Category Biology/Biotechnology

This figure depicts the enzyme telomerase as well as telomeres relative to a chromosome.

Can we stay young forever, or even recapture lost youth? Can we stay young forever, or even recapture lost youth? Research from the laboratory of Professor Julian Chen in the School of Molecular Sciences at Arizona State University recently uncovered a crucial step in the telomerase enzyme catalytic cycle. This catalytic cycle determines the ability of the human telomerase enzyme to synthesize DNA “repeats” (specific DNA segments of six nucleotides) onto chromosome ends, and so afford immortality in cells. Understanding the underlying mechanism of telomerase action offers new avenues toward effective anti-aging therapeutics.

Typical human cells are mortal and cannot forever renew themselves...

Possible roles of magnesium in vitamin D synthesis. Magnesium is involved in both activation and inactivation of vitamin D. Abbreviations: 1,25(OH)2D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (biologically active form); 24,25(OH)2D, 24,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D; 25(OH)D, calciferol (inactive form); D2, vitamin D2 (from nonanimal sources); D3, vitamin D3 (from animal sources); DBP, vitamin D–binding protein; Mg, magnesium; VDR, vitamin D receptors.

Up to 50% of US population is magnesium deficient. Vitamin D can’t be metabolized without sufficient magnesium levels, meaning Vitamin D remains stored and inactive for as many as 50% of Americans. In addition, Vitamin D supplements can increase a person’s calcium and phosphate levels even while they remain Vitamin D deficient...

Metalens (made of silicon) mounted on a transparent, stretchy polymer film, without any electrodes. The colorful iridescence is produced by the large number of nanostructures within the metalens. (Image courtesy of the Capasso Lab/Harvard SEAS)

Artificial eye automatically stretches to simultaneously focus and correct astigmatism and image shift. Inspired by the human eye, researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have developed an adaptive metalens, that is essentially a flat, electronically controlled artificial eye. The adaptive metalens simultaneously controls for 3 of the major contributors to blurry images: focus, astigmatism, and image shift.

“This research combines breakthroughs in artificial muscle technology with metalens technol...

Schematic illustration of the developed cancer targeting agent — 123B9 in this study. The compound (right panel) has a scorpion-like shape with two arms grabbing EphA2-expressing cancer cells, and a tail (brown) constituted by a cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agent (paclitaxel used in this work). The agent would recognize the surface of cancer cells rich in EphA2 (labeled in red in the left panel which shows cancer cells) and deliver the cytotoxic agent. Credit: Pellecchia lab, UC Riverside.

A research team at the University of California, Riverside has discovered a way for chemotherapy drug paclitaxel to target migrating, or circulating, cancer cells, which are responsible for the development of tumor metastases...