Category: National Institutes of Health

ribbon diagram
A ribbon diagram shows the structure of the enzyme MEK and the position of three mutations (called F53, Y130, and E203) that cause disease. Image credit: Eyan Yeung, Princeton University (Source Fischmann, et al., 2009)

Mathematical model reveals behavior of cellular enzymes

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Mathematical modeling helps researchers to understand how enzymes in the body work to ensure normal functioning, and how genetic mutations alter the enzymes’ behavior in ways that cause disease, including cancer. Continue Reading →

Fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) on finger
Researchers studied the courtship behaviors of fruit flies to gain insight into how the brain creates “internal states” which culminate from mood, past experiences and other variables. Photo credit: Shutterstock

Neuroscientists develop models to identify internal states of the brain

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Researchers studied the courtship behaviors of fruit flies to gain insight into how the brain creates “internal states” which culminate from mood, past experiences and other variables. Continue Reading →

Two purple cells with green pyrenoids
The left panel shows a type of single-celled algae known as Chlamydomonas reinhardtii with its chloroplast (purple) containing only a single pyrenoid (green). The SAGA1 mutant shown on the right displays several extra pyrenoids. Image credit: Alan Itakura

Princeton researchers explore how a carbon-fixing organelle forms via phase separation

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A new study yields insights into how an organelle called the pyrenoid, which helps algae remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, forms inside the cell via a process similar to how oil separates from water. Continue Reading →

cells
Long-term co-infection of hepatocytes with HBV and HDV can be established in highly scalable cell culture system (SACC-PHH).  Image shown is of SACC-PHH 28 days after HBV/HDV co-infection, with hepatocyte nuclei in blue, a Hepatitis B viral protein in red, and HDV genomic RNA in green. Image credit: Winer et al., Princeton University

How hepatitis B and delta viruses establish infection of liver cells

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Princeton University researchers have developed a new, scalable cell culture system that allows for detailed investigation of how host cells respond to infection with hepatitis B (HBV) and delta virus (HDV). The paper describing their Continue Reading →

diagram of research

Danger avoidance can be genetically encoded for four generations

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Princeton University researchers have discovered that learned behaviors in worms of the species C. elegans can be inherited for multiple generations, transmitted from parent to progeny via eggs and sperm cells. The paper detailing this Continue Reading →

Children with a chemistry set
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“Doing science,” rather than “being scientists,” more encouraging to those underrepresented in the field

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Over the course of a school year, elementary school children lose confidence that they can “be scientists,” but remain more confident that they can “do science,” finds a new psychology study by researchers at New Continue Reading →

Image of a molecule
A model of the "humanized" version of mouse cyclophilin A shows the mutated parts of the protein as green sticks, and the protein's active site as purple sticks. Credit: Jenna Gaska, Princeton University

New progress in developing an animal model of hepatitis C

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Small differences in a liver cell protein have significant impacts on hepatitis C virus replication in mice and humans, findings that could facilitate the development of a mouse model of the infection. The report, led Continue Reading →

cell
Artist's rendering, Shutterstock

For infection-fighting cells, a guideline for expanding the troops

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T cells are like the special ops forces of the immune system, detecting and killing infected cells. When a new threat is detected, the cells ramp up from just a few sentry cells to a Continue Reading →

Child pouring liquid
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“Doing science,” rather than “being scientists,” more encouraging to girls, new research shows

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Asking young girls to “do science” leads them to show greater persistence in science activities than does asking them to “be scientists,” finds a new psychology study by researchers at New York University and Princeton Continue Reading →

Thomas Gregor and his team

Finding meaning among the junk

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By Kevin McElwee Only about 10 percent of the human genome are actually genes. The other 90 percent? Once called “junk DNA,” researchers now know that this genetic material contains on-off switches that can activate Continue Reading →

Mike Levine

Lights, camera, action – of genes in development

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By Yasemin Saplakoglu MOLECULAR BIOLOGIST MIKE LEVINE likes to recall his childhood when he talks about the reason he came to Princeton. “I grew up near Hollywood and I always loved movies as a kid, so Continue Reading →

A challenge to help kids

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By Yasemin Saplakoglu A collaborative approach to sociology aims to target fundamental and perhaps overlooked issues to improve policies that affect the lives of disadvantaged children. The effort, called the Fragile Families Challenge, brings together Continue Reading →

Emily Shuldiner

Probing the genetic basis for dog-human relationships

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By Pooja Makhijani A new study has identified genetic changes that are linked to dogs’ human-directed social behaviors and suggests there is a common underlying genetic basis for hyper-social behavior in both dogs and humans. Continue Reading →

Bright future

Bright future: Princeton researchers unlock the potential of light to perform previously impossible feats

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By Bennett McIntosh One hundred years ago, Italian chemist Giacomo Ciamician predicted a future society that would run on sunlight. In a paper presented in 1912 to an international meeting of chemists in New York Continue Reading →

‘Jack’ Hoang Lu researches nanoparticles for drug delivery

Tiny delivery capsules for new drugs

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Some drugs cannot be delivered via a normal pill or injection because they cannot readily dissolve in water. About 40 percent of new pharmaceuticals have this hydrophobic (water-fearing) character, and like a globule of oil Continue Reading →

Imaging system tracks brain activity of a freely moving worm

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TO EXPLORE HOW THE BRAIN controls behavior, researchers have for the first time captured the whole-brain activity of a freely moving animal, in this case a nematode worm called Caenorhabditis elegans. Using an imaging system Continue Reading →

Leah Bushin and Mohammad Syedsayamdost

Listening in on bacterial communications

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BACTERIA SPEAK TO ONE ANOTHER using a soundless language known as quorum sensing. In a step toward translating bacterial communications, researchers have revealed the structure and biosynthesis of streptide, a signaling molecule involved in the Continue Reading →

Measles vaccination

Measles may weaken immune system up to three years

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THE MEASLES VIRUS can lead to serious disease in children by suppressing their immune systems for up to three years, according to a study published in the journal Science on May 8, 2015. The study Continue Reading →

Bioengineering cover image

Bioengineering: Unlocking the secrets of human health

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By Takim Williams RED-HOT RIVERS OF MOLTEN COPPER and aluminum alloys streamed from one receptacle to another. As an undergraduate watching the demonstration in a materials science class, Clifford Brangwynne was reminded of cells migrating Continue Reading →

Starlings

Striking resemblance: A physical law may govern very different biological activities

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FLOCKS OF BIRDS FLY ACROSS THE SKY in shifting configurations. In the retina of an eye, millions of neurons ignite in ever-changing combinations, translating light into meaningful images. Yet both of these seemingly random behaviors Continue Reading →

Abigail Doyle

No more mirrors: a new way of making molecules for tracking disease

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RADIOACTIVITY IS USUALLY ASSOCIATED with nuclear fallout or comic-book spider bites, but in very small amounts it can be a useful tool for diagnosing diseases. Small molecules containing a radioactive isotope of fluorine, called 18F, Continue Reading →

Angelina Sylvain

How to train your worm to explore the circuits involved in learning

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AS AN UNDERGRADUATE, Angelina Sylvain was fascinated to learn that devastating declines in cognition and muscle coordination could be caused by changes in a single gene — the cause of Huntington’s disease. She was intrigued Continue Reading →

Large milkweed bugs

Far from random, evolution follows a predictable pattern

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Evolution, often perceived as a series of random changes, might in fact be driven by a simple and repeated genetic solution to an environmental pressure, according to new research. “Is evolution predictable? To a surprising Continue Reading →