Anelloviruses, which are found in various mammals including humans, possess compact circular DNA genomes and have no known disease associations. A recent study published in Virus Evolution by Dr. Rafaela S. Fontenele and her team reveals an evolutionary link with circoviruses, suggesting adaptation to host immune pressure. The research also proposes the recognition of a new phylum "Commensaviricota" within the realm Monodnaviria.
Scientists have proposed a novel method to scrutinize the cosmological principle and explored how early cells assimilated nutrients that were impermeable through a process akin to passive endocytosis. A recent study, disseminated by the National Institute of Health's (NIH) National Library of Medicine, illuminated how primitive life adapted to nutrient absorption in the absence of specialized transporters.
A recent study has revealed that the interactions between algae and bacteria in oxygen-rich marine environments depend on the exchange of inorganic nitrogen compounds, such as nitrite and nitric oxide. These compounds act as signaling molecules, initiating a cascade that triggers algal cell death. This process could potentially contribute to the sudden collapse of oceanic algal blooms. The research was conducted by Dr. Adi Abada, Dr. Roni Beiralas, among others, and published in the ISME Journal.
A recent study has uncovered extensive translation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, with the majority of elements, including 19,000 noncanonical ones, lacking conservation as protein-coding genes. This suggests their role in rapidly evolving genotype-phenotype connections. The research was conducted by Dr. Anne-Ruxandra Carvunis and her team at the University of Pittsburgh and published in Cell Systems.
Researchers have developed a novel method, mPROSS, for efficiently stabilizing integral membrane proteins. This has been exemplified by successfully modifying human CerS2 for enhanced stability, leveraging AlphaFold2's structural predictions. The study, conducted by Iris D. Zelnik, Beatriz Mestre, and several others, was published on April 22, 2023.
Researchers revealed that in E. coli, protein-protein interactions play a crucial role in regulating allantoin metabolism, involving the allantoinase AllB and the transporter AllW. The study by Dr. Ali Hosseinnia, Dr. Irina Rodionova, Dr. Sunyoung Kim, and several others was published on May 5, 2023.
New findings in microbiology and chemical space, such as the recognition of cognitive abilities in basic life forms and the discovery of a novel dimension in chemical systems, provide understanding into the physical foundation of life's mental dimension and the onset of consciousness. This study, conducted by Dr. Addy Pross and Dr. Robert Pascal and published in the Israel Journal of Chemistry, offers a potential advancement in resolving the age-old "mind from matter" dilemma.
Researchers looked into the structure and functionality of the abundant gut virus ΦcrAss001, studying its role in the human microbiome. The study by Oliver Bayfield, Andrey Shkoporov and several others was published on May 3.
Researchers discover a new group of DNA viruses in the ocean that shares traits with herpesviruses and giant viruses, highlighting their potential impact on marine life and virus evolution. The study by Morgan Gaïa, Lingjie Meng and several others was published on April 19.
Researchers concluded that cell lifespans under stress are dictated more by random damage than by starting conditions, with chance playing a diminishing role as cells age. The study by Yifan Yang, Omer Karin, Uri Alon and several others was published on April 18.
Research delving into the lipid-based GARD model to investigate the rare yet dynamic nature of self-reproducing states suggests an enhanced likelihood for the spontaneous emergence of early life. The study was authored by Amit Kahana, Lior Segev, and Doron Lancet.
Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, while causing hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, respectively, may originate from the same process where the immune system eliminates mutant cells that overproduce hormones, leading to potential autoimmune responses in susceptible individuals, according to a study by Tomer Milo, Uri Alon and two others.
Scientists have been working to identify all human genes since the initial genome draft in 2001. While progress has been made in identifying protein-coding genes (now fewer than 20,000), there has been a surge in reported non-coding RNA genes.
Researchers have uncovered a new type of bacteria in the mouths of bottlenose dolphins, showcasing the uncharted microbial diversity and underscoring the importance of combined genetic and visual analyses. The study by Natasha Dudek, Jesus Galaz-Montoya and several others was published on April 13.
An inshore hagfish genome study highlights two pivotal genome duplications in early vertebrates, with major morphological evolution following the second event. The study by Juan Pascual-Anaya, Daqi Yu and many others was published on April 10.
Researchers investigated how altering the oxidation process in the GAPDH enzyme influences mammalian cell behavior, tumor progression and fat processing. The study by Deepti Talwar, Colin G. Miller and several others was published on April 6.
Utilizing AlphaFold2, scientists employed structural prediction to unveil the makeup and origins of 214 orthopoxvirus proteins, shedding light on previously undisclosed insights into their evolutionary history. One revelation, according to a March/ April 2023 study, was the repurposing of host enzymes for non-enzymatic functions within viruses, resulting in distinctive protein structures found in approximately one-third of orthopoxvirus virion proteins.
According to a study from the National Center for Biotechnology Information from April 4, the CT scans of Mongolian ankylosaurid skulls, Tarchia included, unveiled distinctive airway characteristics and unforeseen irregularities. This suggests the potential presence of chronic osteoproliferation linked to sinus infections or trauma, highlighting the significance of CT scanning in the study of fossils.