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Nature's
chain mail |
A large number of new protein structures are determined each year
by researchers using the powerful X-rays at the Advanced Photon Source
at Argonne . Seeing the structure provides an insight to researchers
that otherwise would not be possible. For instance, this structure
of bacteriophage HK 97 shows that nature's chain mail provides this
viral genome's interior with exceptional protection. The protein
structure was determined at the BioCARS beamline, operated by the
University of Chicago .
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(827 KB) |
Last Updated: July 15,
2004 |
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Oldest
known protein knot |
This image of a knotted protein comes from a microorganism called methanobacterium
thermoautotrophicum that breaks down waste products and produces methane
gas. This was the first structure of the most ancient type of single-celled
organism – archaebacterium. Protein-folding theory previously held that
forming a knot was beyond the ability of a protein; as technology improves,
biologists are determining higher-quality images of structures. Researchers
used the powerful X-rays at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne to
determine the protein's structure. Argonne National Laboratory image.
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(539 KB) |
Last Updated: July 15,
2004 |
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New
source of stem cells |
Argonne biologists Yong Zhao (left) and Eliezer Huberman found a new
source of pluripotent stem cells – the versatile stem cells that can
morph into any type of cells. They found a way to adapt cells found in
blood to create the pluripotent cells. Common sources of these flexible
stem cells such as bone marrow and embryonic cells can be hard to collect
and controversial, making Argonne 's finding a possible boon to patients
and researchers. Their research was published in the Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences . Argonne National Laboratory photo.
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Last Updated: July 15,
2004 |
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Stopping
tumor growth at its source |
Argonne biologists have identified proteins related to capillary formation
that are a tumor's lifeline by studying blood-vessel-forming cells. Colleen
Kuemmel, a scientific assistant in the Biosciences Division, is monitoring
capillary growth of endothelial cells every four hours. Argonne National
Laboratory photo.
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(980 KB) |
Last Updated: July 15,
2004 |
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How
cells communicate |
One of the hundreds of structures determined at Argonne's Structural
Biology Center, the TraR protein structure of Agrobacterium tumefaciens revealed
that cells may communicate through releasing and sensing the chemical
signals pheromones. Argonne National Laboratory image.
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(345 KB) |
Last Updated: July 15,
2004 |
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Protein
purification robot |
Argonne biochemist Irina Dementieva and biophysicist and crystallographer
Youngchang Kim work with the first robot of its type in the nation to
automate protein purification. The robot, which is housed in a refrigerator,
is an integral part of the Argonne-based Midwest Structural Genomics
Center 's plan to automate the protein crystallography process. These
robots purify six proteins a day; it previously took two to three days
per protein. Argonne National Laboratory photo.
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(431 KB) |
Last Updated: July 15,
2004 |
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Robotic
protein cloning |
To determine the structure of the human genome, Argonne researchers
are automating processes to speed discovery and cut costs. Christina
Hueneke oversees this robot, which produces 20 times as many protein
clones as a traditional wet lab. Argonne National Laboratory photo.
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(742 KB) |
Last Updated: Insert Date |
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