Simple Science Summary The cells in our body follow a 24-hour cycle, the circadian clock. Disruptions of this cycle, for example by working night shifts, can cause disease. In recent years, it has become clear that the clock can be disrupted in.
Light-controlled on/off switch helps control biological clock in cultured cells, explanted tissue
The biological clock is present in almost all cells of an organism. As more and more evidence emerges that clocks in certain organs could be out of sync, there is a need to investigate and reset these clocks locally. Scientists from the Netherlands and Japan introduced a light-controlled on/off switch to a kinase inhibitor, which affects clock function. This gives them control of the biological clock in cultured cells and explanted tissue. They published their results on 26 May in
Nature Communications.
Life on Earth has evolved under a 24-hour cycle; of light and dark, hot and cold. As a result, our cells are synchronized to these 24-hour oscillations, says Wiktor Szymanski, Professor of Radiological Chemistry at the University Medical Center Groningen. Our circadian clock is regulated by a central controller in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, a region in the brain directly above the
E-Mail
IMAGE: Reversible modulation of the circadian clock using chronophotopharmacology. Using light to interconvert two isomers of a photo-responsive small molecule, it is possible to pace cellular time. While irradiation with violet. view more
Credit: Issey Takahashi
The biological clock is present in almost all cells of an organism. As more and more evidence emerges that clocks in certain organs could be out of sync, there is a need to investigate and reset these clocks locally. Scientists from the Netherlands and Japan introduced a light-controlled on/off switch to a kinase inhibitor, which affects clock function. This gives them control of the biological clock in cultured cells and explanted tissue. They published their results on 26 May in
E-Mail
IMAGE: Allowing discrimination between organelle DNA using low phototoxicity visible light, Kakshine offers easy imaging even with cutting edge microscopy techniques. view more
Credit: Yoshikatsu Sato
A group of scientists at Nagoya University, Japan, have developed an incredibly versatile DNA fluorescent dye, named Kakshine after a former NU student of its members, Dr Kakishi Uno, but it also means to make the nucleus shine brightly, since the nucleus is pronounced Kaku in Japanese. Dr Uno, with Dr Yoshikatsu Sato and Nagisa Sugimoto, the other two members of the research team at the Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM), succeeded in developing a DNA binding fluorescent dye with the pyrido cyanine backbone, which satisfied the three principal qualities required of such a dye - that it have high selectivity for DNA, ability to use visible light with limited phototoxicity, and be applicable to a wide range of organisms - in a way that no previous
Home > Press > 3D design leads to first stable and strong self-assembling 1D nanographene wires
Schematic illustration of hierarchical structures of carbon nanofiber bundles made of bitten warped nanographene molecules.
CREDIT
NINS/IMS
Abstract:
Nanographene is flexible, yet stronger than steel. With unique physical and electronic properties, the material consists of carbon molecules only one atom thick arranged in a honeycomb shape. Still early in technological development, current fabrication methods require the addition of substituents to obtain a uniform material. Additive-free methods result in flimsy, breakable fibers until now.
3D design leads to first stable and strong self-assembling 1D nanographene wires
Tokyo, Japan | Posted on April 6th, 2021