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Heart of Life
19 April 2016

Heart of Life

All living things rely on proteins – the molecular ‘building blocks’ of life, made from smaller chemicals (amino acids) strung together in specific sequences. Different types of proteins form the sturdy structures inside cells that give them their shape, digest food, recognise invading infections and much, much more. And even the simplest biological structures on earth – microscopic viruses – are packed with proteins that package up their genetic material and create a coat, enabling them to infect and multiply in the cells of humans or other organisms. Researchers are using a new technique, known as ‘click chemistry’, to spy on newly-made virus proteins (coloured white in this image) as they’re being assembled from amino acids in living cells. By studying how these proteins are made in real time, scientists can begin to figure out how cells respond to viral infections and develop new ways to help in the fight against them.

Written by Kat Arney

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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