Scientists have identified planets outside our solar system where the same chemical conditions exist that may have led to life on Earth. The researchers, from John Sutherland’s group in the LMB’s PNAC Division and the University of Cambridge Cavendish Laboratory, found that the chances for life to develop on the surface of a rocky planet like Earth are connected to the type and strength of light given off by its host star.
Scientists identify exoplanets where life could develop as it did on Earth
Making the undruggable druggable: the first platform to discover selective phosphatase inhibitors
Anne Bertolotti’s group in the LMB’s Neurobiology Division have developed the first platform to discover selective inhibitors of phosphatases, a class of enzyme which have largely been considered ‘undruggable’. This has allowed Anne’s group to identify a small molecule, Raphin1, which selectively inhibits a protein phosphatase and is effective in a mouse model of Huntington’s disease – an exciting step in the potential treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Electron cryo-microscopy reveals near-atomic resolution structure of the prespliceosome
Kiyoshi Nagai’s group in the LMB’s Structural Studies Division have used electron cryo-microscopy to solve the structure of the prespliceosome at near-atomic resolution, providing new insights into how the spliceosome is assembled and regulated.
The human genome contains approximately 20,000 genes, which when transcribed produce precursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) consisting of coding sequences (exons) and non-coding sequences (introns).
Discovering how translation and mRNA decay are linked
Uncovering the structure of the serotonin receptor
Scientists in Chris Tate’s group in the LMB’s Structural Studies Division have used electron cryo-microscopy to determine the structure of the serotonin receptor coupled to the heterotrimeric G protein Go, providing insights into how receptors bind specific G proteins.
Communication between cells throughout our bodies is vital for our health.
Controlling actin polymerisation in clathrin mediated endocytosis
Work from Harvey McMahon’s group in the LMB’s Neurobiology Division has uncovered how a protein, FCHSD2, controls actin polymerisation during endocytosis. Importantly the scientists discovered that FCHSD2 does its job from the area surrounding the site of endocytosis – making it the first description of an endocytic protein which localises to the flat region around endocytic events.