News

"Guardian of the Cell": structure and key function of giant protein explained

The enormous protein BIRC6 plays an important role in preventing programmed cell death – earning BIRC6 the nickname “Guardian of the Cell”. Scientists…

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A DNA double helix is in the foreground, two other DNA molecules in the background, forming loops. The DNA molecules are bright orange and cyan on a black background.

A tale of DNA loops: how distant DNA segments come together to make different types of antibodies

To fight off the vast array of pathogens we encounter every day, our immune system has come up with genetic mechanisms to diversify pathogen-detecting…

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Stressing out the immune system

During infection, specialized cells of our innate immune system mount an immediate response to combat invading pathogens. The activation of these…

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SNSF fellowship for postdoc Milica Vulin

Milica Vulin, postdoc in the lab of Anna Obenauf at the IMP, was awarded a “Postdoc.Mobility” fellowship from the Swiss National Science Foundation…

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Bryophytes branch differently… also at the molecular level

Non-vascular bryophytes live in colonies that cover the ground and resemble tiny forests. In a real forest, plants compete for light in different…

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Switch it off: new insights into repressors of gene transcription

Loni Klaus joined the Vienna BioCenter PhD Program in 2018 to study the regulation of gene transcription in the lab of Alexander Stark at the IMP. She…

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Coping with chromosomal stress

Chromosomal instability (CIN) is detrimental for cellular fitness and is a hallmark of the majority of solid tumors. How cells adjust to this…

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The dormant egg: scientists bring the ‘sleep mode’ of egg ribosomes to light

In animals, eggs serve as a stockpile that contains all the necessary components for the early stages of embryonic development. Ribosomes, the…

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Portrait of a protein family

SPOC domains are protein domains found across eukaryotes. SPOC containing proteins are associated with transcription regulation, development and…

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Weiss-Kruszka syndrome and the failure to establish neuronal identity

Weiss-Kruszka syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by craniofacial anomalies, developmental delay, and autistic features.…

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Punching holes in the nucleus

Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are the gateways between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. How the individual components assemble into a functional pore is…

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Avoiding the flood: how plasma cells constrain antibody secretion 

Plasma cells are the antibody factory or our immune system: they secrete vast quantities of highly specialised antibodies to counter an infection. IMP…

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