Astropharmacy / Biotechnology – My WordPress Site

Energetics associated with the occupancy of the K1 site and the position of the M2 ion. (A) Free energy surface of the concerted motions of Prp11 Lys10 and M2, with the initial PDB conformation marked by a yellow star. (B–D) Representative structures of three metastable states from metadynamics simulations. State 1 (B) represents a PDB-like arrangement where Lys10 (slate blue sticks) remains at the K1 site, and M2 (yellow sphere) is properly positioned at the U6 snRNA triple-helix (yellow cartoon). State 2 (C): Lys10 leaves the K1 site, allowing a K+ ion to occupy it and stabilize M2 in place. State 3 (D): M2 directly coordinates G52, losing its catalytic position and partially occupying the K1 site. -- PNAS

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology & SynBio

Computational Chemistry And Supercomputers To Help Understand The Mechanisms Of Life

by Keith CowingApril 13, 2026April 13, 2026

A new study from the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), in collaboration with Uppsala University (Sweden) and AstraZeneca, shows how computational chemistry and supercomputers can help scientists better understand the fundamental mechanisms of life, specifically those of human cells.

Graphical Abstract -- Cell

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Commercial & Private Sector, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Gravitational Biology, Radiation, Space Life Science, Space Physiology & Medicine, Space Stations

ASTROREPOMICS: A Curated Transcriptomic Database For Reproductive Biology In Space

by Keith CowingApril 8, 2026April 8, 2026

Proteins — large molecules with a specific biological function — are created by stringing together smaller molecular building blocks (amino acids) into chains which fold into complex 3D shapes. Credit Johan Jarnestad/The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

AI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Origin & Evolution of Life

Identifying The Limits Of Protein Evolution

by Keith CowingApril 2, 2026April 2, 2026

ExocubeBio -- biorxiv.org

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Gravitational Biology, Life Support Systems, Microbiology & Virology, Microgravity, Nanotechnology & SynBio, News Summary Archives

ExocubeBio: An In-situ Fluidic Platform For Microbial Exposure On The International Space Station

by Keith CowingMarch 26, 2026March 26, 2026

Industrial applications and role in the climate change of different classes of extremophiles. (a) Illustrations in the inner circle are representing the major classification of extremophiles, while the outer circle depicts their associated industrial and biotechnological applications. -- Frontiers

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Commercial & Private Sector, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Radiation, Sample Return

Molecular Adaptations And Engineering Of Extremophiles For Synthetic Biology And Biotechnological Applications

by Keith CowingMarch 20, 2026March 20, 2026

DNA-encoded Edman degradation on magnetic beads. (A) Reaction scheme for barcoding PTC amino acids via DNA-encoded Edman degradation on magnetic beads -- Nature Biotechnology

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Microbiology & Virology, Tricorders & Sensors

Tricorder Tech: Protein Sequencing Advance Offers New Insights Into Life’s Foundations

by Keith CowingMarch 19, 2026March 19, 2026

The new MultiQ-IT prototype can cool, trap, filter, and redirect over a billion ionssimultaneously, dramatically improving dynamic range and signal-to-noise. Credit Lori Chertoff/The Rockefeller University

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Tricorders & Sensors

Tricorder Tech: Most Mass Spectrometers Can Process Just A Few Molecules At Once. A Reengineered Prototype Does A Billion Simultaneously.

by Keith CowingMarch 19, 2026March 19, 2026

Slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum protein complex Q55DI5 (AF-0000000066503175), annotated as a transcription elongation factor. The single chain looked disordered, but modelling the homodimer revealed that two chains intertwine, each contributing half a domain to form a stable fold. An illustration of why predicting protein complexes can reveal biology that single-protein models miss. Credit AlphaFold Database, background by Karen Arnott/ EMBL-EBI

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology & SynBio

Millions Of Protein Complexes Added To AlphaFold Database Shed Light On How Proteins Interact

by Keith CowingMarch 18, 2026March 18, 2026

Graphical Abstract -- NASA

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Microbiology & Virology, Microgravity, Space Life Science, Space Stations

NASA Volunteers Study Biofilm Adaptability in Space

by Keith CowingMarch 17, 2026March 17, 2026

Complex DNA architectures are obtained by stacking triangular units, much like well-placed bricks without mortar. Credit Simon Vecchioni

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology & SynBio

Scientists Form Complex DNA Structures Without Hydrogen Bond

by Keith CowingMarch 7, 2026March 7, 2026