Revealing the molecular structures of sugars using galectin-10 protein crystals

 


A quick, purification-free method was developed by researchers at the Institute of Science Tokyo, to capture the detailed 3D structures of flexible sugar molecules. By growing crystals of galectin-10 protein using a cell-free crystallization process and soaking them in sugar solution, the researchers were able to trap and analyze the molecular arrangement of sugars and their interactions with the protein. This offers a powerful tool to accelerate research in drug discovery and molecular biology.

Sugars, or saccharides, do much more than sweeten food. In living organisms, these molecules decorate the surfaces of cells and also act as vital messengers in processes such as infection control and tissue repair.

Understanding how these  fold, move, and interact with proteins is important for interpreting their roles. But structural complexity and flexibility make them difficult to study using conventional techniques.

To overcome this challenge, a research team at the Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Japan, led by Professor Takafumi Ueno from the School of Life Science and Technology developed a rapid, purification-free method for structural analysis of sugars.

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 #SugarStructure #ProteinCrystals #MolecularBiology #StructuralBiology #CarbohydrateBinding #Crystallography #MolecularRecognition #Biochemistry #Glycobiology #ProteinStructure #SugarMolecules #XRayCrystallography #MolecularMechanisms #Glycoproteins #Biostructures #ProteinScience

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