Tuesday, November 22, 2011

ScienceDaily: Biotechnology News

ScienceDaily: Biotechnology News

New medical, research tool possible by probing cell mechanics

Posted: 21 Nov 2011 04:40 PM PST

Researchers are making progress in developing a system that measures the mechanical properties of living cells, a technology that could be used to diagnose human disease and better understand biological processes.

New way to boost potency of natural pain relief chemical in body

Posted: 21 Nov 2011 11:25 AM PST

Researchers have discovered a new means of enhancing the effects of anandamide -- a natural, marijuana-like chemical in the body that provides pain relief.

Mutants with heterozygote disadvantage can prevent spread of transgenic animals

Posted: 21 Nov 2011 08:47 AM PST

Genetically modified animals are designed to contain the spread of pathogens. One prerequisite for the release of such organisms into the environment is that the new gene variant does not spread uncontrollably, suppressing natural populations. Scientists have now established that certain mutations are maintained over an extended period if two separate populations exchange individuals with one another on a small scale.

Tweaking a gene makes muscles twice as strong: New avenue for treating muscle degeneration in people who can't exercise

Posted: 21 Nov 2011 07:45 AM PST

An international team of scientists has created super-strong, high-endurance mice and worms by suppressing a natural muscle-growth inhibitor, suggesting treatments for age-related or genetics-related muscle degeneration are within reach.

Key gene function against cell death discovered

Posted: 21 Nov 2011 05:56 AM PST

Scientists have discovered that two genes (TSC/Tuberin and PRAS40) are extremely important regulators in the development of stem cells: if these genes are switched off, the stem cells do not develop but instead die a programmed cell death.

New class of small molecules discovered through innovative chemistry

Posted: 20 Nov 2011 10:47 AM PST

Inspired by natural products, scientists have now created a new class of small molecules with the potential to serve as a rich foundation for drug discovery.

Enzymatic synthesis of pyrrolysine, the mysterious 22nd amino acid

Posted: 18 Nov 2011 10:30 AM PST

With few exceptions, all known proteins are built up from only twenty amino acids. 25 years ago scientists discovered a 21st amino acid, selenocysteine and ten years ago a 22nd, the pyrrolysine. However, how the cell produces the unusual building block remained a mystery. Now researchers have elucidated the structure of an important enzyme in the production of pyrrolysine.

Worms reveal secrets of wound-healing response

Posted: 17 Nov 2011 11:03 AM PST

The lowly and simple roundworm may be the ideal laboratory model to learn more about the complex processes involved in repairing wounds and could eventually allow scientists to improve the body's response to healing skin wounds, a serious problem in diabetics and the elderly.

New method to quickly separate and identify thousands of protein molecules

Posted: 30 Oct 2011 12:16 PM PDT

Scientist have developed a new "top-down" method that can separate and identify thousands of protein molecules quickly. The researchers were able to identify more than 3,000 protein forms created from 1,043 genes from human HeLa cells. Many have been skeptical that such an approach, where each protein is analyzed intact instead of in smaller parts, could be done on such a large scale.
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