Diagnosing cancer with light: Scientists develop a probe that glows yellow only in tumor cells

Jul, Tue, 2025
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A collaborative research team has successfully developed a novel fluorescent probe, SLY (Sialyl Lewis Yellow), capable of precisely identifying hepatocellular carcinoma tissue. The findings are published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Brain enzyme caught doing something unexpected—it builds polysialic acid on itself
A chance discovery at Nagoya University in Japan has shown that a well-known brain enzyme has a hidden ability: It builds a sugar chain on itself, becomes secreted from the cell and deactivates, then switches on outside the cell once the chain is removed. The finding, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, overturns a decades-old assumption about how polysialic acid, a sugar chain critical for brain development and function, is produced and shows a new way an enzyme can regulate its own activity.
Trace additive unlocks faster bioplastic biodegradation without losing transparency or strength
Compostable plastics could be part of a solution to the world's plastic waste problem. But currently these materials need industrial composting facilities to break down. In a step toward making a home-compostable plastic, researchers reporting in ACS Central Science have augmented polylactide (PLA)—a widely used biobased and compostable polymer—with a small amount of an additive. Tests show it helps the material degrade substantially faster without sacrificing critical qualities like strength or transparency.
Indian millets contain distinct lipid fingerprints with anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory potential
Indian millets are a staple for the country's population of more than a billion. They are also gaining global popularity, with rising exports and a reputation as a climate-resilient crop. Now, new research shows that their nutritional value includes a rich diversity of lipids, including a previously undetected group that may offer potential health benefits. The research is published in the journal Food Chemistry.
New method enables accurate sequencing of short peptides hidden in food and human body
Our food and our bodies are full of tiny protein fragments called peptides. These small chains of amino acids act as biological messengers, influencing processes ranging from sensory perception to physiological functions.
Bacteria reveal 'glue' protein that fastens antibiotic-resistant outer membrane to cell wall
Researchers at the University of Notre Dame and collaborators have discovered a key process in how the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria attaches to the cell wall, advancing the understanding of how these bacteria frequently develop resistance to antibiotics.