Wurst keeps you breathing

Wurst keeps you breathing

A newly discovered transmembrane protein called "Wurst" (sausage) appears to play a decisive role in breathing – possibly in all animals, from flies to human beings. This insight is reported by…
The molecular basis of obesity

The molecular basis of obesity

Researchers have discovered the molecule that links spontaneous physical activity and food intake in mice. Scientists from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)say Bsx is the molecular…
Do beta-amyloids cause Alzheimers?

Do beta-amyloids cause Alzheimers?

Researchers tied the accumulation of the toxic brain protein beta-amyloid to Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study. "Our findings show that beta-amyloid is associated with brain dysfunction—…
Molecular motors speed nutrient processing

Molecular motors speed nutrient processing

Matthew Tyska, Ph.D., recalls being intrigued, from the first day of his postdoctoral fellowship in 1999, with a nearly 30-year-old photograph. It was an electron micrograph that showed the internal…
How E. Coli evolves

How E. Coli evolves

A recent paper highlights experimental research in evolution and artificial selection, providing insight into how organisms adapt to changing environmental conditions and fluctuations. In this month'…
How plague-causing bacteria disarm host defense

How plague-causing bacteria disarm host defense

Effector proteins are the bad guys that help bacterial pathogens do their job of infecting the host by crippling the body's immune system. In essence, they knock down the front door of resistance and…