Tag: Protein Structure and Function

Temporally Dissociable Neural Representations of Pitch Height and Chroma

The extraction and analysis of pitch underpin speech and music recognition, sound segregation, and other auditory tasks. Perceptually, pitch can be represented as a helix composed of two factors: height monotonically aligns with frequency, while chroma cyclically repeats at doubled frequencies. Although the early perceptual and neurophysiological mechanisms for extracting pitch from acoustic signals have… Continue reading Temporally Dissociable Neural Representations of Pitch Height and Chroma

xrRNAs adopt a long-lived conformation that prevents exonuclease activity

Biomolecules morph between conformations with distinct lifetimes according to their functional requirements. Mosquito-borne flaviviruses encode exoribonuclease-resistant RNAs (xrRNAs) that fold into knot-like structures to prevent exonuclease Xrn1 digestion. To achieve high Xrn1 resistance, xrRNAs contain molecular interactions with lifetimes that persist up to ten million times longer than canonical base pairs. This is a preview… Continue reading xrRNAs adopt a long-lived conformation that prevents exonuclease activity

Harnessing failure as an asset: How researchers are innovating smarter wearable tech

In the world of soft robotics and wearable technology, sheet-based fluidic devices are revolutionizing how lightweight, flexible and multifunctional systems are designed. But with innovation comes challenges, particularly in understanding and controlling failure in these devices. A new study by mechanical engineers explores how programmed failure in heat-sealable, sheet-based systems can be used to protect… Continue reading Harnessing failure as an asset: How researchers are innovating smarter wearable tech

Decoding Allosteric Landscapes: Computational Methodologies for Enzyme Modulation and Drug Discovery

Allosteric regulation is a fundamental mechanism in enzyme function, enabling dynamic modulation of activity through ligand binding at sites distal to the active site. Allosteric modulators have gained significant attention due to their unique advantages, including enhanced specificity, reduced off-target effects, and the potential for synergistic interaction with orthosteric agents. However, the inherent complexity of… Continue reading Decoding Allosteric Landscapes: Computational Methodologies for Enzyme Modulation and Drug Discovery

Decoding allosteric landscapes: computational methodologies for enzyme modulation and drug discovery

Allosteric regulation is a fundamental mechanism in enzyme function, enabling dynamic modulation of activity through ligand binding at sites distal to the active site. Allosteric modulators have gained significant attention due to their unique advantages, including enhanced specificity, reduced off-target effects, and the potential for synergistic interaction with orthosteric agents. However, the inherent complexity of… Continue reading Decoding allosteric landscapes: computational methodologies for enzyme modulation and drug discovery