By Date
 | Fluorescent RNA Aptamers January 2019 RNA aptamers are being engineered to track molecules inside living cells |
 | Directed Evolution of Enzymes December 2018 Biological evolution is being harnessed in the lab to create new enzymes. |
 | Telomerase November 2018 Telomerase maintains the ends of our chromosomes. |
 | Aminoglycoside Antibiotics and Resistance October 2018 Bacteria become resistant to aminoglycosides by destroying them or changing their target. |
 | Phytase September 2018 Phytase is used in agriculture to mobilize indigestible phosphate compounds in livestock feed. |
 | Legumain August 2018 Legumain cleaves proteins, and can also put them back together. |
 | Piezo1 Mechanosensitive Channel July 2018 Mechanosensitive ion channels give our cells a sense of touch. |
 | Proteins and Nanoparticles June 2018 Nanotech scientists are designing new ways to combine proteins and nanoparticles |
 | Human Papillomavirus and Vaccines May 2018 The capsid protein of papillomavirus is used in vaccines that prevent cervical cancer. |
 | Dehalogenases April 2018 Bacteria destroy toxic environmental pollutants that include chlorine or bromine atoms. |
 | Vacuolar ATPase March 2018 Two linked molecular motors are used to pump protons across membranes. |
 | EPSP Synthase and Weedkillers February 2018 The weedkiller Roundup attacks a key enzyme involved in the construction of aromatic compounds. |
 | Opioid Receptors January 2018 Morphine and other opioid drugs bind to receptors in the nervous system, controlling pain |
 | Biodegradable Plastic December 2017 Bacteria build biodegradable plastic that could be better for the environment |
 | Aspartate Transcarbamoylase November 2017 Key biosynthetic enzymes are regulated by their ultimate products through allosteric motions. |
 | Chimeric Antigen Receptors October 2017 T cells may be engineered with chimeric antigen receptors to attack cancer cells. |
 | Sirtuins September 2017 Sirtuin activation is being explored as a way to slow aging. |
 | Glutathione Transferases August 2017 Glutathione transferase tags toxic molecules, making them easy to recognize and remove. |
 | Pilus Machine July 2017 A molecular machine with a rotary motor builds a long protein filament involved in bacterial motility and attachment. |
 | Adenine Riboswitch in Action June 2017 XFEL serial crystallography reveals what happens when adenine binds to a riboswitch |
 | Tissue Transglutaminase and Celiac Disease May 2017 Tissue transglutaminase staples proteins together by forming a chemical crosslink. |
 | Glucose Transporters April 2017 Glucose transporters deliver glucose molecules one-by-one across cell membranes. |
 | Photoactive Yellow Protein March 2017 Researchers use synchrotrons and X-ray lasers to reveal the rapid processes of light sensing. |
 | Globin Evolution February 2017 The mechanisms of molecular evolution are revealed in globin sequences and structures. |
 | Nuclear Pore Complex January 2017 The nuclear pore complex is the gateway between the nucleus and cytoplasm. |
 | PD-1 (Programmed Cell Death Protein 1) December 2016 PD-1 and its ligands are a new target for cancer therapy |
 | Aminopeptidase 1 and Autophagy November 2016 Aminopeptidase 1 is delivered inside the cell using the machinery of autophagy |
 | Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 October 2016 Inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 are used to treat type-2 diabetes |
 | Isoprene Synthase September 2016 Plants release a billion metric tons of isoprene and other organic gases every year. |
 | Quasisymmetry in Icosahedral Viruses August 2016 Viruses use quasisymmetry to build large capsids out of many small subunits |
 | Monellin July 2016 Monellin and other supersweet proteins trick our taste receptors. |
 | Beta-galactosidase June 2016 Beta-galactosidase is a powerful tool for genetic engineering of bacteria |
 | Zika Virus May 2016 Cryo-electron microscopy reveals the structure of Zika virus |
 | Lead Poisoning April 2016 Lead ions poison proteins throughout the body, blocking their normal function. |
 | RAF Protein Kinases March 2016 A single mutation in a RAF protein kinase can help transform a normal cell into a cancer cell. |
 | Designer Insulins February 2016 Engineered insulins have been developed to improve treatment of diabetes |
 | Siderocalin January 2016 Our innate immune system starves bacteria of iron using siderocalin. |
 | Vancomycin December 2015 The antibiotic vancomycin blocks the construction of bacterial cell walls. |
 | Glutamate-gated Chloride Receptors November 2015 The antibiotic ivermectin attacks glutamate-gated chloride channels, paralyzing parasitic worms. |
 | Two-component Systems October 2015 Bacteria respond to their environment with two-component sensing systems. |
 | Amyloids September 2015 Alzheimer's disease and prion diseases are linked to unnatural aggregation of proteins into amyloid fibrils. |
 | Tetrahydrobiopterin Biosynthesis August 2015 Tetrahydrobiopterin plays an essential role in the production of aromatic amino acids, neurotransmitters and nitric oxide. |
 | New Delhi Metallo-Beta-Lactamase July 2015 Antibiotics can save lives, but antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria pose a dangerous threat |
 | Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products June 2015 RAGE recognizes sugar-modified proteins, contributing to an inflammatory response that plays a role in diabetes |
 | Titin May 2015 The giant protein titin organizes the structure of muscle and gives them elasticity |
 | Glucagon April 2015 Glucagon triggers the release of glucose into the blood, to power cells throughout the body |
 | Phototropin March 2015 Phototrophins sense the level of blue light, allowing plants to respond to changing environmental conditions |
 | Insulin Receptor February 2015 The cellular receptor for insulin helps control the utilization of glucose by cells |
 | Cascade and CRISPR January 2015 Cascade and CRISPR help bacteria remember how to fight viral infection |
 | TAL Effectors December 2014 TAL-effectors are modular, DNA-reading proteins that can be used to edit DNA in living cells |
 | Methyl-coenzyme M Reductase November 2014 Methanogens use sophisticated molecular tools to build methane |
 | Ebola Virus Proteins October 2014 Structures of ebola virus proteins are giving new hope for fighting this deadly virus |
 | Apoptosomes September 2014 Apoptosomes make life or death decisions in cells |
 | Dynein August 2014 The motor protein dynein transports cellular cargo along microtubules |
 | Microtubules July 2014 The largest filaments of the cytoskeleton provide tracks for transport throughout the cell |
 | GFP-like Proteins June 2014 GFP-like proteins found in nature or engineered in the laboratory now span every color of the rainbow |
 | Aquaporin May 2014 Aquaporins create a channel for water molecules to cross through cell membranes |
 | RecA and Rad51 April 2014 Broken DNA strands may be repaired by matching sequences in a duplicate copy of the DNA |
 | Neurotransmitter Transporters March 2014 Neurotransmitters are transported out of nerve synapses to end a signal transmission |
 | Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies February 2014 Structural studies of broadly neutralizing antibodies are paving the way to vaccines for HIV, influenza and RSV |
 | HIV Envelope Glycoprotein January 2014 Envelope protein attaches HIV to the cells that it infects and powers fusion of the virus with the cell membrane |
 | DNA Helicase December 2013 DNA helicase pries apart the two strands in a DNA double helix, powered by ATP |
 | SNARE Proteins November 2013 SNARE proteins power the fusion of vesicles with membranes by forming a bundle of alpha helices |
 | Proteasome October 2013 Proteasomes destroy damaged or obsolete proteins inside cells |
 | Designed Protein Cages September 2013 Researchers are modifying natural proteins to design new self-assembling protein cages |
 | Serotonin Receptor August 2013 Serotonin receptors control mood, emotion, and many other behaviors, and are targets for many important drugs |
 | HIV Capsid July 2013 At the center of HIV, an unusual cone-shaped capsid protects the viral genome and delivers it into infected cells |
 | Dermcidin June 2013 Small toxic peptides help protect us from bacterial infection |
 | Ricin May 2013 The structure of ricin reveals how it kills cells and how vaccines can produce immunity against ricin poisoning |
 | Actinomycin April 2013 Some antibiotics attack cells by intercalating between the bases in a DNA double helix |
 | Erythrocruorin March 2013 Earthworms build a huge version of hemoglobin to carry oxygen |
 | Proton-Gated Urea Channel February 2013 A channel that passes urea allows ulcer-producing bacteria to live in the stomach |
 | Transfer-Messenger RNA January 2013 tmRNA rescues ribosomes that are stalled by damaged messenger RNA |
 | ABO Blood Type Glycosyltransferases December 2012 ABO blood types are determined by an enzyme that attaches sugars to proteins |
 | Vitamin D Receptor November 2012 Vitamin D helps regulate the use of calcium throughout the body |
 | Citric Acid Cycle October 2012 Eight enzymes form a cyclic pathway for energy production and biosynthesis |
 | Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex September 2012 A huge molecular complex links three sequential reactions for energy production |
 | cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase (PKA) August 2012 PKA delivers cellular signals by adding phosphates to proteins |
 | Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) July 2012 Cells salvage and recycle their obsolete DNA and RNA |
 | Sliding Clamps June 2012 Sliding clamps slide along DNA strands and keep DNA polymerase on track during replication |
 | Leptin May 2012 Problems with the appetite-controlling hormone leptin can lead to obesity |
 | Ras Protein April 2012 Mutation of the growth-contolling ras protein can lead to cancer |
 | Rhodopsin March 2012 In our eyes, rhodopsin uses the molecule retinal to see light |
 | Aminoglycoside Antibiotics February 2012 Antibiotic-resistant bacteria build enzymes that destroy drugs like streptomycin |
 | Messenger RNA Capping January 2012 Messenger RNA molecules are capped with an inverted nucleotide |
 | Complex I December 2011 A proton-pumping protein complex performs the first step of the respiratory electron transport chain |
 | Toll-like Receptors November 2011 Toll-like receptors warn us about bacterial and viral infection |
 | PDB Pioneers October 2011 A dozen historic structures set the foundation for the PDB archive |
 | O-GlcNAc Transferase September 2011 Some protein functions are regulated when sugars are attached |
 | Rhomboid Protease GlpG August 2011 Some proteases cut proteins embedded in cell membranes |
 | DNA Methyltransferases July 2011 Cells add methyl groups to their DNA to encode additional epigenetic information |
 | Glucansucrase June 2011 Bacteria adhere to our teeth by building sticky sugar chains |
 | Cytochrome bc1 May 2011 A flow of electrons powers proton pumps in cellular respiration and photosynthesis |
 | Nanobodies April 2011 Unusual antibodies from camels are useful in research and medicine |
 | Integrase March 2011 HIV integrase allows HIV to insert itself into the genome of an infected cell |
 | Integrin February 2011 Integrins forge flexible linkages between the infrastructure inside and outside of cells |
 | Nitric Oxide Synthase January 2011 Nitric oxide gas is used as a rapid-acting hormone and as a powerful defense |
 | Adenovirus December 2010 Adenovirus has an icosahedral capsid with unusual cell-binding fibers |
 | Inteins November 2010 Inteins splice themselves out of larger protein chains |
 | Riboswitches October 2010 Special sequences of messenger RNA can bind to regulatory molecules and affect synthesis of proteins |
 | Isocitrate Dehydrogenase September 2010 Atomic structures have revealed the catalytic steps of a citric acid cycle enzyme |
 | Interferons August 2010 Interferons mobilize defenses against viral infection |
 | Crystallins July 2010 A concentrated solution of crystallins refracts light in our eye lens |
 | Epidermal Growth Factor June 2010 EGF is part of a family of proteins that controls aspects of cell growth and development |
 | Parvoviruses May 2010 Viruses that cause distemper are surrounded by an icosahedral capsid |
 | Concanavalin A and Circular Permutation April 2010 For some proteins, clipped and reassembled sequences can produce the same 3D shape |
 | P-glycoprotein March 2010 P-glycoprotein pumps toxic molecules out of our cells |
 | Enhanceosome February 2010 Enhanceosomes help decide the appropriate time to transcribe a gene |
 | Ribosome January 2010 Ribosomes are complex molecular machines that build proteins |
 | Antifreeze Proteins December 2009 Small antifreeze proteins protect cells from damage by ice |
 | Designed DNA Crystal November 2009 Small pieces of DNA have been engineered to form a nanoscale lattice |
 | Sodium-Potassium Pump October 2009 Cells continually pump sodium ions out and potassium ions in, powered by ATP |
 | Xanthine Oxidoreductase September 2009 Xanthine oxidoreductase helps break down obsolete purine nucleotides |
 | Sulfotransferases August 2009 Sulfotransferases transfer sulfuryl groups in enzymatic reactions |
 | Beta-secretase July 2009 Beta-secretase trims proteins in the cell and plays an important role in Alzheimer's disease |
 | Vaults June 2009 Cells build huge vault containers constructed of a symmetric arrangement of many subunits |
 | Influenza Neuraminidase May 2009 Neuraminidase is an important target for influenza drugs |
 | Oct and Sox Transcription Factors April 2009 Transcription factors decide when particular genes will be transcribed |
 | Hydrogenase March 2009 Hydrogenases use unusual metal ions to split hydrogen gas |
 | Auxin and TIR1 Ubiquitin Ligase February 2009 The plant hormone auxin controls growth and response to light and gravity |
 | Tobacco Mosaic Virus January 2009 A cylindrical arrangement of proteins protects a long strand of RNA in TMV |
 | Hsp90 December 2008 Heat shock proteins ensure that proteins remain folded and active under harsh conditions |
 | Mechanosensitive Channels November 2008 Pressure-sensitive channels open when the internal pressure of a cell gets too high |
 | Poly(A) Polymerase October 2008 Poly(A) polymerase adds a long tail of adenine nucleotides at the end of messenger RNA |
 | Ribonuclease A September 2008 Ribonuclease cuts and controls RNA |
 | Selenocysteine Synthase August 2008 Selenium is used in place of sulfur to build proteins for special tasks |
 | Dengue Virus July 2008 Atomic structures of dengue virus are giving new hope for creation of a vaccine |
 | Lactate Dehydrogenase June 2008 Our cells temporarily build lactate when supplies of oxygen are low |
 | Prions May 2008 Mad cow disease is caused by prion proteins that misfold and aggregate |
 | Adrenergic Receptors April 2008 Adrenaline stimulates a G-protein-coupled receptor, priming us for action |
 | Cadherin March 2008 Adhesive cadherin proteins hold neighboring cells together |
 | Small Interfering RNA (siRNA) February 2008 Our cells continually look for pieces of double-stranded RNA, a possible sign of viral infection |
 | Circadian Clock Proteins January 2008 Circadian clock proteins measure time in our cells |
 | Oxidosqualene Cyclase December 2007 Oxidosqualine cyclase forms the unusual fused rings of cholesterol molecules |
 | Multidrug Resistance Transporters November 2007 Many bacteria use multidrug resistance transporters to pump drugs and poisons out of the cell |
 | Superoxide Dismutase October 2007 Superoxide dismutase protects us from dangerously reactive forms of oxygen |
 | Citrate Synthase September 2007 Citrate synthase opens and closes around its substrates as part of the citric acid cycle |
 | Anabolic Steroids August 2007 Anabolic steroids like testosterone are among the most common performance enhancing drugs |
 | Thymine Dimers July 2007 Ultraviolet light damages our DNA, but our cells have ways to correct the damage |
 | Fatty Acid Synthase June 2007 Fatty acids are constructed in many sequential steps by a large protein complex |
 | Aconitase and Iron Regulatory Protein 1 May 2007 Aconitase performs a reaction in the citric acid cycle, and moonlights as a regulatory protein |
 | Clathrin April 2007 Three-armed clathrin triskelions are used to build molecular cages involved in transport |
 | Zinc Fingers March 2007 Zinc ions are used to strengthen small protein modules that recognize DNA |
 | Exosomes February 2007 Exosomes destroy messenger RNA molecules after they have finished their jobs |
 | Importins January 2007 Importins deliver proteins into the nucleus through the nuclear pore complex |
 | Transposase December 2006 Transposases shift genes around in the genome |
 | Fibrin November 2006 Rod-shaped fibrin molecules link together to form blood clots |
 | Cytochrome p450 October 2006 Cytochrome p450 detoxifies and solubilizes drugs and poisons by modifying them with oxygen |
 | Elongation Factors September 2006 Protein synthesis requires the assistance of several elongation factors that guide each step |
 | AAA+ Proteases August 2006 AAA+ proteases are ATP-powered molecular motors that thread protein chains through a hole |
 | Amyloid-beta Precursor Protein July 2006 Cell-clogging amyloids form when proteins improperly aggregate |
 | Luciferase June 2006 Organisms from fireflies to bacteria use luciferase to emit light |
 | Glucose Oxidase May 2006 Glucose oxidase measures blood glucose level in biosensors |
 | Hemagglutinin April 2006 Influenza virus binds to cells and infects them using hemagglutinin |
 | Tissue Factor March 2006 Tissue factor senses damage to the body and triggers formation of a blood clot |
 | Alpha-amylase February 2006 Amylases digest starch to produce glucose |
 | Topoisomerases January 2006 Topoisomerases untangle and reduce the tension of DNA strands in the cell |
 | ATP Synthase December 2005 ATP synthase links two rotary motors to generate ATP |
 | Acetylcholine Receptor November 2005 The neurotransmitter acetylcholine opens a protein channel, stimulating muscle contraction |
 | Designer Proteins October 2005 Researchers have successfully designed entirely new proteins based on biological principles |
 | Cholera Toxin September 2005 Many bacterial toxins have two parts: one that finds a cell, the other that kills it |
 | Neurotrophins August 2005 Neurotrophins guide the development of the nervous system |
 | TATA-Binding Protein July 2005 TATA protein tells RNA polymerase where to get started on a gene |
 | Carotenoid Oxygenase June 2005 Light-sensing retinal molecules are built from colorful carotenoids in our diet |
 | Self-splicing RNA May 2005 Special sequences of RNA are able to splice themselves |
 | Kinesin April 2005 The motor protein kinesin carries cellular cargo along microtubules |
 | T-Cell Receptor March 2005 Lymphocytes use T-cell receptors to patrol the body for foreign molecules |
 | Major Histocompatibility Complex February 2005 MHC displays peptides on the surfaces of cells, allowing the immune system to sense the infection inside |
 | Phenylalanine Hydroxylase January 2005 An unusual cofactor is used in the synthesis of aromatic amino acids |
 | Ubiquitin December 2004 Ubiquitin is used to tag obsolete proteins for destruction |
 | Photosystem II November 2004 Photosystem II captures the energy from sunlight and uses it to extract electrons from water molecules |
 | G Proteins October 2004 Trimeric G-proteins receive signals from cellular receptors and deliver them inside the cell |
 | Catalase September 2004 Catalase protects us from dangerous reactive oxidizing molecules |
 | Caspases August 2004 Caspases disassemble proteins during the process of programmed cell death |
 | DNA Ligase July 2004 DNA ligase reconnects broken DNA strands, and is used to engineer recombinant DNA |
 | Acetylcholinesterase June 2004 Acetylcholinesterase stops the signal between a nerve cell and a muscle cell |
 | Serpins May 2004 Serpins are traps that capture dangerous proteases |
 | Growth Hormone April 2004 Growth hormone brings together two copies of its cellular receptor |
 | Calcium Pump March 2004 Atomic structures have captured the calcium pump in action |
 | Glycolytic Enzymes February 2004 The ten enzymes of glycolysis break down sugar in our diet |
 | Carbonic Anhydrase January 2004 Carbonic anhydrase solubilizes carbon dioxide gas so we can breathe it out |
 | Catabolite Activator Protein December 2003 CAP senses the level of sugar and mobilizes the proteins needed to utilize it |
 | Simian Virus 40 November 2003 SV40 hijacks the cells it infects using only a handful of proteins |
 | Trypsin October 2003 An activated serine amino acid in trypsin cleaves protein chains |
 | Estrogen Receptor September 2003 Estrogen binds to receptors in the nucleus and affects key genes in development |
 | Calmodulin August 2003 Calcium ions rapidly deliver signals to control processes such as muscle contraction, nerve signaling, and fertilization |
 | Src Tyrosine Kinase July 2003 Growth signaling proteins play an important role in the development of cancer |
 | Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) June 2003 A tiny fluorescent protein from jellyfish has revolutionized cell biology |
 | Hemoglobin May 2003 Hemoglobin uses a change in shape to increase the efficiency of oxygen transport |
 | RNA Polymerase April 2003 RNA polymerase transcribes genetic information from DNA into RNA |
 | lac Repressor March 2003 A genetic circuit controls the production of lactose-utilizing enzymes in bacteria |
 | Potassium Channels February 2003 Potassium channels allow potassium ions to pass, but block smaller sodium ions |
 | Serum Albumin January 2003 Serum albumin delivers fatty acid molecules through the bloodstream |
 | Cytochrome c December 2002 Cytochrome c shuttles electrons during the production of cellular energy |
 | Ferritin and Transferrin November 2002 Ferritin and transferrin manage our essential stores of iron ions |
 | Dihydrofolate Reductase October 2002 DHFR is a target for cancer chemotherapy and bacterial infection |
 | HIV Reverse Transcriptase September 2002 HIV builds a DNA copy of its RNA genome, providing a unique target for drug therapy |
 | Chaperones August 2002 Chaperones help new proteins fold into their proper shape |
 | p53 Tumor Suppressor July 2002 p53 tumor suppressor protects the body from DNA damage and cancer |
 | Glutamine Synthetase June 2002 Glutamine synthetase monitors the levels of nitrogen-rich amino acids and decides when to make more |
 | Penicillin-binding Proteins May 2002 Penicillin attacks the proteins that build bacterial cell walls |
 | Anthrax Toxin April 2002 Anthrax bacteria build a deadly three-part toxin |
 | Bacteriorhodopsin March 2002 Bacteriorhodopsin pumps protons powered by green sunlight |
 | Nitrogenase February 2002 Nitrogenase uses an exotic cluster of metals to fix atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable ammonia |
 | Thrombin January 2002 Thrombin activates the molecule that forms blood clots |
 | Glycogen Phosphorylase December 2001 Glycogen phosphorylase releases sugar from its cellular storehouse |
 | DNA November 2001 Atomic structures reveal how the iconic double helix encodes genomic information |
 | Photosystem I October 2001 Photosystem I captures the energy in sunlight |
 | Antibodies September 2001 Antibodies search for foreign molecules in the blood |
 | Poliovirus and Rhinovirus August 2001 Crystallographic structures reveal the atomic details of viruses and how to fight them |
 | Actin July 2001 Cells are supported by a cytoskeleton of protein filaments |
 | Myosin June 2001 Molecular motors fueled by ATP power the contraction of muscles |
 | Cyclooxygenase May 2001 Aspirin attacks an important enzyme in pain signaling and blood clotting |
 | Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases April 2001 Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases ensure that the proper amino acids are used to build proteins |
 | Transfer RNA March 2001 Transfer RNA translates the language of the genome into the language of proteins |
 | Insulin February 2001 The hormone insulin helps control the level of glucose in the blood |
 | Alcohol Dehydrogenase January 2001 Alcohol dehydrogenase detoxifies the ethanol we drink |
 | Pepsin December 2000 Pepsin digests proteins in strong stomach acid |
 | Rubisco November 2000 Rubisco fixes atmospheric carbon dioxide into bioavailable sugar molecules |
 | Ribosomal Subunits October 2000 Atomic structures of the ribosomal subunits reveal a central role for RNA in protein synthesis |
 | Lysozyme September 2000 Lysozyme attacks the cell walls of bacteria |
 | Restriction Enzymes August 2000 Bacterial enzymes that cut DNA are useful tools for genetic engineering |
 | Nucleosome July 2000 The cell's genome is stored and protected by nucleosomes |
 | HIV-1 Protease June 2000 Atomic structures of HIV protease have been used to design powerful drugs for HIV therapy |
 | Cytochrome c Oxidase May 2000 Cytochrome oxidase extracts energy from food using oxygen |
 | Collagen April 2000 Sturdy fibers of collagen give structure to our bodies |
 | DNA Polymerase March 2000 DNA polymerase makes an accurate copy of the cell's genome |
 | Bacteriophage phiX174 February 2000 Bacteriophage phiX174 hijacks bacterial cells and forces them to make new copies of the virus |
 | Myoglobin January 2000 Myoglobin was the first protein to have its atomic structure determined, revealing how it stores oxygen in muscle cells. |
