amino acids tagged posts

Chemists discover key to early Earth chemistry, which could unlock ways to speed up chemical synthesis for drug discovery. Purdue University chemists have uncovered a mechanism for peptide-forming reactions to occur in water — something that has puzzled scientists for decades.

“This is essentially the chemistry behind the origin of life,” said Graham Cooks, the Henry Bohn Hass Distinguished Professor of Analytical Chemistry in Purdue’s College of Science...

Popular protein great for increasing muscle mass, but could reduce your life-span – researchers say to vary protein intake. Researchers have examined whether there are any ongoing ramifications or potential side-effects from long-term high protein intake or from consuming certain types of amino acids.

Led by academics from the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre, Professor Stephen Simpson and Dr Samantha Solon-Biet, suggests that while delivering muscle-building benefits, excessive consumption of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) may reduce lifespan, negatively impact mood and...

Research discoveries by Bali Pulendran (seated) and colleagues point to possible new treatment strategies for inflammatory bowel diseases and autoimmune diseases in humans. Credit: Image courtesy of Emory Health Sciences

Intestinal inflammation in mice can be dampened by subjecting them briefly to a diet restricted in amino acids. The findings, made by Bali Pulendran and colleagues at Emory University, highlight an ancient connection between cellular mechanisms to sense nutrient availability and control of inflammation. They also suggest that a low protein diet – or drugs that mimic its effects on immune cells – could be tools for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

This protective effect was shown to be mediated by molecule GCN2, wh...