Study reveals how plants and bacteria 'talk' to thwart disease

When it comes to plants' innate immunity, like many of the dances of life, it takes two to tango. A receptor molecule in the plant pairs up with a specific molecule on the invading bacteria and, presto, the immune system ...

Hormones found to affect gene activity

(PhysOrg.com) -- Intermittent signaling by steroid hormones can affect the way genes are expressed in rodents, according to research by scientists at the University of Bristol and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), USA. ...

Modified caffeine molecules help medical research move forward

Before researchers can develop targeted drugs, they need to know exactly how a disease works. Biochemist Bert Beerkens created molecules that allow them to find out. He used caffeine as the basis for new molecules that enable ...

Researchers discover new plant immune pathway based on G protein

Plant cell-surface localized immune receptors recognize conserved microbial features to perceive pathogen invasion and activate plant immunity. Heterotrimeric G proteins, which are composed of α, β and γ subunits, are ...

Discovery could pave the way for disease-resistant rice crops

Researchers have uncovered an unusual protein activity in rice that can be exploited to give crops an edge in the evolutionary arms race against rice blast disease, a major threat to rice production around the world.

Scientists solve structure of complement C5a receptor

Scientists at Heptares Therapeutics have published the first high-resolution X-ray crystal structure of the complement C5a receptor (a G protein-coupled receptor, GPCR) binding a small molecule allosteric antagonist.

page 6 from 9