Researchers in Yi Zhang's group in the Dept. of Biochemistry & Biophysics at UNC-Chapel Hill have discovered a gene that when mutated causes obesity by dampening the body’s ability to burn energy while leaving appetite unaffected.

Researchers in Aziz Sancar's group in the Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics at UNC-Chapel Hill have shown that disruption of the circadian clock – the internal time-keeping mechanism that keeps the body running on a 24-hour cycle – can slow the progression of cancer.

A new study from Aziz Sancar's group in the Dept. of Biochemistry & Biophysics at UNC-Chapel Hill suggests that chemotherapy is most effective at certain times of day because that is when a particular enzyme system – one that can reverse the actions of chemotherapeutic drugs – is at its lowest levels in the body.

Dr. Richard Wolfenden, Alumni Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry & Biophysics, and member of the National Academy of Sciences, and co-author Charles Lewis, PhD publish a report in the November issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showing that without enzymes speeding the process, it would take 2.3 bilion years to complete vital biological transformation.

Researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill in the Dept. of Biochemistry and Biophysics have transformed cells from human skin into cells that produce insulin, the hormone used to treat diabetes.

Congratulations to Dr. Brian Strahl, Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics, for receiving a new EUREKA award from the NIH "for exceptionally innovative research projects that could have an extraordinarily significant impact on many areas of science."

Dr. Aziz Sancar, Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics, has dedicated his recent Journal of Biological Chemistry publication to Dr. Claud S. Rupert, his PhD advisor. This paper signifies the 50th anniversary of the discovery of photolyase by Dr. Rupert and his colleagues, an event marking the beginning of the DNA repair field. This anniversary coincides with Dr. Rupert's 90th birthday. Congratulations to all!

Congratulations to Dr. Yi Zhang, Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics, who was awarded the first Hyman L. Battle Distinguished Cancer Research Award

Research in the Dept. of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, by Dr. Julia Brittain, Research Assitant Professor and Dr. Leslie Parise, Professor and Chair have shown that blood from sickle cell patients also contains clumps, or aggregates, of red and white blood cells that may contribute to the blockages.

Dr. Charles Carter, Professor of Biochemistry & Biophysics, in the April issue of the Nature journal Heredity, reviews two recent papers that present new insights on the codon table and provide an alternative view on the origins of the genetic code.

Congratulations to Dr. Yi Zhang, Professor of Biochemistry & Biophysics, who ranked 7th worldwide in a study performed by Thomson Scientific assessing high-impact research in molecular biology and genetics.

Dr. Arrel Toews, Research Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics, has been invited by second year medical students at UNC-Chapel Hill to provide a review of Biochemistry to prepare them for their USMLE Step I exams.

Tag: Faculty & Lab News

Possible drug target for obesity treatment a no-brainer

Tinkering with the circadian clock can suppress cancer growth

UNC study supports role of circadian clock in response to chemotherapy

Without enzymes, biological reaction essential to life takes 2.3 billion years: UNC study

UNC scientists turn human skin cells into insulin-producing stem cells

Brian Strahl receives first ever EUREKA award from NIH

Structure and function of photolyase and in vivo enzymology – 50th anniversary

Yi Zhang receives the first Battle Distinguished Cancer Research Award

Clumps of red and white blood cells may contribute to sickle cell disease

Recent Research Provides New Interpretations of the Genetic Code

Yi Zhang Ranked by Thomson Scientific in Top Ten Authors with High Impact Papers

Arrel Toews is an Invited Lecturer for USMLE Review