Understanding COVID-19 infection and possible mutations

The binding of a SARS-CoV-2 virus surface protein spike—a projection from the spherical virus particle—to the human cell surface protein ACE2 is the first step to infection that may lead to COVID-19 disease. Penn State ...

Chemists discover the structure of a key coronavirus protein

MIT chemists have determined the molecular structure of a protein found in the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This protein, called the envelope protein E, forms a cation-selective channel and plays a key role in the virus's ability to ...

Researchers slash pre-drug screening time from years to days

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) have developed a powerful tool that will streamline and accelerate the development of disease therapies, transforming a multi-year ...

The surprising individuality of microRNAs

In order for the instructions contained within a gene to ultimately execute some function in the body, the nucleotides, or letters, that make up the gene's DNA sequence must be "read" and used to produce a messenger RNA (mRNA). ...

Double-bridged peptides bind any disease target

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that can bind to proteins and change their function. They show high binding affinity, low toxicity, and are easy to synthesize, all of which makes peptides ideal for use in drug development, ...

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