bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Talented family: Inositol phosphates
Authors: Irvine Robin
Published: October 2019

So, what's a review on inositol phosphates doing in a nice lipid-themed place like this? (given how watersoluble and un-lipiddy they are). But they are, at least in animal cells, inextricably linked with inositol lipids. The link is the phospholipase C (PI-PLC) reaction, which splits phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2] into diacylglycerol and Ins(1,4,5)P3, of which the latter mobilizes intracellular Ca2+ (this well-known inositol phosphate will not be discussed further). Over the last few years, a consensus has emerged that the PI-PLC reaction is also the starting point of all inositol phosphate synthesis in animal cells (Figure 1). Some organisms, especially InsP6-obsessives such as higher plants (who make lots of InsP6 to use as a phosphate-storage compound) and slime moulds (who make even more InsP6 even more quickly, for reasons known only to slime moulds) can also phosphorylate inositol sequentially up to InsP6 without any lipid intermediate. But we animals apparently have to start with Ins(1,4,5)P3 generated from PtdIns(4,5)P2 to make all our inositol phosphates.
Designing for (un)serendipity: Computing and chance
Authors: André Paul , Schraefel M.C.
Published: October 2019

The tale of a lame, one-eyed, toothless camel1 may not, at first glance, seem an auspicious start for ground-breaking discoveries of penicillin, X-rays and chocolate chip cookies. However, when Horace Walpole coined the word serendipity in 1754, based on the tale of ‘The Three Princes of Serendip’ and the aforementioned camel, he was giving name to the accidental sagacity (i.e. accidental wisdom) involved in many scientific discoveries and inventions, where there is “no discovery of a thing you are looking for”1.
Calling International Rescue: Knowledge lost in literature and data landslide!
Authors: Attwood Teresa K. , Kell Douglas B. , McDermott Philip , Marsh James , Pettifer Steve R. , Thorne David
Published: October 2019

We live in interesting times. Portents of impending catastrophe pervade the literature, calling us to action in the face of unmanageable volumes of scientific data. But it isn't so much data generation per se, but the systematic burial of the knowledge embodied in those data that poses the problem: there is so much information available that we simply no longer know what we know, and finding what we want is hard – too hard. The knowledge we seek is often fragmen tary and disconnected, spread thinly across thousands of databases and millions of articles in thousands of journals. The intellectual energy required to search this array of dataarchives, and the time and money this wastes, has led several researchers to challenge the methods by which we traditionally commit newly acquired facts and knowledge to the scientific record. This has spawned a number of initiatives aiming to uncover this buried knowledge and to transform scholarly publishing paradigms. This article, which has been adapted from our review published in the Biochemical Journal [volume 424 (part 3), pages 317–333], provides an overview of these projects. It culminates with a description of the Semantic Biochemical Journal experiment, an exciting and innovative collaboration with Portland Press Ltd to create Utopia Documents, a new PDFdocumentreader designed to rescue data from the dormant pages of published docu ments. The article you are about to read is, in part, intended as a taster; to get the full, interactive Utopia experience, we encourage you to investigate the full review in volume 424 (part 3) of the Biochemical Journal (www. BiochemJ.org) and the other articles in that issue.
MBP2: A model of how to introduce school students to biochemical research
Authors: Colthurst Dave
Published: October 2019

How many secondary schools do you know, where Sixth Form students can be part of an original research programme involving a human gene transformed into bacteria and yeast?
Lead poisoning: The use of dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA)
Authors: Bradberry Sally , Vale Allister
Published: October 2019

Most cases of adult lead poisoning now arise either as a result of occupational exposure or following the use of oral or topical traditional remedies and/or cosmetics that contain lead. Occasionally, the source of lead exposure is an individual's hobby, such as indoor rifle shooting or art restoration. In addition, pica, the repeated ingestion of non-food substances, still accounts for a number of cases of lead poisoning in children and occasionally in pregnant women. Children have also developed lead poisoning from eating, chewing or sucking imported domestic items or toys.
Young Life Scientists
Authors: Hime Alexa
Published: October 2019

The Young Life Scientists (YLS) project aims to give a group of earlycareer researchers the opportunity to organize a scientific conference on their subject of interest, for their peers. This year's symposia consisted of two different topics. The first, a joint project run with the Physiological Society and the British Phar macological Society, was based on asthma and its treatments. The second, sponsored by the Biochemical Society only, was based on the role of fatty acids in health and disease, confront ing the beneficial and detrimental effects on the human body. Overall, the YLS meetings reached nearly 200 students and young researchers this year; both events were a great success with the organizing committees doing a great job.
Yeast prions as epigenetic determinants
Authors: Naeimi Wesley R. , Tuite Mick F.
Published: October 2019

In the mid-1960s, two unusual genetic determinants were discovered in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In genetic crosses, these determinants, called [PSI+] and [URE3] respectively, were found not to be inherited according to Mendel's laws. Little did the researchers realize at the time that the non-Mendelian elements they had stumbled upon were in fact two different yeast prions – although definitive evidence of this only emerged some 30 years later1.
Embryonic? The start of something exciting…
Authors: Garrett Gemma
Published: October 2019

As the Biochemical Society prepares for its Centenary year celebrations, groundwork has already begun on developing an exciting new play for school students to be performed throughout the UK in 2011.
Looking back – and forward: Meetings report
Authors: Dransfield Ian
Published: October 2019

As I come to the end of my term of office as Honorary Meetings Secretary, it is a useful time to reflect on the lessons that I have learned from the last few years of organizing meetings and to consider what the future might hold. I have been fortunate to work with some highly motivated and talented Theme Panel members and feel I have gained much personally, establishing new friendships and connections and developing my skills in chairmanship, although it should be said that the latter started from a very low baseline.
Keeping a clear head with vitamin B12
Authors: Kazamia Elena , Helliwell Katherine E. , Smith Alison G.
Published: October 2019

Vitamins are vital organic micronutrients that are required in our diet because they provide essential enzyme cofactors, and animals have dispensed with the ability to synthesize them. Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, is the most complex of the vitamins, and the elucidation of its physiological role, its structure and its biosynthetic pathways have been the subject of impressive scientific endeavours over the years. Vitamin B12 deficiency leads to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, neurological symptoms and, in the most serious cases, pernicious anaemia. Cobalamin is synthesized only by prokaryotes, so we obtain it second-hand by eating other organisms that have accumulated the vitamin in their tissues. The richest dietary sources are liver, dairy products and also algae, many of which are like animals in that they require an exogenous supply of the vitamin for growth.
Dale's Tales of Summer at the Society
Authors: Bancroft Dale
Published: October 2019

With more graduates than ever competing for jobs after university, securing work experience is essential for any student wishing to make their CV stand out. This summer, I was lucky to secure a highly competitive internship with the Biochemical Society's busy Education Department, and got a chance to work at the front line of engaging the public with science.
Synthetic Biology: A bit of rebranding, or something new and inspiring?
Authors: Woolfson Derek N. , Bromley Elizabeth H.C.
Published: October 2019

A new approach in biology is emerging and gathering a broad band of advocates. Synthetic biology aims to improve our abilities to engineer biological molecules, assemblies and systems; to design and develop biomimetic systems; and to apply these to useful ends. It brings together the biological and physical sciences, applying engineering and mathematical principles. Currently, a number of different approaches are being explored in synthetic biology, which are meeting with different levels of success. In the present article, we outline these efforts in general terms giving just a few examples for each; unfortunately, space does not for allow in-depth reviews, for which we apologize.
Modelling the Virtual Physiological Human
Authors: Sansom Clare
Published: October 2019

Systems biology – the theme of this issue of The Biochemist – can be thought of as more a philosophy of biology than a distinct set of techniques. It arose out of, but is distinct from, the genome projects and associated initiatives. The ‘catalogues’ of genes and proteins produced in recent years have generated enormous advances, but they do not tell the whole story. Nobel Laureate Sydney Brenner said in 2001 that “I know one approach that will fail, which is to start with genes, make proteins from them and try to build things bottom-up”1. In contrast with the reductionism of genomics, systems biology is ‘integrative’: as another Nobel Laureate, David Baltimore, writes, “it seeks to understand the integration of the pieces to form biological systems”2. Thus a typical systems biology study will involve both experimental analysis and computational modelling of a biological system at a number of levels: theoretically, at least, including the molecule, the pathway, the organelle, the cell, the tissue or organ, and the organism.
Eureka Moments: making proteins, making a difference: Michael Neuberger and Brian Hartley in conversation with Greg Winter
Authors: Cox Amy
Published: October 2019

As part of our centenary celebrations, a number of the Society's Honorary Members have been asked to talk about the important moments in their careers and the future of the discipline. These interviews will be made available throughout the year on the Society's website as a series of podcasts.
Biochemistry meets biology: Key findings for bone calcification and a lifetime philosophy of collaboration
Authors: Murphy Gillian , Poole A. Robin
Published: October 2019

This ‘Biochemical Journal Classic’ paper reflects a remarkable example of how a biochemist and a biologist came together in the 1920s to solve a biological problem that set the stage for bone and cartilage research today, and demonstrates the great strengths and importance of interdisciplinary collaborations.
SciberMonkey v2: Extending our support to primary schools
Authors: Garrett Gemma
Published: October 2019

In January 2012 we re-launched a new, more inclusive version of our SciberMonkey website – www.scibermonkey.org. The free online portal provides access to some of the best science websites available, all of which have been carefully selected by experienced science teachers and others working in science education. The new site provides support for primary school teachers and pupils, as well as those based in lower secondary. It also uses a different approach for tagging resources, making SciberMonkey more accessible to schools outside England.
The making of a muscle
Authors: Fiorotto Marta
Published: October 2019

The skeletal musculature is usually thought of as the primary organ of locomotion, and, like the tyres of a high-performance racing car, their composition, design, preparation and plasticity can make the difference between winner and ‘wannabe’. The similarities do not end there, however. Their primary components (cells of the mesodermal layer in the embryo and latex from the rubber tree) begin their existence in locations that can be quite distant from their final point of use and in forms that bear no resemblance to the final product. Their differentiation from primary material to final product entails extensive processing, and the integration of other materials and structures are essential to ensure their function. A fundamental difference, however, is that, in the case of muscle, once the embryo is formed, the progression from relatively undifferentiated mesodermal cells to the final structures is on autopilot, provided there are no contextual aberrations either from genetic or environmental causes. Our current understanding of how muscles develop is a synthesis of observations made on a wide array of organisms, including nematode worms, fruitflies, fish, frogs, birds and various mammals, as well as from the in vitro study of cells isolated from these species. The study of myogenesis in mammals, although less amenable to experimental manipulation, has been facilitated by the recent advances in mouse genetic engineering which has enabled the function of individual genes and cell types to be investigated, as well as the lineage of cells to be traced back to their origin. In this rapid trek through the life of a muscle, how the production of a mature functional muscle from its early inception is orchestrated will be outlined in exceedingly broad strokes so as to convey the wide range of processes that must be engaged in order to generate a functional muscle. Hopefully, enough information will be provided to encourage those interested to explore further.
Tips on finding relevant research articles
Authors: McClure Elizabeth
Published: October 2019

Whether it is an essay, project, literature review or article that you are writing as part of your degree course, one thing they all have in common is the need for relevant research articles. This primary source of information should make up the majority of your references and can contribute to producing a high quality piece of work providing they are used correctly.
The Geek Manifesto
Authors: Harper Lucy
Published: October 2019

Mark Henderson's book delivers a rallying cry about the need to ‘geek the vote’
The Guide to PHARMACOLOGY portal: A one-stop pharmacology shop
Authors: Pawson Adam , Sharman Joanna , Benson Helen , Faccenda Elena , Spedding Michael , Harmar Anthony
Published: October 2019

Most medicines are chemical substances that work by interacting with specific target proteins in the body. The International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR) and the British Pharmacological Society (BPS) have joined forces to develop the Guide to PHARMACOLOGY (www.guidetopharmacology.org), a portal to information on the targets of licensed drugs and other targets of current research interest, such as those linked to human disease. Over the next 3 years, with support from the Wellcome Trust, IUPHAR and BPS, the Guide to PHARMACOLOGY portal will be expanded to cover all the targets of current licensed drugs and those with potential to be targets of future therapeutics. Our goal is to provide scientists, doctors, allied professions and the general public with a ‘one-stop shop’ source of information on how drugs work, and to help researchers to design experiments using the appropriate reagents.
The Plant Science TREE
Authors: Levesley Aurora
Published: October 2019

The Plant Science TREE (Tool for Research Engaged Education) is an online teaching aid giving access to inspirational educational resources in the form of online lectures, lecture slides, movies, practicals and images from the research community, so that the excitement and potential for plant science can be disseminated to a wide student audience through educators worldwide.
Initiation of phototropic growth: The where, the how and the now
Authors: Sullivan Stuart , Kharshiing Eros , Christie John
Published: October 2019

For centuries, phototropism has given researchers a convenient experimental system to study how light directs plant growth. Yet, despite over a century of research, deciphering how plants reorientate their growth to maximize photosynthetic light capture and promote seedling survival has proved remarkably challenging. In this article, we present a brief historical overview of our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying shoot phototropism in higher plants and discuss recent progress that now provides new insights on where this adaptive growth response is initiated in dicotyledonous seedlings.
Bioenergetics in Mitochondria, Bacteria and Chloroplasts: Meeting Reports
Authors: Meier Thomas , MacMillan Fraser
Published: October 2019

3rd Joint German/UK Bioenergetics Conference co-organized by the Biochemical Society and Max Planck Institute of Biophysics; 10–13 April 2013; Schloss Rauischholzhausen, Ebsdorfergrund, Germany
A hundred years of the Hill equation
Authors: Engel Paul C.
Published: October 2019

This BJ Classic article assesses the legacy of the Hill equation 100 years after the Nobel Laureate Archibald Hill published a paper entitled ‘The combinations of haemoglobin with oxygen and with carbon monoxide’1 in the Biochemical Journal.
Molecular evolution of growth hormone
Authors: Wallis Michael
Published: October 2019

Growth hormone (GH) is a single-chain protein hormone of approximately 190 residues, expressed mainly in the vertebrate anterior pituitary gland, which regulates somatic growth and various aspects of metabolism; many of these actions are mediated by insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1). Growth defects in humans frequently result from GH deficiency and are often treatable by GH administration. The evolution of GH illustrates many features of molecular evolution, including (i) the development and elaboration of gene/protein families by gene duplication, (ii) subtle changes resulting from incorporation of point mutations, which often occur during episodes of accelerated change, and (iii) co-evolution of hormones and their receptors.
Single-cell genomics of marine plankton: Studying the single life of eukaryotic microbes
Authors: Bhattacharya Debashish , Roy Rajat S. , Price Dana C. , Schliep Alexander
Published: October 2019

The oceans are full of innumerable numbers of single cells living in microenvironments. Understanding who they are, what they eat and what infects them can inform us about the true diversity of plankton, their biotic interactions and how they may respond to a changing environment. Analysing to significant depth the genomes and ‘gut’ (i.e. the food vacuole and other contents) of individual wild-caught cells would have been thought impossible only a few years ago. However, the rapidly expanding field of single-cell genomics, powered by modern cell-sorting procedures, high-throughput DNA sequencing and bioinformatics methods holds the promise to revolutionize understanding of the biodiversity and ecology of eukaryotic microbes and their places in the tree of life.
Meeting Reports
Authors: Ponnambalam Vas , Woodman Philip , Ladbury John
Published: October 2019

This meeting brought together leading researchers in the field of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) to discuss their latest work and implications for health and disease.
The sweet life
Authors: Pritchard Laura
Published: October 2019

Let's be honest, sugar gets a bad press. We all know the perils of slurping too many fizzy drinks; if we're lucky perhaps we'll escape with minor tooth decay, but overindulge and there's a frightening list of chronic metabolic diseases to consider, with diabetes just for starters. Now I'm not here to argue that excessive sugar consumption isn't a dangerous pastime, overeating anything probably isn't a good idea. But before you throw that delicious iced bun away just pause for a moment and read on; could it be possible that sugar isn't quite as evil as we're made to believe?
Nature's electrochemical flow reactors?: Alkaline hydrothermal vents and the origins of life
Authors: Herschy Barry
Published: October 2019

Understanding the evolution and beginnings of biochemistry is a fundamental problem which needs to be addressed in origins of life research. The development of highly complex chemical systems from simple inorganic beginnings is difficult to comprehend and has resulted in much heated scientific debate. The debate is further fuelled by the fact we know very little about conditions present on the early Earth at the time life began. Owing to the highly dynamic nature of the Earth, the geological record for the earliest period of Earth's history when life began is practically non-existent. Without geochemical indicators, we have no idea about the composition of the atmosphere or oceans, when or how much water was present on the Earth's surface or the chemical inventory present before the emergence of life. There has been much speculation and argument around all of these points about what could be acceptably deemed ‘prebiotically plausible’ environmental conditions. We do know that life started somewhere, but the where, when and how may only be solved by a process of elimination by experimentation.
Cogent's Placements service: Helping you get hired
Authors: Court Lara le
Published: October 2019

Cogent's Placements service is a Government-backed programme, led by employers, developed specifically to increase the number of student and graduate placements being offered in the science-based industries.
Science Innovation: what is it?
Authors: Christou Skevoulla
Published: October 2019

With technology and knowledge advancing at a colossal rate, scientific innovation is a daily occurrence, but what does it mean, and what careers can be made from it?
Lactase persistence: a case of evolution in modern humans
Authors: Swallow Dallas M.
Published: October 2019

We modern humans may be able to control our environment and protect ourselves from the adverse consequences of disease, but our evolution never stops. The selective pressures that affect the numbers of viable offspring carrying novel DNA changes alter in time and space. Changes in lifestyle in the last 10 000 years have led to major changes in diet, making new dietary components potential selective agents. One of the best examples of this comes from the genetically determined variation in our ability to digest the lactose in milk.
Spiderman silks – science and fiction
Authors: Vollrath Fritz
Published: October 2019

Seeing Spiderman swing through New York City tingles the spine and exercises the brain. His ease in making and manipulating gossamer filaments for aerial stunts is truly breathtaking and awe inspiring. If only I had these powers, so one thinks. Which, for materials biologists with decades of experience analysing the stuff, is humbling, to say the least, as totally unforeseen and novel capabilities and capacities emerge. As Spiderman squirts, swipes and swings he suspends both himself and belief in a world where manly strands and strings of gossamer silk are used elegantly both in defence and attack. Let us forget about the ability to sustain body blows that would kill the normal spider, which is quite fragile and, once punctured, loses its mobility as the universal consequence of leakage in a hydraulic system. Whether spiders have a faster reaction time than humans remains to be tested but is most certainly an interesting proposition. Seeing homo arachnoides tumble and swing suggests a good capacity for high g-forces (comparable to that of astronauts and Formula One drivers). Indeed, spiders have such capacity and will build webs in forces up to 14g – but then they are much smaller than our hero, and body size does matter in this department. This brief overview of his fabulous capabilities brings us to the silks, which are Spiderman's signature feature, in both name and spirit.
Putting the moving image to work in biochemistry education
Authors: Willmott Chris
Published: October 2019

There is tangible evidence of the growing importance of visual media in science education. While large amounts of material on the video-sharing service YouTube would not be considered educational in a positive sense, there are many hours of quality scientific information available for viewing. These can be called upon for both formal and informal learning. We have also witnessed the rise of ‘TED talk’, short presentations by engaging speakers which often tackle cutting-edge developments in bioscience. This year also saw the awarding of an Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) impact factor to JoVE, the Journal of Visualised Experiments. I want to suggest in this article that there is an additional resource that we are not yet exploiting to its proper potential, namely, broadcast media.
Accounts from some of this year's Summer Vacation Studentship awardees: Exploring professional bioscience
Authors: Burnett Rachel
Published: October 2019

Gaining laboratory experience is essential for students considering a career in research. Each year, the Biochemical Society awards Summer Vacation Studentships to support undergraduates doing just this. The grants are a stipend of up to £1600 over 6–8 weeks over the summer, with students being supervised by researchers who are members of the Society. In 2015, we funded 44 undergraduates, working in laboratories across the UK. Below are accounts from Connor Sampson and Simona Vatavu, outlining their experiences during their Summer Vacation Studentships.
Reflections on the law of gene editing
Authors: Hitchcock Julian
Published: October 2019

How is the law coping with advances in genome editing and how adaptable is it to changing reality and attitudes? Surprisingly well, but it's more important for scientists to inform public debate than to achieve an international concession to ignorance.
3D-printed synthetic tissues
Authors: Booth Michael J. , Bayley Hagan
Published: October 2019

‘Bottom-up’ approaches in synthetic biology have been used to construct synthetic cells from simple biological components. By contrast, relatively little work has been done on synthetic tissues in which collections of cells cooperate to achieve functionality that cannot be generated by individual compartments. We have developed a 3D printer, which can create structures containing hundreds or thousands of communicating aqueous droplets arranged in programmed patterns. These tissue-like materials can adopt properties such as the ability to fold or conduct electrical signals. Furthermore, the properties of the materials can be extended, so that they become true synthetic tissues through the performance of sophisticated functions such as protein synthesis. In addition, we have shown that 3D-printed synthetic tissues can be controlled and energized externally, for example by light. Printed synthetic tissues might find a variety of uses in medicine and could even be interfaced directly with living tissues. As they contain no genome and cannot replicate, synthetic tissues are comparatively safe for medical applications.
From mammalian tissue engineering to 3D plant cell culture
Authors: Wightman Raymond , Luo C.J.
Published: October 2019

Recent advances applying mammalian tissue engineering to in vitro plant cell culture have successfully cultured single plant cells in a 3D microstructure, leading to the discovery of plant cell behaviours that were previously not envisaged. Animal and plant cells share a number of properties that rely on a hierarchical microenvironment for creating complex tissues. Both mammalian tissue engineering and 3D plant culture employ tailored scaffolds that alter a cell's behaviour from the initial culture used for seeding. For humans, these techniques are revolutionizing healthcare strategies, particularly in regenerative medicine and cancer studies. For plants, we predict applications both in fundamental research to study morphogenesis and for synthetic biology in the agri-biotech sector.
Repair or replace: regenerative medicine for active lives
Authors: Edwards Jennifer
Published: October 2019

Alongside living longer, we are demanding more from life. The desire to remain active right through old age drives us to find new ways to repair damaged joints. However, many injuries are beyond the body's natural ability to heal, requiring surgery to restore normal function. For many athletes, such as those competing in this month's Olympics in Rio, injuries can have serious effects on their careers, leading to a break in, or retirement from, competition. There is a growing need for long-lasting repair of the skeletal system, using cells and tissues to aid the body's own healing processes. Work on engineering replacements for damaged tissues is the focus of many research projects at the Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering in the University of Leeds.
Yes to “NO” host flora symbiosis
Authors: Nichols Alexandria , Ahmed Khandaker A. , Patel Rakesh P.
Published: October 2019

Nitric oxide (NO) is a relatively simple molecule comprising only two atoms. Understanding how this free radical controls an array of complex biological functions provides the platform for much of the research in NO biochemistry and biology. Here, we discuss an updated perspective on how this gas is formed in the body involving a fascinating interplay between the diet, bacteria residing on the tongue, and redox reactions that are regulated by pH and local oxygen tensions. We highlight this as an area primed for novel microbe-targeted therapeutics for controlling NO production and affecting human health and disease.
Cancer: a disease of bad luck, or bad lifestyle?
Authors: Hardy Jessica
Published: October 2019

Cancer. It's an emotive word, and a dreaded diagnosis. We all know someone affected by this horrible disease, and quite understandably, we all want to know: what causes cancer, and is there anything we can do to stop ourselves from getting it?
Rett syndrome: a sex-biased neurodevelopmental disorder
Authors: Goh Eyleen
Published: October 2019

Decades of research on neurodevelopmental disorders have focused on genetics. Although there has been significant progress, the aetiology of many neurodevelopmental disorders still remains unknown. Deciphering genetic sequences of the whole genome can identify disease-causing mutations in individuals. However, the same genetic sequences do not necessarily result in similar gene expression profiles, or the consequential biochemical profiles in every cell and in all individuals. In particular, studies have shown that differential biochemical profiles in males and females, possibly play a role in neurodevelopmental disorders being biased towards a different gender. Interestingly, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is biased towards boys although it is not an X-linked disorder, whereas Rett syndrome, an ASD-related disorder where the disease-causing gene is located on the X-chromosome, is found almost exclusively in girls.
The gut microbiome in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
Authors: Hanson Maureen R. , Giloteaux Ludovic
Published: October 2019

Over the last dozen years, increasingly powerful DNA sequencing methods have allowed characterization of the microbes residing on and in humans in much greater detail than ever possible before. Abnormalities present in the gut microbiome--those microbial communities residing in our intestines--have now been observed in a number of diseases. One such illness is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). CFS was a name coined by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in 1988, and reviled by patients for the resultant trivializing of this serious illness. Recently, the US National Academy of Medicine (NAM) recommended a new name: Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease, though this name is not yet widely used. In ME, as in other diseases, the diversity of the bacterial species in the gut microbiome is lower than in healthy individuals. Furthermore, the abundances of different bacterial residents of the gut, which influence health both favourably and negatively, differ between ME patients and healthy controls. Bacteria translocate into the blood in greater amount in ME, leading to inflammation. Dysbiosis in the gut likely contributes to symptoms in this life-limiting disease.
A gut check at the doctor
Authors: Bik Elisabeth M. , Goddard Audrey D. , Almonacid Daniel E. , Apte Zachary S.
Published: October 2019

Have you ever been curious to find out which microbes live inside your intestinal tract (otherwise known as your gut)? Our gut is full of microbes that are intricately connected to many physiological processes, and these communities vary between persons or as a result of changes in our diet, lifestyle or health. Changes in these microbial communities are associated with certain diseases, and the analysis of the composition of our gut microbiome can be used as a clinical tool by medical professionals.
Life without water
Authors: Arakawa Kazuharu , Blaxter Mark
Published: October 2019

From space our planet is blue, and life here has evolved in the presence of abundant water. However, on land, water remains one of life's major challenges. Fully two-fifths of the land surface is classified as arid: the hot and cold deserts, where water is largely unavailable. Even in biomes where water availability is generally good, seasonal, daily and sporadic conditions can mean that life has to be able to survive its absence. Surprisingly, some organisms are able to survive complete loss of all their body water, to undergo anhydrobiosis. This surprising ability has evolved many times, and is particularly prevalent in very small animals. The biochemistry of anhydrobiosis challenges ideas of what ‘being alive’ really means and promises exciting biotechnological applications.
Who let the fat out?
Authors: Mallik Roop
Published: October 2019

Cells in all organisms build fatty acid hydrocarbon chains and hook them up with a glycerol molecule to make energy-rich triglycerides (fat, in simple language). These are then stocked away inside cells in micron-sized bodies called lipid droplets (LDs). When glucose levels diminish, LDs are supplied to mitochondria to burn up the fatty acid chains so that ATP can be made to fuel your cells. But, did you know that the same LDs are also fueling your car? Fossil fuels are basically hydrocarbon chains that were hidden away in the LDs of creatures that died millions of years ago. There is now tremendous interest in generating bio-fuel from algae that can store large quantities of LDs. Perhaps this is why the oil companies have cared more about LDs than biologists in the recent past.
DNA in a twist? How topoisomerases solve topological problems in DNA
Authors: Bush Natassja G. , Agarwal Monica , Henderson Sara R. , Waraich Nidda F. , Maxwell Anthony
Published: October 2019

DNA topoisomerases have been described as ‘the magicians of the DNA world’, somehow allowing DNA strands to pass through each other. These ingenious enzymes are both essential and potentially dangerous, as any interruption in their DNA breakage-reunion reactions can lead to chromosome breaks and cell death. This has led to their development as important targets for antibacterial and anti-cancer chemotherapy.
The (mis)remembrance of things past: mechanisms of memory storage, updating and why we misremember
Authors: Milton Amy
Published: October 2019

Memory is a critical function of the brain; we treasure many of our memories, and it is widely believed that our past experiences make us who we are. However, decades of psychological research has revealed that we are prone to having misinformation introduced into our memories, and a recent study has suggested that many people's ‘first memories’ are not actually real, but reconstructions based upon family stories and old photographs. So, how are memories stored in the brain, and how can it be that what we remember is not necessarily what actually happened?
Evidencing your lifelong learning with e-Portfolio
Authors: Smith David
Published: October 2019

Electronic or e-portfolios act to bring the products or objects of learning and experience together in a digital format. They make visible the accumulation of learning, competencies and experience. The outputs can be shared with employers, accreditors and tutors alike. Used to their full potential they act as an area for focused reflection and future goal setting. In this article we will explore what an e-portfolio can be, what it can contain and how to create one.
A life without microbes: How “germ-free” research is revealing the necessity of bacteria for our brains
Authors: Herbert Jenna
Published: October 2019

The Science Communication Competition is now in its eighth year. As in previous years, it aims to find young talented science writers and give them the opportunity to have their work published in The Biochemist. In 2015, a new branch of the competition was launched to include video entries. Overall this year's competition attracted 74 entries and these were reviewed by our external panel of expert judges. The second prize in the written category was awarded to Jenna Herbert from the University of Oxford, whose article is presented here; the second prize in the video category was Ellie Staniforth from the University of Glasgow. Ellie's video can be viewed at bit.ly/scicomm22018.
Online science campaign to inspire the next generation of African scientists
Authors: Maina Mahmoud
Published: October 2019

We can often assume that the importance of science to our lives and in driving societal developmental is obvious to most people. However, there is a high level of cultural and religious misconception about science in Africa. In Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, science literacy is extremely low, partly due to the near absence of science communication by scientists, which itself could be partly linked to low government support for science. In schools, many science teachers lack equipment for science teaching and do not employ alternative innovative teaching approaches.
Forensic DNA phenotyping: the geneticist's guide to solving murder mysteries
Authors: Lagewaard Corina
Published: October 2019

The Science Communication Competition is now in its eighth year. As in previous years, it aims to find young talented science writers and give them the opportunity to have their work published in The Biochemist. In 2015, a new branch of the competition was launched to include video entries. Overall this year's competition attracted 47 entries and these were reviewed by our external panel of expert judges. The third prize in the written category was awarded to Corina Lagewaard from the University of Tasmania, whose article is presented here. The third prize in the video category went to Julia Schulz from the University of Kentucky. Julia's video, “The BloodBrain Barrier – Protecting the Body's Control Center”, can be viewed at bit.ly/scicomm32018.
Regulation of medicines, biotechnology devices and healthcare products
Authors: Sykes Emma , Pye David
Published: October 2019

On 20 November 2017 the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced their intention to relocate from London to Amsterdam due to the UK's decision to leave the European Union. It is nearly 12-months to the day since this announcement, and, other than the movement of a major regulatory headquarters, the UK is no closer to knowing what impact Brexit is likely to have on the regulation of medicines and healthcare products in the UK.
How the brain eats itself
Authors: Allendorf David , Popescu Alma , Brown Guy C.
Published: October 2019

The brain is the basis of the self. We may imagine it to be a relatively unchanging structure, but recent research has shown that the brain is in fact continuously changing its microstructure, and it does so by ‘eating’ itself. The processes of eating things outside the cell, including other cells, is called phagocytosis. In the brain, phagocytosis is performed by a particular type of cell called microglia, which can ‘eat’ neurons (nerve cells) or the connections between neurons (synapses). Microglia engulf neurons and synapses during development in order to sculpt the neural circuits of the brain. Into adulthood, they continue to eat synapses, pathogens and debris in order to shape memory, stop infections and clear accumulating rubbish from the brain. However, too little synaptic pruning by microglia during development may lead to autism; whilst too much eating of synapses during adolescence may contribute to schizophrenia. Too little phagocytosis of debris and protein aggregates or too much eating of synapses and neurons may cause neurodegeneration. A whole host of problems have recently been blamed on excessive phagocytosis in the brain, including aspects of obesity, aging and even sleep deprivation. In this article we will review the evidence, outline what biochemistry can contribute and discuss how to stop the brain eating too much of itself.
H-bonds and DNA
Authors: Harding Stephen
Published: October 2019

Hydrogen bonds or ‘H-bonds’ are polar, non-covalent bonds or interactions between a hydrogen atom (H) attached to a more electronegative atom, such as oxygen (O) or nitrogen (N), which partially pulls the electron cloud away from the H, leaving it electropositive—with another electronegative atom, such as O or N from a different molecule or from a different part of the same molecule. H-bond interactions play a huge role in the biochemistry of living processes, and in the structures and interactions of biological molecules, with each other and with different molecules including water. Nature's natural solvent, water, is itself a dynamic H-bonded polar structure, which strongly affects solubility and, as (dynamic) water of hydration, interactions between molecules. Compared with covalent and ionic bonds, H-bonds are individually much weaker (<20 kJ/mol), which make them ideal for molecular recognition phenomena. When many H-bonds come together they can form strong insoluble structures such as cellulose and the impermeable derivative of cellulose known as chitin, or helical structures with intra-chain stabilizing H-bonds such as the α-helix. Perhaps the most important H-bonded structure of them all is DNA.
A Tale of Two Twins
Authors: Sayers Judy
Published: October 2019

This is the ninth year the Biochemical Society has run the Science Communication Competition. The competition aims to give talented young science communicators the opportunity to have their work published in The Biochemist. This year's competition attracted entries from around the world covering a wide variety of topics, in both the written and video categories. The entries were judged by our expert panel of judges. In this issue we are proud to present the winning entry from the written category by Judy Sayers from the University of Cambridge.
A refreshed agenda and the ‘open’ road
Authors: Legge Malavika
Published: October 2019

This article announces the Biochemical Society and Portland Press’ joint commitment to commencing a sustainable and equitable transition to open access and describes early steps on our road to a more ‘open’ ethos. The paywall conundrum is explored as part of this, and Portland Press’ first steps towards transformative models are described.
Unveiling magnetosome biomineralization in magnetotactic bacteria
Authors: Fernández-Castané Alfred , Clarke-Bland Charlotte
Published: October 2019

The Eric Reid Fund for Methodology is a grant of up to £4000, awarded to members of the Biochemical Society for projects with an emphasis on methodology and a preference for cellular or bioanalytical work. Applicants can use the fund to support research developing new techniques, exploring the application of a known technique in a novel circumstance or for feasibility studies and the Society is pleased to enable researchers to continue to learn new skills.

Here, Alfred Fernández-Castané and Charlotte Clarke-Bland from Aston University, used their grant to purchase the necessary chemicals to run confocal microscopy experiments and more importantly, it has allowed them to start a collaboration.
LncRNA NRON alleviates atrial fibrosis through suppression of M1 macrophages activated by atrial myocytes
Authors: Sun Fei , Guo Zhixiang , Zhang Chengxin , Che Hong , Gong Wenhui , Shen Zhiming , Shi Yinglu , Ge Shenglin
Published: October 2019

The aim of the present study was to explore the role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) non-coding repressor of NFAT (NRON) in the atrial fibrosis and to explore whether its underlying mechanism was associated with macrophage polarization. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis of pro-inflammatory cytokines revealed that NRON overexpression suppressed, whereas NRON silencing facilitated the angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced inflammatory response in primary cultured atrial myocytes. The chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) results showed that nuclear factor of activated T cell 3 (NFATc3) was recruited to the promoter region of interleukin (IL) 12 (IL-12) in atrial myocytes. Further data showed that NRON overexpression suppressed, whereas NRON silencing further promoted the Ang II-induced NFATc3 nuclear transport and IL-12 expression in atrial myocytes. Moreover, RAW264.7 macrophages were incubated with the conditioned medium from the Ang II-treated atrial myocytes transfected with NRON and IL-12 overexpression vectors. IL-12 overexpression abrogated the NRON overexpression-mediated inhibition of RAW264.7 macrophage polarization to the M1-like phenotype. Additionally, mouse atrial fibroblasts were incubated with the culture medium from RAW264.7 macrophages treated as described above. IL-12 overexpression rescued the NRON overexpression-inhibited protein levels of fibrosis markers Collagen I/III in mouse atrial fibroblasts. Collectively, our data indicate that lncRNA NRON alleviates atrial fibrosis through suppression of M1 macrophages activated by atrial myocytes.
Applications of catalyzed cytoplasmic disulfide bond formation
Authors: Saaranen Mirva J. , Ruddock Lloyd W.
Published: October 2019

Disulfide bond formation is an essential post-translational modification required for many proteins to attain their native, functional structure. The formation of disulfide bonds, otherwise known as oxidative protein folding, occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial inter-membrane space in eukaryotes and the periplasm of prokaryotes. While there are differences in the molecular mechanisms of oxidative folding in different compartments, it can essentially be broken down into two steps, disulfide formation and disulfide isomerization. For both steps, catalysts exist in all compartments where native disulfide bond formation occurs. Due to the importance of disulfide bonds for a plethora of proteins, considerable effort has been made to generate cell factories which can make them more efficiently and cheaper. Recently synthetic biology has been used to transfer catalysts of native disulfide bond formation into the cytoplasm of prokaryotes such as Escherichia coli. While these engineered systems cannot yet rival natural systems in the range and complexity of disulfide-bonded proteins that can be made, a growing range of proteins have been made successfully and yields of homogenously folded eukaryotic proteins exceeding g/l yields have been obtained. This review will briefly give an overview of such systems, the uses reported to date and areas of future potential development, including combining with engineered systems for cytoplasmic glycosylation.
cGMP signalling in cardiomyocyte microdomains
Authors: Bork Nadja I. , Molina Cristina E. , Nikolaev Viacheslav O.
Published: October 2019

3′,5′-Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) is one of the major second messengers critically involved in the regulation of cardiac electrophysiology, hypertrophy, and contractility. Recent molecular and cellular studies have significantly advanced our understanding of the cGMP signalling cascade, its local microdomain-specific regulation and its role in protecting the heart from pathological stress. Here, we summarise recent findings on cardiac cGMP microdomain regulation and discuss their potential clinical significance.