August 2022, Issue 1 Table of Contents
AN INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE
This Issue
August 2022, Issue 1
Maligned Proteins
Understanding the normal roles of peptides associated with neurodegneration
Feature
The Misunderstood Proteins of Neurodegeneration
Catherine Offord | Aug 1, 2022 | 10+ min read
The normal functions of peptides that aggregate in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s have been largely overlooked by scientists, but some argue that they are critical for understanding the development of disease.
Speaking of Science
Ten Minute Sabbatical
Ten Minute Sabbatical
Take a break from the bench to puzzle and peruse
Critic at Large
Opinion: Changing When and How Much We Eat May Extend Healthspan
Opinion: Changing When and How Much We Eat May Extend Healthspan
Fasting, eating only at certain times of day, and restricting overall calorie intake can collectively contribute to lifespan extensions in animals. Could the same hold true in humans?
Notebook
The Sex Appeal of Symmetric Songs
The Sex Appeal of Symmetric Songs
Female fruit flies assess the physical symmetry of male suitors through the songs they sing, a study claims.
The Unusual Functions of Geosmin
The Unusual Functions of Geosmin
The compounds responsible for the earthy smell of recent rain are produced by a wide variety of bacteria and fungi. Recent research sheds light on why microbes bother.
The Literature
Meet the Algae That Went from Male/Female to Hermaphroditic
Meet the Algae That Went from Male/Female to Hermaphroditic
A study suggests that several species of brown algae may have independently evolved to express both sexes simultaneously, and it’s likely that female algae evolved male traits—not the other way around.
Protein-Recycling Process Protective Against Arterial Plaques
Protein-Recycling Process Protective Against Arterial Plaques
A team of scientists has found that in mice, a cellular housekeeping pathway protects against a major cause of heart attacks and strokes.
Foundations
Handmade Hemoglobin, 1912-2012
Handmade Hemoglobin, 1912-2012
Makio Murayama, a Japanese-American biochemist who was turned away from the Manhattan Project due to his heritage, rose to prominence for his work uncovering the link between the structure of hemoglobin and the mechanisms of sickle cell disease.
Infographics
Infographic: Secret Lives of Neurodegeneration-Linked Proteins
Infographic: Secret Lives of Neurodegeneration-Linked Proteins
Maligned peptides such as the Alzheimer’s-associated amyloid precursor protein may have critical roles in the healthy brain.