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This study examines the validity of an assay that is used to report on the retainment of functional competence by ribosomes as they pass a micro-spray…

PhD Project - Unravelling the mechanisms of action of cardiac myosin modulators in health and heart disease at University of Leeds, listed on FindAPhD.com

Many unusual reactions involving aqueous microdroplets have been reported, including nitrogen fixation at room temperature, production of abundant hydrogen peroxide, and formation of an ion at m/z 36, attributed to (H2O–OH2)+•, (H3O + OH)+•, or (H2O)2+•, which was used to support the hypothesis of spontaneous production of hydroxyl radicals. Here, m/z 36 ions and extensive hydrated clusters of this ion are formed using either nanoelectrospray ionization or a vibrating mesh nebulizer that produces water droplets ranging from ∼100 nm to ∼20 μm. Exhalation of a single breath near the droplets leads to a substantial increase in the abundance of this ion series, whereas purging the source with N2 gas leads to its near complete disappearance. Accurate mass measurements show that m/z 36 ions formed from pure water are NH4+(H2O) and not (H2O)2+•. Both the high sensitivity to trace levels of gaseous ammonia (unoptimized detection limit of low parts-per-billion) in these experiments and the likely misidentification of the m/z 36 ion in many previous experiments indicate that many results that have been used to support hypotheses about unusual chemistry and the effects of high intrinsic electric fields at microdroplet surfaces may require a more thorough evaluation.

Cryo electron microscopy (cryo EM) is a major structural biology method for studying macromolecular complexes and cellular structures in their native states. Stable high resolution cryo microscopes, …

Understanding ion transport dynamics in reactive vesicles is pivotal for exploring biological and chemical processes and essential for designing synthetic cells. In this work, we investigate how proton transport and membrane potential regulate pH dynamics in an autocatalytic enzyme reaction within lipid vesicles. Combining experimental and numerical methods, we demonstrate that compartmentalization within lipid membranes accelerates internal reactions, attributed to protection from the external acidic environment. In experiments, we explored how proton movement significantly impacts internal reactions by changing bilayer thickness, adding ion transporters, and varying buffers. Numerical investigations incorporated electrical membrane potential and capacitance into a kinetic model of the process, elucidating the mechanisms that dictate the control of reaction time observed in the experiment, driven by both electrical and chemical potential gradients. These findings establish a framework for controlling pH clock reactions via membrane changes and targeted manipulation of proton movement, which could aid in the design of synthetic cells with precise, controlled functionalities.

PhD Project - Investigation of lipid-protein interactions within mechanosensitive ion channels at Aston University, listed on FindAPhD.com

Congratulations to Caffinity Biotech, a team of early-career researchers from the Astbury Centre, on winning "Best disruptive food and drink business plan" sponsored by the Food Consortium Collaborati...

Hybrid membranes, consisting of phospholipids and amphiphilic block polymers, offer enhanced stability compared to liposomes and greater biocompatibility than polymersomes. These qualities make them a...

eBIC (Diamond light source) has partnered with the Astbury Biostructure Lab (University of Leeds), the Scottish Centre for Macromolecular Imaging (University of Glasgow), Midlands Regional Cryo-EM Fac...

Most sudden cardiac deaths in young people arise from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a genetic disease of the heart muscle, with many causative mutations found in the molecular motor beta-cardiac myosin...

Lane et al. demonstrate that the mechanosensitive channel YbiO can achieve conductances equivalent to the largest gated-pore in nature when subjected to membrane tension. Single-channel analysis shows...

Hi everyone! I'm actively seeking an academic or industrial position either back in the UK/Europe, or outside of the government in the US. I have strong…

Lane et al. demonstrate that the mechanosensitive channel YbiO can achieve conductances equivalent to the largest gated-pore in nature when subjected to membrane tension. Single-channel analysis shows...

Scientific Reports - Cell-free expression and SMA copolymer encapsulation of a functional receptor tyrosine kinase disease variant, FGFR3-TACC3

Leeds says Elon Musk’s social media site “no longer aligns with our university values”