Was life on the early Earth purple?

Early life forms on Earth may have been able to generate metabolic energy from sunlight using a purple-pigmented molecule called retinal that possibly predates the evolution of chlorophyll and photosynthesis. If retinal has ...

Enzyme LSD1 found to regulate muscle fiber type differentiation

Our bodies convert food into energy for all life activities. These metabolic processes allow cells to produce energy (anabolism) and consume energy from nutrients (catabolism). In a recent update out of Kumamoto University ...

Changing enzymes for clean energy and disease prevention

β-glycosidases are enzymes that play many roles in nature. They can play a role in metabolic disorders and can break down tough plant fibers. Fredj Ben Bdira changed these enzymes in order to enhance the production of clean ...

How social rank can trigger vulnerability to stress

Stress is a major risk factor for a range of psychopathologies. However, stress does not affect everyone equally: in the face of sustained adversity, some people develop depression symptoms while others adapt and remain resilient. ...

Focused interactions important for protein dynamics

Many biological processes in cells function solely due to the phenomenon of diffusion. This ensures that particles are able to move randomly and aimlessly on the basis of their thermal energy alone. In this way, protein molecules ...

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