A team from Osaka University has developed a large-scale drug screening technique that can track target molecule behavior within cells. The researchers verified their technique by testing the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a known target for cancer drugs. Their drug screening resulted in the identification of the known drugs, as well as others that were not previously known to affect EGFR. This new method can potentially help develop new drugs and repurpose existing drugs.

A new portal linking Japanese genetic variant information with protein sequence and structure date has been launched by Protein Data Bank Japan (PDBj) and Tohoku University Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization (ToMMo). The portal simplifies the mapping of genetic variants to 3D protein structures and includes tools for visualization and analysis. It aims to advance medicine and drug discovery, particularly in precision medicine.

In a groundbreaking study, the regulatory role of the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) Gm20257 in pathological cardiac hypertrophy has been elucidated, offering new insights into potential therapeutic targets. Pathological cardiac hypertrophy, a condition characterized by an abnormal increase in heart muscle size, can lead to heart failure if left unchecked. The research delves into how lncRNA Gm20257 interacts with PGC-1α to modulate the mitochondrial complex IV axis, thereby influencing the development of cardiac hypertrophy.

University of Queensland-led research has found inflammatory markers in the blood of long COVID patients which could explain why many experience ongoing cardiovascular issues.