Image
MCB researchers aim to speed up drug discovery through RiPPs
As the globe currently deals with the novel coronavirus pandemic, public interest in biological research has begun to grow. However, curative research takes time: drug discovery requires years of effort and financial resources to yield results. Even with focused endeavors, it would still take...
Image
MCB faculty join Congressman for discussion about COVID-19 testing, vaccines, treatments
Faculty in the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology shared the latest news and insights on COVID-19 testing, vaccines, and antibody research with U.S. Congressman Bill Foster this weekend as part of the representative’s Science Saturdays discussion on Facebook Live.
Image
Researchers find mutation hotspots for severe form of genetic epilepsy that give insights into the underlying pathogenesis
The lab of Hee Jung Chung, Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, recently released a paper in Scientific Reports titled “Identifying mutation hotspots reveals pathogenetic mechanisms of KCNQ2 epileptic encephalopathy” to help fill in the gaps in our...
Image
A novel approach to a new career
Alumna Carole Stivers worked as a biochemist in Silicon Valley—and then started anew as a science fiction writer.
Image
Prof. Stephen Sligar receives the Christian B. Anfinsen Award
The Christian B. Anfinsen Award, sponsored by The Protein Society, recognizes technological achievement or significant methodological advances in the field of protein science. The recipient of this award in 2020 is Professor Stephen Sligar, professor of Biochemistry and former director of the...
Image
New cryo-EM structures of a lipid-sensitive ligand-gated ion channel
In biology, it is generally believed that a protein’s sequence determines its structure, which in turn determines its function. However, in the case of membrane proteins, the reality is more complicated than this simple statement. “In recent years, the importance of a protein’s local environment...
Image
Using computational microscopy to study lipid-protein interaction
The Tajkhorshid lab used computational microscopy to investigate how lipids can influence the structure and function of protein channels in cells. Their findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Image
Biochemistry Professor David Kranz named an NAI Fellow
David Kranz, the Phillip A. Sharp Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, was named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. Kranz will be formally inducted at the Ninth Annual Meeting of the National Academy of Inventors in Phoenix, Arizona, on April 10,...
Image
Simulation reveals how bacterial organelle converts sunlight to chemical energy
Scientists have simulated every atom of a light-harvesting structure in a photosynthetic bacterium that generates energy for the organism. The simulated organelle behaves just like its counterpart in nature, the researchers reported in...
Image
Prof. Emad Tajkhorshid has been awarded the 2020 Thomas E. Thompson award
Emad Tajkhorshid(Biochemistry) has been awarded the 2020 Thomas E. Thompson award for his seminal contributions to advancing our understanding of membrane structure and function.