Also known as “mermaid’s purses,” shark egg cases are both tough and permeable—two opposing characteristics that are necessary for the embryo’s survival. X-ray scattering at the ALS and electron microscopy helped explain how the material’s nanoarchitecture contributes to its toughness, informing future development of high-performance synthetic materials. Read more »
Spectral Phenotyping for Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease
Early detection of Alzheimer’s disease may soon be within reach, thanks to spectral phenotyping. Using infrared spectroscopy, Berkeley Lab researchers developed this technique to detect the subtle biochemical changes in a “cellular fingerprint” that is characteristic of the devastating disease. Read more »
The three-dimensional construction of leaves is coordinated with water use efficiency in conifers
3D anatomical views of conifer leaves with diverse morphologies, generated using synchrotron microCT imaging (colors show different segmented tissues). Top–bottom: Pinus monticola, P. pungens, and Wollemia nobilis. Image courtesy of Santiago Trueba. Read more »
New Technique Visualizes Every Pigment Cell of Zebrafish in 3D
Researchers developed a new technique that uses x-ray microtomography and silver staining to image every pigment cell of a whole zebrafish in 3D. The method could be used to learn more about the 3D architecture of melanoma tumors and potentially guide treatment decisions. Read more »
DNA Synthesis: Flip It and Reverse It
What if the current model for DNA synthesis were flipped on its head? Using time-resolved x-ray crystallography, researchers gained new insights into this essential biological process, revealing that two steps in the synthesis pathway are, in reality, reversed. Read more »
An Antibody That Broadly Neutralizes SARS-CoV-2
An antibody that appears to neutralize all known SARS-CoV-2 strains and closely related coronaviruses was discovered with the help of the ALS. The work highlights principles underlying antibody potency, breadth, and escapability that can guide the development of therapeutics against the current and potential future pandemics. Read more »
Sounding the Antiviral Alarm: A New Family of Immune-System Sensors
Comparison of enzyme structures from humans and insects revealed a new family of evolutionarily related immune-system sensors, triggered by viral RNA or DNA to produce tailored signals that initiate antiviral action. The results shed new light on the diversity and development of immune defenses in animals. Read more »
Cell ‘Fingerprinting’ Could Yield Long-Awaited Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnostic
A new application of infrared spectromicroscopy analyzes cells for signs of Alzheimer’s disease by measuring how the molecules in cells vibrate upon exposure to infrared light. The vibrational profile of each sample is so distinct and the difference between diseased and healthy cell samples is so visible that researchers liken the process to “cellular fingerprinting.” Read more »
Functional and structural characterization of AntR, an Sb(III) responsive transcriptional repressor
Antimony is considered a priority environmental pollutant by the EPA. The ant operon of the antimony-mining bacterium, C. testosterone, confers resistance to Sb(III). The operon is regulated by the product of the first gene in the operon, antR. This is the first report of the structure and binding properties of antR, with high selectivity for environmental antimony. Read more »
Sifting through Fragments for COVID-19 Treatments
COVID-19 vaccines are essential for preventing serious disease, but the identification of new drugs is still necessary for the treatment of patients who become sick as a result of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, scientists used computational docking and crystallography to screen large numbers of small molecules for potential use in drug compounds. Read more »
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