News

• Some mistakes in protein translation might be good for cells!

  

  A new study by CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology indicates that minor mistakes while synthesising proteins can be advantageous for cells under stress by enabling them to sense and react to toxic molecules. This establishes how nature achieves precision and yet remains flexible, enabling cells to evolve and modify themselves even in very adverse conditions by way of precision-tuned molecular mechanisms.

  Posted on Jul 04, 2025 in Health & Medicine, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology & Research

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• Making a move: How cancer cells migrate out of tumours

  

  Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, have built organs on chips to simulate cancer metastasis. They examined how cancer cells respond under conditions of ageing and diabetes, finding that stress enhanced metastatic potential.

  Posted on Jan 27, 2025 in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology & Research

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• Understanding hypertension: A plausible link between biological clock and blood pressure

  

  Researchers from the Central University of Jammu have uncovered a potential genetic link between the biological clock and hypertension in the Indian sub-population. They found that the biological clock plays a significant role in regulating hypertension, highlighting its importance as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in the ageing population.
  

  Posted on Jan 24, 2025 in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Genetics & Research

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• A novel link between brain development and autism linked to a transcription factor, Tlx3

  

  Researchers from the Rajiv Gandhi Center for Biotechnology, Kerala, have recently uncovered one of the potential genetic links between cerebellum development and neurodevelopmental disorders like autism. They found that a transcription factor called Tlx3 (T cell leukaemia Homeobox 3) plays a crucial role in cerebellum development in mice, highlighting its significance in autism development.

  Posted on Jan 10, 2025 in Developmental Biology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology & Research

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• Understanding BRCA1 mutations in breast cancer

  

  β-hCG, commonly known as the "pregnancy hormone," may hold promise as a positive prognostic marker in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Researchers at the Rajiv Gandhi Biotechnology Centre, Kerala, have been investigating the molecular mechanisms of tumorigenesis by BRCA1 gene, the mutations of which are strongly associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancers.

  Posted on Dec 13, 2024 in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology & Research

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• The ongoing chase: Tracking Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the evolutionary race

  

  Tuberculosis owes its persistence to the remarkable adaptability of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Recent research from CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, has unveiled the critical roles of enzymes CysM and CysK2 in cysteine synthesis, a key process that enables Mtb to survive the host's immune defenses, offering potential targets for innovative TB treatments.

  Posted on Dec 06, 2024 in Microbiology, Cell Biology & Research

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• Can the deeper study of protein structures help us tackle antibiotic resistance better?

  

  Scientists at the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar, have uncovered the molecular mechanism behind Gram-negative bacteria’s resistance to the drug PC190723, revealing how intra-molecular interactions in proteins, such as salt bridges, prevent the drug from binding effectively.

  Posted on Nov 15, 2024 in Health & Medicine, Cell Biology, Genetics & Research

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