A new study found that a single mutation to the hemagglutinin protein of an H5N1 virus isolated from a dairy worker in Texas this spring switched the protein’s binding specificity from avian- to human ...

Two different versions of the mu-opioid receptor within a cellular membrane illustrate how the receptor changes its conformation to send a signal into the cell. Scientists captured six high-resolution ...

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is continuously evolving and structural changes to the virus may impact the efficacy of antibody therapies and vaccines. A study describes the structural and functional landscape ...

Many people are familiar with histamine, a biological molecule that serves as a key driver of allergic reactions and other immune responses. However, histamine is also a major neurotransmitter in the ...

Researchers created a tool capable of comprehensively mapping crucial interactions underlying drug efficacy in one superfamily of cell receptors. One in every three FDA-approved drugs targets a single ...

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Touch a hot plate and your hand flies back. While the response is almost instant, researchers are still working to better understand the molecular mechanisms behind these sensations of ...

A GPS-like technique has been used to track G protein-coupled receptor movement, revealing how these essential receptors function. Although G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are crucial to the ...

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common inherited form of intellectual disability. The cause, which has been well-studied, is the loss of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP)—a genetic ...

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have identified two specific receptor proteins in the brain that, when activated, boost the organ’s built-in ability to break down the amyloid-beta plaques ...

Signal transduction is a key mechanism that brings about several physiological responses in a cell. Aberrant signaling can result due to gene mutations or regulatory protein overexpression. It is ...