Can one water molecule change the conformation of a peptide? Vibrational spectroscopy in the gas-phase is the perfect technique to answer this question.
Antibacterial Screening In Live Cells: In Search Of Life-Saving Drugs
Just as interesting as the detail of how the antibacterial molecules works can be the new methods by which they are discovered. Today’s Chembite is about the development of antibacterial agents in the fight against an infectious bacterium.
Kiss and Run: Studying how acidic organelles interact in the cell
Our cells are bustling with activity. Read on to find out how researchers are imaging the busy organelles in the cell and how they are related to neuronal pathways in the brain!
MOLECULE FROM FUNGUS DISRUPTS PLANT CIRCADIAN CLOCK
This plant is having trouble telling night from day…could a chemical be the culprit!?
What can you do with a glucose meter?
More than you might think! Researchers have “hacked” glucose meters to detect enzymes, bacteria, and viruses using a device millions of people already use every day.
Crystal Engineering for Better Solar Panels
Solar panels are made up of highly processed expensive materials. Find out how researchers explore alternative solar materials by engineering new crystal structures.
‘Optical Tweezers’ give new insights to cancer drugs
By using a technique that allows researchers to study single molecules, scientists have gained new knowledge about how a common anti-cancer drug interacts with DNA. These findings can help explain the properties of the drug and help scientists discover novel r anti-cancer treatments with improved effectiveness.
The future is bright: light-up chemistry for Zika virus detection
Chemists have developed an electrochemiluminescent sensor for the detection of Zika virus RNA. Read more to learn how this sensor compares to existing technologies!
Using Machine Learning to Discover New Fluorescent Proteins
Fluorescent proteins are incredibly useful for exploring the inside of living cells. Let’s learn about a new way to find better-performing proteins using machine learning!
IRON MUST GRAB AN ELECTRON BEFORE ENTERING THE CELL
A new fluorescent molecule can distinguish between Fe(II) and Fe(III) at the cell membrane.
Discovering Novel Structures – A molecular fidget spinner?
While discovery of new complexes can be difficult, this group at Cambridge has developed “cube traps” and effectively synthesized a molecule atkin to a molecular fidget spinner!
A surprising answer for how cells deal with a toxic – but essential – molecule
Heme is central to many processes within cells, from breaking down food to energy to transporting oxygen from the air we breathe. Bound to proteins it’s extremely useful and versatile, but by itself it is highly reactive and toxic. So how does the body prevent heme from reacting before it is used in a cell?
Using chemical probes to identify bacterial virulence factors
It seems like a silly question: how can we study the function of proteins with unknown functions? The answer: with activity-based chemical probes. In this article, researchers identified several previously unexplored enzymes that may play a role in serious bacterial infections.
Chemistry, archaeology and the ergot fungi: solving the mystery of the past
During thousands of years of burial, cereals from ancient artifacts are degraded and consumed, but ergot fungi produce a fingerprint of lipids that we can use to trace them.
Painting a Fuller Picture in Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Synergistic effects of stereochemistry and appendages on the performance diversity of a collection of synthetic compounds Authors: Stu Schreiber et al. Journal: Journal of the American Chemical Society https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.8b07319 Year: 2018 The ability to rapidly evaluate what a chemical compound does to a cell, and…
3 questions explaining “What, Where and How” of the new exotic phase of matter – TOPOLOGICAL MATERIALS
We have always been told that do not compare apples and oranges! They are completely different! Well a mathematical theory based on surface of material finds them similar. This theory applied by physicists in materials research has discovered new exotic phase of matter called topological materials. In this article, learn about the unique nature of this exotic phase, approaches to make these materials and their wide-spread applications.
Proteomics Aids a Cheesy Discovery in Ancient Egypt
What can we learn when anthropology and chemistry join forces? Analytical chemists used proteomics to study the world’s oldest cheese sample discovered in an ancient Egyptian tomb.
Common Sense Recycling – Turning Waste Cables into Electrochemical Sensors
Modern technology is evolving at a mind-blowing rate, but what should we do with all of the obsolete hardware? Researchers are finding clever ways of recycling the old material – check it out!
Crystal Clear Chemistry
In this article you can learn about how researchers have taken images as crystals form out of a liquid.
The Sci Art Collaboration that Powers Up!
Art could show the beauty of science. But art could also put science to work in real life!
Let’s learn from researchers about how origami can turn paper into a real battery!
Monitoring Glucose Levels in Sweat with a Wearable Sensor
Measuring blood sugar levels by pricking your finger is painful and inconvenient. Learn about a new wearable device that measures your glucose levels with just your sweat!
From Sunscreen to Solar Cells: What’s Happening on TiO2‘s Surface?
The controversy over TiO2’s hydrophilic/hydrophobic transition has been examined in new detail – with researchers concluding that atmospheric molecules can attach onto TiO2’s surface, changing its chemical properties.
FRET-based screening to identify therapeutics for heart disease
Scientists have developed a clever time-resolved FRET screening method to identify drug candidates for the prevention of heart failure.
Plasmonic Stamps: Simple Color Control
Optical electronics are the future of technology. Take a look at how a new printing technique may enable chip scale manipulation of light via gold nanoparticles.
Scanning for Skin Cancer
The idea that a full body scan can give comprehensive medical prognosis may be closer than we realize. Scanning mass spectrometry has been used to differentiate between healthy and cancerous skin cells. We can literally scan a person for skin cancer!