News by Subject Biology

Scientists are a step closer to understanding how our DNA is squeezed into every cell in the body. They provide the first-ever detailed picture of the nucleosome, the most basic building block of chromosomes (the structures that house our DNA). This finding will inform research on all processes that involve chromosomes, such as gene expression and DNA repair, which are critical to the understanding of diseases such as cancer.

Scientists have developed a groundbreaking method to reveal the structure of tissues and tumors with unprecedented detail, by completely dissolving away cells and leaving the delicate extracellular matrix intact.

EPFL scientists have discovered an important gene whose loss lies behind follicular lymphoma, an incurable cancer.

A study led by the researcher Marisol Soengas at the Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO) allows to visualize 'in vivo' how melanomas act before metastasis occurs, and how these invasive signals are reactivated when surgery is not efficient. The researchers have also identified new metastasis mechanisms induced by very small lesions in the skin, which represent new progression biomarkers and potential targets for melanoma treatment.

Patients with common widespread forms of cancer will enjoy longer life expectancy and reduced risk of recurrence thanks to a multimodal optical spectroscopy probe developed by Canadian researchers.

UC biologist helps decode the structural complexities of male butterfly ejaculate and co-evolving female reproductive tract. Findings from these biochemical relationships may help unlock certain mysteries of human infertility.

Scientists at the University of Konstanz and Umea University in Sweden have arrived at a structural model of the enzyme adenylate kinase in its closed state

A recent study conducted by Dr. YU Xiang's lab at the Institute of Neuroscience of Chinese Academy of Sciences uncovered an asymmetric role for the symmetric cadherin/catenin cell adhesion complexes in functional synapse formation in the neocortex. Pre-synaptic β-catenin is predominant during the formation and mediates dendritic spine stabilization through N-cadherin-dependent anterograde trans-synaptic signaling. The effect of the cadherin/catenin requires p140Cap, a novel β-catenin interacting partner.

New research provides mechanistic insight into how protein dynamics control the activity of a group of enzymes called serine proteases. As serine proteases play pivotal roles in blood coagulation, the innate immune system and tissue remodeling, the results may be important for the development of new drugs for the treatment of various diseases.