bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
China: go with all your heart: Sino–UK collaboration: BJ office in Beijing and Centenary Joint Meeting
Authors: van Klaveren Frances , Starley Pauline , Davies Helen , Marshall Adam , Cole Kerry
Published: October 2019

In September 2007, a Biochemical Society delegation comprising Professor George Banting (then the Chair of the Biochemical Journal Editorial Board), Professor Peter Shepherd (then the incoming Chair of the Biochemical Journal Editorial Board) and senior Biochemical Society staff visited institutions in Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Hong Kong to raise awareness of the Society and its publishing portfolio in China [see The Biochemist, Vol. 29 (December), pp. 24–28]. The relationships established on this trip were further strengthened at the 21st IUBMB and 12th FAOBMB Meeting in Shanghai in August 2009, where a Biochemical Society/Portland Press stand to promote our membership and publishing activities attracted interest from many delegates. These initial steps into China have now reaped rewards with two major initiatives coming to fruition this year.
William Hunter and radioiodination: Revolutions in the labelling of proteins with radionuclides of iodine
Authors: Lane Darius J.R. , Richardson Des R.
Published: October 2019

This ‘Classic Paper’ reflects on two highly cited and pioneering methodologies that were published in the Biochemical Journal in 1963 and 1973 by William M. Hunter and colleagues. Since publication, the so-called ‘chloramine-T’ and ‘Bolton–Hunter' methods have dominated the field of protein iodination for radiotracer analysis.
Science writing and journalism
Authors: Hime Alexa
Published: October 2019

As a graduate of the molecular biosciences, there are many different careers and postgraduate study options available to you, in science-related and non-scientific fields. The field of science communication is one which currently has a lot of ‘buzz’ about it, and the importance of science writers and journalists in engaging with the public is being recognized more and more.
Nitric oxide, vascular function and exercise
Authors: Boscá Lisardo , Castrillo Antonio
Published: October 2019

NO (nitric oxide) is a diffusible gas molecule produced intracellularly by three distinct nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzymes that are highly conserved in mammalian species. The NOS enzymes are haemcontaining proteins that catalyse a fiveelectron oxidation process of the guanidino nitrogen of arginine and in the presence of O2. NOS activity is, in fact, a tandem of two consecutive reactions: a reductase step catalysed by a moiety of NOS homologous with the cytochrome P450 reductase, including the NADPH and flavin nucleotide cofactorbinding domains, and an oxygenase step coupling the reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+ in the haem to the release of NO and citrulline from arginine and molecular oxygen. The reaction requires several cofactors, including tetrahydrobiopterin and calcium/calmodulin.
A great adventure: From quantitative metabolism to the revelation of Chinese science
Authors: Hesketh Robin
Published: October 2019

By the end of the 1930s, Frederick Gowland Hopkins had built his Cambridge laboratory into the pre-eminent institute of biochemistry that was a magnet for scientists from all over the world. Even so, it was an exceptional event that saw a young Chinese student leave a homeland at that time relatively isolated from the West and embark on a research career in his department. Within 2 years, she had published a highly influential set of papers on metabolism in the Biochemical Journal, a field that some 70 years on has once again become a major focus as its role in cancer is dissected. From the outset, however, she had come under the spell of the legendary polymath Joseph Needham to whom she would dedicate the rest of her life in a partnership that would unveil the astounding history of Chinese science to the world.
Award Winners for 2013 announced
Authors: Cox Amy
Published: October 2019

The Biochemical Society's Awards recognize scientists for excellence and the profound implications that their work has for the research community and wider society.
A ramble through the history of online learning: A personal journey
Authors: Cann Alan
Published: October 2019

e-learning is a blanket term which has expanded to incorporate any form of electronic technology in education. A number of estimates suggest that the worldwide e-learning industry is estimated to be worth close to US$50 billion1. This article takes a brief personal look at the history of e-learning and tries to figure out where we are going in the years ahead.
Life after publication: Post-publication peer review
Authors: Crotty David
Published: October 2019

The idea of post-publication peer review is nothing new – it's called science. Publication of the paper is an end of one process, but the beginning of another. The paper is read and discussed, in private conversations, in laboratory meetings, at journal clubs, at the bench, in the bar and beyond. It's how we analyse and understand what has been accomplished and plan the next set of experiments to follow.
Metal toxicity and tolerance in plants
Authors: Hodson Martin J.
Published: October 2019

Metal toxicity is an important factor limiting the growth of plants in many environments. Some metals, such as copper and zinc, are micronutrients at low concentrations and become toxic at higher levels, whereas others (e.g. aluminium and lead) are only known for their toxicity. In some cases, soils are naturally very high in metals. An example is the serpentine soils, which have elevated levels of chromium, cobalt, iron, magnesium and nickel, but are very low in calcium. Low soil pH makes most metals more available for plant uptake and can indirectly lead to metal toxicity (e.g. through acid rain)1. Some acidic soils have high aluminium availability, and this can be an important limiting factor for agriculture. Localized pollution caused by human activity (e.g. mining or smelting) often leads to toxicity problems. For example, the spoil heaps at Old Gang mine in Swaledale in North Yorkshire, UK, are still very high in plant available lead (Figure 1). Sewage sludge that is released on to agricultural land often contains high levels of toxic metals. But what happens to a plant when it is growing in an environment with toxic levels of metals, and how do some plants tolerate these environments? This brief article considers some of the recent trends in the study of metal toxicity and tolerance in plants.
Visualizing Science Fiction and relating it to Science Fact
Authors: Bowater Laura , Cornea Christine , Bowater Richard P.
Published: October 2019

The proliferation of science fiction in film and visual media brings scientific topics to large audiences, inspiring many people to develop a serious interest in scientific studies. Increasingly, science fiction is being used as a tool in the teaching of science and visual media provide excellent opportunities to foster student engagement and encourage reflection. In this article, we critique science fiction film in terms of ‘reel’ versus real science, highlighting how it illustrates scientific advances that are important in nanobiotechnology, molecular biology and biochemistry.
The truth is in there
Authors: Simon Anne
Published: October 2019

In 1998, I received a letter from a fellow scientist. To paraphrase the contents (since the letter was long ago destroyed), why was I being such a miserable excuse for a human being and scientist for deliberately corrupting the minds of young people worldwide by preaching ‘pseudoscience’? Wow. What could I possibly have done to induce such ire in a fellow scientist? Here are some hints: I did not deny that HIV causes AIDS or question the reality of climate change; I did not favour creationism over evolution or preach the benefits of cold fusion. No, much worse. A full page story in the science section of the New York Times had just revealed that I, a ‘real scientist’ and a professor at the University of Massachusetts, had a side-line gig as a science adviser for the TV series The X-Files.
Using science fiction to teach science facts
Authors: Bowater Laura , Cornea Christine , James Helen , Bowater Richard P.
Published: October 2019

The contributors to this discussion teach in three different Faculties at the University of East Anglia (UEA) – Science, Arts & Humanities and Medicine & Health Sciences. They have each used science fiction to explore learning outcomes in their distinct teaching practices. The discussion below highlights how contemporary science fiction can operate as a touchstone for debate that informs biochemistry teaching. Laura, Helen and Richard have all studied basic sciences, gaining PhDs in various aspects of biochemistry and molecular biology, and each have taught undergraduates and postgraduates at UEA. Helen and Richard are based in the Faculty of Science. Laura is based in the Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, and uses her interest in science communication to explore university teaching practices that involve science fiction. Christine gained a PhD from her research of technology and performance in science fiction film and is based in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities.
The Athena SWAN Charter: Advancing women's careers in STEMM academia
Authors: Dickinson Sarah
Published: October 2019

The Athena SWAN Charter makes awards to institutions that show a commitment to the advancement and promotion of the careers of women in STEMM higher education and research. The Biochemical Society recently joined the steering committee of the Charter, as well as co-funding it.
The road ahead: A perspective of drug discovery in psychiatry in 2013 from inside an evolving industry
Authors: Dunlop John , Brandon Nicholas J.
Published: October 2019

Psychiatric drug discovery is in a state of flux in 2013. Significant reductions in investment across large pharmaceutical companies combined with shifts in academic funding have led to a necessary new world of opportunity based around collaborations, partnerships and business operating models. These new modes of research and drug development will only bring future success by learning from past failures and we will highlight some areas for consideration. Finally, in this apparent era of doom there are some success stories to cheer, which suggest that there will be future advances in treatment for the large patient population whose lives are spent in the shadow of mental illness.
Lichen symbiosis: Success by flexible management of algal partners
Authors: Grube Martin , Muggia Lucia
Published: October 2019

Lichens resemble light-exposed microscopic greenhouses, as the fungal symbiont produces a highly organized and compact mycelial structure for phototrophic partners. The symbiotic fungus shelters the internal, yet extracellularly located, photobionts. Only suitable combinations of fungi and algal species give rise to the typical symbiotic morphology, which is then long-lived and a prerequisite for developing sexual fungal spores. Recent evidence suggests that ecological and evolutionary success of lichens may be linked to their ability to fine-tune photobiont associations across a range of environmental conditions.
Waste not, want not: Nitrogen recycling by metabolic pathways shared between an animal and its symbiotic bacteria
Authors: Macdonald Sandy J. , Thomas Gavin H. , Douglas Angela E.
Published: October 2019

A combined computational and experimental analysis of metabolism in the symbiosis between the pea aphid and its obligate endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola redefines existing notions of symbiotic nitrogen recycling. As a consequence of metabolic pathways shared between the partners, the insect recycles waste ammonia into essential amino acids (EAAs) that are lacking in its diet of sugar-rich but nitrogen-poor plant phloem sap.
Photosynthesis: Light and Life
Authors: Murray James W.
Published: October 2019

Complex life on Earth requires oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor in the respiratory chain. However, the lifetime of a single oxygen molecule in the atmosphere is only 4500 years. Oxygen is continually being replenished by the action of photosynthetic organisms, using the only substantial energy input to the Earth, sunlight. How this light energy is harvested and used is of fundamental biological importance, and may be of crucial importance in developing sustainable energy technologies.
Envy: The biochemical substrates
Authors: Tops Mattie , Carter C. Sue
Published: October 2019

The concept of ‘envy’ (in Latin, invidia) is old. Envy or coveting the possessions of others is prohibited in the Ten Commandments and became a central tenant of the Catholic Church. Prudentius, a Roman Catholic scholar, writing in AD 410, considered envy to be the antonym of ‘kindness’. Envy was added to the list of seven ‘deadly sins’, by the Catholic Pope Gregory I in the late 6th Century and was later described in Dante's The Divine Comedy.
Maud Leonora Menten: A woman at the dawn of biochemistry
Authors: Cornish-Bowden Athel , Lagnado John
Published: October 2019

Ask an average biochemist who was the first to realize that variant proteins could be detected by electrophoresis and sedimentation, and had used this understanding to recognize different forms of haemoglobin, the reply would probably refer to Linus Pauling and his work on sickle cell disease. Yet, although this work was certainly important, that would be the wrong answer, because Maud Leonora Menten, who sometimes seems to be remembered for one paper only, had this idea several years before him, and used it to recognize the differences between foetal and adult haemoglobin1. She was unfortunate, however, in that her paper appeared in war time, and was eclipsed a few years later by a far more high-profile study2.
Crystallography for biochemists
Authors: Sansom Clare
Published: October 2019

It cannot have escaped your notice so far that 2014 is a year of centenaries, but you may not realize that this goes beyond the First World War. The United Nations has designated 2014 the International Year of Crystallography to mark the fact that this discipline, the study of atomic and molecular structures, is almost exactly a hundred years old. But 2014 is in some ways an odd year to choose. It is neither the centenary of the discovery by the father-and-son team of William Henry and William Lawrence (known as Lawrence) Bragg that the diffraction pattern produced when a beam of X-rays is shone at a crystal could yield insights into the geometry of that crystal, nor that of the Braggs' Nobel Prize for Physics in 1915.
Auxin transport: Providing plants with a new sense of direction
Authors: Swarup Ranjan , Bennett Malcolm
Published: October 2019

Plants, like animals, regulate their growth and development using hormone signals. The hormone auxin plays a critical role throughout the plant life cycle, regulating key processes such as embryo patterning, root branching, shoot phyllotaxis and floral development. Auxin is also crucial for regulating plant adaptive responses to environmental signals such as changes in the direction of light, gravity or water (collectively termed tropisms). Auxin therefore functions as a master regulator of plant growth and development (Figure 1). Given this role, determining where and when auxin accumulates in plant tissues is of paramount importance. In this article, we describe how plants control auxin distribution employing a specialized transport mechanism.
Teaching needs confident biochemists
Authors: Thomson Jane
Published: October 2019

Over the past year, TV programmes set in schools have included Waterloo Road, Bad Education, Educating Yorkshire, Harrow: A Very British School and Tough Young Teachers. The highs and lows of the classroom can be compelling viewing, but do they make you want to join the ranks at the chalk face or do they make you glad you've left all that behind?
A short history of science funding: Why was CaSE created and why is it still here?
Authors: Weir Naomi
Published: October 2019

The General Election is less than a year away and it has been a busy period for Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE). We have published two significant reports: one describes the current state of diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and how it can be improved; the second provides new evidence on the economic significance of the UK science base. At the same time, UK science has been front and centre in the national press and discussed at the highest levels of Government due to a proposed merger between two pharmaceutical giants. As if that wasn't enough, the EU elections took place in May and CaSE worked with EuroScience to draw out each party's policies on science and engineering in the UK and EU. But how did we get to this point? Why was CaSE created and why is it still here? With the help of Peter Cotgreave, the first Director of CaSE, we take a look back over the science funding landscape since the foundation of Save British Science.
Postgraduate funding: Supplying the future generation of researchers and technicians
Authors: Fuller Mick
Published: October 2019

Of the 2.5 million students studying at universities in the UK some 30% [500 000 postgraduate taught (PGT) + 100 000 postgraduate research (PGR) students] are studying for a postgraduate degree1, and the decade from 2001 to 2011 saw a 7% year-on-year increase in the number of students registering for postgraduate degrees.
Tricks of the trade in glycoscience: The preparation and analysis of a blood group A-active mucin glycoprotein
Authors: Mulloy Barbara , Feizi Ten
Published: October 2019

Many aspects of glycosylation are conserved among animals, and it can be advantageous and sometimes critical to identify a readily available and abundant source of carbohydrate material that harbours a hard-to-characterize antigen or ligand of interest. The Biochemical Journal Classic paper by Morgan and King is a well-written account of serviceable methods for the extraction and quantification of a carbohydrate antigen. These methods were highly influential in subsequent studies of the blood group antigens. Some of these tricks of the trade still have a place in modern glycobiology.
Metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells
Authors: Anastasiou Dimitrios
Published: October 2019

Metabolism is fundamental for life as it provides organisms with a means to utilize nutrients from their environment for production of energy and biosynthetic precursors to support cellular functions. Despite a large body of knowledge that describes how different metabolites interconvert through a labyrinth of chemical reactions, how metabolic changes contribute to disease is not sufficiently well understood. Growing evidence suggests that metabolic alterations have important roles in tumorigenesis. Therefore elucidating the roles of metabolism in cancer holds significant promise for the development of new therapeutic avenues.
Meet the science
Authors: Valanciute Asta , Huidobro Covadonga
Published: October 2019

On the 22 September 2014, two researchers from the University of Edinburgh, Covadonga Huidobro and Asta Valanciute, arrived at the High School in Plateliai, Lithuania. There were plenty of educational resources, including bags of different coloured beads, cell organelles, tubes, pipettes, gloves and so forth. With the help of sponsorship from both the Biochemical Society, via an ongoing grant, and the IGMM, the mission was to organize educational activities during the week of 22–26 September in the High Schools of Plateliai and of the Old Town in Plunge. It was also hoped to discuss the novelties in molecular/cellular biology and biochemistry, and to increase interest and knowledge about bioscience and the importance of our research to children and teachers.
Spotlight on Antibiotic Research UK
Authors: Garner Colin , Brown David
Published: October 2019

Medicine as currently practised throughout the world is threatened by the rise of antibiotic resistant infections. In 2014 it was reported that 50,000 people a year die from antibiotic resistant infections in the USA and Europe. Worldwide there may be as many as 700,000 deaths a year. Jim O'Neill, the eminent economist appointed by the Prime Minister as chair of the Government Review of Antimicrobial resistance recently stated “For doctors and for those who have experienced first-hand the anxiety of an infection that is drugresistant, as a patient or when caring for a loved one, there is little need to prove the importance of tackling antimicrobial resistance.”1,2 The Prime Minister stated in 2014 that the world could soon be “cast back into the dark ages of medicine” unless action is taken to tackle the growing threat of resistance to antibiotics”,3.
Norman Heatley: the forgotten man of penicillin
Authors: Brack Paul
Published: October 2019

The Science Communication Competition is now in its fifth 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 second prize in the written category was awarded to Paul Brack from Loughborough University, whose article is presented here.
Classic papers on the quantification of respiratory proton ejection
Authors: West Ian C.
Published: October 2019

This article looks at two Biochemical Journal papers that are frequently cited as the definitive statement of the quantitative support for Mitchell's chemiosmotic hypothesis in relation to mitochondrial respiration. Both are rich in methodological detail; both contain elaborations of chemiosmotic and biophysical theory. With these two papers, chemiosmotic theory entered the mainstream of bioenergetic thought.
From bark to bacteria: the natural sources of modern medicine
Authors: Chamberlain Rosemary
Published: October 2019

The Science Communication Competition is now in its fifth 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 Rosemary Chamberlain, University of Oxford, whose article is presented here; the runner up of the video category was Milana Trepetova, Imperial College London. Milana Trepetova's video can be viewed on the Society's website: http://bit.ly/1kxt8eH The Science Communication Competition will open again in January 2016. Please visit our website for more details: www.biochemistry.org/GetInvolved/ScienceCommunicationCompetition
Diabetic kidney disease: a case for precision medicine?
Authors: Currie Gemma , Mullen Bill , Delles Christian
Published: October 2019

A key element in the management of patients with chronic diseases is the prevention of complications. In patients with diabetes mellitus, diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is among the most dangerous complications. Approaches to prevent or at least delay the onset and progression of DKD are widely used in clinical practice, but are associated with adverse effects in some patients. In this article we use the example of DKD to describe how the concept of “Personalized Medicine” can be applied to chronic diseases and preventative medicine.
in2scienceUK: out of the classroom and into the lab
Authors: Farheen Zoya
Published: October 2019

Experience. This one word describes what is needed to gain an insight into what STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) career paths offer. This is what Rebecca McKelvey intended, when she founded in2scienceUK back in 2010. in2scienceUK aims to support students from low-income backgrounds, with an interest in STEM, by providing them with placements in their particular field of interest, which includes neuroscience, biochemistry, medicine, astrophysics and many more.
Illuminating the cancer-targeting potential of near-infrared photoimmunotherapy
Authors: Kobayashi Hisataka
Published: October 2019

Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a newly developed cell-selective cancer therapy with enormous potential for treating cancer in a variety of ways. NIR-PIT not only kills cancer cells, but can also eliminate other unfavourable cells including cancer stem cells and immunosuppressor cells, among others, without damaging favourable cells such as immune cells, vascular cells and tissue stem cells. This technique can efficiently activate anti-tumour host immunity in a way that can even cure untreated distant metastasis.
Photobiomodulation and the brain – has the light dawned?
Authors: Hamblin Michael R.
Published: October 2019

Evidence is mounting that photobiomodulation therapy (shining near-infrared light) can benefit a wide range of brain disorders. The photons can penetrate into the brain where they stimulate production of energy in brain cells, and trigger numerous signaling pathways. Acute ischaemic stroke was the first indication that progressed to human clinical trials. Acute and chronic stages of traumatic brain injury were then investigated. Currently, psychiatric disorders such as depression, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are under investigation. Although showing great promise, more trials are clearly needed before the therapy will be accepted.
Policy standpoint: tools to include sex as a variable in biological research
Authors: Woodruff Teresa K. , Woitowich Nicole C.
Published: October 2019

The sex of a person, animal, cell or enzyme is the most powerful variable in health and disease. Yet, even after years of advocacy, only recently has the importance of sex as a biological and experimental variable been addressed1–4. Indeed, the majority of biomedical research is conducted with male animals and cells, neglects to report which sexes were studied or fails to mention if any sex-differences were identified5–6. In addition to being an exclusionary practice, this unidimensional approach to biological processes may be a root cause of the concerns regarding rigour and reproducibility of scientific research7.
The postmortem microbiome and gene expression in vertebrates
Authors: Noble Peter A. , Pozhitkov Alexander E.
Published: October 2019

In life, most internal organs of a healthy adult vertebrate are essentially ‘microbial-cell-free’ – but in death, microorganisms invade and proliferate these internal organs and genes are expressed by the host presumably in response. We recently investigated how these two interconnected processes change with postmortem time and examined the feasibility of using this information to determine the postmortem interval, i.e. the elapsed-time-since-death. Although more research is needed, our findings suggest one of them has a significant potential to determine the length of time from the person dying until discovery of the body.
The obesity epidemic and our gut microbiome – could it all be down to our ‘bugs’?
Authors: Rees Douglas
Published: October 2019

According to the World Health Organization, obesity is officially a global epidemic they have aptly termed – ‘Globesity’. Obesity worldwide has more than doubled since 1980, reaching 600 million in 2014, occurring in parallel with increased high-energy, low-nutrition food consumption and sedentary lifestyles – both of which result in a positive energy imbalance. These environmental factors influence our metabolism, by modifying the way our genes are expressed, and similarly those of any organisms within us, such as the 38 trillion bacterial microbes inhabiting our gastrointestinal tract (gut microbiome), compared with 30 trillion human cells in the entire body.
Testing many keys in one lock: an unsuccessful yet fruitful quest for the cure of beri-beri
Authors: Takashima Megumi , Sano Chiaki , Uesugi Motonari
Published: October 2019

Sutematsu Kajiura found himself in the early 20th century where the known essential nutrients only consisted of amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, minerals and water. Therefore, scientists and doctors were navigating a battlefield without comprehensive knowledge of the terrain, being completely unaware of the essential sector of vitamins. This is the world in which our story was published and Kajiura was on a mission to find the cause of the ‘national disease,’ beriberi, now known to be caused primarily by thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency. Though Kajiura discovered neither the cause nor the cure, he made major contributions to plant seed biology by identifying and isolating the major protein in rice, oryzenin, which was later studied indepth. In addition, he was unknowingly a part of the massive movement toward the discovery of vitamins, the newest member of the essential nutrient family.
Biochemical Society 2018 Award Winners
Authors: Stefanidou Anastasia , Mitchell Rowena
Published: October 2019

Eleven eminent scientists and exceptional early career researchers have been honoured in the annual Biochemical Society Awards.
Hypoxia and inflammation
Authors: Cummins Eoin P. , Taylor Cormac T.
Published: October 2019

Uncontrolled or non-resolving inflammation is central to the pathophysiology of clinically important conditions including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), psoriasis, atherosclerosis and arthritis. A combination of increased oxygen demand and decreased supply renders the local microenvironment of chronically inflamed tissues oxygen deprived (hypoxic), leading to the expression of a programme of genes that promote adaptation to the hypoxic challenge. This ancient and ubiquitous adaptive transcriptional pathway is governed by a transcription factor termed the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF). Originally identified in the search for regulators of hypoxia-induced erythropoietin expression and adaptation to high altitude, HIF has been more recently recognized as a major regulator of immune cell function, which is central to the control of immunity and inflammation. Indeed, recent studies have demonstrated that the use of drugs targeting the HIF pathway may be of benefit in the treatment of chronic inflammatory disease.
RNA modifications shed new light on DNA's older brother
Authors: Murison Keir H. , Holland Michelle L.
Published: October 2019

Epigenetics, which literally means ‘on top of genetics’, is a term that describes factors that influence gene expression and are mitotically heritable, but potentially reversible. Recently, N6methyladenosine (m6A) has been identified as a reversible RNA modification that is widespread in mRNA. This is just one of hundreds of modifications to RNA. These exciting findings led to the birth of ‘epitranscriptomics’- the study of reversible RNA modifications. We discuss specific examples of how epigenetic and epitranscriptomic, mechanisms interact to collectively modify genomic output and highlight how these two intertwined forms of gene regulation contribute to homeostasis and stress adaptation.
The AGCT murders: putting epigenetics on the stand
Authors: Ballard David , Aliferi Anastasia
Published: October 2019

Criminal investigations can rely heavily on DNA evidence and, while matching a DNA profile with that of a suspect or a previous offender might sound like a simple task, real life cases are often much more complicated. What happens when more context is required than a simple profile match, or when there is no match at all? Can DNA give us more information than we have suspected? Is epigenetics the elementary answer to our questions, my dear Watson?
Life in space isn't easy, even if you are green
Authors: Barker Richard , Gilroy Simon
Published: October 2019

In order for terrestrial life to expand beyond the confines of our earthbound existence to bodies such as the moon or Mars it will have to tackle a barrage of stresses, some that it has encountered and adapted to over millions of years of evolution, but some that it will meet for the very first time. Whether reliable, sustainable biology-based (bio-regenerative) life support systems can be developed for long-duration spaceflight and extraterrestrial colonies has therefore become an important area of research. These systems would almost certainly centre on plants and microbes and so questions of how such organisms respond to reduced gravity and radiation become critical. Current research, using approaches ranging from gene expression and protein profiling to detailed growth analyses, suggests spaceflight triggers complex stress responses in these organisms, but that biology has a remarkable ability to cope with the life of a space alien.
Deep-sea hospitality: an enigmatic worm and its symbionts
Authors: Goffredi Shana K.
Published: October 2019

Forty years ago, scientists discovered an animal at the bottom of the ocean that changed forever how we view life on this planet. Abundant, thriving animals were not expected in the deep sea, due to the very low levels of organic carbon that sink down from above. The giant tubeworm Riftia pachyptila pays little attention to this problem, having renounced its mouth and digestive system during the course of evolution. Instead, this animal relies on a partnership with internal bacteria that act as a built-in source of nourishment and, in exchange, Riftia performs unparalleled physiological feats.
Regulation of memory storage through epigenetic alterations: a new role for RNA
Authors: Bédécarrats Alexis , Glanzman David L.
Published: October 2019

A fundamental assumption in modern psychology and neuroscience is that memory is stored as physical changes in the brain. More than a century ago, the famous neuroanatomist Ramón Y Cajal (see the article entitled “Santiago Ramón y Cajal, the ultimate scientist?” in this issue of The Biochemist) postulated that changes in the strength of synaptic connections between neurons were the physical substrate for memory. Extensive experimental evidence has since established the dominance of this connectionist view, referred to as the “synaptic plasticity” model. However, although the synaptic plasticity model broadly accords with the results of neurobiological studies of learning and memory, it does not fully account for the extraordinary resilience of memory despite the significant loss of synapses during such phenomena as development, trauma and ageing. Here, we will focus on the newly discovered role of small non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) as potential master regulators of learning-induced epigenesis, neuronal plasticity and, ultimately, memory. In support of this idea, recent data from our lab indicate that RNA can promote the transfer of long-term memory from a trained to an untrained (naïve) animal.
The hunt for life beyond Earth
Authors: Dartnell Lewis
Published: October 2019

Astrobiology is the name given to a bright new field of science that is engaged in the search for life beyond the Earth. Now this isn't meant in the sense of ‘aliens’ you may be familiar with from sci-fi films – green bug-eyed monsters – but in hardy single-celled microbes surviving, perhaps, beneath the freeze-dried surface of Mars. By its very nature, this search is deeply interdisciplinary, and sits right in the centre of the Venn diagram overlap between biochemistry, microbiology, geology, planetary science and astronomy.
Isothermal titration calorimetry: feeling the heat
Authors: Harris Gemma , Scott David J.
Published: October 2019

Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) has become one of the mainstays of determining the affinity of small molecules with macromolecules. As such there has been a resurgence in interest in the underlying processes that contribute to a ‘good’ ITC experiment. In this article we discuss the thermodynamic origins of the data seen in an ITC experiment, some of the background theory and exemplars of what good data look like. We also discuss the origins of more complex phenomena seen with ITC, and how these may be interpreted.
Measuring molecular interactions in solution using multi-wavelength analytical ultracentrifugation: combining spectral analysis with hydrodynamics
Authors: Demeler Borries
Published: October 2019

In 1926, the Swedish scientist Theodor Svedberg was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on a disperse system, and for studying the colloidal properties of proteins. This work was, to a large extent, made possible by his invention of a revolutionary tool, the analytical ultracentrifuge. These days, technological advances in hardware and computing have transformed the field of analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) by enabling entirely new classes of experiments and modes of measurement unimaginable by Svedberg, making AUC once again an indispensable tool for modern biomedical research. In this article these advances and their impact on studies of interacting molecules will be discussed, with particular emphasis on a new method termed multi-wavelength analytical ultracentrifugation (MWL-AUC). Novel detectors allow us to add a second dimension to the separation of disperse and heterogeneous systems: in addition to the traditional hydrodynamic separation of colloidal mixtures, it is now possible to identify the sedimenting molecules by their spectral absorbance properties. The potential for this advance is significant for the study of a large range of systems. A further advance has occurred in data management and computational capabilities, opening doors to improved analysis methods, as well as direct networking with the instrument, facilitating data acquisition and data handling, and significant increases in data density from faster detectors with higher resolution capability.
What is synthetic genomics anyway?
Authors: Ellis Tom
Published: October 2019

You may have heard of synthetic genomics. This headline-grabbing, high-profile, big science topic is starting to emerge catalysed by the pioneering work of famous names in synthetic biology and biotechnology like George Church and Craig Venter. But what is synthetic genomics and what is it being used for? As a prominent researcher at a recent UK meeting said: “Is it just synthetic biology with bigger bits of DNA?” Well no, not quite…
Bio-electrical engineering: a promising frontier for synthetic biology
Authors: Bradley Robert
Published: October 2019

What do the following have in common? The production of methane gas from farm waste; toilets at a music festival, lit with LED lights; a bacterial biofilm that is on the brink of starvation. All of these involve microbes that are making use of bio-electrical processes. Though it is difficult to define the limits of what can be called bio-electrical, these processes are typically responding to or creating a current or voltage, with the electrical effects extending beyond the limit of an individual cell. In the examples above, current is flowing between organisms of different species or between an organism and an abiotic material, or voltage changes are being sensed and propagated across a colony of cells. Our appreciation of the extent of electrical phenomena in microbial biology has seen a recent revival, with studies revealing not just the variety of bioelectrical processes that exist but also defining the molecular mechanisms responsible. Now, we can begin to apply the approaches and techniques of synthetic biology. By re-engineering natural systems, we can hope to improve our understanding of how their components function and repurpose them for exciting biotechnological applications.
AromAtom, an olfactory approach to science communication and public engagement
Authors: Barcenilla Marina
Published: October 2019

Not that long ago, the term science communication would have merely implied communication between scientists, but nowadays the term has a much wider context. Science today needs to be made accessible to a more diverse and inclusive audience; it needs to be presented in a way that is engaging, innovative and fun. The formal talk and slides combination favoured by academia is not necessarily the best way to communicate with the public. We need to rethink the way in which we engage with non-scientific audiences who have little interest in what we do, and especially with those with very low science capital. How can we ignite their curiosity and encourage them to ask questions about science? How can we help them to feel involved and interested in our work?
Biochemical Society 2020 Award Winners
Authors: Mitchell Rowena
Published: October 2019

Twelve distinguished scientists and exceptional early career researchers have been honoured in the Biochemical Society's annual awards. The awards recognize scientists for the excellence of their work and the profound impact their research has had on the scientific community and wider society. They also highlight outstanding work by early career researchers.
The phosphoanhydride bond: one cornerstone of life
Authors: Müller Werner E.G. , Schröder Heinz C. , Wang Xiaohong
Published: October 2019

Phosphorus, the second element of the fifth group of the periodic table, is heavily embroiled in the energy metabolism of living beings. This element, together with oxygen, forms phosphoanhydride bonds, one of the most energy-rich linkages in biomolecules. The most well-known occurrence of these bonds is within the triphosphate chain of ATP. More recently, besides ATP, increasing attention has been paid to a much more energy-rich molecule, consisting of long chains of phosphate units. This inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) acts as an energy storage and donor in prokaryotes and higher eukaryotes (animals and humans), particularly within the extracellular space. It turns out that this unique biopolymer, prepared in a bioinspired way, has great potential for regenerative medicine applications.
The Brain Buskers Project: taking science to the streets
Authors: Barros-Viegas Ana Teresa , Cardoso João , Amaral Sara Varela
Published: October 2019

Brain Buskers is an initiative developed by the University of Coimbra in Portugal. The project aims to join science with the daily and cultural life of the city in order to engage local communities. Its informal nature promotes the understanding of biochemistry in everyday life, demystifying the image of scientists and increasing scientific literacy. The project has also helped to inspire scientists with the skills and confidence to hold and inspire a passing audience with science.
Taenia soliumandTaenia crassiceps: miRNomes of the larvae and effects of miR-10-5p and let-7-5p on murine peritoneal macrophages
Authors: Landa Abraham , Navarro Luz , Ochoa-Sánchez Alicia , Jiménez Lucía
Published: October 2019

Neurocysticercosis (NCC), a major cause of neurological morbidity worldwide, is caused by the larvae of Taenia solium. Cestodes secrete molecules that block the Th1 response of their hosts and induce a Th2 response permissive to their establishment. Mature microRNAs (miRs) are small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression and participate in immunological processes. To determine the participation of Taenia miRs in the immune response against cysticercosis, we constructed small RNA (sRNA) libraries from larvae of Taenia solium and Taenia crassiceps. A total of 12074504 and 11779456 sequencing reads for T. solium and T. crassiceps, respectively, were mapped to the genomes of T. solium and other helminths. Both larvae shared similar miRNome, and miR-10-5p was the most abundant in both species, followed by let-7-5p in T. solium and miR-4989-3p in T. crassiceps, whereas among the genus-specific miRs, miR-001-3p was the most abundant in both, followed by miR-002-3p in T. solium and miR-003a-3p in T. crassiceps. The sequences of these miRs were identical in both. Structure and target prediction analyses revealed that these pre-miRs formed a hairpin and had more than one target involved in immunoregulation. Culture of macrophages, RT-PCR and ELISA assays showed that cells internalized miR-10-5p and let-7-5p into the cytoplasm and the miRs strongly decreased interleukin 16 (Il6) expression, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and IL-12 secretion, and moderately decreased nitric oxide synthase inducible (Nos2) and Il1b expression (pro-inflammatory cytokines) in M(IFN-γ) macrophages and expression of Tgf1b, and the secretion of IL-10 (anti-inflammatory cytokines) in M(IL-4) macrophages. These findings could help us understand the role of miRs in the host–Taenia relationship.
A promising growth promoting Meyerozyma caribbica from Solanum xanthocarpum alleviated stress in maize plants
Authors: Jan Farzana Gul , Hamayun Muhammad , Hussain Anwar , Iqbal Amjad , Jan Gul , Khan Sumera Afzal , Khan Hamayoon , Lee In-Jung
Published: October 2019

Fungal endophytes are known to secrete a large array of secondary metabolites (phenols, flavonoids, indole acetic acid (IAA) etc.) that facilitate crops under stress conditions. Considering this, a potent plant growth promoting endophyte (SXSp1) from the spines and leaves of Solanum xanthocarpum L. has been isolated. The isolated strain ably secreted high quantities of indole-3-acetic acid, phenols and flavonoids. Also, it exhibited phosphate solubilization, siderophore and had 2,2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity. The SXSp1 also resisted the salinity stress up to 150 mM. LC/MS analysis of SXSp1 culture filtrate (CF) revealed the presence of p-hydroxyl benzoic acid, diadzein, genistien, myricetin and caffeoyl-d-glucose. Moreover, the inoculation of maize plants with SXSp1 significantly (P=0.05) promoted the chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, root and shoot lengths, plant fresh and dry weights, catalase and peroxidase activities, proline, phenolics, flavonoids and relative water contents (RWCs) under salinity. More interestingly, SXSp1-associated plants showed lower endogenous abscisic acid (ABA) and higher endogenous IAA contents that helped the plants to resist salinity stress up to 100 mM. After sequencing, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions (ITS1 and ITS4) and phylogenetic analysis, the SXSp1 was identified as Meyerozyma caribbica.
The roles of long noncoding RNAs in myocardial pathophysiology
Authors: Chen Cheng , Tang Yuting , Sun Hui , Lin Xiaofang , Jiang Bimei
Published: October 2019

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), more than 200 nt in length, are functional molecules found in various species. These lncRNAs play a vital role in cell proliferation, differentiation, and degeneration and are also involved in pathophysiological processes of cancer and neurodegenerative, autoimmune, and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). In recent years, emerging challenges for intervention studies on ischemic heart diseases have received much attention. LncRNAs have a key function in the alleviation of myocardial infarction (MI) injury and myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury. During cardiac hypertrophy (CH) and fibrosis, cardiac cells undergo structural changes and become dysfunctional due to the effects of neurohormonal factors. LncRNAs may serve as important therapeutic targets that promote cardiac remodeling and then retard the development of heart failure (HF). In addition, studies on the roles and mechanisms of action of lncRNAs participating in cardiac pathophysiology via other factors have become the focus of research worldwide. Here, we review the current knowledge on various lncRNAs and their functions in cardiac biology, particularly concentrating on ischemic heart disease, CH, and cardiac fibrosis. We next discuss the predictive value of lncRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers of CVDs.