International Research Chemistry Awards

  DNA repair proteins act like the body's editors, constantly finding and reversing damage to our genetic code. Researchers have long struggled to understand how cancer cells hijack one of these proteins-called polymerase theta (Pol-theta)-for their own survival. But scientists at Scripps Research have now captured the first detailed images of Pol-theta in action, revealing the molecular processes responsible for a range of cancers. The findings, published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology on February 28, 2025, illuminate how Pol-theta undergoes a major structural rearrangement when it binds to broken DNA strands. By unveiling Pol-theta's DNA -bound structure-its active state-the study provides a blueprint for designing more effective cancer drugs. Technically, Pol-theta is an enzyme-a type of protein that speeds up chemical reactions, including those related to cell repair. DNA damage is a constant problem for cells, occurring millions of times per day collectively ...

  Cancer cells have an insatiable appetite for energy as they multiply more rapidly than normal cells. Greedy cancer cells hijack various cellular functions to find and exploit energy and other resources, including a group of enzymes that help normal cells maintain a balance of energy . These enzymes, called creatine kinases (CK), allow cells to transport energy produced at the mitochondria to where it is needed throughout the cell. Cancer cells rely on this machinery for shuttling energy to help meet their ravenous fuel demands. Studies of breast cancer cells have highlighted the importance of a type of CK called ubiquitous mitochondrial creatine kinase (uMtCK). Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys and the Mayo Clinic published findings February 3, 2025, in Structure that provide a detailed structure of human uMtCK and show how its structure changes when bound to the energy storage molecules creatine or adenosine triphosphate (ATP). To ascertain the structure of uMtCK, the scient...

  A team from the Department of Physics at the University of Trento has been investigating how two-dimensional materials—structures just one atom thick—can be used to produce hydrogen in an environmentally friendly way. Their research, recently published in the journal Carbon, contributes to the ongoing transition toward sustainable energy solutions. How can we generate hydrogen without relying on fossil fuels or other non-renewable energy sources? One promising method is photoelectrochemistry , often described as artificial photosynthesis. Like natural photosynthesis, this approach uses sunlight and water to produce hydrogen—similar to electrolysis but without harmful emissions. The Trento-based research team focused on this technique, specifically exploring the use of photocatalysts—semiconductor materials that facilitate chemical reactions under light exposure. Their study highlights a breakthrough: graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), a lightweight and sustainable material, prov...

  The critical role of EZH2, an essential epigenetic regulator, in cancer progression and treatment is underscored in this new review article published in Genes & Diseases . The study highlights the transformative potential of EZH2 inhibition, paving the way for a new generation of targeted therapies aimed at disrupting tumor growth and overcoming treatment resistance. EZH2, a core component of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2), plays a fundamental role in silencing tumor suppressor genes through histone methylation. Its overexpression has been implicated in a variety of malignancies, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, glioblastoma, and lymphoma. The ability of EZH2 inhibitors to reverse these effects represents a major advance in cancer therapy, offering new hope for patients with aggressive and treatment-resistant tumors. Inhibition of EZH2 disrupts key signaling pathways that drive tumor proliferation, invasion, and survival. Beyond its canonical role in H3K27...

  In a recent article published in Nature Materials, researchers reported a conductance-based organic electrochemical neuron (c-OECN) that mimicked biological signaling in neurons, especially activation/inactivation of their sodium and potassium channels. Background Neurons crosstalk and process information primarily via the sodium and potassium ion channels (in the cell membrane) through spike generation in membrane potentials (also called action potential). Silicon and organic semiconductors -based neurons mimic only limited neural features. Moreover, they operate at time and spike voltages radically varied from those witnessed in biology. Consequently, they require the coupling of supplementary sensing elements to act as neuromorphic sensors. A circuit more closely mimicking biological neurons should be able to activate and inactivate faster like a sodium channel and activate post a delay like a potassium channel. In this context, organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) are ...

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have developed nanorobots that kill cancer cells in mice. The robot's weapon is hidden in a nanostructure and is exposed only in the tumor microenvironment, sparing healthy cells. The study is published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology . The research group at Karolinska Institutet has previously developed structures that can organize so-called death receptors on the surface of cells, leading to cell death. The structures exhibit six peptides (amino acid chains) assembled in a hexagonal pattern. This hexagonal nanopattern of peptides becomes a lethal weapon," explains Professor Björn Högberg at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, who led the study. "If you were to administer it as a drug, it would indiscriminately start killing cells in the body, which would not be good. To get around this problem, we have hidden the weapon inside a nanostructure built from DNA. Created a 'kill...

  Understanding how tumors change their metabolism to resist treatments is a growing focus in cancer research. As cancer cells adapt to therapies, their metabolism often shifts, which can help them survive and thrive despite medical interventions. This process, known as metabolic reprogramming, is a key factor in the development of treatment resistance. However, current methods to study these changes can be costly, complex, and often destructive to the cells being studied. Researchers at the University of Kentucky have developed a new, simpler approach to observe these metabolic shifts in cancer cells, offering a more accessible and effective tool for cancer research. As reported in Biophotonics Discovery, the team developed a novel microscopy technique that uses a standard fluorescence microscope in combination with imaging software. This method allows scientists to observe and analyze metabolic changes in individual cancer cells , without the need for expensive equipment or d...