Aliquots - Research Briefs

February 25, 2020

Looking through MudPIT for protein interactions

The identification of novel protein interactions and sites of modification in proteins involved in mRNA translation adds to understanding of a process that is an important therapeutic target.

By Sanjay Mishra
Image of pain pills (iStock Photo)
February 24, 2020

Reducing postoperative opioids

An opioid-restrictive prescribing protocol reduced the number of postoperative opioid prescriptions and the oral morphine equivalent per prescription.

By Leigh MacMillan
February 20, 2020

Protein interactions and brain function

Roger Colbran and colleagues have discovered new molecular details about the function of an enzyme with a key role in shaping learning and memory.

By Bill Snyder
February 20, 2020

Transporter mutation alters cell energy

A disease-associated mutation in a transporter protein causes cells to increase energy production, as if they are starving, Vanderbilt researchers have discovered.

By Leigh MacMillan
February 11, 2020

A key to calcium signaling

Erkan Karakas and colleagues used cryo-electron microscopy to determine structural details of a calcium channel protein that has numerous cell signaling roles.

By Sanjay Mishra
February 10, 2020

Imaging breast cancer cell size

A noninvasive MRI approach assesses breast tumor cell size and could be a useful way to evaluate early response to neoadjuvant therapy.

By Leigh MacMillan
February 6, 2020

Powering H. pylori pathogenesis

Timothy Cover and colleagues report new insights into the sources of energy used by a bacterial “machine” linked to the pathogenesis of stomach cancer.
By Leigh MacMillan
February 6, 2020

New tool probes gene regulation

Vanderbilt biochemists got unexpected results when they used their new approach to explore the role of DNA methylation in gene regulation.
By Leigh MacMillan
January 28, 2020

Imaging nerve regeneration

Diffusion MRI may provide a noninvasive approach to assess nerve regeneration and distinguish successful from unsuccessful repairs earlier.
By Leigh MacMillan
January 27, 2020

A new contributor to atherosclerosis

Sean Davies and colleagues are exploring lipid aldehydes produced during oxidative stress and their contribution to HDL dysfunction and atherosclerosis.
By Leigh MacMillan
January 23, 2020

Insights on diabetic retinopathy

A drug that targets multiple pathogenic steps in diabetic retinopathy may be an ideal therapeutic strategy for the disease, Vanderbilt researchers report.
By Leigh MacMillan
January 23, 2020

HDL-cholesterol and breast cancer risk

Genetic analyses suggest that high circulating HDL-cholesterol levels may increase breast cancer risk — a surprising finding since increased HDL-cholesterol is thought to be healthy.
By Leigh MacMillan
January 13, 2020

Zinc uptake by a deadly pathogen

The increasingly antibiotic-resistant bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii requires zinc to cause infection, and Vanderbilt researchers have identified the zinc uptake system it uses.
By Leigh MacMillan