Category Archives: Biochemistry

Biochemistry

Plants have an astonishing biochemical communication network – Earth.com

Researchers at Purdue University have made significant strides in understanding plant communication through chemical signals, revealing their intricate language.

Plants, incapable of movement, have evolved unique mechanisms for survival and communication, particularly through Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

These compounds serve as distress signals, warning neighboring plants of potential dangers, such as insect attacks or diseases.

Natalia Dudareva, a Distinguished Professor at Purdue in the departments of Biochemistry and Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, emphasizes the importance of VOCs in plant communication.

She describes it as a form of immunization, where plants primed by these signals respond more vigorously to threats, despite showing no visible changes under normal conditions.

Plants inform neighboring plants about pathogen attacks. It looks almost like immunization. Under normal conditions, you dont see any changes in the receiver plant. But as soon as a receiver plant is infected, it responds much faster. Its prepared for response, explained Dudareva.

The concept of plants communicating through VOCs is not new to science, but the mechanisms behind this communication have remained largely unexplored due to the lack of identifiable markers.

However, recent discoveries by Dudareva and her team have shed light on this process. Their research has documented how petunias produce volatiles to sterilize parts of their flowers, protecting against microbial invasion.

This discovery, first published in 2019, also introduced stigma size as a reliable marker for studying inter-organ communication in plants.

Shannon Stirling, a Ph.D. student at Purdue and the studys lead author, has contributed significantly to this research.

Through meticulous analysis, including measurements of stigma size affected by exposure to VOCs, Stirlings work has helped establish a consistent trend in the communication process.

There are a lot of sugars on the stigma, especially in petunias. It means that bacteria will grow very nicely without these volatiles present, Dudareva explained.

But if the stigma does not receive tube-produced volatiles, its also smaller. This was interorgan communication. Now we had a good marker stigma size to study this communication process, she concluded.

This trend is further supported by genetic studies that pinpointed a karrikin-like signaling pathway as a crucial element in this communication.

Karrikins, interestingly, are compounds not produced by plants but are associated with smoke or fire exposure, raising intriguing questions about plant evolutionary biology.

The study also highlights the exceptional selectivity of plant receptors, particularly in recognizing specific sesquiterpene compounds.

Matthew Bergman, a postdoctoral researcher and co-author of the study, points out the receptors ability to differentiate between mirror images of compounds, emphasizing the precision of this signaling system in avoiding false triggers.

The plant produces many different volatile compounds and is exposed to plenty of others, Bergman said. Its quite remarkable how selective and specific this receptor is exclusively for this signal being sent from the tubes. Such specificity ensures that no other volatile signals are getting by. Theres no false signaling.

Stirlings expertise in protein manipulation has been pivotal in identifying the interactions between signaling molecules and receptors. The process involves delicate techniques to modify protein levels in petunia pistils, a challenging task given the small size of these organs.

Pistils and stigmas are small. Theyre a little difficult to work with because of their size, Stirling said. Even the sheer amount of stigmas you need to get enough sample for anything is quite large because they dont weigh much.

This methodological breakthrough could pave the way for further discoveries in plant signaling and communication.

Petunias, with their vivid colors and fragrances, are more than just a visual delight. As Bergman notes, their value extends into the realm of scientific research, serving as an effective model for understanding complex biological processes.

In summary, this fascinating research has peeled back the layers of mystery surrounding plant communication. These brilliant scientists discovered how petunias, through the sophisticated use of volatile organic compounds, communicate threats to their neighbors. This communication, in turn, effectively immunizes them against potential dangers.

This study highlights the intricacies of plant signaling pathways, particularly through the discovery of the karrikin-like signaling mechanism and the precise receptor specificity for sesquiterpene compounds, while setting the stage for future research in plant biology.

By advancing our understanding of these complex communication systems, scientists unlock new possibilities for enhancing plant resilience and health, paving the way for agricultural innovations and environmental conservation strategies.

As discussed above, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) represent a vast group of chemicals that plants and other organisms naturally emit. These compounds easily evaporate at room temperature, making them a significant part of the air we breathe.

In the plant kingdom, VOCs serve as critical components in a sophisticated communication network. They play pivotal roles in attracting pollinators, deterring herbivores, and signaling neighboring plants about environmental stressors.

Plants utilize VOCs to convey vital information to their surroundings. This form of communication is especially crucial in responding to threats such as herbivore attacks or disease.

When a plant gets damaged, it releases specific VOCs into the air. These signals can directly repel pests or attract natural enemies of the pests, such as predators or parasitoids, effectively reducing the damage to the plant.

Moreover, VOCs are not just about defense. They are instrumental in forming symbiotic relationships and facilitating plant-to-plant interactions.

For example, when one plant is attacked, neighboring plants can detect the VOCs released and preemptively bolster their own defenses, a phenomenon known as priming. This capability suggests a level of interconnectedness and communal support among plant populations.

Beyond defense, plants produce VOCs to lure pollinators. These chemical signals can attract specific insects or animals, ensuring the plants reproductive success.

The diverse array of scents and odors produced by flowers is primarily due to VOCs, tailored to appeal to the plants pollinators, whether they be bees, birds, or bats.

Furthermore, VOCs facilitate symbiotic relationships between plants and microorganisms. Certain VOCs can attract beneficial microbes that help the plant absorb nutrients more efficiently or provide resistance against pathogens.

This interaction underscores the complexity of VOCs in plant ecology, extending beyond plant-to-plant communication to encompass a broader ecological network.

The exchange of VOCs among plants and between plants and other organisms significantly influences ecosystem dynamics. It affects plant competition, biodiversity, and the structure of plant communities.

VOCs can mediate the outcome of plant interactions, determining which species dominate in certain conditions and contributing to the overall health and resilience of ecosystems.

As discussed above, Volatile Organic Compounds are more than mere byproducts of plant metabolism. They are vital communicative tools that plants use to interact with their environment.

Through the release of VOCs, plants can defend against predators, attract pollinators, and communicate with neighboring flora, showcasing a sophisticated level of interaction that mirrors the complexity of animal communication networks.

As research in this field progresses, we continue to uncover the depth and breadth of plant communication, revealing an intricate world where plants are far from passive entities in their ecosystems.

This study, which appears in the March 22, 2024, issue of the journal Science, is a collaborative effort involving scientists from Purdue, Universit Jean Monnet Saint-Etienne in France, and the University of California-Davis.

Like what you read? Subscribe to our newsletter for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.

Check us out on EarthSnap, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

See the original post here:
Plants have an astonishing biochemical communication network - Earth.com

Biochemistry

Study links long-term consumption of deep-fried oil with increased neurodegeneration – ASBMB Today

A new study found higher levels of neurodegeneration in rats that consumed reused deep fried cooking oils and their offspring compared to rats on a normal diet. Deep frying, which involves completely submerging food in hot oil, is a common method of food preparation around the world.

Results from the study also suggest that the increased neurodegeneration is tied to the oils effects on the bidirectional communication network between the liver, gut and brain. The livergutbrain axis plays a crucial role in regulating various physiological functions, and its dysregulation has been associated with neurological disorders.

All that oil could be going to your head. Research presented at Discover BMB in San Antonio found higher levels of neurodegeneration in rats that consumed reused deep fried cooking oils compared to rats on a normal diet.

Kathiresan Shanmugam, an associate professor from Central University of Tamil Nadu in Thiruvarur, led the research team.

Deep-frying at high temperatures has been linked with several metabolic disorders, but there have been no long-term investigations on the influence of deep-fried oil consumption and its detrimental effects on health, said Shanmugam, formerly at Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai. To our knowledge we are first to report long-term deep-fried oil supplementation increases neurodegeneration in the first-generation offspring.

Sugasini Dhavamani, a research collaborator from the University of Illinois at Chicago, will present the research at Discover BMB, the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, which will be held March 2326 in San Antonio.

Deep frying food not only adds calories; reusing the same oil for frying, a common practice in both homes and restaurants, removes many of the oils natural antioxidants and health benefits. Oil that is reused also can contain harmful components such as acrylamide, trans fat, peroxides and polar compounds.

To explore the long-term effects of reused deep-fried frying oil, the researchers divided female rats into five groups that each received either standard chow alone or standard chow with 0.1 ml per day of unheated sesame oil, unheated sunflower oil, reheated sesame oil or reheated sunflower oil for 30 days. The reheated oils simulated reused frying oil.

Compared with the other groups, the rats that consumed reheated sesame or sunflower oil showed increased oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver. These rats also showed significant damage in the colon that brought on changes in endotoxins and lipopolysaccharides toxins released from certain bacteria. As a result, liver lipid metabolism was significantly altered, and the transport of the important brain omega-3 fatty acid DHA was decreased. This, in turn, resulted in neurodegeneration, which was seen in the brain histology of the rats consuming the reheated oil as well as their offspring.

Additional studies in which MSG was used to induce neurotoxicity in the offspring showed that the offspring that consumed the reheated oils were more likely to show neuronal damage than the control group receiving no oil or those that received unheated oil.

Although more studies are needed, the researchers say that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids and nutraceuticals such as curcumin and oryzanol might be helpful in reducing liver inflammation and neurodegeneration. They added that clinical studies in humans are needed to evaluate the adverse effects of eating fried foods, especially those made with oil that is used repeatedly.

As a next step, the researchers would like to study the effects of deep-frying oil on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons as well as on anxiety, depression and neuroinflammation. They would also like to further explore the relationship between gut microbiota and the brain to identify potential new ways to prevent or treat neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation.

Sugasini Dhavamani will present this research during a poster session from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. CDT on Sunday, March 25, in the exhibit hall of the Henry B. Gonzlez Convention Center (Poster Board No. 326) (abstract).

See the article here:
Study links long-term consumption of deep-fried oil with increased neurodegeneration - ASBMB Today

Biochemistry

New surfactant could improve lung treatments for premature babies – ASBMB Today

Scientists have developed a new lung surfactant that is produced synthetically rather than relying on the use of animal tissues. With further development, the formulation could provide a cheaper and more readily available alternative to Infasurf, a medication used to prevent and treat respiratory distress in premature babies.

Surfactants are substances that decrease surface tension where liquids interface with other liquids, gases or solids. In addition to their use in medicines, they are found in a wide range of products including detergents, cosmetics, motor oils and adhesives.

Scientists at Discover BMB in San Antonio reported a new lung surfactant that is produced synthetically rather than derived using animal tissues. It might eventually provide a cheaper and more accessible alternative to medication currently used to prevent and treat respiratory distress in premature babies.

Suzanne Farver Lukjan, a lecturer in chemistry at Troy University in Alabama, led the work.

A synthetic surfactant could potentially have a longer shelf life, lower production costs, have less batch variability and pose less risk of an immune response compared to animal-derived lung surfactants, she said. We hope our formulation will one day be used in hospitals.

Lukjan will present the research at Discover BMB, the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, which is being held March 2326 in San Antonio.

Lung surfactants help premature babies breathe while their lung cells finish developing. In addition to offering a potential alternative to replace Infasurf for babies, researchers say the new synthetic surfactant could be useful for treating adults with lung injuries as a result of diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, miners lung or emphysema.

Researchers have previously attempted to develop synthetic lung surfactants, but some have been removed from the market and others have not been able to lower surface tension as well as animal-derived formulations.

In the new work, Lukjans team created candidate surfactants from synthetic lipids (fats) and peptides (short chains of amino acids) and then tested their surface-tension-lowering capabilities. They aimed to mimic the composition, lipid phase behavior and biophysical function of Infasurf as closely as possible.

After tweaking a step in the sample preparation process, the researchers found a few formulations that showed particular promise. Although tests demonstrated that the chemical behavior of the synthetic surfactants was quite different from that of Infasurf, the new surfactants were able to mimic the drugs functionality in terms of lowering surface tension and seem to achieve the optimal range in terms of peptide concentration.

As a next step, Lukjan said, the group plans to continue to refine and test their formulation to further optimize the combination of lipids and peptides. The surfactant would also need to undergo safety testing before it could be used clinically.

This work was partially funded by ONY Biotech Inc., maker of Infasurf.

Suzanne Lukjan will present this research from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. CDT on Monday, March 25, in the exhibit hall of the Henry B. Gonzlez Convention Center (Poster Board No. 210) (abstract).

Read more here:
New surfactant could improve lung treatments for premature babies - ASBMB Today

Biochemistry

The Power and Promise of RNA – Duke University School of Medicine

The word messenger RNA, or mRNA for short, went from scientific jargon to everyday conversation during the pandemic because of the molecule's starring role in COVID-19 vaccines.

Messenger RNA contains blueprints for proteins that do all sorts of jobs in our bodies. In COVID-19 vaccines, it contains instructions to make proteins similar to the spikes on the coronavirus. This encourages the immune system to create antibodies to fight the virus if we encounter it in the future.

Vaccines are just the beginning of the therapeutic potential of RNA. Scientists at Duke University School of Medicine have long probed the mysteries of RNA, with an eye on harnessing its power for new and better therapies for cancer, diabetes, heart disease and more.

RNA translates our genetic code into action, using information in our genes to create a functioning organism. But the body has ways to modify RNA to change gene expression. These RNA modifications, crucial for normal development, sometimes go awry in disease states.

At Duke, several scientists study RNA modifications. Thats an area of strength for us, said cardiologist Christopher Holley, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine and assistant research professor in Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology. We cant think of any other university in the world that has as large a group studying RNA modifications as there is here at Duke.

Unlike mRNA, not all RNA contains blueprints for proteins. Some types of RNA guide the modification of mRNA, essentially turning genes on or off without changing the genetic code itself.

In RNA, the genetic code is written in base chemicals referred to by the letters A, G, C, and U. Holley compares RNA modifications to an asterisk. These modifications dont change the letter sequence of RNA, he said. You still have the same word, but there is some extra information.

Holley studies a type of modification-guiding RNA called small nucleolar RNA, or snoRNA. While snoRNAs have a role in normal biology, they are also active in some unhealthy processes, including oxidative stress, which damages cells.

Holley has found that turning snoRNAs off in mice protects the mice from diabetes, atherosclerosis, and the symptoms of sickle cell disease, with no apparent side effects. There seems to be a beneficial effect of dialing down these snoRNAs, he said, because we think they really promote oxidative stress damage.

Holley, whose doctorate is in pharmacology, is designing a molecule that will attach itself to snoRNAs, causing them to self-destruct. With the help of Dukes Office of Technology and Commercialization, Holley and a colleague, launched a company called snoPanther to help bring the idea to market.

The dream is that we would be able to turn these into drugs for people, he said.

Hes especially interested in developing better treatments to help his patients avoid heart attacks. Hes actively pursuing snoRNA treatments for diabetes and sickle cell disease as well.

There are hundreds of snoRNAs, he said, and we think in general it could be a whole new class of molecules we could target for drug development.

One of the reasons Kate Meyer, PhD, assistant professor in biochemistry, came to Duke was the concentration of RNA researchers here. That was a big draw for me, Meyer said. Its great because we all study similar concepts but were different enough that we dont compete with each other; we complement each other.

Meyer studies a modification called m6A, in which a molecule called a methyl group gets added to a particular site on RNA. Proper regulation of m6A is required for cells and organisms to function and for animals to develop normally, she said. Dysregulation of m6A has been linked to a variety of different diseases, most notably several cancers.

When she was a postdoctoral researcher, Meyer helped develop the first technique to map m6A sites in cells. At Duke, she and her lab members have developed new methods which can detect m6A from very low amounts of RNA, allowing researchers to zoom in and identify sites in a single cell.

Single-cell m6A profiling has provided new insights into m6A biology, she said. The new technique revealed about 170,000 m6A sites throughout the body many more than scientists had imagined.

Meyer, who is particularly interested in neuroscience applications, studies the functions of m6A in the brain, where m6A is known to be active in response to axonal injury, neural diseases, and brain cancer.

The more we understand about methylation and how it is regulated in cells, she said, the better positioned we are to develop novel therapeutics.

Meyer recently served on the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine committee that compiled a report providing a roadmap for achieving the complete sequencing of RNA molecules and their modifications from one end to the other. Meyer believes this feat will help enable researchers, clinicians, and the biotechnology sector to more fully harness the power of RNA.

Before Meyer joined the Duke faculty, Stacy Horner, PhD, associate professor in integrative immunobiology, came across Meyers postdoctoral paper mapping m6A sites. Horner decided to use the technique in her own lab, in a slightly different application.

Horner studies RNA in viruses and she wanted to look for m6A in viral RNA. I felt like we should look at this because no one was exploring this, she said, and then, with her work, we were able to do this.

She found that viral RNA, like our RNA, does contain m6A sites, a finding that is informing further research. We have been looking at how proteins in the body might sense a specific pattern in viral RNA that contains these modifications, she said.

Her overall goal is to understand how our bodies distinguish viral RNA (which the immune system should attack) from our own RNA (which the immune system should ignore).

In illuminating these biological mechanisms, Horners research could lead to treatments for autoimmune diseases in which the body's immune system attack its own RNA. You need to know the biochemical mechanisms that distinguish viral RNA from our own RNA so you know what to target, she said.

Her work will also be important in understanding how to design RNA therapeutics so that the body doesnt identify them as something to attack.

Horner, who also has appointments in the departments of cell biology, medicine, molecular genetics and microbiology, and the Duke Cancer Institute, now works alongside Meyer to co-direct the Center for RNA Biology, the intellectual home for RNA research at Duke.

We share what were learning and we share technology, she said. It really helps us push the envelope.

As a relative newcomer to RNA research, Josh Huang, PhD, the Duke School of Medicine Distinguished Professor of Neuroscience, appreciates the rich environment of Dukes in-house expertise, which has helped him get up to speed on RNA after years of studying neural circuitry.

Hes interested in using RNA as a tool to learn more about cell types and to manipulate cells to treat disease.

He has recently developed a technique he calls CellREADR to program engineered mRNA to bind to RNA in particular cells in the body and deliver instructions.

Imagine the target sequence is in RNA in a cancer cell. Once the engineered mRNA is attached to the cancer RNA, it issues instructions. Its a message that we want to deliver to the cancer cell, Huang said, to tell the cancer cell to die or to label the cancer cell so that immune cells will kill it.

READ MORE New RNA-based tool can illuminate brain circuits, edit specific cells

The technology has applications far beyond cancer. In Parkinsons disease patients, for example, engineered mRNA could locate cells involved in synthesizing dopamine, attach to the RNA in those cells, and deliver instructions to fix the malfunction.

Like Holley, Huang has started a company to bring his technology to market, called Doppler Bio, with help from Dukes Office of Technology and Commercialization.

RNA therapies are quicker and less expensive to manufacture than more traditional pharmaceuticals, which is one of the reasons the COVID-19 vaccines were designed and produced so quickly. They also have the potential to be easily tailored for different vaccines and disease treatments.

One of the most exciting benefits for patients is the possibility of increased effectiveness with fewer side effects.

In the case of cancer, say, RNA therapy could potentially destroy cancer cells without affecting other cells. This contrasts with currently available radiation and chemotherapy, which damage a broad swath of normal cells in the body.

Broadly speaking, that is the promise of RNA therapeutics precision and effectiveness, Huang said.

Mary-Russell Roberson is a freelance writer in Durham.

Eamon Queeney is assistant director of multimedia and creative at the Duke School of Medicine.

Continued here:
The Power and Promise of RNA - Duke University School of Medicine

Biochemistry

Commonwealth University biochemistry and pre-medicine concentrations accredited – Lock Haven Express

PHOTO PROVIDED Michael Borland, biochemistry and chemistry professor and ASBMB Education Fellow, is pictured teaching in a lab.

LOCK HAVEN Commonwealth University of Pennsylvanias Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry, Engineering, and Physics (BiCEP) has earned accreditation from the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) for two Bachelor of Science in Chemistry degree concentrations: biochemistry and pre-medicine.

The seven-year full accreditation applies across the Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield campuses in recognition of their excellence in curriculum, institutional characteristics and faculty qualifications. The accreditation enables graduating seniors to take the national ASBMB accreditation exam and demonstrate their proficiency in biochemistry and molecular biology on a national stage.

The ASBMB applauded our efforts to engage students in research/internship, use of active/experiential learning opportunities and program assessment, said Michael Borland, biochemistry and chemistry professor and ASBMB Education Fellow. Borland (Bloomsburg) led Commonwealths accreditation effort with departmental colleagues Toni Bell (Bloomsburg), Maegen Borzok (Mansfield), Kyle Root (Lock Haven) and Jackie Dumm (Lock Haven).

Borland also emphasized that this accreditation strengthens the Commonwealth University academic array and prepares students for industry positions, graduate school or professional schools such as in medicine or dentistry. We are excited about the opportunities our updated curriculum provides to create well-rounded, literate and competent scientists and/or medical professionals. Our curriculum, with professors teaching all lecture and lab courses, is grounded in best practices; it provides high-impact experiential laboratory learning and a learning community/network to help students attain their professional aspirations, said Borland.

Congratulations to Dr. Michael Borland and his colleagues in Commonwealth Universitys chemistry, biochemistry and pre-medicine programs for earning ASBMB accreditation. This achievement will provide important opportunities for our current and future students, and I thank our faculty for their work to enhance our students experience, said Bashar W. Hanna, president.

The ASBMB is the premier professional organization in biochemistry and molecular biology and provides national, independent and outcomes-based evaluations of institutions and programs. To date, just over 100 B.A. and B.S. programs nationwide have earned accreditation since inception in 2013. Bloomsburg campus was accredited by ASBMB in 2014 and was the first Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) institution to earn this distinction. Accreditation by independent professional organizations assists biochemistry and molecular biology educators in meeting the growing demand from collegiate accrediting bodies, university administrators, and other stakeholders for regular outcomes assessment.

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

See the rest here:
Commonwealth University biochemistry and pre-medicine concentrations accredited - Lock Haven Express

Biochemistry

What Casual Sex, Pigeon Relationships, Bioluminescence and a Drug for Broken Hearts can Tell us About the … – Nautilus

Learning that romantic feelings, the fireworks of joy and transcendence, are ignited by nothing but biochemistry is a total downer. Or so it might seem. But we bet you will come away from reading these Nautilus articles on love, compiled for Valentines Day, feeling like researcher Anna Machin, who says the more she studies love, the more in awe I am of its complexity in the human species.

You will learn how biochemistry, concocted by evolution, binds us to others. And those others are not just humans. The same natural potions of love bind animals, too. But the science of love is not as reductive as you might imagine. It also takes the air out of culturally conservative views about sex. Only love can break your heart, Neil Young sang, but in the brave new science of love, chemistry can repair it, too.

Love Is Biological Bribery

In an episode of the satirical comedy The Great, the reign of the reason-and-science-loving Russian empress Catherine nearly collapses when her husband Peter, the deposed emperor, storms into her private quarters, determined to imprison her. But seeing her tearful and in despair, he forgets his vindictiveness and hugs her. Later, he tells her, I wanted your happiness more than my own. Wow, she responds. Indeed, Peter says. Love has done a strange thing to me. I wonder if you cut a man who has loved fiercely, you will see a different-shaped heart from a man who has not?

Read on.

Casual Sex Is Improving Americas Marriages

An American man and a French woman meet on a train in Eastern Europe. They live on different continents. But before the sun comes up, they have spent the night together. What happens next?

Read on.

What Pigeons Teach Us About Love

Last spring I came to know a pair of pigeons. Id been putting out neighborly sunflower seeds for them and my local Brooklyn house sparrows; typically I left them undisturbed while feeding, but every so often Id want to water my plants or lie in the sun. This would scatter the flockall, that is, except for these two.

Read on.

Your Romantic Ideals Dont Predict Who Your Future Partner Will Be

Last year, I briefly ran an analogue dating service. Ill never know what inspired me to start itmaybe my stable relationship had me missing the excitement of single lifebut I loved the simplicity of it. There were no questionnaires, no algorithms, no thoughtful matchmaking. Instead, I collected phone numbers from singles I met at bars, soccer games, and dinner parties, and arbitrarily set them up with each other.

Read on.

Bioluminescence Is Natures Love Light

Imagine being a 22-year-old woman, wondering where new species come from. Imagine this question, burning brightly in your mind, has drawn you to the Florida Keys. One night, you pile into a boat with your graduate school advisor and some labmates, head for open water, and cut the lights. You adjust your snorkel mask, tip your face into the Caribbean Sea, and stare downward.

Read on.

This Drug Can Mend a Broken Heart

On Valentines Day in 2016, Anne Lantoine received not flowers, but divorce papers. In the months preceding, she had been preparing for her familys move from France to Canadaor so she thought.

Read on.

Lead image: pogonici / Shutterstock

Posted on February 12, 2024

Kevin Berger is the editor of Nautilus.

Cutting-edge science, unraveled by the very brightest living thinkers.

Read the rest here:
What Casual Sex, Pigeon Relationships, Bioluminescence and a Drug for Broken Hearts can Tell us About the ... - Nautilus

Biochemistry

$2.4 Million in Funding Awarded to Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty | CSUF News – CSUF News

In 2023, eight faculty members in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry received more than $2.4 million in external funding to support research with Cal State Fullerton students.

National Science Foundation:

U.S. Department of Energy:

National Institutes of Health:

U.S. Department of Defense:

American Chemical Society:

Social Science Research Council:

Scott-Jewett Fund for Innovation and Student Success

Originally posted here:
$2.4 Million in Funding Awarded to Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty | CSUF News - CSUF News

Biochemistry

Associate Professor in Biochemistry and Director of NIH-Funded COBRE job with UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE … – Nature.com

Associate Professor in Biochemistry and Director of NIH-Funded COBRE UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

Posting Number PF0847FY24

Quick Link to Posting https://jobs.usnh.edu/postings/59245

Summary of Position The Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences (MCBS), College of Life Sciences and Agriculture (COLSA) at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) invites applications for a full-time (9-month) tenure-trackAssociate Professor of Biochemistry. The faculty member hired will also serve as Director of theNIHfunded Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE): Center of Integrated Biomedical and Bioengineering Research (CIBBR).

We seek an engaged faculty member who is an established biomedical scientist with a nationally recognized, externally funded research program employing experimental biochemical and biophysical approaches to advance the field of protein biochemistry, structural biology, signal transduction, developmental biology, cancer biology, cell/gene therapy and/or other related fields. The successful candidate must have prior administrative experience to leadCIBBRin meeting its goals. A demonstrated commitment to mentoring early-stage investigators, building research infrastructure, enhancement of diversity and inclusion, as well as teaching and service is also required.

For the successful candidate, the above activities will be bolstered via interactions with severalUNHCenters of Excellence. These includeCIBBRand its Molecular & Cellular Phenotyping and Data Science Cores; theHubbard Center for Genome Studies; theUniversity Instrumentation Center(housing state-of-the-art imaging and spectrometry instrumentation); and theNew Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station. Graduate student training opportunities are provided through affiliation with graduate programs in Biochemistry, Genetics, Microbiology and/or Molecular & Evolutionary Systems Biology.

The primary responsibilities of this position are: 1) Maintain and grow a high-impact, externally funded research program; 2) Serve as Principal Investigator and Administrative Core Lead ofCIBBR(currently in early Phase II); 3) Provide high quality instruction in biochemistry as well as molecular and cellular biology courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels; 4) Contribute meaningfully to service at the Department, College, and University levels.

Additional Job Information Application Instructions:Applications will be reviewed beginning on April 1, 2024 and will continue until the position is filled. A start date of January 2025 is anticipated. Applicants must apply online athttps://jobs.usnh.edu/postings/59245.

The following application materials are required: 1) cover letter that includes a description of administrative and mentoring experience relevant to leadingCIBBR; 2) curriculum vitae including the names of three professional references; 3) research statement (maximum five pages) describing currently active areas of research and long-term goals; 4) statement of teaching interests and philosophy (maximum two pages); 5) a diversity statement (maximum two pages) that articulates previous experience and future vision of fostering an equitable and inclusive work environment, and 6) anNIHBiosketch.

For administrative questions related to application submission, please contact Matthew James (matthew.james@unh.edu). For scientific and related questions, please contact the Search Committee Chair, Dr. Krisztina Varga (krisztina.varga@unh.edu).

AboutUNHandMCBS:The University of New Hampshire is a Carnegie Research 1 (highest research activity)-designated, Land, Sea & Space Grant University. The Durham campus of the University of New Hampshire is the States flagship public university and home to a vibrant campus community that prides itself on sustainability. NH is consistently voted among the nations top states in which to reside, with theUNHcampus located near the seacoast and in proximity to the Gulf of Maine, the White Mountains, and Boston (with on-campus rail transportation available).

The Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences (MCBS) is an energetic and growing department with six recent tenure-track faculty hires and a history of productive inter-disciplinary collaborations with faculty in the life sciences, chemistry, and bioengineering disciplines atUNH.MCBSoffers degrees at the Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral levels. Faculty and graduate students additionally participate in university-wide interdisciplinary graduate programs that foster cross-disciplinary and integrative approaches to research and teaching. Undergraduate programs focus on preparing students for careers in the life science industries, graduate schools and/or professional health programs. For more information aboutMCBS, please visithttps://colsa.unh.edu/mcbs/.

Diversity and Inclusion:AtUNH, diversity among administrators, faculty, staff, and students also drives excellence. We therefore are committed to enhancing and sustaining an educational and working community that is inclusive and equitable. These values are cherished and are inextricably linked to our core mission. We are a public institution with a long-standing commitment to equal employment and educational opportunity for all qualified persons, and our non-discrimination policies extend and apply to admission, access to, treatment within, or employment inUNHprograms or activities. The University is committed to excellence through diversity among its administrators, faculty, staff, and students and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, marital status, genetic information, or pregnancy.

Acceptable Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:1) a Ph.D. in biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, biophysical chemistry, or related field; 2) current rank at the Associate Professor level; 3) serve as the PI of at least one active, majorNIHresearch grant whose scientific theme is related to theCIBBR; 4) prior experience with academic and/or research administration; and 5) demonstrated commitment to undergraduate and graduate education.

This position is responsible for the supervision of

Professional, Administrative, and Technical , Students

Special Requirements

A background check will be required as a condition of employment.

EEO Statement The University System of New Hampshire is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access/Affirmative Action employer. The University System is committed to creating an environment that values and supports diversity and inclusiveness across our campus communities and encourages applications from qualified individuals who will help us achieve this mission. The University System prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or marital status.

Institution Information The University of New Hampshire is an R1 Carnegie classification research institution providing comprehensive, high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs of distinction.UNHis located in Durham on a 188-acre campus, 60 miles north of Boston and 8 miles from the Atlantic coast and is convenient to New Hampshires lakes and mountains. There is a student enrollment of 13,000 students, with a full-time faculty of over 600, offering 90 undergraduate and more than 70 graduate programs. The University actively promotes a dynamic learning environment in which qualified individuals of differing perspectives, life experiences, and cultural backgrounds pursue academic goals with mutual respect and shared inquiry.

TheUNHDiversity Resource Guide with information and programming available in the seacoast area, New Hampshire, and the region can be found here:https://www.unh.edu/hr/diversity-resource-guide

Read the original:
Associate Professor in Biochemistry and Director of NIH-Funded COBRE job with UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE ... - Nature.com

Biochemistry

USM Chemistry (Biochemistry Emphasis) Degree Earns ASBMB Reaccreditation – The University of Southern Mississippi

Wed, 01/31/2024 - 01:21pm | By: Ivonne Kawas

The University of Southern Mississippis (USM) B.S. degree in Chemistry (Biochemistry emphasis) has earned reaccreditation by the leading agency in the field of life sciences the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB).

This accreditation was obtained for the first time in 2017. Obtaining ASBMB accreditation, a national outcomes-based evaluation, ensures programs in the field meet the highest standards of academic excellence. USMs chemistry degree program is housed in the School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (MANS),

Accreditation by ASBMB is a testament to the quality and content of our biochemistry curriculum, as well as to the knowledge and skills learned by our students as they begin to seek careers or further their studies at the graduate or professional levels, said Dr. Chris Winstead, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. I appreciate the effort of the faculty in seeking this accreditation. This shows their dedication to providing the best preparation possible for our Southern Miss students, an education that is well-aligned with national standards and prepares them for their next steps.

Dr. Vijay Rangachari, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, emphasizes one of the direct accreditation benefits for students.

ASBMB accreditation inherently enhances the value of the students degree, allowing them to include on their resume that they graduated from an ASBMB-accredited program. Furthermore, upon degree completion, they can demonstrate competitiveness on a national scale by obtaining ASBMB certification.

Dr. Rangachari also highlights one of the strengths of the program, integral to both student success and ASBMB accreditation: the hands-on research opportunities provided in the laboratory.

To meet accreditation requirements, the curricula must include over 400 hours of hands-on laboratory experience. Therefore, students get an advantage in advancing their careers.

Students like Landon Lee, a native of Hattiesburg, Miss. who is pursuing the biochemistry emphasis, actively participate in cutting-edge research projects in the lab, alongside graduate students and faculty mentors.

Joining a research lab has significantly enriched my educational experience, as Ive been able to acquire skills related to academic research, project management, and creative thinking, said Lee. With the support and guidance from both the graduate students in my lab and Dr. Rangachari, my faculty mentor, it has become more than just a platform for applying classroom concepts; it has provided me a community that fosters my personal and academic development.

After completing his bachelors degree, Lee plans to further his studies: As I complete my degree, I intend to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience. My coursework has undoubtedly laid a strong foundation in physics, chemistry, and mathematics, enabling me to demonstrate key strengths as I strive toward this goal.

Dr. Theofanis Kitsopoulos, director in the School of MANS, reflects on the programs successful and highly valued alumni base, as it opens doors to diverse industries.

Our curriculum is carefully crafted to equip students not only with a strong theoretical foundation but also with practical skills highly valued in the job market, said Dr. Kitsopoulos. Several of our alumni choose to pursue advanced degrees in prestigious graduate programs in medical, dental, pharmaceutical, and other professional schools. They go on to succeed in diverse industries such as research and development, healthcare, environmental consulting, forensic science, and entrepreneurship. Some thrive as quality control and analytical chemists, while others pursue fulfilling paths as middle and high school science and chemistry teachers.

Learn more about the B.S. degree in Chemistry (Biochemistry emphasis).

More here:
USM Chemistry (Biochemistry Emphasis) Degree Earns ASBMB Reaccreditation - The University of Southern Mississippi