New Biosensor Developed To Detect E. Coli Bacteria

... Translocated Intimin Receptor or Tir, is placed on the chip. The Tir can be seen as a "molecular harpoon", Miller said. The E. Coli sends out the harpoon into a cell. Once it is in, the Tir binds with an E. Coli protein called Intimin. A similar process occurs between the Tir placed on the chip and any ...

Harpoon in Biological News

Scientists identify molecular structure of key viral protein

.... "The protein in its metastable state has a very specific job to do -- to enable infection of the cell -- and it does this by essentially acting as a harpoon that shoots into the cell's membrane to bring about the fusion," said Jardetzky. "The metastable protein is a one-time-use machine," said Lamb. "It...

Rochester scientists develop fast-working biosensor

...ria, Translocated Intimin Receptor or Tir, is placed on the chip. The Tir can be seen as a "molecular harpoon," Miller said. The E. coli sends out the harpoon into a cell. Once it is in the cell, the Tir then binds with an E. coli protein called Intimin. A similar process occurs between the Tir placed on the...

Molecular miners find pain relief drugs from the sea

...as 30 people are known to have died from cone snail envenomation. The cone snails that are dangerous to humans feed on fish by impaling them with a harpoon styled barb (a modified tooth called a radula) loaded with toxic venom. Associate Professor Livett says there are up to 200 components in each veno...