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Thu, 23 May 2013 14:37:37 EDT
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Cinnamon compound has potential ability to prevent Alzheimer's
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Cinnamon: Can the red-brown spice with the unmistakable fragrance and variety of uses offer an important benefit? The common baking spice might hold the key to delaying the onset of -- or warding off -- the effects of Alzheimer's disease.
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Thu, 23 May 2013 14:37:37 EDT
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Biophysicists measure mechanism that determines fate of living cells
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For the first time, biophysicists have measured the molecular force required to mechanically transmit function-regulating signals within a cell. A new laboratory method, named the tension gauge tether approach, has made it possible to detect and measure the mechanics of the single-molecule interaction by which human cell receptors are activated.
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Thu, 23 May 2013 14:33:33 EDT
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New target to boost plant resistance to insects and pathogens identified
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Plants have evolved unique and sophisticated immune systems to defend themselves against insects and pathogens. Plant hormones called jasmonates play an important role in this defense, but jasmonates have been found to also be important for plant growth. Now, researchers have discovered a gene in the jasmonate pathway that controls plant defenses but does not play a detectable role in plant development. These findings could be applied to improve crop resistance in agriculture.
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Thu, 23 May 2013 08:30:30 EDT
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Biochemistry: Unspooling DNA from nucleosomal disks
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The tight wrapping of genomic DNA around nucleosomes in the cell nucleus makes it unavailable for gene expression. This study describes a mechanism that allows chromosomal DNA to be locally displaced from nucleosomes for transcription.
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Thu, 23 May 2013 08:30:30 EDT
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Boosting body's natural flu killers as way to offset virus mutation problem
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The known difficulty in fighting influenza (flu) is the ability of the flu viruses to mutate and thus evade various medications that were previously found to be effective. Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have shown recently that another, more promising, approach is to focus on improving drugs that boost the body’s natural flu killer system.
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Wed, 22 May 2013 13:11:11 EDT
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Slowing the aging process -- only with antibiotics
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Scientists reveal the mechanism responsible for aging hidden deep within mitochondria -- and dramatically slow it down in worms by administering antibiotics to the young.
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Wed, 22 May 2013 13:09:09 EDT
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How immune system peacefully co-exists with 'good' bacteria
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The human gut is loaded with helpful bacteria microbes, yet the immune system seemingly turns a blind eye. Now, researchers know how this friendly truce is kept intact. Innate lymphoid cells directly limit the response by inflammatory T cells to commensal bacteria in the gut of mice. Loss of this ILC function effectively puts the immune system on an extended war footing against the commensal bacteria a condition observed in multiple chronic inflammatory diseases.
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Wed, 22 May 2013 08:53:53 EDT
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DNA damage: The dark side of respiration
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Adventitious changes in cellular DNA can endanger the whole organism, as they may lead to life-threatening illnesses like cancer. Researchers now report how byproducts of respiration cause mispairing of subunits in the double helix.
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Wed, 22 May 2013 08:52:52 EDT
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Mechanism discovered which aids Legionella to camouflage itself in the organism
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The feared Legionella pneumophilabacteria is responsible for legionellosis, an infectious disease that can lead to pneumonia. In order to infect us, this pathogen has developed a complex method enabling it to camouflage itself and go unnoticed in our cells, thus avoiding these acting against the infectious bacteria.
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