Cell signaling – News, Research and Analysis – The Conversation

Rhodopsin kinase – GRK1 – is a GRK found in the retina of your eyes. Priyanka Naik

March 7, 2025

‘Pac‑Man with a ponytail’ proteins regulate everything from night vision to heartbeats – studying what GRKs look like could improve an array of drugs

Priyanka Naik, Purdue University

Master switches of cell communication, G protein-coupled receptor kinases are the target of many drugs across a range of diseases.

Handshakes between glycans are one way cells recognize each other. Kelvin Anggara

February 8, 2024

Sugary handshakes are how cells talk to each other − understanding these name tags can clarify how the immune system works

Kelvin Anggara, Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research

Sugar molecules called glycans cover the surface of all cells, acting as ID cards that broadcast what they are to the rest of the body.

As an animal model, the zebrafish offers many advantages that save researchers time and money. Uri Manor/NICHD via Flickr

August 7, 2023

Zebrafish are a scientist’s favorite for early‑stage research – especially to study human blood disorders

Gabrielle Dubansky, Iowa State University and Raquel Espín-Palazón, Iowa State University

Of the many qualities that make the zebrafish a model organism, the fact that it shares 70% of the genes humans have makes it an ideal candidate for developmental biology research.

While some people may be older in chronological age, their biological age might be much younger. FangXiaNuo/E+ via Getty Images

July 6, 2023

Aging is complicated – a biologist explains why no two people or cells age the same way, and what this means for anti‑aging interventions

Ellen Quarles, University of Michigan

Aging is a culmination of factors spanning from your cells to your environment. A number of interconnected processes determine how quickly your body is able to repair and recover from damage.

Opioid neurotransmitters are located in many areas of the body, including the brain, spine and gut. ALIOUI Mohammed Elamine/iStock via Getty Images Plus

May 30, 2023

Your body naturally produces opioids without causing addiction or overdose – studying how this process works could help reduce the side effects of opioid drugs

John Michael Streicher, University of Arizona

Unlike opioid drugs like morphine and fentanyl that travel throughout the body, the opioids your body produces are released in small quantities to specific locations.

Why is it harder to build muscle as you age? DjelicS/iStock via Getty Images

February 2, 2022

50‑year‑old muscles just can’t grow big like they used to – the biology of how muscles change with age

Roger Fielding, Tufts University

As people age, the chemical signaling pathways in muscles become less potent, and it gets harder to build muscle and maintain strength. But the health benefits of strength training only increase with age.

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