bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mustard gas, electrodes and PARP: Serendipity in cancer research
Authors: Burgess Mark
Published: October 2019

Herbie Newell is Professor of Cancer Therapeutics, Northern Institute of Cancer Research, Newcastle upon Tyne. He left school at the age of 16 and went to work as a technician in the Marie Curie Memorial Foundation Research Laboratory, gaining Ordinary National Certificate (ONC) and Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Applied Biology on day release. He gained his PhD after 5 years as a part time student. At present he manages the research and careers of people involved in drug discovery at the University of Newcastle, and has worked for many years with Cancer Research UK in promoting bench-to-bedside research for patient benefit.
Taking chance out of drug discovery
Authors: Pearce Simon
Published: October 2019

Searching for bioactive molecules, using rapid compound screening, fragment-based design and unique building blocks, should not be like looking for a needle in a haystack. This article describes a range of innovative and diverse screening compounds for drug discovery and development. Available at both research and development scales, the line includes special products associated with new heterocyclic and phenyl ring-based chemical building blocks, including an exclusive and expanding range of reactive intermediates specifically designed for lead optimization, as well as a growing fragment collection. I explain how these products and services are helping to accelerate the search for bioactive molecules and are shortening the drug discovery process by reducing the element of chance.
Darwin takes the stage
Authors: Smith Rebecca
Published: October 2019

In the year that saw the bicentenary of Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his seminal work, On the Origin of Species, the Biochemical Society, in collaboration with Islington Community Theatre, took to the stage to bring Darwin's ideas to a new audience.
Facing the press pack: How to hack it
Authors: Hardaker Paul
Published: October 2019

Like lots of people, I listen to the radio in the morning, watch the TV news and read the occasional paper. I often wondered how the media found these ‘worldrenowned expert scientists’ who seem to have a special media friendly gene. The type who can articulate complicated topics in a few easy, wellreasoned points, and who are certainly never flustered by the slightly sneaky last question on the interviewer's prompt sheet.
All tangled up: Tau-dependent neurodegeneration
Authors: Lyn-Adams Ceri , Moffat Kevin , Sutherland Calum , Frenguelli Bruno G.
Published: October 2019

Currently, there are 30 million people worldwide suffering from dementia. This number is predicted to rise to 100 million if effective treatments aren't developed rapidly. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and is also the most prevalent of a group of neurodegenerative diseases known as tauopathies. Tauopathies are characterized by intraneuronal inclusions (pretangles) composed of aggregates of highly phosphorylated tau in the form of paired helical or straight filaments (PHFs), and neuronal loss. As the load of PHFs increases, they will aggregate and eventually form neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) which fill the whole cell. The number of tau tangles present in the brain correlates well with the severity of dementia. Tau tangles are routinely found in AD, frontotemporal dementia linked to chromosome 17 with parkinsonism (FTDP-17), progressive supranuclear palsy, Pick's disease, corticobasal degeneration, head trauma and Down's syndrome to name but a few.
All MAPT out?: Well-travelled pathways into neurodegeneration
Authors: Wray Selina , Hardy John
Published: October 2019

Neurodegenerative disorders are characterized pathologically by insoluble protein aggregates in the neurons of affected brain regions. A common theme in neurodegenerative disease which has emerged is that mutations in the genes encoding the abnormally deposited protein cause autosomal-dominant inherited forms of disease. More recently, it has become apparent that common genetic variance at the same loci that cause Mendelian disease predispose risk to sporadic disease, generally by altering the expression levels of wild-type protein. The microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) is a classical example of this principle, and in this article, we discuss the biology and genetics of MAPT in disease, and compare and contrast MAPT with other loci implicated in neurodegeneration.
Mind the gap
Authors: Oliver Rhonda
Published: October 2019

In December 2009, the US Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President and the White House Open Government Initiative launched a public consultation on Public Access Policy. The Administration sought comments from public on the access to publicly funded research results, such as those that appear in academic and scholarly journal articles. Currently, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) require that research funded by its grants be made available to the public online, free, within 12 months of publication. The Administration canvassed opinion on whether this policy should be extended to other science agencies and, if so, how.
Libel reform
Authors: Harris MP Evan , Bottomley MP Peter , MacShane MP Denis
Published: October 2019

England's libel laws are a disgrace. We are a nation with pretensions to being a beacon of free speech, and yet our courts routinely gag scientists, writers, doctors, journalists and campaigners, and they blindfold the public from seeing the truth. This is done at the behest of those individuals and corporations with deep pockets and large wallets.
Fighting paralysis and dementia: Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and reactivators in therapy
Authors: Radi Zoran
Published: October 2019

Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7), one of most efficient known enzymes and a key enzyme of cholinergic neurotransmission, can be therapeutically beneficial, primarily in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, myasthenia gravis and in ophthalmology. In this article, several therapeutic AChE inhibitors and the mechanism of their interaction with AChE are summarized.
Toxin treasure in snake venoms: A protein biochemist's sandbox
Authors: Kini R. Manjunatha
Published: October 2019

Snakes have fascinated mankind since prehistoric times. They have been the symbol of love and hate, war and peace, good and evil, god and devil, and life and death; oftentimes they have been contradictory symbols within the same civilization. They are one of the few living organisms which evoke a response – positive or negative – when one hears a hissing from a snake or a rattling sound from a rattlesnake or even a mere mention of the word ‘snake’. Their mystical serpentine movement – a canonical feature of these unusual limbless organisms – makes one's skin crawl. Above all, the intense fascination probably arises from their deadly venoms, which when injected into the victim lead to death of even the healthiest individuals. Numbers of victims who succumb to snakebite range from 60000 to 100000 per year in the 21st Century1.
Classics of cholesterol biosynthesis
Authors: Hanson James R.
Published: October 2019

Five classic papers by Cornforth and Popjak published in the Biochemical Journal between 1953 and 1958, together with a lecture published in 1966, are reviewed and their impact on the understanding of cholesterol biosynthesis is described.
RNA brings chromatin into shape
Authors: Bühler Marc
Published: October 2019

As the 20th Century drew to a close, we all wondered what the new millennium might bring us. Without a doubt, RNA started to take centre stage in the life sciences. The discovery of RNA interference (RNAi) made the scientific community sit up and appreciate that RNA was doing more than simply taking orders from DNA and converting genetic information into proteins. Eclipsed for decades by its glamorous sibling, DNA, RNA is now fully appreciated for its true powers and it does not stop surprising us.
Epigenetic mechanisms to maintain embryonic stem cell identity
Authors: Cooper Sarah
Published: October 2019

Advocates of embryonic stem (ES) cells have promised much from this technology, from reversal of neurodegenerative diseases to custom tissue regeneration. What is it, then, that makes ES cells so remarkable? Essentially, this question can be answered by two major features: an ability to self-renew and thereby divide indefinitely in culture, and pluripotency, the ability to respond to external signals and differentiate into any type of cell in the body, including germ cells.
Western diet: Too much fuel for the heart
Authors: Wilson Christopher R. , Harmancey Romain , Taegtmeyer Heinrich
Published: October 2019

The epidemic of obesity is sweeping across the United States and, indeed, the whole world. This phenomenon has been linked to changes in dietary habits1 or gene–environment interactions and not to a genetic shift. The most likely factor responsible for the obesity epidemic is the Western diet, which is characterized by a higher intake of red and processed meat, highfat dairy products and sugar-containing beverages, sweets and desserts2. Most biochemists have focused on isolating the individual nutrient components that are most likely to negatively affect metabolism and cause disease. A more prudent approach would be to consider diet as a complex mix of nutrients that, when combined as a diet characteristic for Western culture, has not only led to obesity, but to heart disease, cancer and diabetes as well.
“The best summer job I've had yet!”
Authors: Garrett Gemma , Hime Alexa
Published: October 2019

The opportunity of a laboratory-based placement is a valuable one for any science undergraduate. They develop their practical skills, take ownership of their own research and find out whether life in the laboratory really is for them. It also acts as coveted work experience towards their future career.
Ticking over: Circadian systems across the kingdoms of life
Authors: Dalchau Neil , Webb Alex A.R.
Published: October 2019

The ability to anticipate the day–night cycle and direct physiology accordingly has proven to be a general phenomenon across all kingdoms of life. Considerable fitness benefits are conferred by an internal 24hour clock, which is known as a circadian clock. Extensive multidisciplinary studies in a range of model organisms have elucidated many of the components involved in generating and sustaining daily rhythms. When comparing the circadian systems across the kingdoms, it is fascinating to observe the commonalities and differences in their molecular architecture, and the many adaptations which have evolved to deal with organismspecific requirements of biological timing.
Green factories: Synthetic plant products for industry
Authors: Edwards Rob , Jenkins Tom , Steel Patrick , Roberts Phil
Published: October 2019

The realization that we can no longer take reserves of fossil fuels for granted, allied to issues of industrial sustainability, pollution and climate change has reawakened an interest in increasing our use of plants as a source of both chemicals and materials. Whereas plant-derived biomass, fermentable sugars and oils are now well recognized as sources of energy and liquid fuels, the use of green feedstocks for large-scale platform and fine chemical production is increasingly high on the agenda of industries wanting to reduce their environmental footprint.
Building new genomes: Chemical synthesis of algorithmically designed attenuated viruses
Authors: Nimnual Anjaruwee S. , Mueller Steffen , Ward Charles B.
Published: October 2019

Synthetic biology combines the disciplines of biology, computer science, engineering, mathematics and chemistry, providing methods to understand biological systems that could not have been imagined just decades ago. Vaccine technology is one of the medical fields that tremendously benefit from synthetic biology. Chemical synthesis of computationally redesigned viruses offers a new paradigm in vaccine technology.
MicroRNAs and Their Targets: Promises and Pitfalls: Meeting reports
Authors: Bowater Richard , Gait Mike , Git Anna
Published: October 2019

A Biochemical Society Workshop held at Charles Darwin House, London, UK, 2 November 2010?????
Biofuels of the future: Introduction
Authors: Eggar Duncan
Published: October 2019

As oil reserves deplete and the consequences of several generations' worth of carbon emissions are beginning to be experienced, attention is increasingly turning to alternative sources of energy – not least those that may substitute for petrol and diesel as liquid transport fuels. There is already precedent for the use of ethanol as a fuel for road vehicles, but to produce alcohol-based fuels that are sustainable, affordable and do not displace food production is not a trivial matter. As a discipline, biochemistry has a lot to offer in the development of biofuels along every step of the pipeline.
Green energy from green algae: Biofuel production from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Authors: Dubini Alexandra
Published: October 2019

Looking for alternative ‘green’ energy technologies? Don't look too far! Microalgae are all around us and are being used, processed and packaged for different applications, from food to pharmaceutical products and now to generate renewable green energy such as hydrogen, biodiesel and other biofuels. Microalgae in general and green algae in particular have been studied for decades with the objective of utilizing their photosynthetic capacity and their ability to adapt to changing environment and nutrient conditions as a source of a variety of products. A new era has arrived where these functions are now being examined and targeted to efficiently convert solar energy into useful carbon-based fuels and chemical precursors (alkane, ethylene), as well as gas (hydrogen) or lipid-based storage compound such as triacylglycerols (TAGs) for biodiesel application.
Digesting the indigestible: Biosynthesis of the plant secondary wall
Authors: Wightman Raymond , Turner Simon
Published: October 2019

Biofuels have recently been the subject of intense debate with regard to‘food versus fuel’. Consequently, attention has focused upon so-called ‘second-generation’ biofuels that use alternatives to food-based feedstocks. In the best-developed forms of second-generation biofuels, sugars from starch digestion could be replaced with sugars released from the plant cell walls. This biomass could come from either agricultural residue, such as part of the maize culm, or from purpose grown biofuel crops, such as Miscanthus or Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), that generate huge yields even when grown on marginal land with minimal agricultural inputs. For these and other potential bioenergy crops such as trees, the majority of the plant biomass is composed of woody secondary cell walls. If all cell wall sugars were readily accessible to fermenting micro-organisms, a 5 kg log could theoretically produce up to 2.5 litres of ethanol. The secondary cell walls are frequently the first line of defence against pests and pathogens, as well as providing structure and support for upward plant growth (Figure 1). Consequently, by their very nature, secondary cell walls are designed for strength and to resist degradation. The compact organization of the wall makes its digestion, a process known as saccharification, very difficult so biomass is currently too costly to be a viable feedstock. Knowledge of how the walls are constructed, however, would allow us to efficiently deconstruct them. This article gives an overview of secondary walls and potential modifications expected to be beneficial to improved biofuel production.
A toxic paradise: Poisonous sea creatures
Authors: Wallace Alan
Published: October 2019

Marine life is very prolific. Incredibly diverse creatures live, feed and compete for space in the water, on rocks, among reefs and on the sea bed. Many defend themselves, protect their territories and sometimes even hunt their prey by deploying an amazing array of bioactive and toxic products. The marine environment is a vast reservoir of biochemical diversity. Although many of these substances are potently toxic, some offer opportunities to identify new drugs. There are probably several thousand poisonous or venomous marine organisms. In his 1965 review of toxic sea life, Findlay Russell claimed to have identified around 1000 species; in 1984, he revised this to 12001. This has been comfortably exceeded and now represents a substantial underestimate. These animals are drawn widely from the spectrum of marine fauna, ranging from unicellular protists through to vertebrates. More than 1000 species of fish possess venomous spines either in their fins or on their operculum (gill covers) and tail. This article will take a gentle swim around just a few of the poisonous creatures that inhabit our seas and offer a taste of the physiology, pharmacology and biochemistry associated with the toxins that they possess.
Marine gases: Challenges to the bio(geo)chemist
Authors: Steinke Michael , Exton Dan A. , McGenity Terry J.
Published: October 2019

Gases are produced and consumed by numerous biological processes in the oceans and some volatiles are readily exchanged with the atmosphere where they can affect our climate. They can be waste products but they are also fundamental as nutrient and energy sources and terminal electron acceptors in respiration, and can facilitate communication and interactions via diffusive signalling. Here we will introduce some major gases and mention a few more enigmatic volatiles before focussing on the bio(geo)chemistry of dimethyl sulfide (DMS), ethene and isoprene, three important gases that are currently at the forefront of our research.
DISCOVERY 100: A competition to celebrete 100 years of the Biochemical Society
Authors: Cox Amy
Published: October 2019

How do you summarize the past 100 years of discoveries in the biological sciences? That kind of challenge would be daunting for any one person – but fortunately, we had you to help.
Microorganisms in the human gut: Diversity and function
Authors: Scott Karen P. , Duncan Sylvia H. , Louis Petra , Flint Harry J.
Published: October 2019

Research into the microbial community within the human gastrointestinal tract (GIT) has developed from investigating micro-organisms that cause disease to trying to establish those that are important to maintain health. Thus we are now at a point where the bacterial community in healthy individuals has been well characterized, emphasizing the huge interindividual variation that exists. Molecular advances have also facilitated initial studies on establishing the composition of the viral and eukaryotic communities. In this article, we provide an overview of the current state of knowledge, illustrating the structure and function of the gut microbial community.
Glucose sensing in the gut: The regulation of intestinal glucose transport and hormone release
Authors: Shirazi-Beechey Soraya
Published: October 2019

Epithelial cells lining the surface of the intestinal epithelium are in direct contact with a luminal environment that varies dramatically with diet. It has long been suggested that the intestinal epithelium can sense the nutrient composition of luminal contents. It is only recently that the natures of intestinal nutrientsensing molecules and underlying mechanisms have been elucidated.
A sketch of proteomics: Mapping the proteins of the liver
Authors: Zhang Xueli , He Fuchu
Published: October 2019

Proteomics is kind of ‘big science’, just like genomics. Whereas genomics looks globally at the underlying DNA sequence of an entire organism, proteomics is the study of the total complement of proteins. There are more proteins than genes as a result of alternative splicing of genes and post-translational modifications such as glycosylation or phosphorylation. Proteomics therefore offers an exhaustive approach to inspecting the inner workings of cells, tissues and organism, and has huge potential for broadening our understanding of the most complex of protein expression, functions and interactions. That is why proteomics has drawn so much attention from researchers in life sciences and has propelled the rapid development of cutting-edge biotechnology in the 21st Century1. In this article, we give a taste of proteomics research in China.
Breaking the rules: Atypical photoreceptors with diverse functions
Authors: Sheely Catherine , Hattar Samer
Published: October 2019

As the Earth rotates around its axis, the Sun illuminates different parts of the planet with varied strengths and amounts of light exposure. Primary producers, from unicellular cyanobacteria to redwood trees, harness the light energy and provide the basis for food chains in the Earth's ecosystems. Light, however, has other functions that are important for survival, which include phototaxis in unicellular organisms, measuring day length (photoperiodism) in plants and animals, and vision. Although the eye is a highly specialized organ that contains the photoreceptive machinery to mediate vision, organisms such as fish, birds and lizards rely on extraocular photoreceptors to co-ordinate long-term effects of light, including synchronization of daily rhythms to the solar day, photoperiodic measurements and hormonal regulation. Mammals, however, rely solely on the eyes and a specialized photoreceptive neuronal structure, the retina, to receive all light information for image and non-image forming visual functions.
Genes and smells
Authors: Keller Andreas
Published: October 2019

The recently sequenced genomes of several vertebrate species revealed large differences between the odorant receptor (OR) repertoires of even closely related species. These differences are a consequence of frequent gene duplications and subsequent mutations of duplicated genes. The same mechanisms are at work within a species, and different human genomes therefore show an unparalleled variability in the number and sequence of OR genes. Recent research has started to explore the consequences of this genetic variability for how we perceive odours.
Gel filtration: A means of estimating the molecular masses of proteins
Authors: Winzor Donald J.
Published: October 2019

The publication of two articles by Pat Andrews on the estimation of protein molecular masses by gel filtration sparked a frenzy of interest and activity in the 1960s, an era marked by a pronounced shift in emphasis of biochemical research towards an understanding of biology at the molecular level. Unlike many research fashions, this one has flourished for the best part of 50 years and shows no sign of abating. In that period the first of those articles has attracted almost 5000 citations, and the second is approaching the 4000 mark: numbers which place both papers in the topten most cited Biochemical Journal articles. Their consideration as BJ Classics is thus well merited.
The business model: A personal view from a CRO
Authors: Hirst Simon
Published: October 2019

That the big pharmaceutical company's business model is having to undergo a major structural change seems beyond argument. By any standards, the model is broken and is failing to deliver for the shareholders, pharmaceutical employees and, most importantly, their patients. The pressure for change has become inescapable and the effects of the changes are all too visible here in the UK, as one large pharma after another has announced downsizing, restructuring and site closures.
The ocean pharmacy: A treasure chest of new drug leads
Authors: Spragg Andrew Mearns , Best Simon G.
Published: October 2019

Over the last 20 years, the pharmaceutical industry has seen a decrease in discovery and success based on computational and combinatorial chemistry, and an increase in base costs imposed by increasing regulatory requirements and a higher rate of failures during the development process1. Couple this to the potential of structural, hence intellectual property overlap between libraries of synthetic compounds and the need for low-cost, scalable and chemically unique new scaffolds, the pharmaceutical industry is starting to re-evaluate the potential of natural products to provide the industry with new drug leads.
Metrics: Measuring importance
Authors: Black Caroline
Published: October 2019

Bibliometrics is the term used to describe various approaches to analysing measures of the use of academic literature, in particular articles in peer-reviewed journals. More broadly, the topic addresses the validity or otherwise of these measures as indicators of the impact, influence or value of the research being reported. These measures, and in particular the journal Impact Factor, are used as evidence for the quality of research, to make decisions about appointments, to judge a journal editor's success, and (it is assumed) to make funding decisions. Until recently, bibliometrics was mainly about citations, but now it is increasingly common to measure online usage, and even tweets, blogging and user star-ratings when assessing the contribution of a published research article.
Science Question Time: the Future of Drugs
Authors: Lush James
Published: October 2019

As the UK faces up to increasing challenges in the global pharmaceutical industry, the Biochemical Society co-hosted an event discussing the changing landscape with the public.
Gender equality in science: Mainstreaming the issue
Authors: Lush James
Published: October 2019

As the Biochemical Society launches a new grant scheme for Gender Equality in Science this year, we look at the recent history and current thought on this long-standing and important issue.
Progress down the open road
Authors: Taylor Graham
Published: October 2019

In UK scholarly publishing, we have a world-class industry led by famous flagship journals generating over £1bn in turnover, 80% from exports. We comprise a few significant commercial players, a few university presses and a large group of not-for-profit society publishers, often working under contract with the commercials. The UK is a world hub for this activity, alongside the US, The Netherlands and Germany, part of a global industry publishing over 1.5 million peer-reviewed articles per year in over 20 000 journals. But many challenges lie on the road ahead.
Oxidative stress in exercise: Exertion and radical production
Authors: Aldred Sarah , Sanghera Gurminder , Soden Matthew
Published: October 2019

The production of radicals in exercise was first established over 30 years ago in early studies undertaken by Dillard1 and Davies et al.2,3. But it was not until much later that McArdle4 first established that contractile activity in muscle released the superoxide radical (O2·-). Since these studies, discussion and debate on the role of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) in exercise has continued. RONS are known to have the ability to interact with proteins, lipids and DNA5 to alter function and cause adduct formation. It is also now well established that transient increases in RONS are essential in cell signalling, muscle remodelling and regulation of gene expression6. The debate among exercise physiologists, concerning the relevance of ‘oxidative stress’ in exercise, and whether this term is really appropriate, has mirrored a wider debate in free radical biochemistry.
Sweetness and light
Authors: Pritchard Jeremy
Published: October 2019

One day after Darwin's Birthday I travelled to Shrewsbury to contribute to the Darwin Festival, organised by the Shropshire Wild life trust, representing both the University of Birmingham and the Society for Experimental Biology. I was booked to deliver two sessions; a talk about Darwin and a Café scientifique on the evolution of complexity.
Accreditation of biology degrees: Who needs it, and why now?
Authors: Reece Richard
Published: October 2019

Are the skills of a student graduating from a biochemistry programme at university X equivalent to those graduating from the same programme at university Y? Probably not, but this is not an easy question to answer. Although minimum specifications for all biochemistry degree programmes are, in part, outlined by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), different universities have different entry requirements, can focus the degree they offer in a variety of different ways depending on their own expertise and can afford their students a whole host of different experiences – not necessarily better or worse experiences, but different. Additionally, of course, not all students are equal. Differences between individuals aside, graduate employers, from both academia and industry, are increasingly keen to know what they are likely to expect from a ‘typical’ graduate from a particular programme. Those of us working in the university sector know only too well how difficult it can be to find a PhD student who can hit the ground running on their project work. Can the accreditation of UK biology degrees help?
Researching for a career: Translating laboratory skills
Authors: Blackford Sarah
Published: October 2019

Have you ever asked yourself why you decided to commit to a PhD and whether the time and effort you have invested has paid off in terms of your career? If you are reading this as a lecturer, permanent researcher or professor, you may well be satisfied with the outcome. If you are like many doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers, a research career is what you most desire and aspire towards. You may be passionate about your research topic, enjoy the research environment and would prefer to remain in it for the duration of your career. However, these days, if you are considering aiming for one of the top academic jobs in a university, bear in mind that, in most countries, only around 10% of researchers will obtain a permanent senior academic position1,2. The good news to offset this rather gloomy statistic is that, as highly qualified and skilled people, PhD-qualified researchers have the potential to forge a successful career in many different occupational fields.
Networks, mixing and quotas
Authors: Lush James
Published: October 2019

At the final conference of the European Commission-funded Gendera project in Stuttgart in March1, Professor Ernst Rietschel spoke convincingly about quotas and networks for women in science.
What's on?
Authors: Burgess Mark
Published: October 2019

The Wellcome Image Awards are now in their 12th year, and predate the Wellcome Collection by 7 years. This year, the judges selected 16 from a short list of 153 drawn from the 400 or so images submitted during the year. There were 10 judges, and their chairman, Fergus Walsh, said that they had been looking for a marriage of “science and art” combined with technical excellence. This year's winners are certainly varied: from the traditional photomicrographs to images of surgical procedure. One of the latter won ‘overall winner’, something that has not happened before in this contest.
Do they mean us?: Science in fiction TV shows: do they get it wrong – and does it matter?
Authors: Osterrieder Anne
Published: October 2019

A scientist in a white lab coat stands behind a metallic table in a bright white lab. She is examining a white rabbit in front of her. The door opens and Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson enter the room. “Oh. Back again? What's on your mind this time?”, she says. “Murder, Dr Stapleton. Refined, coldblooded murder.” Sherlock turns off the light and the rabbit glows in the dark.
Interesting times: The future for science publishing
Authors: Mabe Michael A.
Published: October 2019

It is often said that the Chinese have a powerful curse for those they dislike: May you live in interesting times! While a little research suggests that this attribution to China may be false (it is believed the story may have been invented by an old China Hand in the UK Foreign Office in the 1920s), the relevance of such a imprecation to much of the cataclysmic changes we see in publishing could not be more apt.
Genetics, Bioethics and Space Travel: GATTACA
Authors: Sansom Clare
Published: October 2019

It has been said that all stories set in the future say more about the concerns of the time in which they are written than they do about future possibilities. Long before the genome era, writers were investigating the possibility of changing the biological make-up of humans. Questions about human biology, identity and eugenics (from the Greek ‘well-born’) have been raised by writers ever since Plato; classic novels addressing these issues include H.G. Wells's The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896) and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World (1931). Eugenics in fiction passed out of fashion after the Second World War, but recent developments in genetics and genomics have brought these ideas into the foreground again.
Health effects of nanomaterials
Authors: Tetley Teresa D. , Thorley Andrew J.
Published: October 2019

Nanotechnology is a relatively new discipline which is growing rapidly and is used in a broad-spectrum of applications such as engineering, medicine, cosmetics, sports goods and textiles. The number of consumer products that employ nanotechnology is steadily increasing. Nanomaterials have novel and diverse properties very different to those of the same materials on a macroscopic scale, exhibiting unique optical, electronic and magnetic properties. Not surprising then that these engineered materials are being used to create new products and applications, and to improve existing products.
Science Clubs for Uganda
Authors: Thomson Jane , Garrett Gemma
Published: October 2019

Following a productive fact-finding mission to Uganda in April 2012, two members of the Education team, Gemma Garrett and Jane Thomson, have come up with a plan to address some of the challenges being encountered by Ugandan science teachers and their students at the secondary school level. Working closely with our Ugandan Local Ambassador, Deus Tusibira, the pair returned to Uganda in September to implement some of their ideas, get feedback and gather momentum for the scheme.
Voice of the Future 2013
Authors: Lush James
Published: October 2019

Young researchers speak with a common voice as key questions about women in science and early career researchers go unanswered by MPs.
Endosymbiosis and the evolution of complexity
Authors: Martin William F.
Published: October 2019

From the standpoint of biological complexity, there are two main categories of organisms: multicellular ones (macrobes) and unicellular ones (microbes). A closer look at the microbes reveals an even deeper evolutionary cleft, one of the most dramatic sorts and one that has puzzled evolutionary biologists for as long as the divide has been known. At the most basic level, there are only two kinds of cells in the living world: eukaryotes, typically large complex cells that always have a nucleus, and prokaryotes, typically small and more simply structured cells that always lack a nucleus.
Gluttony: Are we all sinners?
Authors: Yeo Giles S.H.
Published: October 2019

Gluttony. The word evokes visceral images, like that of the grotesque Mr Creosote from Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, just prior to him accepting that final ‘wafer-thin mint’ and suffering the now infamous explosive consequence. The two defining characteristics of Mr Creosote are first, his comically morbid obesity and secondly, his inordinate desire to eat more than he clearly required.
Pride, Envy and Covetousness: The sins of science
Authors: Bryant John
Published: October 2019

Here are three very unpleasant sounding 'deadly sins' that stem from our inner attitudes. They are clearly linked with one another. For examples, envy has been described as the daughter of pride and envy itself can so easily morph into covetousness. Sadly these deadly sins are all too visible in the world of science.
100 years of crystallography
Authors: Cruse Mary
Published: October 2019

The 20th Century will be remembered for many scientific achievements: the discovery of DNA, the invention of antibiotics, man landing on the moon; but none of these would have been possible were it not for the vital science of crystallography.
Ada Lovelace Day
Authors: Ball Catherine
Published: October 2019

2013 was the Biochemical Society's Women in Biochemistry year, a commemoration of the centenary of the acceptance of female members into the Society. As part of our celebrations we sponsored Ada Lovelace Day Live, held on 15 October.
Society News
Authors: Baillie Kate
Published: October 2019

Welcome to the first issue of The Biochemist in 2014! This is an exciting time, as we are currently in the process of developing our strategic plan for the next 5 years.
An open-andshut case: ABA and stomata
Authors: Blatt Michael R.
Published: October 2019

Guard cells are now recognized as the premier cell model in plants. Much of this notoriety can be traced to research over the previous three decades into the signalling mechanisms behind abscisic acid (ABA), its ability to regulate ion transport across the plasma and vacuolar membranes of guard cells, and thereby to drive stomatal movements. Guard cells surround stomatal pores of plant leaves. They control the aperture of the pore and, so, CO2 entry into the leaf for photosynthesis and water loss via transpiration. Their sensitivity to environmental and endogenous stimuli makes them ideal for physiological studies, and their situation makes them well-suited for cellular and subcellular research. The ‘read-out’ of stomatal aperture is also central to the crisis in water availability and crop production that is expected to unfold over the next 20–30 years. Not surprisingly, there is growing interest in ‘reverse engineering’ stomatal guard cells to improve agricultural water use. It seems like an openand-shut case. But is it?
The Holy Grail realized: Structure-based drug design applied to GPCRs
Authors: Weyand Simone , Tate Christopher G.
Published: October 2019

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the cornerstone of intercellular communication throughout the human body, where they control diverse physiological functions such as blood pressure, neural activity and reproduction. GPCRs have also been implicated in the pathogenesis of cancer, inflammatory diseases, metabolic imbalances and neurological disorders, and are therefore the targets of over 30% of marketed small-molecule drugs. Integral membrane proteins such as GPCRs are challenging targets for structure determination. However, generic methodologies developed over the last decade have revolutionized the field with over 20 unique GPCR structures determined, and some co-crystallized with over ten different ligands. Structure-based drug design for GPCRs is now a reality and has the potential to accelerate the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of a wide range of disorders and diseases.
There is more to the 3Rs than Replacement: Reduction and Refinement in animal experimentation
Authors: Wiles Siouxsie
Published: October 2019

According to Wikipedia, the earliest references to animal experimentation appear in Greek writings of the 2nd and 4th Century BC1. Needless to say, we have come a long way in the intervening years. Animal experimentation is now regulated by law in many countries. ‘Animal ethics committees’, typically made up of lay people, scientists and vets, are required to undertake a cost–benefit analysis for proposed projects, weighing up the likely benefit to society against any harm and suffering animals may experience. Furthermore, the ethical framework first described by William Russell and Rex Burch in their seminal 1959 publication2 – the so-called 3Rs: the use of non-animal methods to achieve the same scientific goals (replacement), or where this is not possible, that researchers use methods which cause the minimum pain and suffering (refinement) while also obtaining the best information possible from the fewest number of animals (reduction) – is now also a legal requirement in many countries. Thanks in part to initiatives such as the UK's National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs), recent years have seen a massive increase in the number of techniques developed which aim to replace the use of animals in research, teaching and testing, an achievement which should be celebrated.
Macromolecular crystallography using neutrons
Authors: Blakeley Matthew
Published: October 2019

When you think about macromolecular crystallography, the technique that most often comes to mind is X-ray diffraction and it's no wonder. Over 88000 structures of biological macromolecules – from proteins and nucleic acids to viruses and macromolecular assemblies – have been determined using X-rays, and these have contributed significantly to our understanding of a vast array of biological systems and processes.
Voice of the Future 2014
Authors: Stewart Alastair
Published: October 2019

The tables were turned in Parliament, as young scientists were provided the chance to grill MPs on hot-button science issues.
Female students and hands-on DNA
Authors: Pavey Dawn
Published: October 2019

My current role is to ensure that no-one is discouraged from pursuing careers in STEM because of gender. On the 11 and 12 September 2013, four Presenters at Techniquest Glyndr were trained in the key stage 4 workshop, ‘Bacterial Evolution: Handson-DNA’ by Education Team members Dawn Pavey and Claire Evans. It was the first time the Presenters had used micropipettes, vortex-mixers, electrophoresis tanks or UV light boxes, and it took a while for them to be confident with using the researchgrade equipment. Once they had mastered the equipment themselves, they practiced explaining the practical aspects to each other, in preparation for leading the workshop with groups of students.
Case study: blood and eyes: A Biochemical Society-funded outreach activity at Bridgwater Science Festival
Authors: Khera Tarnjit
Published: October 2019

Blood is messy and children like mess, so what better way to teach children about the components of blood than letting them make it themselves?
The European Bioinformatics Institute: an overview
Authors: Sansom Clare
Published: October 2019

Almost exactly 20 years ago, in September 1994, the European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI) opened its doors for the first time. Since then, this institute, established on the Wellcome Trust Genome Campus at Hinxton near Cambridge, has become one of the world's foremost bioinformatics centres. All biochemists who need to analyse molecular data, i.e. very nearly all biochemists, are bound to have used some of its services, although they may not have realized it.
Cell–cell signalling in plants: Cross-talk among chloroplasts, mitochondria and plasmodesmata
Authors: Brunkard Jacob O. , Runkel Anne M. , Zambryski Patricia C.
Published: October 2019

Multicellularity is central to the stunning diversity of biological forms on earth today. In multicellular species, individual cells become dependent on each other, differentiate to specialize their functions, and may even undergo cell death as the whole organism develops. This developmental process requires intense co-ordination of genetic programs and physiology across the organism, relying on communication between cells. There are only a handful of lineages of obligate multicellular eukaryotes – animals, a few groups of fungi, certain algal lineages, and land plants – but each arose independently, and each employs a distinct mechanism of intercellular communication1. Direct physical cell–cell communication between animal cells occurs via gap junctions, which transport only very small molecules, and via tunnelling nanotubes, which permit exchange of larger molecules. Fungal cells never fully separate after cell division, in a sense, because they leave behind septal pores that connect adjacent cytoplasts. In plants, intercellular communication is primarily facilitated by plasmodesmata (PD).
Signalling in plant cell patterning: Mechano-molecular theory and phyllotaxis
Authors: Braybrook Siobhan A.
Published: October 2019

Cell fate may depend on lineage and position within a tissue; since plant cell position is fixed within a tissue, communication between cells is integral for patterning events. There are a myriad of ways that neighbouring cells can communicate with each other but we might break them down into two distinct categories: molecular signalling and mechanical signalling. Molecular signalling involves cellular molecules such as proteins and hormones as signals, whereas mechanical signalling relies on differential stress/strain as a signal; however, we will see that these are not distinct phenomenon. In a spatial sense, we might also consider communication occurring on two levels, locally between neighbours and globally across a tissue. Again, we will see that while useful, these categorizations are simplifications of a beautiful complexity. In this article we will examine the communication processes (local, global, mechanical and molecular) required for the plant patterning event known as phyllotaxis, the organization of aerial organs about the stem.
Bacterial signalling mechanisms: Checking out the neighbourhood
Authors: Malone Jacob
Published: October 2019

In much the same way that people check out the neighbourhood and ask their friends for advice before they decide to move to a new house, bacteria perceive, integrate and respond to various different environmental and social cues during the processes of surface colonization and biofilm formation. These integrated signalling responses determine whether bacteria adopt a free-living individualist lifestyle associated with motility and elevated virulence, or whether they form a complex multicellular community known as a biofilm. Biofilms consist of large surface-attached multicellular structures, where the individual bacteria are encased in a matrix of proteins, exopolysaccharides and extracellular DNA strands. Within the biofilm, discrete bacterial subpopulations fulfil distinct phenotypic roles. These include support cells, persister cells that can resist high concentrations of antibiotics, and swarmer cells that burst from the surfaces of mature biofilms and colonies into new environments. As the majority of chronic hospital-acquired and implant-associated infections are biofilm-based, understanding the signalling networks that underpin bacterial biofilm formation is of vital importance.
Underground communication: Belowground signalling mediates diverse root–root and root–microbe interactions
Authors: Roberson Amanda , Spence Carla , Bais Harsh P.
Published: October 2019

Plants are stationary organisms, generally restricted to one location for the duration of their growth and development, which is why the need for clear means of information exchange becomes paramount. Above-ground, plants readily emit pungent volatile substances to signal danger of eminent attack to their relatives or to attract the enemy of their enemies. However, most plant communication is occurring below the ground, where plants are secreting compounds from their roots to send messages to neighbouring plants, microbes and insects in the rhizosphere. Although we think of plants as silent and autonomous, they are actually having very complex and specific conversations to communicate with kin, shape their microbiome, and deter invasive plants and pathogens from taking up residence. Rather than blindly fumbling through the soil matrix in hopes of encountering the conditions for ideal growth, plant roots are actively exploring and modulating their surroundings. Root communication is not only critical in terms of an individual plant's success, but it is becoming clear that this activity has consequences to plant populations at the community and ecosystem scale. This article discusses belowground plant communication via root secretion and the resulting ecological significance.
Ribozymes: ancient and modern
Authors: Lilley David M.J.
Published: October 2019

Ribozymes are catalytic RNA molecules, enzymes made of RNA. They were probably the key to the early development of life on the planet in the RNA world, but are still present in contemporary cells, carrying out some of the most important reactions such as the synthesis of proteins. Although clearly not as well suited to this role as proteins, ribozymes nevertheless can achieve some impressive rate enhancements. Mechanistic and structural studies have revealed much of the way that this is achieved. But perhaps even more interesting ribozyme species may still await discovery.