Category archives: Molecular biology

Molecular Detectives: discovering new ion channels (II)

Molecular Detectives: discovering new ion channels (II)

BiologyBiomedicineGeneticsMolecular biology

By Sergio Laínez

The identification of previously unknown proteins is a difficult task and often requires to follow unconventional thinking. In my previous post, I have described how the TRPV1 ion channel (formerly known as the capsaicin receptor) was discovered by combining the construction of a cDNA library from primary afferent neurons (DRG neurons) and the functional selection […]

Molecular Detectives: discovering new ion channels (I)

Molecular Detectives: discovering new ion channels (I)

BiologyBiomedicineGeneticsMolecular biology

By Sergio Laínez

Doing research in molecular biology is not straightforward, because most of the experimental work is based in the study of molecules which cannot be seen by the unaided eye. Instead, we rely on indirect evidence given by methods which are specific for each area of research. Let’s focus here as an illustrative example at someone […]

Dirty mice are the next revolution in immunology research

Dirty mice are the next revolution in immunology research

GeneticsHealthMedicineMolecular biology

By Sergio Laínez

Laboratory mice are one of the most valuable tools scientists rely on to understand how pathologies work. In order to find a cure for a disease, we need to have comprehensive knowledge of the physiological processes which are impaired. For instance, we can manipulate mice genetically to assess the effect of either the deletion, overexpression […]

One pore to rule them all: Bax assembles into rings and arcs in apoptotic mitochondria

One pore to rule them all: Bax assembles into rings and arcs in apoptotic mitochondria

BiomedicineMolecular biology

By Invited Researcher

Although it may sound illogical, destruction of cells is as essential as their creation in the course of proper formation, growth and development of multi-cellular organisms. For this reason, cells program deliberately their suicide through a very controlled process, named apoptosis (from the Greek, “fall off”). Our research group at the University of Tübingen, Germany […]

Laforin, protein of the year

Laforin, protein of the year

BiochemistryMolecular biology

By Carlos Romá-Mateo

Unveiling the three-dimensional structure of proteins is one of the most useful strategies for understanding the molecular and cellular basis of human pathologies. Since proteins accomplish myriad cellular functions, but they are formed by combinations of only 20 different pieces, the way those pieces are coordinated is critical, and the tiniest difference can change forever […]

Transcriptional noise seems to correlate with more closed chromatin environments.

Transcriptional noise seems to correlate with more closed chromatin environments.

GeneticsMolecular biology

By Daniel Moreno Andrés

I still remember the order and control exhibited by the chemistry of life that they explained to me in the early years of college. For me, the regulation of gene expression was the supreme paradigm of organization. The promoters, those regulatory sequences preceding genes, were unmistakable ports where plenty of proteins (transcription factors and polymerases) […]

Starving the brain

Starving the brain

Molecular biologyNeurobiology

By Carlos Rueda

Life is sustained by chemical reactions, and the countless reactions that take place in the cells of living organisms that are responsible for every biological process are known as energetic metabolism. Among the others, the brain stands as the most energy-consuming organ, accounting for up to 20 % of the body’s total haul while representing […]