A protein that’s essential to every cell’s ability to turn off unnecessary genes is well known for its key function of compacting genes and its connection to cancer when it undergoes mutation. But until now, scientists weren’t quite sure how the protein gets where it needs to go to keep genes bound up so they aren’t activated. In a new study, researchers found that this protein, called linker histone H1, initially flits around inside a cell with no clear aim even in the presence of its target: a nucleosome containing spooled-up segments of DNA. H1 binds directly to two DNA strands sticking out from the nucleosome, but struggles to bind to the nucleosome itself until a chaperone protein escorts it there.

Weiwen Jiang, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing (CEC), received funding for the project: “Collaborative Research: CyberTraining: Implementation: Medium: Building a Dual-Expertise Workforce in Quantum Computing and Healthcare Through Dual-State Collaboration.” 

Jiang’s primary goal for this project is to establish a sustainable training framework for developing dual expertise in quantum computing and health care applications.  

As Florida considers dropping its measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine mandate for school attendance, a new University of Maryland study predicts that such a policy change could spark the largest measles epidemic in the United States in nearly 50 years.

Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a new family of materials that use light to produce hydrogen from water, opening the door to new ways of converting the sun’s rays into clean energy.