Navigation Links
Penn researchers develop technique for measuring stressed molecules in cells
Date:5/3/2011

PHILADELPHIA Biophysicists at the University of Pennsylvania have helped develop a new technique for studying how proteins respond to physical stress and have applied it to better understand the stability-granting structures in normal and mutated red blood cells.

The research was conducted by Dennis Discher and Christine Krieger in the Molecular and Cell Biophysics Lab in Penn's School of Engineering and Applied Science, along with researchers from the New York Blood Center and the Wistar Institute.

Discher's research was published online in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

In stark contrast with much of the architecture people interact with every day, the internal architecture of the human body is predominantly soft. Other than bones, all of the organs, tissues and structures in the body are pliable and flexible and need to be that way in order to work.

The Discher lab's research aims to understand what keeps these flexible structures stable, especially when they are under constant physical stress. Discher selected red blood cells as a model for this stress, as they make a complete lap of the turbulent circulatory system every few minutes but survive for months.

"Red blood cells are disks, and they have proteins right below the membrane that give it resilience, like a car tire," Discher said. "The cells are filled with hemoglobin like the tires are filled with air, but where the rubber meets the road is the exterior."

To measure stress in that membrane on an atomic level, the Discher team needed a way to track changes to the shape of those supporting proteins. They found an ideal proxy for that stress in the amino acid cysteine.

Proteins are long chain of amino acids that are tightly folded in on themselves. The order and chemical properties of the acids determine the locations of the folds, which in turn determine the function of the protein. Cysteine is "hyd
'/>"/>

Contact: Evan Lerner
elerner@upenn.edu
215-573-6604
University of Pennsylvania
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3

Related biology news :

1. Researchers see a picture of threat in the brain: Work may lead to new model of neuroinflammation
2. Researchers join forces to cure deadly childhood disease
3. Rices origins point to China, genome researchers conclude
4. GW researchers reveal 18 novel subtype-dependent genetic variants for autism spectrum disorders and identify potential genetic markers for diagnostic screening
5. NIH researchers create comprehensive collection of approved drugs to identify new therapies
6. MU researchers pioneer animal diabetes treatment
7. MIT researchers use virus to improve solar-cell efficiency
8. Beetle bling: Researchers discover optical secrets of metallic beetles
9. Wild hogs: Researchers examine impact of feral pigs in eastern N.C.
10. Researchers create functioning synapse using carbon nanotubes
11. Researchers find fat turns into soap in sewers, contributes to overflows
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/24/2013)... systems like ecosystems can get messy, especially when trying ... like climate change. , In a new paper ... of the National Academy of Sciences , researchers from ... assumption at the very heart of a popular way ... how climate changes may impact biodiversity, researchers like Jessica ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... 24, 2013 A frequently expressed concern in the ongoing ... fresh vegetables, especially those that are nutrient dense. ... and Beans Provide Most Nutrients Per Penny," published in ... are one of the best nutritional values in the ... per penny than most other raw vegetables and delivering ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... fastest growing open-access publishers, today announces the launch of ... A broad scope journal covering all specialties, Frontiers ... web platform for the research community to publish high ... and interactive peer-review enables fast, fair and constructive review ... of three months from submission to final decision for ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Understanding the past and predicting the future by looking across space and time 2New research shows that potatoes provide one of the best nutritional values per penny 2Frontiers launches new open-access journal in physics 2Frontiers launches new open-access journal in physics 3
... clumps of protein found within nerve cells are ... were first identified in the early 1900s by German ... in a protein called tau cause it to aggregate ... Normally, the tau protein is involved in the formation ...
... of cardiovascular disease, research from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the ... obesity hormones adiponectin - are also linked to osteoporosis ... is more than just bones, vertebrae and joints. In fact, ... our brain, our muscles and our fatty tissue. Stem cells ...
... D deficiency is common in Americans, and especially in ... of Health. University of Missouri researchers have found that ... vitamin D3 is safe and effective in improving their ... risk for deficiency because they tend to absorb vitamin ...
Cached Biology News:Chemical engineers help decipher mystery of neurofibrillary tangle formation in Alzheimer's brains 2Obese adolescents benefit from high-dose vitamin D supplements 2
(Date:5/24/2013)... (PRWEB) May 24, 2013 Dr. Ingrid Warmuth ... and Swedesboro, NJ, are proud to announce an Open House ... take place on Saturday, June 8th from 10 AM to ... Anamaria Newport, MHS, PA-C and staff will be on hand ... laser and aesthetic treatments, and provide complimentary cosmetic consultations. There ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... 24, 2013 In a sneak ... suppliers will present technologies with applications in multiple ... SPIE Optics and Photonics symposium in ... SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics ... optical sciences and technology meeting in North America, ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... May 24, 2013 Bed bug cases tend ... themselves from the looming higher risk of becoming the pests' ... new bed bug guideline. In the guide, the company enumerated ... and avoiding them while traveling. , According to My ... increase of bed bug infestation during summer: the warm weather ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... and TEL AVIV, Israel , May ... the "Company") (NYSE MKT: NSPR), a leader in embolic protection ... Company,s President and Chief Executive Officer, and Craig ... in the Benchmark Company, LLC One-on-One Investor Conference on Thursday ... Ave., Milwaukee, WI. The ...
Breaking Biology Technology:See What’s in Earth’s Future ? and Out in Space Now ? at SPIE Optics and Photonics 2See What’s in Earth’s Future ? and Out in Space Now ? at SPIE Optics and Photonics 3See What’s in Earth’s Future ? and Out in Space Now ? at SPIE Optics and Photonics 4Steps for Getting Rid of Bed Bugs without Using Chemicals and Avoiding Them While Traveling Enumerated by My Cleaning Products in Its Latest Post 2Steps for Getting Rid of Bed Bugs without Using Chemicals and Avoiding Them While Traveling Enumerated by My Cleaning Products in Its Latest Post 3InspireMD To Participate In Benchmark Investor Conference On May 30th 2InspireMD To Participate In Benchmark Investor Conference On May 30th 3InspireMD To Participate In Benchmark Investor Conference On May 30th 4
... GenVault,s energy and space efficient technologies ideally suit ... create a new paradigm for eco-friendly, sustainable Biobanking ... announces the opening of its newly-formed Japanese subsidiary ... the expanding Biobanking market and its growing customer ...
... Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held ophthalmic-focused biopharmaceutical company, today ... ophthalmic gel, 0.15%, has been accepted for review by ... is seeking approval for ganciclovir as a treatment for ... simplex virus. The FDA has issued an action date ...
... 26 Fifty percent of clinical trial management ... share high-value, proprietary company information via e-mail, while ... overnight courier (14 percent), according to a recent ... for exchanging clinical trial information with outside parties ...
Cached Biology Technology:GenVault Opens Japanese Subsidiary to Better Address Global Biobanking Market Growth 2Sirion Therapeutics New Drug Application for Ganciclovir is Accepted for Review by the FDA for the Treatment of Ocular Herpes 2Sirion Therapeutics New Drug Application for Ganciclovir is Accepted for Review by the FDA for the Treatment of Ocular Herpes 3IntraLinks Poll: Half of Clinical Trial Management Professionals Share Critical Information Via E-Mail 2
Human sIL-2R/CD25 ELI-PAIR Kit...
Request Info...
ANTI-HUMAN CYTOKINES, GROWTH FACTORS (polyclonal rabbit (or goat) antibodies) Human TARC - Biotin...
Anti-Bcl-G (CT) Host: rabbit polyclonal Species Reactivity: human, mouse, rat Applications: WB, IHC Storage: 4C...
Biology Products: