Author: Leigh MacMillan
Zinc uptake by a deadly pathogen
Jan. 13, 2020—The increasingly antibiotic-resistant bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii requires zinc to cause infection, and Vanderbilt researchers have identified the zinc uptake system it uses.
Bone matrix changes during aging
Jan. 10, 2020—Changes to the bone matrix that occur during aging may point to novel targets for treating osteoporosis.
Structural views of a C. diff toxin
Jan. 10, 2020—D. Borden Lacy and colleagues used cryo-electron microscopy to define the structure of a C. diff toxin, providing a framework for the design of novel therapeutics.
Cell fate signaling
Dec. 17, 2019—A newly identified protein interaction that affects cell cycle regulation may be an attractive target for cancer therapy.
Protein dynamics in the beating heart
Dec. 16, 2019—To study the dynamics of structural proteins in the heart, Vanderbilt investigators generated a cellular tool they expect will be useful for screening drugs that affect heart muscle contraction.
A new anti-seizure target?
Dec. 12, 2019—Vanderbilt neurologists have identified a protein modification that could be targeted to reduce neuronal excitability in epilepsy.
Genetic screen in worms reveals critical step in insulin synthesis
Dec. 4, 2019—The identification of a protein important for insulin synthesis may hold clues for understanding the pathogenesis of diabetes.
Imaging host-pathogen battle for metal
Oct. 31, 2019—An unprecedented view of bacterial products within infected tissues opens new opportunities to explore infection biology and devise novel therapeutic strategies.
Completing DNA synthesis
Oct. 21, 2019—James Dewar and colleagues have identified a role for the enzyme topoisomerase II in reducing replication errors during the final stage of DNA synthesis.
Microscopic spines connect worm neurons
Oct. 17, 2019—Worm neurons have microscopic “spines” — where nerve-to-nerve communication happens — that share features with mammalian neurons, supporting the use of worms to study spine genetics and biology.
A new regulator of B cell development
Oct. 8, 2019—New findings establish a role for the pro-inflammatory molecule IL-33 in the early development of antibody-producing B cells.
A catalog of DNA replication proteins
Oct. 3, 2019—Vanderbilt scientists have identified 593 proteins that are enriched at sites of DNA duplication and chromatin packaging of newly synthesized DNA.