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Scientists at the University of Göttingen developed different monoclonal antibodies directed against the human / rat C3a-receptor. C3aR functions as a receptor for the C3a fragment of the complement factor C3, but also binds C4a. C3a binding to the C3a-receptor causes mast cell degranulation (anaphylatoxin).

With three billion letters in the human genome, it seems hard to believe that adding a DNA base here or removing a DNA base there could have much of an effect…

A new technique developed by Elisa Konofagou, professor of biomedical engineering and radiology at Columbia Engineering, has demonstrated for the first time…

Background
Using the electroporation process, electrical pulses create pores that allow genetic material to permeate the bacterial membrane of electrocompetent cells. The limiting factor for this standard laboratory method is the efficiency by which DNA can be introduced into E. coli. Commercially available electrocompetent cells are being delivered frozen at about -70 to -80°C. The conventional wisdom is that storage at a higher temperature, for example at -20°C or higher, will result in a significant decrease in viability and transformation efficiency.

Invention

Inventors of Saarland University have established a new method and created a new bacterial strain to generate electrocompetent bacterial cells with a transformation efficiency of up to 5,6 x 1010, which can be handled at room temperature. This electrocompetent cells can be stored at 4°C without losing transformation efficiency. Also the new established protocol is able to improve the transformation efficiencies of commercially available bacterial cells.

Currently, research into plant hormone signalling relies primarily on molecular genetics. Genes of interest are modified or extinguished to then study…

Nature’s artistic and engineering skills are evident in proteins, life’s robust molecular machines. Scientists at Rice University have now employed their…