Department of Biochemistry Archives
A new antibiotic’s mechanism of action
Apr. 25, 2019—Vanderbilt investigators have characterized how a new first-in-class antibacterial drug works, which will guide the development of additional compounds that overcome antibacterial resistance.
Cancer’s SOS
Mar. 28, 2019—Stephen Fesik and colleagues are advancing cancer drug discovery with the characterization of small molecules that modulate RAS, an important target for anti-cancer therapies.
Correctly copying DNA
Mar. 14, 2019—A precise understanding of how the enzyme topoisomerase II cuts DNA could lead to better anti-cancer therapies.
Achilles’ heel for kidney cancer
Feb. 28, 2019—The discovery that kidney cells with mutations in a certain gene are sensitive to therapies called PI3K inhibitors opens new opportunities for applying precision medicine to cancer treatment.
Novel DNA repair mechanism preserves genome integrity: study
Feb. 28, 2019—Biochemistry investigators at Vanderbilt have discovered a new DNA repair mechanism that prevents gene mutations during DNA replication.
The yin and yang of cell signaling
Feb. 14, 2019—Larry Marnett and colleagues have explored the role of two enzymes in metabolizing molecules associated with cell proliferation, inflammatory processes and neurological diseases.
Signals from the “conveyor belt”
Jan. 17, 2019—Vanderbilt researchers propose that cellular signaling pathways are amplified by a “conveyor belt” mechanism that exchanges active and inactive enzymes.
DNA’s on/off switch
Jan. 17, 2019—DNA-binding “switches” represent a fundamentally new method of communication between DNA-processing enzymes, Vanderbilt researchers propose.
Rothamel selected as Vanderbilt Prize Student Scholar
Oct. 25, 2018—Katherine Rothamel, a PhD student in the Department of Biochemistry at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, has been selected as the 2017 Vanderbilt Prize Student Scholar.
Energetic gene switch
Aug. 30, 2018—New findings link flux through glycolysis, which produces cellular energy, with transcription and gene expression via histone modification.
Enzyme helps build motor that drives neuron death
Aug. 23, 2018—Vanderbilt scientists have discovered a signaling mechanism that tells neurons to die, findings that could lead to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.
Genetic balancing act
Aug. 2, 2018—New findings about proteins involved in DNA repair are important for understanding why some cancers are more or less resistant to certain therapies.
