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Researchers get an unusual perspective at gene transcription . Genes are transcribed into RNA by every live cell. When an enzyme known as RNA polymerase (RNAP) clamps onto DNA, the process starts. The transcription bubble is a node formed when the DNA double helix unwinds in a matter of a few hundred milliseconds, allowing one exposed DNA strand to be transcribed into a complementary RNA strand. A substantial part of RNAP's mechanism of action remains unclear. While there would be a lot of information to be gained from a snapshot of RNAP opening that bubble, the process moves too quickly for existing technologies to readily record visualizations of these structures. The process of E. coli RNAP opening the transcription bubble is now described in a new study that was published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. https://lnkd.in/gveNCt7v

How mitochondrial transfer repairs cardiac muscle is discovered by researchers https://lnkd.in/gPVXRQgd

Fruit flies' crystal cells are found to aid in the body's oxygen transportation. Together with two colleagues from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, a group of life scientists at Hanyang University in Korea have discovered that fruit flies use crystal cells to carry oxygen throughout their bodies. The scientists investigated the function of the flies' crystal cells through tests and published their findings in the journal Nature. https://lnkd.in/gYcRsNgQ

Research team creates materials that prevent resistant bacteria from spreading Bacterial infections resistant to antibiotics are emerging as a significant social issue. In an effort to address this issue, scientists are developing novel materials that inhibit the growth of bacterial biofilms as well as novel medications that eradicate bacteria without encouraging resistance. Although they are famously hard to eradicate, the latter are the source of resistant types. https://lnkd.in/gRyXgAzC https://lnkd.in/gr-cGwHS

New perspectives on how the structure of cells affects the rates at which proteins travel https://lnkd.in/gJvA_yWz

How the bacteria E. Coli protects itself from antibiotics. Imagine that you have a very sore throat. You're sick, your throat hurts, and a visit to the doctor confirms that the pain is due to a bacterial infection. You get a prescription for antibiotics, which quickly sorts out your sore throat. You are pleased that the treatment has worked—but how did the bacteria experience the situation? "Antibiotic treatment causes damage to the bacteria. This damage can take the form of many different things, but it often involves damage to the genetic material, to the DNA, and activates an SOS response in the bacterium," says Bergum, from the Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine. She has studied how the pathogenic bacterium Escherichia coli reacts when exposed to small, non-fatal amounts of the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin. Ciprofloxacin is currently one of the most widely used antibiotics in the world, and works by attacking the DNA in the bacterial cells. "It binds to a protein that helps maintain the proper structure of the DNA, by cutting and splicing the DNA strands. This is necessary because copying and reading DNA creates stress on the DNA molecule," explains Bergum. In other words, the protein keeps the DNA strand in order while the bacterial cell carries on functioning. When the bacterium is about to divide, it ensures that DNA replication occurs in a safe and orderly manner. However, when the antibiotic binds to the protein, this function is prevented and things become rather chaotic. "Damage to the DNA then occurs, including the formation of single strands of incomplete DNA inside the cell," says Bergum. When these individual strands form, it's like lighting a match under a smoke detector. Other proteins detect the damaged DNA fragments and the alarm goes off. It's a dramatic situation for the bacterial cells, which can also be seen with the naked eye. "It is all hands to the pumps. Many common activities in the bacterium, such as replication, are put on hold. This is reflected in the bacteria changing shape. Usually, E. coli bacteria are rod-shaped, but when exposed to Ciprofloxacin, they become long filaments. The bacteria prioritize repairing the damage." If they are unable to repair the damage flawlessly, they will move on to the next step. "If the repairs are ineffective, the last resort is to alter the DNA. This is when they mutate. This response helps the bacteria to adapt and become resistant to antibiotics," says Bergum. Sources: https://lnkd.in/g2CFkTM3 https://lnkd.in/gFySN8ys

Scientists examine the cell's response to stress more closely. A recent investigation into the mechanics underlying how cells react to stress was conducted by the Zaher Lab at Washington University in St. Louis and published in Molecular Cell. The integrated stress response (ISR), which is triggered when cells face obstacles such as food shortages, causes the cells to create certain proteins in order to assist them survive. A transcription factor called Gcn4 is one of the key proteins synthesized during the process. What suggests is that this protein travels into the nucleus and regulates the expression of numerous genes. Proteins that assist cells in surviving and adapting to stressful situations are produced as a result of this Gcn4-mediated regulation. Source: https://lnkd.in/gmxYiQNM https://lnkd.in/g8iYEUBy

Proteins created by computers direct stem cells to build blood arteries. Researchers have now demonstrated that they can direct human stem cells to make new blood arteries in the lab using proteins that were created using computers. This advancement in regenerative medicine gives damaged hearts, kidneys, and other organs new hope. Source: https://lnkd.in/gKsvVgn9 Photo Credit: Ian C. Haydon/UW Medicine Institute for Protein Design

Temperature is a new weapon in the fight against antibiotic resistance. Researchers from the Universities of Groningen (the Netherlands), Montpellier (France), Oldenburg (Germany), and Montpellier (France) have examined the potential impact of fever on the emergence of antibiotic resistance. The frequency of mutations in E. coli bacteria was discovered to be significantly altered by a slight temperature increase from 37 to 40 degrees Celsius in lab trials. This modification was reported to aid the development of resistance. Fever control may be a novel strategy to lessen the emergence of antibiotic resistance if these findings can be verified in real patients. JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance, a journal, published the findings. Source: https://lnkd.in/gi-_RN_2

A fruit fly study demonstrates that reproductive cells can regenerate chromosome-linking proteins. A Dartmouth study on fruit flies provides the first evidence in any organism that oocytes—the cells that produce eggs—regularly renew the essential protein connections that bind chromosomes together. The findings, published in the journal Current Biology, could help women lower their risk of pregnancy issues as they age. The article is entitled "Chromatin-associated cohesin turns over extensively and forms new cohesive linkages in Drosophila oocytes during meiotic prophase." https://lnkd.in/gnSHm3YK