biochemistry papers | Gist.Science

Biochemistry explores the intricate chemical processes that power life, bridging the gap between biology and chemistry to explain how molecules like proteins and DNA function within living cells. This field reveals the molecular machinery behind everything from metabolism to genetic inheritance, turning complex biological mysteries into understandable chemical interactions.

On Gist.Science, we bring you the freshest discoveries in this dynamic area directly from bioRxiv. Our team processes every new preprint uploaded to the server, transforming dense academic findings into both clear, plain-language overviews and detailed technical summaries. This dual approach ensures that whether you are a curious beginner or a seasoned researcher, you can grasp the significance of these breakthroughs immediately.

Below are the latest papers in biochemistry, complete with our curated summaries to help you navigate the cutting edge of molecular science.

⚗️ biochemistry

Improved 1H NMR and ATR-FTIR approaches for structural characterization of high-G-block and high-M-block alginic acids isolated from sugar kelp by a two-step gelation method

This study characterizes high-G-block and high-M-block alginic acids isolated from sugar kelp by combining advanced 1H NMR sequence analysis to determine constrained homoblock frequency ranges with a novel logarithmic cosine transformation of ATR-FTIR spectra to enable distinct chemometric differentiation of their structural features.

Xing, X., Bajwa, B., Low, K. E., Tingley, J. P., Weiler, V., Montina, T., Serin, S. C., Abbott, W.2026-10-22

⚗️ biochemistry

Identification and targeting of a novel drug pocket in the tumour angiogenesis regulator RhoJ

This study identifies a unique N-terminal allosteric pocket in the tumour angiogenesis regulator RhoJ, demonstrates that the antifungal drug terconazole binds to this site to disrupt its interaction with PAK3, and validates this pocket as a promising target for developing selective anti-angiogenic therapies.

Chen, W., Shoemark, D. K., Corey, R. A., Andrienko, T. N., Mellor, H.2026-10-20

⚗️ biochemistry

Enhanced Fidelity and Sequence Generality of an RNA Polymerase Ribozyme

Through 33 rounds of directed evolution, researchers significantly enhanced an RNA polymerase ribozyme's fidelity and sequence generality, enabling it to accurately synthesize long, structured, and previously difficult-to-copy functional RNA products.

Horning, D. P., Nasser, S. C., Joyce, G. F.2026-10-20

⚗️ biochemistry

Hyperactivation of β-catenin rewires mitochondrial fuel selection in liver cancer cells

This study demonstrates that hyperactivation of β-catenin in liver cancer cells reprograms metabolic state by suppressing mitochondrial pyruvate carrier expression and respiratory capacity, thereby driving a fuel switch from carbohydrate to fatty acid oxidation.

Cedeno-Rosario, L., Alcantara, Q. A., Sierra, N. A., Prasad, P., Wright, J., Lam, G., Abdi, N., Florence, J., Bott, A. J (…)2026-10-20

⚗️ biochemistry

Olfactory neuroepithelium biomarker platform: a proof from Alzheimer's disease

This study demonstrates that a non-invasive platform combining nasal soft-brush swabs with single-cell Western blotting of the olfactory neuroepithelium provides superior diagnostic detection of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers compared to blood-based approaches.

Ishizuka, K., Shang, G., Malik, S., Doty, C., Dave, S., Rowan, N., Lema, Y., Lane, A., Sawa, A.2026-10-20

⚗️ biochemistry

Heimdall SNAREs reveal an ancestral architecture of eukaryotic SNARE complexes

This study reveals that SNARE-like proteins from Heimdallarchaeota form a stable homotetrameric four-helix bundle structurally similar to eukaryotic SNARE complexes, demonstrating that the ancestral architecture of this membrane fusion machinery predates the emergence of eukaryotic cells.

Bentahar, I., Yadav, D., Hacisuleyman, A., Fasshauer, D.2026-10-20

⚗️ biochemistry

Development of a high throughput continuous fluorescence anisotropy-based assay to analyse peptidoglycan-digesting enzymes

This paper presents a robust, high-throughput continuous fluorescence anisotropy assay using natively fluorescently labelled peptidoglycan to overcome technical challenges in studying bacterial cell wall enzymes and accelerate the discovery of novel antimicrobial compounds.

Camaione, S., Thompson, C. M., Briggs, N. S., Roper, D.2026-10-20

⚗️ biochemistry

Heteromeric LGP2-MDA5 receptor complexes drive antiviral signaling

This study reveals that LGP2 acts as an integral component of MDA5 filaments rather than just a recruitment factor, where it stabilizes signaling-competent complexes through specific dsRNA-dependent interactions to enhance antiviral immunity.

Buchel, G., Xu, L., Sung, Y.-C., Pyle, A. M.2026-10-19

⚗️ biochemistry

P4HA1 and P4HA2 accept both shared and isoenzyme-specific substrate residues in type I collagen to directly and indirectly orchestrate its post-translational modification landscape

This study elucidates the distinct and shared substrate specificities of P4HA1 and P4HA2 enzymes in modifying type I collagen, identifying specific N-terminal amino acid residues that dictate their activity while demonstrating their broader roles in regulating prolyl-3-hydroxylation and lysyl glycosylation.

Helle, D., Robert, A., Ramalanjaona, N., Bui, C., Gulberti, S., VINCOURT, J.-B.2026-10-15

⚗️ biochemistry

Unfolding of the disease-linked bank vole prion protein E200K in the context of PrPSc propagation

This study investigates the early unfolding events of the disease-linked bank vole prion protein E200K mutant to determine if its extreme propensity for spontaneous PrPSc generation stems from distinct initial destabilization pathways compared to the wild type, ultimately finding that while the early unfolding mechanisms are essentially similar, subtle nuances exist that may explain the mutant's enhanced pathogenicity.

Sabzehei, S., Erana, H., Diaz-Arias, I., Cacheiro, R., Guerra, A., Alvarez-Cardama, S. M., de Leon-Vega, Y., Rezaei, H. (…)2026-10-14