New sensor mimics cell membrane functions
The device detects the same molecules that cell receptors do, and may enable routine early screening for cancers and other diseases.
It takes three to tango: transcription factors bind DNA, protein, and RNA
Whitehead Institute researchers find many transcription factors bind RNA, which fine-tunes their regulation of gene expression, suggesting new therapeutic opportunities.
Coloring outside the lines
Mathias Kolle’s color-changing materials take inspiration from butterflies and mollusks.
Scientists pinpoint where thousands of individual proteins are made in intact tissue and single cells
A new technology called RIBOmap can give researchers valuable insight into how protein production in animal and human tissue is altered in disease.
Focus on function helps identify the changes that made us human
A new approach for identifying significant differences in gene use between closely-related species provides insights into human evolution.
Without a key extracellular protein, neuronal axons break and synaptic connections fall apart
Scientists find a protein common to flies and people is essential for supporting the structure of axons that neurons project to make circuit connections.
Atlas of human brain blood vessels highlights changes in Alzheimer’s disease
MIT researchers characterize gene expression patterns for 22,500 brain vascular cells across 428 donors, revealing insights for Alzheimer’s onset and potential treatments.
Astrocyte cells critical for learning skilled movements
When astrocyte function is disrupted, neurons in the brain’s motor cortex struggle to execute and refine motion, a new study in mice shows.
Bacterial injection system delivers proteins in mice and human cells
With further development, the programmable system could be used in a range of applications including gene and cancer therapies.
How cell mechanics influences everything
Ming Guo seeks connections between a cell’s physical form and its biological function, which could illuminate ways to halt abnormal cell growth.
3 Questions: Cullen Buie on a new era for cell therapies
The associate professor of MechE reflects on how his company, Kytopen, has grown and shifted focus in developing safer immunotherapies.
“Spleen-on-a-chip” yields insight into sickle cell disease
With this microfluidic device, researchers modeled how sickled blood cells clog the spleen’s filters, leading to a potentially life-threatening condition.
2022-23 Takeda Fellows: Leveraging AI to positively impact human health
New fellows are working on health records, robot control, pandemic preparedness, brain injuries, and more.
Enzyme “atlas” helps researchers decipher cellular pathways
Biologists have mapped out more than 300 protein kinases and their targets, which they hope could yield new leads for cancer drugs.
Scientists discover a new way of sharing genetic information in a common ocean microbe
Prochlorococcus, the world’s most abundant photosynthetic organism, reveals a gene-transfer mechanism that may be key to its abundance and diversity.