SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
Researchers have created a protein that breaks into two pieces when exposed to light:
Researchers at the University of Alberta have developed a new method of controlling biology at the cellular level using light. The tool -- called a photocleavable protein -- breaks into two pieces when exposed to light, allowing scientists to study and manipulate activity inside cells in new and different ways.
First, scientists use the photocleavable protein to link cellular proteins to inhibitors, preventing the cellular proteins from performing their usual function. This process is known as caging. "By shining light into the cell, we can cause the photocleavable protein to break, removing the inhibitor and uncaging the protein within the cell," said lead author Robert Campbell, professor in the Department of Chemistry. Once the protein is uncaged, it can start to perform its normal function inside the cell. The tool is relatively easy to use and widely applicable for other research that involves controlling processes inside a cell.
Optogenetic control with a photocleavable protein, PhoCl (DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.4222) (DX)
Related: With a Better Optogenetic Light Switch, Scientists Can Flip Neurons On and Off
Gene Therapy Human Trial Will Inject Virus Into the Retinas of the Legally Blind
Nerve Stimulation May Recover Memories in Alzheimer's Patients (Mice)
Scientists Test a Way to Erase Scary Memories
Mice Turned Violent by Photoactivation of Amygdala Neurons
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 20 2017, @12:37PM (1 child)
This is a rather complicated title. 2 words I don't understand, never mind that most people can't even come up with a definition of "proteins". So in reality, we have a title like,
New Tool for blarg: foobar stuff
Not to distract from the article, but this is rather common in specialized fields. Reminds me to university physics, when I asked a professor about some journal article (something about solid state physics), he told me same thing - "I don't even understand the title, so can't answer your questions".
Bottom line, nice experiments. But do does and should general public care? Should scientists in general, outside that specialty care?
(Score: 2) by takyon on Monday March 20 2017, @01:49PM
The several related headlines and info in the blockquote should give you an idea of what optogenetics is. Light can cause biology stuff to turn on and off.
"Photocleavable" can be easily broken down into "photo" (light) and "cleave" (cut). But the first sentence of the summary spells it out: "protein that breaks into two pieces when exposed to light".
If you don't know what a protein is, you might be in trouble. But the information in the summary lets you know that proteins have functions, and that the photocleavable one acts like a "cage".
It's not a bad day to learn a word or two. Or should we aim lower here?
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]