Navigation Links
Protein 'nanosprings' most resilient found in nature

repeats consist of tandem modules of about 33 amino acids, the researchers said. Found in a large number of functionally diverse proteins in organisms ranging from plants to humans, ankyrin repeats are one of the most common protein-protein interaction motifs in nature.

Ankyrin repeats of varying lengths appear in more than 400 human proteins expressed in many tissues, Bennett said. For example, ankyrin repeats are found in association with specialized hair cells of the inner ear, where they play a critical role in converting sound (a mechanical stimulus) into an electrical signal that can be transmitted to the brain ?a process known as mechanotransduction.

Ankyrin proteins also coordinate the ion channels and transporters that control the beating of the heart. In 2004, Bennett's team linked mutations in the gene ankyrin-B to an inherited cardiac arrhythmia syndrome that can lead to sudden death (http://www.dukemednews.org/news/article.php?id=9389).

Earlier study of the atomic structure of 12 ankyrin repeats suggested that ankyrin proteins consisting of 24 or more repeats might form a super-helical spiral with spring-like properties, the researchers said.

Using atomic force microscopy (AFM) to view individual molecules in the current study, Marszalek and Pratt research associate Yong Jiang found that ankyrin repeats indeed display a hook-like shape consistent with a spring. AFM is a technique for analyzing the surface of materials all the way down to the level of the atom. Marszalek and Pratt graduate student Gwangrog Lee further examined the molecules' elastic properties by attaching one end of the molecules to a glass slide and gently pulling at the other end with the AFM cantilever.

"After thousands of stretches, a pattern emerged," Marszalek said. "The molecule exhibited linear elasticity--a property that had never been seen in any other protein."

Th
'"/>

Source:Duke University


Page: 1 2 3 4

Related biology news :

1. Quantum Dots Research Leads to New Knowledge about Protein Binding in Plants
2. Protein discovery could unlock the secret to better TB treatment
3. Researchers Uncover Key Step In Manufacture of Memory Protein
4. An HIV Protein Plays a Surprising Role in Gene Activation
5. Protein Packages Found To Activate Genes; May Be What Regulates Development And Disease
6. New SARS Protein Linked To Important Cell Doorway
7. The Shapes Of Life: NIGMS Project Yields More Than 1,000 Protein Structures
8. PANTHER Protein Classification System Database 5.0
9. Duke Chemists Isolating Individual Molecules Of Toxic Protein In Alzheimers, Parkinsons Disease
10. Newly Discovered Compound Blocks Known Cancer-Causing Protein
11. UF Researchers Map Bacterial Proteins That Cause Tooth Loss
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
TAG: Protein nanosprings most resilient found nature

(Date:5/16/2013)... living closer to a fast food restaurant had a ... further away from fast food, according to researchers at ... this association was particularly strong among those with a ... in the American Journal of Public Health ... fast food restaurant, and among lower-income African-Americans, the density, ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... The relationship between the heritable risk for ... clear. Schizophrenia is commonly associated with cognitive impairments ... that reduced IQ may be linked to the ... ability may precede the onset of schizophrenia symptoms. ... relatives of people diagnosed with schizophrenia. , In ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... Infections can trigger hematopoiesis at sites outside the bone ... skin.Researchers of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich now show that ... medullary" formation of blood cells. , Balanced hematopoiesis is ... fetal development, hematopoiesis takes place mainly in the liver ... the bone marrow, and this tissue normally serves as ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Body mass index of low income African-Americans linked to proximity of fast food restaurants 2Body mass index of low income African-Americans linked to proximity of fast food restaurants 3Genetic risk for schizophrenia is connected to reduced IQ 2Herpes infections: Natural killer cells activate hematopoiesis 2
... Residential washing machines may not always use hot ... aureus (MRSA) and Acinetobacter, a Gram-negative bacteria, from hospital ... issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology , ... America. The study, conducted by researchers from ...
... SAN DIEGO (October 2, 2011) Researchers at the ... previously unknown mechanism that generates protective immune memory cells ... which include the mouth, the intestines, the lungs and other ... viruses and other infectious organisms. The findings were published ...
... the Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB) and the School ... NSF,s Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) is ... 1998 and has, thus far, provided interdisciplinary research training ... of Illinois grant, Vertically Integrated Training With Genomics (VInTG), ...
Cached Biology News:Study: Residential washers may not kill hospital-acquired bacteria 2La Jolla Institute discovers novel mechanism for preventing infection via body's mucosal borders 2La Jolla Institute discovers novel mechanism for preventing infection via body's mucosal borders 3La Jolla Institute discovers novel mechanism for preventing infection via body's mucosal borders 4Institute for Genomic Biology, School of Integrative Biology receive major NSF training grant 2
(Date:5/17/2013)... May 17, 2013 Dr. Sparano is ... Women’s Health at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine ... the Montefiore Medical Center. He is also Associate ... and leads the Einstein Breast Cancer Working Group, a ... breast cancer research. He also serves as Vice Chair ...
(Date:5/17/2013)... provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and ... in Reproductive BioMedicine Online on ... abnormal chromosomal composition can be identified by the rate ... the risk of genetic abnormality without a biopsy. In ... retrospective study, using their predictive model to assess the ...
(Date:5/17/2013)... , May 17, 2013  Cellular Biomedicine Group ... 50% enrollment of the total projected enrollment required ... safety and preliminary efficacy of the medical technology ... Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA). To date the trial has ... The Phase I open label clinical research ...
(Date:5/17/2013)... 17, 2013 Men’s skin is biologically different ... Posay ) and has been known to react more aggressively ... may be far from puberty, other acne causing factors like ... breakouts, and threatening skin with unsightly acne scars. Adult acne ... Men’s Health on how to reduce and prevent acne ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Joseph A. Sparano, MD, Named Vice Chair of ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group 2Joseph A. Sparano, MD, Named Vice Chair of ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group 3Breakthrough for IVF? 2Breakthrough for IVF? 3Cellular Biomedicine Group Achieves 50% Enrollment Milestone in Phase I Clinical Trial for Knee Osteoarthritis 2Adult Acne Treatment, Probiotic Action Shares New Insight on Why Men’s Skin Scars from Acne and How to Prevent It 2
... Calif., Oct. 1 Vet-Stem, Inc. announced that Dr. ... a talk entitled "Stem Cell Therapy: Mechanisms of Action" ... of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) in Seattle, WA, October 21, ... (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060425/VETSTEMLOGO ) Dr. Harman ...
... a pilot-scale study wherein Kibow(R) Biotics were administered orally ... Argentina and Nigeria. The positive outcome from this study ... the peer-reviewed "Advances in Therapy" journal. This report, titled ... Kidney Function in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease," can ...
... Oct. 1 Bioheart, Inc. - (OTC Bulletin Board: ... discovery, development and commercialization of autologous cell therapies for ... company received a preliminary commitment from Seaside National Bank ... used to refinance the Company,s loan with Bank of ...
Cached Biology Technology:Vet-Stem CEO to Present Invited Talk at Veterinary Surgery Meeting 2Kibow Biotech Releases Results of Pilot Scale Study of Its Probiotic Formulation for Kidney Health 2Kibow Biotech Releases Results of Pilot Scale Study of Its Probiotic Formulation for Kidney Health 3Bioheart, Inc. Announces Loan to be Assumed by Seaside 2Bioheart, Inc. Announces Loan to be Assumed by Seaside 3
Immunogen: Extract of pigmented melanoma metastases from lymph nodes. Storage: -20 C, Avoid Freeze/Thaw Cycles...
alpha N-catenin (C-19)...
... Immunogen: Synthetic peptide derived from the ... 36 protein This peptide sequence is ... another Zymed polyclonal Connexin 36 antibody Cat. ... Connexin 36. Reactivity: Mouse (positive control: ...
Invitrogen's Calcium Phosphate Transfection Kit provides high-quality reagents to enable the introduction of DNA into tissue culture cells via calcium phosphate co-precipitation....
Biology Products: