Evolutionary Biologist and Cell Biologist Share Their Views
Four billion years ago, life arose on Earth from nonliving matter. About two billion years later, more complex and multicellular life forms began to emerge. Two scientists— evolutionary biologist Nick Lane and cellular biologist Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz—shared their theories on the origin of life.
Anna Huttenlocher Presents Research on Inflammation Resolution and Wound Repair
The Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series (WALS) has been videocast-only since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic more than two years ago. But on April 6, 2022, NIH welcomed Anna Huttenlocher, from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, as the first in-person WALS presenter since March 4, 2020.
NIDDK Senior Investigator John Hanover has dedicated nearly 40 years to research in glycoscience—the study of glycans, sugar molecules that cloak the surface of all cells and festoon many proteins, lipids, and other molecules. Glycans are inextricably linked to nearly every facet of cellular biology and implicated in conditions from cancer to neurodegenerative diseases and type 2 diabetes.
The term “glycobiology” indicates the blending of carbohydrate chemistry and biochemistry, with an understanding of glycans at the cellular and molecular level. Glycans, also known as saccharides and carbohydrates, are sugar molecules that cloak the surface of all cells and festoon many proteins, lipids, and other molecules. Glycans are inextricably linked to nearly every facet of cellular biology and implicated in conditions from cancer to neurodegenerative diseases and type 2 diabetes. NIH has a rich history of glycobiology research. Here are some of the early and current glycobiology investigators. This list is by no means comprehensive.
Lauren Porter’s Research on Fold-switching Proteins
“Fold-switching proteins are like Transformers, like Optimus Prime,” said Stadtman Tenure-Track Investigator Lauren Porter, referring to the hero of the science fiction franchise of shapeshifting humanlike robots. “Sometimes he’s a robot, and sometimes he turns into a car. He uses both of his structures and both of his functions to fight crime.” Similarly, the proteins she studies have multiple stable structures and functions.
NIH’s New Climate Change and Health Initiative Explores the Risks
The NIH Climate Change and Health Initiative launched a seminar series that invited speakers who are exploring the risks that climate change poses to human health.
