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Proteins

Photo 190541348 | Virus © Ponsuwan | Dreamstime.com

The coronavirus toolbox

About two components that help COVID-19 make its proteins and multiply
scientific picture. A XNUMXD model system of human neurons in a dish. In green and purple: nerve cells expressing a protein that is defective in the ubiquitin system. As a result of this expression, the pathology that characterizes Alzheimer's patients is created - the formation of amyloid clusters (in red) outside the cells

Technion researchers have identified the mechanism leading to the formation of protein aggregates involved in the development of Alzheimer's disease

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Toxic proteins accumulate in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. In the familial Alzheimer's patients, the accumulation mechanism is clear since there is a circumstantial relationship between the mutations and the identity of the defective proteins. In the random disease, on the other hand, the reason for the accumulation of the defective proteins was unknown
Bacterial cells before phage infection (left) and after (right). The virus replicates itself inside them and leads to the explosion of the cells and the spilling of their contents (in red - the bacterial DNA spilled from the cell)

Survive with 0% battery: an immune system that drains the cell of energy has been discovered

The new system was discovered in bacteria - but is also used in corals, bees and others
Lung macrophages infected with human cytomegalovirus. In bright green - the cells where there is an active infection

On dormant viruses and protective proteins

New discoveries about how the result of infection with a virus from the herpes family is determined and where dormant viruses may hide in the body
Left: cells with a mutant FUS protein that causes accumulations (in green) and leads to ALS disease. Right: the cells with the protein/chaferon (in pink) that manages to prevent the accumulations

fight degenerative diseases

The proteins and mechanisms required to fight the protein accumulations that lead to neurodegenerative diseases have been identified
Protein G. Courtesy of Dr. Moshe Ferns, Tel Aviv University

get used to the smell

A story about a protein that doesn't feel electric voltage
Tilapia fish that were affected by the virus and died. Courtesy of the researchers

Between viruses and fish

The genetic sequence of a virus that caused the morbidity and mortality of tilapia fish is not similar to any known genetic sequence
Like Lego figures, proteins can don a variety of costumes - chemical tags that change them beyond recognition. The new method makes it possible to identify about 30 tags within six hours, compared to only three tags within two weeks with the existing methods

The protein wears Prada

In response to environmental and intracellular changes, the proteins in our body don a variety of costumes that change their properties and make their identification difficult. The institute's scientists have developed a ground-breaking search engine capable of identifying these proteins with unprecedented efficiency
XNUMXD structure of an enzyme from the versatile peroxidase family generated through artificial intelligence-based prediction. The yellow dots mark mutations introduced by the algorithm developed in Prof. Fleishman's laboratory, with the aim of increasing the stability of the enzyme

The proteins of the future are already here

A combination of artificial intelligence and protein design algorithms allows for the first time access to a gold mine: millions of natural proteins that can be used in a variety of environmental, medical and industrial applications
DNA molecule. Image: depositphotos.com

The loom of evolution

A new method makes it possible to locate points of similarity between gene control molecules of different species - from lizards to humans - and thus reveal essential sections that have been preserved throughout evolution
Corona viruses in the bloodstream. Illustration: shutterstock

A scientist from Tel Aviv University received approval for a patent he submitted for a corona vaccine

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From the right: Dr. Akiva Feintoch, Prof. Daniela Goldfarb and Dr. Angeliki Giannoulis. See closed protein. Photo: Weizmann Institute Spokesperson

Close, open, close

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When disordered segments of protein molecules were first discovered in the late 80s, scientists used to cut them out and throw them away. Illustration: Dr. Hagen Hoffman's laboratory, Weizmann Institute

Not arranged and not by chance

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A view of a cluster of young stars (million years old), known as the North American Nebula or the Plesian Nebula (top right). This is a clean and processed version of the original Spitzer Space Telescope image. NASA/JPL-Caltech. Illustration: shutterstock

Did the building blocks of life form in interstellar clouds?

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A diagram showing the development of life throughout the geological periods. Source: United States Geological Survey / Wikimedia.

How were the first cells formed? with protein

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Formation of complex protein clusters. / through precise tuning of chemical processes with the help of organometallic complexes Illustration: Prof. Ashraf Barik, Technion

A new and effective way to create complex proteins

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Quantum tunneling. Illustration: shutterstock

Does quantum tunneling play a role in the activity of biological molecules?

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A farmer works land using a tractor. Image: from pixabay.com

Increasing crop production by accelerating the process of light breathing

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Alina Pushkarb. Photo: Max Apertin

A new family of light-sensing proteins was discovered in the waters of the Sea of ​​Galilee

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Illustration. Credit: Darryl Leja, NHGRI.

The cell's rule book

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Cellular "selfie": an mTEC cell that was photographed using the new method called PLIC. The green dots indicate an interaction between proteins that helps prevent an autoimmune attack. Source: Weizmann Institute magazine.

Security selfie

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The discovery will make it possible to treat a series of diseases that arise as a result of the accumulation of proteins in cells. Illustration: pixabay.

Researchers have identified a biological mechanism for breaking down protein clumps

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Metastatic melanoma cells. Illustration image. Source: National Cancer Institute.

The central role of the sherpin protein in the development of cancerous tumors has been revealed

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Although their name was given to them due to their function on the tongue, the bitter and sweet taste receptors were recently discovered in various tissues and organs that do not come into contact with food. In at least some of these areas of the body, especially the respiratory tract, these taste receptors play an important role in the immune response. Illustration: pixabay.

preserves the bitter taste

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Comparison between computer models (in green) and experimental structures (in purple). Accuracy at the single atom level in both the overall structure (left) and the loop segments (right). Source: Weizmann Institute magazine.

A computerized method for the production of artificial proteins

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