Computational protein design and protein structure prediction win Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Science & Technology Creators of AI system AlphaFold receive 2024 Nobel Prize for Chemistry.
2024
sciencescience-technology
Read the latest Issue
The forces behind chromosome repulsion and attraction during cell division
Science & Technology EMBL Heidelberg researchers discovered how a protein switches between repelling and gluing chromosomes during cell division. This helps the mother cell to divide the genome equally into two daughter cells and cluster chromosomes inside the daughter nuclei, ensuring a successful cell division.
2024
science-technology
Collaborative project launched across EMBL member states invites teenagers to discover the wonder of proteins
EMBL Announcements New project will help inform and educate young people about the important roles proteins play in nature, health, and disease, as part of EMBL’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
2024
embl-announcements
Exploring cellular complexity with EMPIAR’s new cryo-electron tomography prototype browser
EMBL Announcements Data obtained through cryogenic sample electron tomography (cryo-ET) are openly available in the new Electron Microscopy Public Image Archive (EMPIAR) cryo-ET tomography browser.
2024
announcementsembl-announcements
The secret of molecular promiscuity
EMBLetc Promiscuity is critical for nourishment. How? This question lies at the focus of research by the Löw Group at EMBL Hamburg. Using structural biology methods, they explore how specialised molecules located in the cell membrane allow cells absorb nutrients from their environment.
2023
InterPro 97.0 released
InterPro version 97.0 and InterProScan 5.64-97.0 are now available. InterPro now features hundreds of new methods integrated from partner databases, and InterProScan draws on over 40000 entries.
2023
updates-from-data-resources
Latest release of IntAct and Complex Portal
We are excited to announce the latest releases of IntAct and Complex Portal. IntAct 244 highlights Complex Portal 244 highlights
2023
updates-from-data-resources
ProtVar: understanding missense variation in humans
Science & Technology A new tool for the interpretation of missense variation in humans – ProtVar – will help enable drug discovery.
2023
sciencescience-technologytechnology-and-innovation
MGnify just got bigger – new data, new AI opportunities
EMBL-EBI's metagenomics data resource increases in size and supports groundbreaking AI tools for protein structure prediction.
2023
updates-from-data-resources
New releases: InterPro 93.0 and InterProScan 5.61-93.0
InterPro now features hundreds of new methods integrated from partner databases, and InterProScan draws on over 38,000 entries. InterPro version 93.0 InterPro 93.0 integrates 300 new methods from the CDD (261), PANTHER (12), PROSITE profiles (17), SMART (9), TIGRFAMs (1) databases, and covers 81.7%…
2023
updates-from-data-resources
New releases: InterPro 92.0 and InterProScan 5.60-92.0
InterPro version 92.0 and InterProScan 5.60-92.0 are now available. InterPro now features hundreds of new methods integrated from partner databases, and InterProScan draws on over 38000 entries.
2023
updates-from-data-resources
New releases: InterPro 91.0 and InterProScan 5.59-91.0
We are pleased to announce the release of InterPro 91.0 and InterProScan 5.59-91.0
2022
updates-from-data-resources
Natural language processing for rapid protein annotation
Over 40 million protein annotations have been added to the UniProt database using a Google Research natural language processing model.
2022
technology-and-innovation
New releases: InterPro 90.0 and InterProScan 5.57-90.0
InterPro version 90.0 and InterProScan 5.57-90.0 are now available. InterPro now features hundreds of new methods integrated from partner databases, and InterProScan draws on over 40000 entries
2022
updates-from-data-resources
Deep learning models help predict protein function
Science & Technology Deep learning models can improve protein annotations and has helped expand the Pfam database.
2022
perspectivessciencescience-technology
Structure of a promiscuous protein will help scientists design better drugs
Science & Technology Scientists at EMBL Hamburg determined the molecular structure of Peptide Transporters 1 and 2. The findings will enable developing drugs that more efficiently pass from the gut to target tissues.
2021
sciencescience-technology
How herpes seizes proteins’ means of production
Science & Technology The Graham and Crump groups at the University of Cambridge and the Svergun Group at EMBL Hamburg have discovered a mechanism by which the herpes simplex virus takes control of the molecular machinery of human cells. Their work reveals how a dedicated viral protein hijacks key host proteins, forcing…
2021
sciencescience-technology
From creating new antimicrobials to combating Alzheimer’s disease
Science & Technology Structural biology provides insights into the diverse functions of fibrous protein in humans, amphibians, and bacteria.
2021
sciencescience-technology
Cryo-Electron Microscopy Service Platform supports research on protein transport
Lab MattersScience & Technology Giulia Zanetti from the Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology (ISMB) in London explains how the collaboration with the Cryo-Electron Microscopy Service Platform enabled her group to reveal the structure of protein transport complexes.
2021
lab-mattersscience-technology
Great expectations – the potential impacts of AlphaFold DB
Science & Technology A discussion of the applications that AlphaFold DB may enable and the possible impact of the resource on science and society.
2021
sciencescience-technology
EMBL Alumni Awards 2021
People & Perspectives EMBL alumni Ilaria Piazza and Ken Holmes have been recognised for their outstanding contributions, and will receive their awards as part of the celebrations for EMBL World Alumni Day.
2021
alumnipeople-perspectives
Pfam releases structures for every protein family
Science & Technology Thousands of new protein structure models, prected using deep learning, now available to explore
2021
sciencescience-technology
Protein sequences provide clues to how SARS-CoV-2 infects cells
Science & Technology Researchers at EMBL Heidelberg have identified sequences in human proteins that might be used by SARS-CoV-2 to infect cells. They have discovered that the virus might hijack certain cellular processes, and they discuss potentially relevant drugs for treating COVID-19.
2021
sciencescience-technology
The central dogma of molecular biology
Science & Technology This colourful image shows biological information flow in action: It’s a supramolecular assembly of DNA, RNA and proteins, observed directly inside a bacterial cell while turning genetic information into protein.
2021
picture-of-the-weekscience-technology
Homage to a vital tool
Science & Technology Structural biologists want to study proteins at the atomic level. The device shown in this Picture of the Week is essential for this.
2021
picture-of-the-weekscience-technology
Discover the wonderful world of proteins: first virtual PDB Art exhibition
Lab Matters Schoolchildren create exquisite protein-inspired artworks
2020
lab-matters
Solving the protein structure puzzle
Science & Technology How artificial intelligence can help us solve the mysteries of the protein universe
2020
sciencescience-technology
How to remove unwanted components from the cell nucleus
Science & Technology Researchers have uncovered how cells remove unwanted components from the nucleus following mitosis.
2020
sciencescience-technology
Flexible and protected – new findings on SARS-CoV-2 protein shed light on virus’s ability to infect cells
Science & Technology Researchers studied the spike protein on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. With its spikes, the virus binds to human cells and infects them. The study gave surprising insights into the spike protein, including an unexpected freedom of movement and a protective coat to hide it from antibodies.
2020
sciencescience-technology
Underwater butterfly
Science & Technology In the Leptin Group, Eva Hasel investigates the innate immune system in Japanese rice fish.
2020
picture-of-the-weekscience-technology
From cosmetics to blood cells
Science & Technology Morgan Oatley and her colleagues in Christophe Lancrin’s group investigated how haematopoietic stem cells emerge from the endothelium in developing mouse embryos.
2020
picture-of-the-weekscience-technology
Antibody engineering for therapy and diagnosis
Lab MattersScience & Technology The new EMBL spinoff company Araxa Biosciences GmbH aims to set new standards for the development of antibody-based therapeutics and diagnostics
2020
lab-mattersscience-technology
Melting reveals drug targets in a living organism
Science & Technology EMBL scientists identify drug targets in blood and organs
2020
sciencescience-technology
Ring of fire
Science & Technology This image has been composed from thousands of individual super-resolution microscopy images. It was created by Markus Mund in the Ries Group.
2020
picture-of-the-weekscience-technology
Launching proteins
Science & Technology What looks like a photo-series of an explosive eruption are actually uptaking proteins, captured by Markus Mund from the Ries Group at EMBL Heidelberg. The images were made in an attempt to learn how the different proteins that take up molecules into the cells via endocytosis – the cellular…
2019
picture-of-the-weekscience-technology
A giant called dumpy
Science & Technology Fruit flies have something that we don’t have: they produce a protein called dumpy. This protein is the largest created by insects, and is comparable in size to the largest human protein – titin. While titin is vital for our muscle function, dumpy connects the soft cells of the insect’s…
2019
picture-of-the-weekscience-technology
Exploring the beauty of proteins
EMBL Announcements Schoolchildren get creative with 3D protein structures
2019
embl-announcementsscience
Role reversal: RNA controls protein function
Science & Technology EMBL scientists identify RNA regulating protein behaviour in switch of normal roles
2019
sciencescience-technology
New insights into the regulation of haemostasis
Science & Technology EMBL scientists investigate the structure of a key protein involved in blood clotting
2018
sciencescience-technology
Catching up on protein dynamics
Science & Technology The Hentze Lab enhanced a RNA-interactome capture technique to pave the way towards medical progress
2018
sciencescience-technology
The proteins behind hungry cells
Science & Technology EMBL researchers visualise the proteins needed to capture molecules and bring them into a cell
2018
sciencescience-technology
New way to isolate DNA- and RNA-protein complexes
Science & Technology EMBL researchers develop method that simplifies the isolation of DNA- and RNA- protein complexes
2018
sciencescience-technology
Protein stability and solubility during cell cycle
Science & Technology EMBL scientists uncover large solubility and thermal stability changes of proteins during the cell cycle
2018
sciencescience-technology
How drugs affect the life and death of proteins
Science & Technology Scientists at EMBL and Cellzome develop technology to monitor the effects of drug treatments on protein degradation and synthesis
2018
sciencescience-technology
From fireman to arsonist
Science & Technology Like a fireman who becomes an arsonist, a protein that prevents cells becoming cancerous can also cause tumours, scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Grenoble, France, have discovered. The finding, published today in Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, stems…
2013
sciencescience-technology
The mutation police
Science & Technology Scientists at the EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) and the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in the UK have discovered how our genome keeps the effects of mutations in check. The discovery, published in the journal Cell, will help in the study of diseases such as cancer and…
2013
sciencescience-technology
Cellular eavesdropping made easy
Science & Technology In a nutshell: New method allows precise analysis of proteins released by cells over time (distinguishes them from proteins in the cells’ culture serum) Advantages: cells don’t have to be starved: avoids bias and allows more cell types to be studied; can follow fast reactions like immune…
2012
sciencescience-technology
Catching the cap-snatcher
Science & Technology Researchers at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Grenoble, France, have determined the detailed 3-dimensional structure of part of the flu virus’ RNA polymerase, an enzyme that is crucial for influenza virus replication. This important finding is published today in PLoS…
2012
sciencescience-technology
Shape-shifting shell
Science & Technology As a retrovirus matures, the two parts of its shell protein (red and blue or yellow and blue) dramatically rearrange themselves, twisting and moving away from each other. (Credit: EMBL/T.Bharat) Scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, have for the…
2012
sciencescience-technology
Picture Release: More than meets the eye
Science & Technology These spheres may look almost identical, but subtle differences between them revealed a molecular version of the robots from Transformers. Each sphere is a vesicle, a pod that cells use to transport materials between different compartments. The images, produced by Marco Faini from John…
2012
picture-of-the-weekscience-technology
Trapped in a ring
Science & Technology In fairy tales, magic rings endow their owners with special abilities: the ring makes the wearer invisible, fulfils his wishes, or otherwise helps the hero on the path to his destiny. Similarly, a ring-like structure found in a protein complex called ‘Elongator’ has led researchers at the…
2012
sciencescience-technology
Stretching helices help keep muscles together
Science & Technology Myomesin stretching to 2.5 times its length. Credit: EMBL/Wilmanns. In this video, a protein called myomesin does its impression of Mr. Fantastic, the leader of the Fantastic Four of comic book fame, who performed incredible feats by stretching his body. Scientists at the European Molecular Biology…
2012
sciencescience-technology
Getting wise to the influenza virus’ tricks
Influenza is currently a grave concern for governments and health organisations around the world. Now one of the tactics used by influenza virus to take over the machinery of infected cells has been laid bare by structural biologists at the EMBL, the joint Unit of Virus Host-Cell Interaction of…
2008
science
A first glimpse of the influenza replication machine
In 1918, 50 million people died during a worldwide influenza pandemic caused by mutation of a bird-specific strain of the influenza virus. Recently H5N1, another highly infectious avian strain has caused outbreaks of bird flu around the world. There is great concern that this virus might also…
2007
science
The giant protein titin helps build muscles
Imagine grabbing two snakes by the tail so that they can’t wriggle off in opposite directions. Scientists at the Hamburg Outstation of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and collaborators from King’s College in London have now discovered that something similar happens to a…
2006
science
A key that opens cells to the deadly malaria parasite
Researchers at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) in India and a unit of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in France have made a key discovery about a molecule that helps the malaria parasite infect human cells. India is one of the countries…
2005
science
Many needles, many haystacks
Most of what happens in cells is the work of machines that contain dozens of molecules, chiefly proteins. With the completion of human and other genomes, researchers now have a nearly complete ‘parts list’ of such machines; what’s lacking is the manual telling where all the pieces…
2005
science
A double punch for female survival
Achieving equality between the sexes can be a challenge even for single cells. Since evolution began removing bits of male DNA to create the ‘Y’ chromosome, males have had a single copy of certain key genes on the X chromosome, whereas females have two. Normally this would lead females…
2005
science
Biology in four dimensions
Science & Technology Most things that happen in the cell are the work of ‘molecular machines’ – complexes of proteins that carry out important cellular functions. Until now, scientists didn’t have a clear idea of when proteins form these machines – are these complexes pre-fabricated or put…
2005
sciencescience-technology
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