17-Apr-2023 Deep learning-drives insights into protein-protein interactions DOE/US Department of Energy Protein-protein interactions are essential for life. Researchers used DeepMind’s AlphaFold 2 to develop a deep learning approach for predicting and modeling multi-protein interactions. The AF2Complex approach generates much more accurate structural models than previous methods for modeling a protein complex. As a proof of concept, the researchers used AF2Complex to virtually screen key proteins in E. coli, discovering unexpected protein-protein interactions. Journal Nature Communications
24-Mar-2023 Predicting lizard populations University of Texas at Arlington In a new study published in Ecology Letters, Luke Frishkoff, assistant professor of biology at The University of Texas at Arlington, explores an age-old question: Why do some locations have more species than others? Journal Ecology Letters
17-Mar-2023 Math answers puzzling behavior of bat ears inspiring real-world upgrade on Batman’s go-to tech Hiroshima University Bioengineers formulated a mathematical model that clarified the importance of bat ear motions in direction detection, making way for lean, mean sonar navigation machines. Journal PLOS Computational Biology Funder Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
20-Feb-2023 How Earth’s molecules got their “handedness” Ohio State University COLUMBUS, Ohio – Scientists from The Ohio State University have a new theory about how the building blocks of life – the many proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids that compose every organism on Earth – may have evolved to favor a certain kind of molecular structure. Journal ACS Earth and Space Chemistry
13-Feb-2023 Memory formed alongside brain signaling system King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) Evolution of lactate-mediated nerve signaling probably enabled memory systems, a comparative gene study shows. Journal Scientific Reports
8-Feb-2023 UM study: Salmonflies may adapt to warming mountain streams The University of Montana Thanks to a study recently published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, a team of University of Montana researchers are closer to understanding how one particular organism, the salmonfly, may react to the rising freshwater temperatures of our changing world. Journal Journal of Experimental Biology
2-Feb-2023 Multiplication on, multiplication off: Targeting an enzymatic switch to develop oncology drugs Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology Researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Illinois Chicago have demonstrated a powerful new approach to small molecule drug development. Published in Nature Chemical Biology, their study highlights lipid-protein interaction as a new avenue for drug development and demonstrates its functionality by designing small molecule-based inhibitors to target acute myeloid leukemia. Journal Nature Chemical Biology
27-Jan-2023 Discovering unique microbes made easy with DOE Systems Biology Knowledgebase (KBase) DOE/US Department of Energy The Department of Energy Systems Biology Knowledgebase (KBase) recently released a suite of features and a protocol for performing sophisticated microbiome analysis that can accelerate research in microbial ecology. KBase helps researchers understand which organisms live in an environment and how they interact. The tool’s new features reduce the time required to process sequencing data and characterize genomes and help scientists collaboratively analyze genomics data and build research communities. Journal Nature Protocols
26-Jan-2023 The many manifestations of long COVID Jackson Laboratory New JAX research is examining long COVID using data from healthcare systems across the US as part of the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C). Journal EBioMedicine
