Unveiling Sugar Molecular Structures Through Galectin-10 Protein Crystals

 


A groundbreaking advance in the field of structural biology has emerged from the Institute of Science Tokyo, where researchers have developed an innovative, rapid, and purification-free technique for elucidating detailed three-dimensional structures of flexible sugar molecules. Sugars, or saccharides, which play far more complex and critical roles in biological systems than their common association with sweetness suggests, have long posed formidable challenges to structural characterization due to their inherent flexibility and dynamic conformations. This pioneering method leverages cell-free protein crystallization (CFPC) of galectin-10 (Gal-10), a sugar-binding lectin, to create molecular crystals capable of capturing and stabilizing sugar molecules, enabling unprecedented high-resolution analysis of their atomic arrangements through X-ray crystallography.

In living organisms, carbohydrates serve as crucial mediators of cell-cell communication, infection control, and tissue regeneration. They embellish cell surfaces, creating a dynamic molecular interface crucial for countless physiological processes. Decoding how these sugar molecules fold and interact with proteins is vital to understanding their biological functions. However, their flexible nature has historically thwarted efforts to obtain precise structural insights, as conventional crystallographic and spectroscopic techniques often falter when confronted with molecular heterogeneity and rapid conformational change.

Event Name : International Molecular Biologist Awards

Website Link: molecularbiologist.org

Contact Mail ID : support@molecularbiologist.org

Nomination Link  : https://molecularbiologist.org/award-nomination/?ecategory=Awards&rcategory=Awardee


Follow On:

Twitterhttps://x.com/Camilla532645                                                                   

Blogger https://molecularconference.blogspot.com/ 

Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCehrwFGWKbQa0mKDDNJCwvA                  

Pinterest https://in.pinterest.com/molecularbiologistawards/                   

Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trk=onboarding-landing               

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/molecularawards

#Galectin10 #ProteinCrystals #SugarStructure #MolecularBiology #CarbohydrateResearch #StructuralBiology #XRayCrystallography #Biochemistry #MolecularDiscovery #Glycobiology #BiomedicalResearch

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pausing” Cell Death Could Be the Key to Longevity

Image
  Necrosis drives aging and disease by triggering damaging inflammation. Interrupting it may offer new treatments for chronic conditions and improve health in space travel. Necrosis, a form of uncontrolled cell death, may hold one of the most promising keys to altering the course of human aging, disease, and even space travel, according to a new study by researchers at UCL, the drug discovery company LinkGevity, and the  European Space Agency  (ESA). Challenging conventional thinking, the paper draws on evidence from cancer biology, regenerative medicine, kidney disease, and space health to argue that necrosis is not just a final stage of cell death, but a major driver of aging—and a potential target for intervention. Dr. Keith Siew, an author of the study from UCL Centre for Kidney & Bladder Health, said: “Nobody really likes talking about death, even cell death, which is perhaps why the physiology of death is so poorly understood. And in a way, necrosis is death. If...
Read more

Record-Shattering Molecule Stores Data at “Dark Side of the Moon” Temperatures

Image
  Researchers from The University of Manchester and The  Australian National University  (ANU) have developed a novel molecule capable of storing data at extremely low temperatures, comparable to the frigid conditions on the moon’s dark side at night. Their results, published in  Nature , point toward the potential for future data storage devices no larger than a postage stamp, yet capable of holding up to 100 times more information than today’s leading technologies. “The new single-molecule magnet developed by the research team can retain its magnetic memory up to 100 Kelvin, which is about minus 173 degrees  Celsius , or as cold as an evening on the moon,” co-lead author Professor Nicholas Chilton, from the ANU Research School of Chemistry, said. “This is a significant advancement from the previous record of 80 Kelvin, which is around minus 193 degrees Celsius. If perfected, these molecules could pack large amounts of information into tiny spaces. “Pink Floyd’...
Read more

Does cellular senescence hold secrets for healthier aging

Image
  Disease, injury, and other stress factors harm cells throughout our bodies. Ideally, the damaged cells are cleared by our immune systems through a process called apoptosis. But as we age, our bodies are no longer as effective at removing dysfunctional cells, and this can contribute to a weakened immune system and other less efficient biological processes. An increasing number of researchers are exploring whether learning to harness a cellular state known as senescence — during which damaged cells resist removal by apoptosis, linger, and harm neighboring normal cells — might hold the key to revitalizing aging tissues and increasing healthy, active years of life. Senescent cells are unique in that they eventually stop multiplying but don’t die off when they should. They instead remain and continue to release chemicals that can trigger inflammation. Like the one moldy piece of fruit that corrupts the entire bowl, a relatively small number of senescent cells can persist and spread in...
Read more