A protein on cancer cells supports immune response against tumors

Surprising discovery

19-Sep-2023 - Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) identify a new and surprising function of a membrane protein on the surface of cancer cells: It supports and stabilizes an important "co-stimulatory" factor that enhances the activation of T cells, thus improving the immune response against ...

Methane-eating bacteria convert greenhouse gas to fuel

State-of-the-art method reveals never-before-seen atomic structures controlling the process

21-Mar-2022 - Methanotrophic bacteria consume 30 million metric tons of methane per year and have captivated researchers for their natural ability to convert the potent greenhouse gas into usable fuel. Yet we know very little about how the complex reaction occurs, limiting our ability to use the double benefit ...

Observing proteins in their natural environment

11-Feb-2020 - Proteins can be responsible for the fact that the active ingredients of drugs are simply released from the target cells. You can watch them do this now. Certain medications, such as those used to treat cancer, lose their effect because proteins in the membrane of the target cell simply expel them ...

Molecular energy machine as a movie star

09-Jul-2019 - Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have used the Swiss Light Source SLS to record a molecular energy machine in action and thus to reveal how energy production at cell membranes works. For this purpose they developed a new investigative method that could make the analysis of cellular ...

Bringing information into the cell

30-Apr-2019 - Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have elucidated an important part of a siganalling pathway that transmits information through the cell membrane into the interior of a cell. This siganalling pathway is of great significance for all mammals, since it is involved in various important ...

New tool for structural biology

New method of crystallising large membrane proteins

08-Mar-2018 - ETH researchers have developed a new method of crystallising large membrane proteins in order to determine their structure. This will be of benefit to biological research and the pharmaceutical industry. Membrane-embedded proteins are an essential part of cells and any form of life. They not only ...

Toxic agents behind Parkinson's disease seen at work for the first time

First look at how toxic protein clusters disrupt the membranes of healthy brain cells.

18-Dec-2017 - Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative nervous system disorder that affects more than six million people worldwide and causes nearly 120,000 deaths per year. In new research, scientists have characterised the key agents involved in spreading Parkinson’s disease in the brain, and established how ...

Bacterial organizational complexities revealed

26-Jun-2017 - For the first time, scientists have visualized the fine details of bacterial microcompartment shells - the organisms' submicroscopic nanoreactors, which are comprised completely of protein. The results show how the architectural principles of bacterial microcompartments, or BMCs, apply to both ...

One step closer to crack the mystery of bacterial adaptation to antibiotics

12-Apr-2017 - An international team including researchers from MIPT's Laboratory for Advanced Studies of Membrane Proteins have proposed an explanation of the way bacteria process external signals. By identifying the detailed structure of the protein complex used by bacteria, the scientists gained insights ...

Unexpected protein structure findings could lead to new therapies

07-Apr-2017 - Scientists have determined unexpected characteristics of a key protein linked to blood pressure control and to nerve growth, pain control and heart tissue regeneration. The findings opens doors to potential new therapies to control cardiovascular disease and pain. The protein, called AT2, is one ...