Research demonstrates a molecular dance that keeps your heart beating
It might look like a little game at the molecular scale.
Molecular & Computational biology
Oct 14, 2020
0
190
News tagged with actin
Human white blood cells use molecular paddles to swim
Human white blood cells, known as leukocytes, swim using a newly described mechanism called molecular paddling, researchers report in the September 15th issue of Biophysical Journal. This microswimming mechanism could explain ...
General Physics
Sep 15, 2020
1
327
Protein 'chameleon' colors long-term memory
A chameleonlike protein in neurons can change its mind, and in the process change our brains.
Biochemistry
Aug 25, 2020
0
211
The tug-of-war at the heart of cellular symmetry
Symmetry and asymmetry are fundamental properties of nature. Seen from above, butterflies have left-right symmetry, while male fiddler crabs show dramatic asymmetry. This is also the case for the fundamental units of life: ...
Cell & Microbiology
Jun 25, 2020
0
73
Urge to merge: Understanding how cells fuse
Scientists have known for a decade that cells that fuse with others to perform their essential functions—such as muscle cells that join together to make fibers—form long projections that invade the territory of their ...
Cell & Microbiology
May 26, 2020
0
89
Controlling cells with light
Photopharmacology investigates the use of light to switch the effect of drugs on and off. Now, for the first time, scientific teams from Jena, Munich, and New York have succeeded in using this method to control a component ...
Cell & Microbiology
May 15, 2020
0
383
Simulations show fundamental interactions inside the cell
Actin filaments have several important functions inside cells. For one, they support the cell membrane by binding to it. However, scientists did not know exactly how the actin interacts with the membrane lipids. Simulations ...
Cell & Microbiology
Mar 3, 2020
0
18
Protein function maintains the balance between protrusive and contractile cell machineries
Tropomodulin maintains the fine balance between the protein machineries responsible for cell movement and morphogenesis. Disturbances in this balance are common in many diseases, for example, invasive cancers.
Molecular & Computational biology
Feb 17, 2020
0
21
Lane change in the cytoskeleton
Many amphibians and fish are able to change their color in order to better adapt to their environment. Munich-based scientists have now investigated the molecular mechanisms in the cytoskeleton necessary for this and revealed ...
Biotechnology
Feb 12, 2020
0
25
Identifying a plant cell barrier to breeding more nutritious crops
What if we could grow plants that are larger and also have higher nutritional content? Michigan State University scientists have identified a protein that could be a major roadblock to growing such plants.
Plants & Animals
Dec 23, 2019
1
27
