Scientists know a lot about apoptosis, from its molecular control to pathways that stop the cell death process in its tracks, but being able to control when and where it occurs would help researchers glean more details about its role in development. To that end, chemical biologist Steven Verhelst of KU Leuven in Belgium and his PhD student Suravi Chakrabarty decided to use a technique called photocaging to make an inhibitor of caspases, enzymes involved in apoptosis, that can be controlled by light.
For a small molecule to effectively inhibit a caspase, it needs a negative charge in just the right spot to fit into a positively charged pocket of the enzyme. Verhelst and Chakrabarty decided to develop a molecule that had a photocage, a chemical group that sat on top of that negative charge and prevented the inhibitor from binding and stopping the caspases from carrying out apoptosis. “If we could block that negative charge, we would virtually know well, say, 99 percent sure that it
: It’s hard to ignore Elizabeth Blau’s work with Delivering with Dignity, coordinating with restaurants like Graffiti Bao, Valencian Gold, and her own Honey Salt to deliver meals to thousands in need. She was also vocal in calling out the Nevada government for not doing enough to help locally owned restaurants.
, food and culture writer: There are so many: 7th & Carson partnering with nonprofits to feed the homeless; Ghost Unit Kitchen pivoting to cook for folks in need with Chefs4Vegas; Aloha Kitchen passing out bags of food to hungry families right at the beginning of the pandemic. I also want to give a shout out to my friend, food writer Kim Foster, who is a beacon of generosity. Kim started a food pantry in front of her home downtown, and most importantly, she talks to the people who pick up food, asks them what they need, and coordinates donations to meet those needs. Feeding the hungry is one of the most important food stories of 2020, and I’m in awe of the people who
: It was fascinating to see ghost kitchens like Gemma Gemma’s Square Pies, Pizza Anonymous, To Be Frank, and Underground Burgers emerge this year. We may see more of those as the economy struggles to rebound in 2021. I’m also happy to see BYOB is finally beginning to take hold in Vegas. I know Sparrow + Wolf tried it out and The Legends Oyster Bar have been encouraging it in place of a bar license. In the past, I thought of BYOB as little more than a corkage fee situation, but now I get what it’s all about. There’s something fun about stopping somewhere to pick out a bottle of wine while on the way to dinner and sharing it with friends. Not to mention, it saves a lot of money.
Dining Pros Remember the Saddest Restaurant Closings in Las Vegas
Saying goodbye to some favorite places that won’t be returning
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What was 2020’s saddest restaurant closure?
Emmy Kasten, freelance writer: I was heartbroken to see Estiatorio Milos say farewell to their prime location at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Though the restaurant will soon reopen at the Venetian, I will miss enjoying Milos’ signature lunchtime menu while taking in the views from the sunlit patio.
Philip Tzeng, food blogger at
: It has got to be Pamplemousse. One of the oldest, most iconic restaurants in the city, I have very fond memories of every dinner over the years, but with conventions gone and in-room dining capacities being what they are, there was no way it was going to last in the current situation. It is a Vegas landmark that should have been here forever.
Reality Bitchslap is the story of Arif Rafhan and his adventures with his college friends travelling in South-East Asia. Photo: Arif Rafhan
The late chef and travel documentarian Anthony Bourdain once said: “Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you.”
Comic book artist, pre-production illustrator and teacher Arif Rafhan would discover the truth of these words first-hand.
Between 2001 and 2003, a young Arif (then in his 20s) and a group of college friends decided to travel around South-East Asia. Away from his comfort zone, Arif encountered both good and bad things, some unexpected experiences.