Archyde The sensation of touch, from a gentle tap to the feeling of clothing against skin, relies on a complex network of nerve cells and specialized proteins. Scientists have long known… You can read the full story here: How PIEZO2 Senses Touch: New Insights into Molecular Mechanisms & Sensory Disorders. Source link
A tiny region in a little-known muscle protein may hold the key to a healthy, steady heartbeat, as well as possible clues to future treatment of devastating heart ailments. Washington State University researchers have found a region of a protein called leiomodin that is critical in maintaining the length of tiny filaments that control a … Read more
Proteins long known to be essential for hearing have been hiding a talent: they also act as gatekeepers that shuffle fatty molecules across cell membranes. When this newly discovered function goes haywire-due to genetic mutations, noise-induced damage, or certain medications-it may be what kills the delicate sensory cells in our ears, causing permanent hearing loss. … Read more
After nearly 40 years of research on how Listeria bacteria manipulate our cells and battle our immune system to cause listeriosis, Daniel Portnoy and his colleagues have discovered a way to turn the bacteria into a potent booster of the immune system – and a potential weapon against cancer. Three years ago, Portnoy cofounded a … Read more
A previously unknown protein in a family of bacteria found in soil and the human gut microbiome has been discovered – which could help drug delivery in cancer treatment. In a paper published in PNAS, researchers at King’s College London and the University of Washington describe the unique 3D structure of this protein, which is … Read more
A discovery by Mayo Clinic researchers may help explain why immunotherapy hasn’t been helpful for many patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. In findings published in Clinical Cancer Research, the team identified specific proteins – fibronectin and smooth muscle actin – within colorectal cancer tissues that are associated with resistance to immunotherapy treatment. Immunotherapy is a major advance in treating … Read more
Early use of AHCC during hepatitis stages shows potential to reduce the risk of cirrhosis, according to new research Study: AHCC inhibited hepatic stellate cells activation by regulation of cytoglobin induction via TLR2-SAPK/JNK pathway and collagen production via TLR4-NF-κβ pathway. Image Credit: guys_who_shoot/Shutterstock.com A recent report in Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology presents the effect of … Read more