Biology and biotechnology – Page 16
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ResearchSynthetic molecules fold up into abiotic proteins
Compound that self-assembles into giant folded ring could help scientists design bespoke abiotic proteins
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ResearchNanodecoys lure and trap Zika virus
Gelatin nanoparticles camouflaged by mosquito membrane mop up virus and stop it crossing placenta
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ResearchDNA sugar could form on icy asteroids and comets
Water–methanol ices bombarded with UV simulate conditions found on comets and asteroids
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ResearchPore-forming toxins detect long strands of DNA
Lithium electrolyte helps aerolysin overcome electrostatic obstacle to detect ssDNA longer than 100 nucleotides
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ResearchChemists borrow biological instrument to sort polymer beads by shape
Cell sorting machine discriminates between spherical, disc-shaped and ellipsoidal polystyrene particles
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ResearchWeird mechanism behind catnip compound’s biosynthesis uncovered
Nepetalactone – the compound cats go crazy for – is made by a two-step procedure that is unlike any other in terpenoid biosynthesis
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ResearchErythropoietin benefits from controlled sugar-coating
Click chemistry allows glycosylation at virtually any synthetic stage
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ResearchSuspicions of bacteria’s role in rotting wood finally proven
Bacteria have been thought to be involved in breaking down lignin for 40 years but evidence has been hard to come by
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ResearchSurface chemistry for biological questions
Rasmita Raval discusses her career exploring the complex behaviour of molecule–surface systems and what it has to do with antibiotic resistance and the origin of life
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ResearchWearable sensor checks blood alcohol content using sweat
Device shows how sweat could be used as a non-invasive source of biochemical information
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Research‘Chirality gene’ puts life in a twist
Simple molecular interactions may underpin the asymmetry of biological systems
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ResearchMass spec goes massive weighing huge virus particles
Nanomechanical system can weigh protein complexes and viruses more than 100MDa in mass
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ResearchVenom peptides reveal secrets of scorpion evolution
The shapes of toxins found in venom are helping to resolve the scorpion’s family tree
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ResearchScorpion venom peptide engineered to sting brain disorders
Structure used to escort nanoparticles across blood–brain barrier also resists protease degradation
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ResearchDrug precursor made by solar-powered cyborg yeast
Indium phosphide nanoparticles supply electrons for shikimic acid synthesis
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ResearchEvidence emerges from the deep of Earth's first amino acids
Geochemical processes shows how buildings blocks for life on Earth may have been synthesised
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ResearchTuring patterns explain shark scale development
The tooth-like scales on a shark’s skin show signs of reaction-diffusion molecular patterns, like human hair and chicken feathers
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ResearchHidden gene cluster unearthed to reveal antibacterial natural product
Scientists encourage soil microorganisms to express themselves
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ResearchSilk route to scar-free skin
Hydrogel supports wound healing by allowing hair follicles and sebaceous glands to regenerate
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ResearchEnzyme ancestors resurrected to boost thermal stability
Scientists constructing enzyme library make serendipitous discovery