Creative Biostructure articles

The pursuit of understanding the molecular architecture of biological macromolecules has been a cornerstone of modern structural biology. Techniques such as X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and electron microscopy (EM) have emerged as indispensable tools in this domain. Each method comes with distinct advantages and limitations, making their selection context-dependent. This article provides an in-depth comparison of these techniques to guide researchers i

What is Exosomal RNA?

Exosomal RNA refers to the RNA molecules contained within exosomes, which are small extracellular vesicles released by cells. These vesicles play a crucial role in cell-to-cell communication, carrying a cargo of RNA, proteins, and lipids that reflect the state of their parent cells. The RNA within exosomes includes various species such as messenger RNA (mRNA), microRNA (miRNA), long non-codin

In the ever-evolving field of nanomedicine, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have emerged as a powerful tool for targeted drug delivery. These tiny particles, typically measuring between 10-100 nanometers in diameter, are composed of lipids (fatty molecules) and have the ability to encapsulate both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs. LNPs have shown immense promise in overcoming the limitations of traditional drug delivery methods, offering improved efficacy, reduced toxicity, and enhanced patient co

In the field of microscopy, scientists are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible in terms of resolution, sensitivity, and imaging capabilities. One powerful tool that has revolutionized the study of molecular structures and chemical composition is the confocal Raman microscope. This advanced imaging technique combines the principles of confocal microscopy and Raman spectroscopy to provide detailed insights into the molecular world. In this blog post, we will explore the princi

The scanning electron microscope (SEM) allows us to observe the world in a level of detail that was previously unattainable. SEMs scan a sample's surface with a concentrated electron beam to create high-resolution images. SEM images can be used to examine a variety of materials, including biological tissues, metals, ceramics, and polymers.

How does a scanning electron microscope work?

A beam of electrons is focused onto the surface of a sample by a scanning electro

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham exposed the structure of a bacterial virus in unprecedented detail using cryo-electron microscopy. This is the first structure of a virus capable of infecting S. epidermidis, and high-resolution structural knowledge is a critical link between viral biology and the potential therapeutic applications of the virus for inhibiting bacterial infection.

Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and their collaborators have solved a decades-long puzzle about how E. coli and other bacteria can move.

 Bacteria push themselves forward by coiling long, thread-like accessory parts into the shape of a bottle opener, like temporary propellers. But how they do this puzzles scientists because the propeller consists of a single protein.

 An international team led by Dr. Edward H. Egelman of the University of

According to "Nature", in recent years, the data submitted by laboratories to the Electron Microscopy Database (EMDB, established by the European Institute of Bioinformatics to meet the needs of the academic community for cryo-EM data) has increased exponentially, mainly because explosive growth in the number of cryo-EM in laboratories around the world. Although the database also accepts data from other electron microscopy structural analyses, the vast majority of these data are from cryo-EM.

As an efficient optical "molecular ruler", fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) has a wide range of applications in biological macromolecular interactions, immunoassays, and nucleic acid detection. In the field of molecular biology, this technique can be used to study protein-protein interactions under physiological conditions in living cells.

 Protein-protein interactions play an important role in the whole process of cell life. Because various components in cells are e

Proteins are an integral part of all living things. From enzymes that carry out chemical reactions to messengers that transmit signals between cells, much research has been conducted on how and what these proteins are produced and do. In 2004, Aaron Ciechanover, Avram Hershko, and Irwin Rose won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for a different but equally important mechanical process of proteins: how organisms break down proteins when they complete their work.

 Protein degradation is