiotics in decades….
Scripps Research scientists have identified how the structure of the PI3Kα protein changes in cancer cells, providing insight into potential drug-targeting strategies. Understanding the structure…
The findings of the study call into question a long-held belief about the way proteins fold within our cells and have significant ramifications for the…
University of Virginia scientists have solved a decades-old mystery. Researchers from the University of Virginia School of Medicine and their colleagues have solved a long-standing…
The University of British Columbia researchers have discovered a key vulnerability of major coronavirus variants. The University of British Columbia researchers uncovered a key vulnerability…
Cryo-EM snapshots of the solid-electrolyte interphase, or SEI, reveal its natural swollen state and offer a new approach to lithium-metal battery design. Lithium metal batteries…