It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Wednesday, March 05, 2025
A method to purify proteins with light: Gentler and more efficient than previous procedures
The team has further developed the method of chromatography. For this purpose, they have developed a light-sensitive molecular appendix that serves as an anchor for the target protein. It binds the target protein to a carrier material in the column. When the column is irradiated with mild UV light, the molecular appendix releases the carrier material and can be washed out with the target protein. For this purpose, the researchers have attached LED lights around the column. To visualize the process, the team is working here with a fluorescent protein.
Proteins play a key role in the life sciences — from basic research and biotechnological applications to the development and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals. Scientists at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have developed a method that relies on physics rather than conventional chemistry to obtain the proteins that are needed for this purpose. Using short-wave, UV light invisible to humans, they have succeeded in purifying proteins from cell extracts or cultures. This technique is more efficient and gentler than previous methods.
Scientists engaged in molecular biology or molecular medicine require proteins in their pure form for various purposes, to serve for investigation or as active substances. Such proteins are isolated from natural sources or produced with the help of genetically modified cells.
To this end, affinity chromatography has been the method of choice since 50 years. In this method, the cell extract or culture medium is passed through a chromatography column filled with a porous carrier material. The target protein is bound to this carrier material and separated from other proteins and impurities by washing with solvent. Finally, the isolated protein is detached from the column using acids or other auxiliary reagents. However, this process has a disadvantage: the purified target protein can be damaged in particular during the last step.
A team led by Arne Skerra, Professor of Biological Chemistry at TUM, has therefore developed a new approach: “We use a physical mechanism instead of chemical reagents. Our technology is fundamentally different from the conventional method, being both more gentle and more efficient,” says Arne Skerra.
The “Azo-tag”: a molecular appendix serves as an anchor The new method also uses a chromatography column filled with a porous carrier material. However, the difference is that LED lights are placed around the column and, furthermore, a small molecular appendix is attached to the target protein.
This minimalistic accessory, dubbed Azo-Tag, was developed by Peter Mayrhofer, Markus Anneser and Stefan Achatz together with Arne Skerra at the Chair of Biological Chemistry on the basis of the light-sensitive chemical group “azo-benzene”. The Azo-tag can change its shape under light exposure and serves as a molecular anchor for the target protein: in daylight or in the dark, the target protein binds specifically to the carrier material in the chromatography column via this anchor. Any other contaminating substances and impurities can be washed out, whereas the target protein with its anchor is retained.
However, if the LED lights are then switched on and the column is irradiated with mild UV light with a wavelength of 355 nanometers, the tag changes its shape. Simply speaking, it is repelled from the carrier material so that the target protein with its Azo-tag is washed out of the column in a pure, concentrated and undamaged form. Isolated in this manner, the protein can be used directly for further studies — without additional purification steps.
More efficient than conventional chromatography and potential for further development The Chair of Biological Chemistry is now regularly using this method and has already been able to purify antibodies against breast cancer. Currently, a small version of the apparatus is being used in the laboratory. The chromatography column measures less than one centimeter in diameter, but the team expects it could also be built on a larger scale.
There are also further plans, says Arne Skerra, who has filed with his coworkers a patent for this novel method: “We are currently working on automating the processes to make them even more efficient, especially for high-throughput drug development in pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies.”
Publication: Mayrhofer, P., Anneser, MR., Schira, K. et al. Protein purification with light via a genetically encoded azobenzene side chain. Nat Commun. (2024) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55212-y
The team has further developed the method of chromatography. For this purpose, they have developed a light-sensitive molecular appendix that serves as an anchor for the target protein. It binds the target protein to a carrier material in the column. When the column is irradiated with mild UV light, the molecular appendix releases the carrier material and can be washed out with the target protein. For this purpose, the researchers have attached LED lights around the column. To visualize the process, the team is working here with a fluorescent protein.
The team has further developed the method of chromatography. For this purpose, they have developed a light-sensitive molecular appendix that serves as an anchor for the target protein. It binds the target protein to a carrier material in the column. When the column is irradiated with mild UV light, the molecular appendix releases the carrier material and can be washed out with the target protein. For this purpose, the researchers have attached LED lights around the column. To visualize the process, the team is working here with a fluorescent protein
Gliomas are types of cancers that arise in the brain and are extraordinarily difficult to treat. They are the leading cause of brain tumour-related deaths in both children and adults. Two pioneering scientists are awarded The Brain Prize 2025 for their discoveries that open up an entirely new way of thinking about and understanding these lethal diseases, and the potential strategies to treat them.
Copenhagen, Denmark, March 5th, 2025. Neuroscientists, Professors Michelle Monje (USA) and Frank Winkler (Germany), have made transformative discoveries by showing that neural activity in the brain can promote cancer initiation, growth, spread and treatment resistance. Thus, the everyday activity that takes place in the brain promotes the development of cancers within it. Striking recent studies further show that the influence of the nervous system is not limited to tumours in the brain, but also tumours throughout the body.
These remarkable findings have laid the foundation for an entirely new field of research called ‘Cancer Neuroscience’ that represents a paradigm shift in the understanding of these cancers, and which offers vital new opportunities for treatment.
Their efforts are rewarded with The Brain Prize 2025, the world’s largest award for outstanding contributions to neuroscience, established by the Lundbeck Foundation.
The Brain Prize 2025 worth DKK 10 million (€1.3 million) is awarded to:
Michelle Monje MD, PhD, the Milan Gambhir Professor of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology at Stanford Medicine and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator,
and
Frank Winkler, MD, Professor of Experimental Neurooncology,
Heidelberg University, Heidelberg University Hospital, Department of Neurology, and German Cancer Research Center
for:
Pioneering Cancer Neuroscience: Disease-driving interactions between the brain and brain tumours.
Chair of The Brain Prize Selection Committee, Professor Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, explains the reasoning behind this year’s award:
Thesemechanismsallowgliomacellstohijackactivityinthebraintodrivetumourgrowth,spreadand treatmentresistance.Strategiestomodulatetheseinteractionsoffernovelapproachesforpotential new glioma therapies.
Together,MichelleMonjeandFrankWinklerhavepioneeredaparadigmshiftincorporating neuroscienceintocancerresearch,formingwhatisnowcalled‘CancerNeuroscience’.Botharepracticing neurooncologistsandexemplaryclinician-scientistswhohaveactivelymovedtheirmechanisticwork into clinical trials.”
On behalf of the Lundbeck Foundation, CEO Lene Skole extends her warmest congratulations to each of The Brain Prize recipients:
Fresh mango may be key to reducing insulin resistance, improving insulin sensitivity in adults who are overweight or obese, according to new research published in Nutrients from the Illinois Institute of Technology.
ORLANDO, Fla. – Mar. 5 2025 – New research has uncovered a potential gamechanger for improving cardiometabolic health: fresh mangos. A study recently published in the journal Nutrients finds that eating two cups of mango, just about 100 calories-worth, daily may help lower insulin concentration levels and improve insulin sensitivity in adults who are overweight or obese with chronic low-grade inflammation. The findings underscore how simple dietary choices could contribute to reducing the risk of chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, which are closely linked to heart health.
The study, conducted at the Illinois Institute of Technology on 48 adults aged 20-60, examined how eating fresh mangos compared to a calorie-matched control food – Italian ices (a frozen, sweetened dessert similar to sorbet) – affected inflammation and insulin sensitivity in overweight and obese adults with low-grade chronic inflammation. The results showed that participants who ate mangos experienced significant reductions in insulin resistance, as measured by the Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Beta-cell function, the ability of the pancreas to produce and release insulin to mange normal glucose concentrations, also significantly improved when measured using the disposition index (DI), a key marker of how effectively the body regulates blood sugar levels.
After four weeks, those in the mango group also had significantly lower insulin concentrations in response to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) compared to the beginning of the study, while no changes were observed in the control group.
“Managing blood glucose isn’t just about monitoring blood sugar levels—it’s about improving insulin sensitivity,” says [Indika Edirisinghe, PhD, Professor of Food Science and Nutrition]. “Our study suggests that adding fresh mangos to the diet can be a simple, enjoyable way for people who are overweight or have obesity to support better insulin function and reduce type 2 diabetes risk.”
Notably, despite eating calorically comparable foods, body composition remained stable in the mango group, whereas the control group experienced a slight but significant increase in body weight. Additional study findings showed markers of inflammation (IL-6, TNFα, hs-CRP) and glucose levels were not significantly different between the two groups at the end of the study, making mangos a heart-healthy swap for calorically comparable sweet treats. There were also no differences between interventions in fasting total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, or triglycerides.
"The improvement in insulin sensitivity in the mango group, without changes in body weight, is noteworthy – which counters misconceptions about mangos’ natural sugar content and impact on obesity and diabetes,” says Edirisinghe. “These findings support previous research showing that eating mango does not lead to weight gain, and while the exact mechanism is still unknown, the role of improved antioxidant status from mango consumption may be the mediating factor on blood glucose control.”
These findings further reinforce the importance of fresh fruit, particularly mangos, as part of a heart-healthy lifestyle and dietary habits that aid blood sugar control, weight management, and overall wellness. To learn more about the nutritional benefits of mangos, visit Mango.org.
About the Study
Study inclusion criteria included having a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (>1.0 and <10.0 ng/L, and fasting blood sugar >100 mg/dL and <126 mg/dL. Those taking multivitamins or polyphenol supplements, statins, following a vegan diet or having diseases related to metabolic syndrome were excluded.
The mangos provided were a combination of Kent (126.9 g/serving) and Keitt (38.1 g/serving) varieties and beyond the intervention or control food, participants were instructed to keep their normal diet and lifestyle. Study tests (e.g., body composition) and food pick up occurred 5 times throughout the study, and participants were required to keep three-day food records to monitor compliance.
A strength of this study was its design: a 4-week randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blinded, parallel design conducted in free-living conditions, alongside assessments of both fasting and postprandial glycemic responses. This approach enabled a comprehensive evaluation of hepatic and peripheral insulin sensitivity. Limitations of the study included: study timing aligning with the COVID-19 pandemic which may have impacted inflammation data and interpretation of results; and the absence of measuring for mango metabolites.
This study was supported through an unrestricted grant from the National Mango Board (NMB). NMB had no influence over the study or its findings.
About Illinois Institute of Technology
Based in the global metropolis of Chicago, Illinois Tech was born to liberate the power of collective difference to advance technology and innovation for all. It is the only tech-focused university in the city, and it stands at the crossroads of exploration and invention, advancing the future of Chicago and the world. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, computing, architecture, business, design, science and human sciences, and law. Illinois Tech students are guaranteed access to hands-on experiences, personalized mentorship, and job readiness through the university’s one-of-a-kind Elevate program. Its graduates lead the state and much of the nation in economic prosperity. Its faculty and alumni built the Chicago skyline. And every day in the city's living lab, Illinois Tech fuels breakthroughs that change lives. Visit iit.edu.
About National Mango Board
The National Mango Board is an agricultural research and promotion program funded by the mango industry, and an instrumentalilty of the United States Department of Agriculture. The Board’s vision is “for mangos to be an on-going part of every American’s diet based on versatility, taste and nutritional benefits, enabling mangos to move toward being a top 10 valued whole fruit in the U.S. market by 2030.” One serving, or ¾ cup of the superfruit mango contains 70 calories, 50 percent of daily value of vitamin C, 15 percent of daily value of folate, 15 percent of daily value of copper, eight percent daily value of vitamin A, eight percent daily value of vitamin B6, seven percent of daily value of fiber and an amazing source of tropical flavor. Learn more at Mango.org.
People who have a minority viewpoint on a controversial topic are more likely to “self-silence” themselves in conversation – and that may lead them to behave against their own beliefs, a new study found.
Researchers found that those who felt they were in the minority didn’t want to elaborate on why they supported their position when they spoke to someone who held the majority opinion.
But even more important, those with the minority viewpoint showed behavior that wasn’t in line with their true opinions after they spoke to those with the opposing view, the study found.
“We found that those with the minority belief didn’t just refrain from speaking up – they conformed their behavior to the majority, which is very consequential,” said Nicole Sintov, co-author of the study and associate professor of behavior, decision making and sustainability at The Ohio State University.
The research involved 248 undergraduate students at Ohio State.
At the beginning of the study, the participants were asked “how supportive are you of The Ohio State University providing more plant-based (vegetarian/vegan) foods in on campus dining facilities?” They rated their support on a scale of 1 (very opposed) to 7 (very supportive).
The participants knew, by virtue of being a student at the university, that they were immersed in a campus-wide culture that generally supports plant-based foods, the researchers said. Participants were also informed of the university’s sustainability goals, which signaled support for sustainable foods.
Participants were told they would be paired with a fellow undergraduate student conversation partner to discuss the proposed plant-based food policy. In actuality, these partners were confederates who worked with the researchers and were assigned to give the same three arguments (on ethical, health and environmental grounds) either for or against the food proposal.
The three-minute conversations were recorded and the responses of the participants were analyzed.
Findings showed that those with minority viewpoints self-silenced when speaking with the confederates who expressed the majority opinion. But even those students with minority views who spoke to confederates who shared a similar opinion self-silenced, although not to the same extent.
“They were strangers, so they still may not have felt comfortable sharing these minority views. And some people are total self-silencers who have this policy that they just won’t discuss controversial subjects, under any circumstances,” she said.
It wasn’t that self-silencers didn’t say anything, the researchers found. But they weren’t expressing their true opinion. They may have used avoidance tactics, such as showing uncertainty, indifference, or just changing the topic of conversation.
Overall, those with the minority viewpoint used fewer total unique arguments for their position than did those holding the majority opinion.
“If you don’t speak up with your true opinion, then you’re not processing the conversation as deeply,” Sintov said. “You’re not analyzing and thinking and reflecting on the information in the conversation in the same way that you might if you did speak up.”
And that may have even affected their behavior.
After the conversation, the students took part in an activity where they could raise money in support of the plant-based foods policy. They did this by clicking their mouse as many times as they could in 40 seconds, a task that had been validated in a previous study.
Findings showed that those who opposed the plant-based foods policy clicked the mouse about as many times as did those who said they supported it, in opposition to their own self-stated beliefs.
Overall, the study findings suggest self-silencing can have concerning effects, Sintov said.
“It leads to a public perception that the minority viewpoint doesn’t exist – it is less important. It becomes this vicious cycle where people’s true thoughts aren’t expressed and the public belief is the majority opinion is overwhelming and can’t be changed,” she said.
“That’s especially true if those with the minority viewpoints are behaviorally going along with the majority. It is just more evidence that the majority opinion is dominant.”
The findings call for people to become more aware of their own beliefs and how they express them. Those with minority views need to be willing to discuss their true beliefs, even if they feel uncomfortable, Sintov said.
And on the other side, those in the majority need to be willing to hear the thoughts of the other side, even if they don’t agree with them.
“We need to be open to civil discourse in our society. It has to be a two-way street,” Sintov said.
The study was led by Kristin Hurst, a former Ohio State postdoctoral researcher now faculty at Southern Illinois University. Other co-authors were Grant Donnelly, assistant professor of marketing at Ohio State, and Logan Hobbs, an Ohio State graduate now at Michigan State University.
