Astropharmacy / Biotechnology Archives

a cryoEM volume revealing a two-start (C2) helical filament with a pitch p and diameter of 94.6 Å and 260 Å, and a rise and twist of 3.18 Å and 12.1°, respectively; b local interaction network between neighboring cannula protofilaments in which subunits interlock through donor strand complementation along the axial (e.g., i → j → k) direction and partake in further intermolecular contacts mediated by calcium coordination along the axial and radial (e.g., j-1→j → j + 1) direction; c stick representation of three types of calcium pockets: (i) axial stacking of subunits via type I and II calcium binding centers, (ii) radial contacts are mediated via type III Ca2+ binding sites; d raw cryoEM image of a cannulae filaments loaded with a helically winding thinner filament (2 nm; cargo). White arrows denote winding cargo and dangling cargo associated with the cannulae filaments; e surface electrostatics showing a predominantly negatively charged surface and a positively charged lumen for the cannula model. The representative image in this figure (d) is derived from a total of 2365 cryo-EM movies from two technical replicates.-- Nature Communications

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Commercial & Private Sector, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Sample Return, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Extreme Engineering – Unlocking Design Secrets of Deep-sea Microbes

by Keith CowingDecember 7, 2025

The microbe Pyrodictium abyssi is an archaeon — a member of what’s known as the third domain of life — and an extremophile. It lives in deep-sea thermal vents, at […]

The gloved hands of NASA astronaut inside the Microgravity Science Glovebox iss073e0759779 (Sept. 2, 2025) -- NASA -- larger image

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Commercial & Private Sector, Gravitational Biology, People Of Astrobiology, Space Life Science, Space Physiology & Medicine, Space Stations, Status Report

Offworld Biology: Stem Cell Research Inside The Microgravity Science Glovebox

by Keith CowingNovember 20, 2025November 19, 2025

A top-down view inside the Destiny laboratory module’s Microgravity Science Glovebox shows the gloved arms and hands of NASA astronaut and Expedition 73 Flight Engineer Zena Cardman.

Structure of Bas63, a virus which targets E. coli, in molecular detail. Credit University of Otago

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release

Structure Of Bacteriophage Bas63: The Potential And Beauty Of The World Unseen

by Keith CowingNovember 19, 2025November 19, 2025

A University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka-led study has produced a detailed blueprint of a bacteriophage, furthering their potential in the fight against drug-resistant bacteria.

The temperature versus depth and time for 𝜅 = 10−4 W m−1 K−1 , 10−3 W m−1 K−1, and 10−2 W m−1 K−1 (top, middle, and bottom panels). The sublimation temperatures of CO (30 K, dash), CO2 (80 K, dash-dot), and H2O (150 K, dot) are shown as white contours. The depth of heat penetration and volatile activation strongly depends on the thermal conductivity 𝜅. Note that the range of the 𝑦-axis is different for each panel. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Comets and Asteroids, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report

Potential Thermal Profiles of The Third Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS

by Keith CowingNovember 3, 2025November 3, 2025

We investigate the thermal evolution of 3I/ATLAS, the third macroscopic interstellar object discovered on 2025 July 1.

Adaptive mechanisms of halophilic microorganisms -- Current Microbiology via PubMed

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Commercial & Private Sector, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Sample Return, Status Report

Halophiles and Halotolerants: From Industry to Astrobiology

by Keith CowingOctober 4, 2025October 4, 2025

Halophilic and halotolerant microorganisms, as members of the extremophile group, hold significant potential for both industrial applications and astrobiological research.

Journey of a noncanonical amino acid into a polypeptide. The cell takes up the ncAA from its environment or biosynthesizes it. The ncAA should not interfere with the host metabolism nor act as a toxin. To accumulate, it must not be degraded nor excreted by the cell. If its intracellular concentration reaches an adequate level, an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (AARS) activates it and charges it onto a tRNA. Discrimination against the ncAA by the editing function of some AARS prevents the downstream steps and should be avoided. An elongation factor delivers the ncAA-charged tRNA to the ribosome, where it participates in ribosomal translation. Peptide bonding stably incorporates the ncAA into the nascent polypeptide. The resulting alloprotein must be able to fold correctly and should not be degraded, e.g., by proteolytic enzymes. Chemical Reviews via PubMed

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Commercial & Private Sector, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release

Residue-Specific Incorporation of Noncanonical Amino Acids in Auxotrophic Hosts: Quo Vadis?

by Keith CowingSeptember 25, 2025September 25, 2025

The residue-specific incorporation of noncanonical amino acids in auxotrophic hosts allows the global exchange of a canonical amino acid with its noncanonical analog.

Periodic table of elements and their nucleosynthesis. Biological utilisation of the elements and biometals (in orange and yellow) and their nucleosynthesis processes in the Universe are indicated. CHNOPS elements and elements used as electron donors/acceptors by biology are also reported. Iron and Manganese are the only biometals that not only serve as cofactors, but might also be used as metabolic substrates for redox reactions. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report

Stellar Metallicity Is A Key Parameter For The Search Of Life In The Universe

by Keith CowingAugust 19, 2025August 19, 2025

The search for Life in the Universe generally assumes three basic life’s needs: I) building block elements (i.e., CHNOPS), II) a solvent to life’s reactions (generally, liquid water) and III) […]

Archaeal proteomes were systematically scanned to identify EPs with potential antimicrobial activity. Circular bars denote the log10-transformed average active (red) and inactive (blue) EPs discovered by APEX. A peptide was classified as active if its predicted mean MIC against tested bacterial strains was ≤100 μmol l−1. The values were normalized by the number of proteins per organism scanned. Archaea with peptides that were synthesized are indicated by a light red square, and those experimentally validated as active are highlighted with a dark red square. -- Nature Microbiology

AI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Commercial & Private Sector, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release, Sample Return

AI Uncovers New Antibiotics In Archaea Microbes

by Keith CowingAugust 17, 2025August 17, 2025

They’ve survived for billions of years in boiling acid, deep-sea vents and salt flats. Now, some of Earth’s oldest life forms — microbes called Archaea — are offering a new […]

Cyanobacteria as an example of astrobiology and biotechnology. Cyanobacteria fulfill two important roles in Earth habitability: the production of oxygen (right) and the fixation of carbon (from atmospheric carbon dioxide, left). Cyanobacteria are credited with significantly increasing global oxygen levels around 2.4 billion years ago, which shifted our planet's redox conditions and could have spurred the evolution of eukaryotes and complex life. In the modern day, their voracious consumption of atmospheric carbon dioxide can be harnessed to again shift planetary-scale processes by sequestering carbon as biomass, carbonate, or biofuel products. -- EarthRx

Astrobiology (general), Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Career Opportunities, Commercial & Private Sector, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Status Report

A Search for Life In The Universe Advances Life on Earth

by Keith CowingAugust 15, 2025August 15, 2025

Astrobiology, while traditionally focused on understanding the origin of life on Earth and the potential for life elsewhere, offers powerful tools and insights for addressing urgent challenges on our planet.

The Protein Domain Insertion Optimizer, abbreviated as ProDomino, can forecast which protein domains – like domino tiles – have to be fitted together to engineer a merged protein with new properties. | © Jan Mathony, Benedict Wolf

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report

How An Artificial Protein Emerges From Fitting Together Individual Components

by Keith CowingAugust 6, 2025

The targeted engineering of artificial proteins with unique properties – that is possible with the assistance of a novel method developed by a research team led by Prof. Dr Dominik […]