Hi! I am profiling a novel protein and one of the parameter is the effect of thermal exposure to the protein. For that, I plan to look into the effect on its activity which I already did. Next is to look at the physical changes upon thermal exposure. Originally I plan to conduct circular dichroism analysis to assess on the secondary structure changes. Due to some constraint, I cannot do so. So Im looking for another method to look at the changes. Preferably some cheap and fast option. I plan to use native PAGE to look at the changes from the band condition (smearing, sharp, size shifting) but is there any better option to really replace CD?

I'm a sophomore in high school, and I'm considering doing biochem later in life. How is the job market right now compared to other jobs in the US? I heard that just plain chemistry is hard to get a good job in, while biochem has many more opportunities.

Hi! I am a current student studying biochemistry and plan to graduate in the spring. I go to a large university, but was never interested in the lab positions they offered to undergrads. I know it’s something I should have looked into but I spent my time volunteering and making friends. I am worried I will not be able to find a job coming out of college and be able to go to grad school within 2 years of getting my BS. I really like biochemistry and pharmacology but have no experience and don’t know how to get that experience for “entry level” jobs. Any suggestions from biochemistry grads?

Alpha-fold has had a tremendous impact on the field of protein-structure prediction. Previously, problems that took years and hundreds of thousands of dollars to solve experimentally can be solved with a simulation and 1% of the resources (obviously this only applies to certain structures).

A skeptical person might say 'gee, I wouldn't want to be a structural biologist'. Yet, rather than take jobs, Alpha-fold has made the field explode as scientists pivot to answer new, previously obscured questions.

Do you think we can extract this lesson to other fields impacted by AI - for example software dev, graphic design, or marketing?

OR, are the fields just too different?

It seems to me that researchers who can be flexible, will fair better than enginners that focus on a specific process or technique. I have a family. I can't lose my job. I know many of you have the same fears.

What are all of the ways to calculate the concentration of a protein? How do you tell concentration from absorbance for example?

Writing a paper?

Re-running an experiment for the 18th time hoping you finally get results?

Analyzing some really cool data?

Start off your week by sharing your plans with the rest of us. å

I’m in my third year of university studying biochem yet my parents are still worried about the income I would earn with the degree, I couldn’t even begin to tell them that the biochem is overwhelming, when they want me to go into nursing. It’s frustrating but I don’t still know the career I want to pursue even when I’m about to be done with university, any advice ?

Hi!! I'm currently enrolled as a Senior in highschool, taking STEM subjects. And i have been stressing about college admissions, specifically on what i should take. I am really interested in chemistry and a little but of biology —i also like physics simplt because it's really easy for me to understand (and i enjoy solving with diagrams and numbers are very pretty). And i was also thinking about what i will be pursuing after bachelor's degree and i really like REALLY want to work as a research scientist or anything that has to do with research, specifically on chemicals, medicine and other cool stuff.

My first choice was Biochemistry ever since, but my country only has limited schools that are offering this program and i don't think i could afford those schools even with a scholarship.

My next choice was BS Chemistry or BS Biology, but for me it's just to limiting- i want to study both chemistry and Biology, and the job market with both bachelor's degree are somewhat slim here at my country.

My last choices are Chemical engineering and Biological engineering. I had this on my list bcus i really like solving and i enjoy physics. With the Biological engineering one, only 3 universities offer this course. And with Chemical engineering, i still don't know if that bachelor's will qualify as a Research scientist (and i have to take the board exams to actually practice chemical engineering)

I'm wondering what should i take to be research Scientist? And what degree would be very useful, so that there are safety nets when it comes to job opportunities.Advice or any insight would be very much appreciated, Thank you so much?

Hello, I'm not sure if this question is often asked or if this is the right place to ask such a question but I would like to get some answers. I'm currently a 17 year old in high school doing my A levels, I was originally interested in majoring in biomedical engineering but after a lecture with a cell biology professor who's leading a research to use a protein toxin to hopefully create a treatment for cancer, I got inspired to enter the pharmaceutical field. Therefore, I would like to know how to get into such a field, what should ur undergrad and postgraduate be, is a PhD necessary, etc. Any help is appreciated. Thanks

Hi all, I work with polymers and I synthesised some in the range 8 to 15 kDa recently. I am doing small batches to test the reactivity since my monomer is very precious and need many step for the synthesis ( 100-200 mg of monomer used). So now I want to purify, and I tried precipitation in diethyl ether and other solvents but does not work since both monomer and polymer precipitate. In the lab where I work dialysis tubing is used too but with my small quantities I think I will lose to much.

I found that for protein some people use centrifugation concentration devices like this two:

https://www.cytivalifesciences.com/en/us/shop/lab-filtration/centrifugal-devices/microsep-centrifugal-filters-0-5-to-5-ml-sample-volume-p-36791

https://www.cytivalifesciences.com/en/us/shop/lab-filtration/centrifugal-devices/macrosep-centrifugal-filters-5-to-20-ml-sample-volume-p-36789

If you have experience with these device I have a few doubts:

• Can I use these with organic solvents? Or at most 50% organic solvent/water? (Like ACN/H2O). My polymer are quite hydrophobic and not soluble in water

• can I reuse these devices after washing them? How many times in case? And how would you wash them?

• what cutoff should I choose since I am working with polymers instead than proteins ? I assume they will have a different hydrodynamic radius and probably they will be less voluminous when dissolved.

Any help will be appreciated, not experienced in this at all, thanks!

Hi

I need to read Martin Crooke's book, and I was wondering if there are any books I should read before starting or videos I can watch to help me digest this book. I don't know why, but I find it a bit heavy.

Can somebody explain to me patiently how does a warburg manometer works? I've been looking through images and diagrams in the internet, but most of it is behind a paywall. Also tried looking at youtube but it just doesn't click, maybe a person explaining it to me on his/her own words can make me figure it out. I know what it's used for, but I just can't understand how it measures the amount of oxygen consumed or carbon dioxide produced. I've never been good at understanding experimental apparatus, so I hope you can help me out. Thanks!

For a take home exam we were given it gives us the isoalloxazine ring of the FAD molecule. It then asks a few questions about hypothetically if you changed this certain nitrogen to an oxygen atom how would the function of the FAD molecule change. There is another one where it changes a nitrogen to a phosphorous. How would you go about doing this?

I'm excited to introduce AFusion, a graphical user interface (GUI) designed to simplify the process of generating input JSON files and running AlphaFold 3 predictions. Whether you're new to AlphaFold or prefer a more intuitive interface over command-line interactions, AFusion aims to make your protein structure predictions smoother and more accessible.

Key Features:

• ✨ Intuitive Interface: Easily configure job settings, sequences, and execution parameters through a clean and modern GUI.
• 📋 Entity Management: Add multiple entities (Protein, RNA, DNA, Ligand) with support for modifications and templates.
• ⚙️ Dynamic JSON Generation: Automatically generates the required JSON input file for AlphaFold 3 based on your inputs.
• 🚀 Integrated Execution: Run AlphaFold 3 directly from the GUI with customizable Docker settings.
• 🖥️ Visual Feedback: Monitor command outputs within the interface for easy tracking and debugging.

Why AFusion?

AFusion streamlines the setup and execution of AlphaFold 3, eliminating the need for complex command-line operations. It’s perfect for researchers who want to focus more on their biological questions rather than the technical intricacies of running predictions.

Get Started:

1. Install AFusion:

​

pip install afusion

1. Launch the GUI:This will open the AFusion interface in your default web browser.

​

afusion

Links:

• 🔗 AFusion GitHub Repository
• 🔗 Demo Site
• 📄 AlphaFold 3 Installation Guide

Future Plans:

• Integration with Alphafold-analysis for detailed result analysis.
• Preset Options for common small molecules and metal ions.
• Enhanced Modifications support and more customization tools.

License:

AFusion is licensed under the GPL3 License. See the LICENSE file for more details.

Acknowledgements:

• AlphaFold 3 by DeepMind for their groundbreaking work.
• Streamlit for providing the framework to build this GUI.
• Community Contributors who help improve AFusion.

Feel free to check out the demo and give it a try! I’d love to hear your feedback and any suggestions for improvements. Let’s make protein structure prediction even more accessible together!

Happy Folding! 🧬

i was told biology has alot of chemistry in it and to take chemistry classes, but i had no option to, so how would i learn of this outside of highschool? (year 10, australia)

I want to study biochemistry via books. I have little to no background in chemistry or biology and a lot of background in math and physics.
I think the books of Openstax will be good for building background required for Biochemistry. They have books about chemistry, biology and organic chemistry. I don't think that all chapters are relevant. what chapters can I skip?

after reading the books of openstax, will I have good background for biochemistry?

what are the recomanded books for biochemistry to read after I finish reading the openstax books?

Hi! This is a weird post but I was wondering what resources or books are available to continue learning about the different metabolic pathways that are not taught in undergrad?

https://preview.redd.it/lsi1777v2d1e1.png?width=743&format=png&auto=webp&s=1f8a7d6bbd90b563bbd6bd145dcfd66d98aaca07

If I let this go longer, it should eventually plateau. But what's causing the S-shape in this curve?

The enzyme (hexokinase, we're measuring production of NADPH by reacting glucose) was added at the beginning and zero intervention start to finish of the graph. Temperature controlled, UV-Vis Spectrophotometer.

In my class, I've learned that glucose molecules freed from glycogen skip the initial hexokinase step, and the net ATP gained is +3 rather than +2. This makes sense, because glycogen phosphorylase uses a free inorganic phosphate to cleave the glucose molecule at the 1,4 glycosidic bond. However, is this the same case for glucose molecules freed from the branches at the 1,6 bond? Do they proceed to glycolysis normally, or are they also phosphorylated after being freed somehow?

Currently reading a paper from 1987 titled 'The catalytic role of the active site aspartate in serine proteases' by Craick et al. The paper states that previous work relying on NMR studies had disproved the charge-relay mechanism. Despite the paper's title, it does not provide a concrete role for aspartate. It does however make the point that aspartate affects the nucleophilicity of serine and reduces the pKa of histidine. I have seen more recent papers still arguing for the charge-relay mechanism. What is the current consensus for the role of aspartate in serine proteases and is there still more work needed?

Have you read a cool paper recently that you want to discuss?

Do you have a paper that's been in your in your "to read" pile that you think other people might be interested in?

Have you recently published something you want to brag on?

Share them here and get the discussion started!

What are all of the elements that I should pay attention to ?

So, I came up with this question around the end of summer, because my family bought these for now dead grandfather. What amazed me is the price. It's like 5000€ for 100 of them, iirc. I'm not really familiar with methods of searching info on pharmaceutical topics, so i hadn't succeeded in finding anything useful. So the question is: "why exactly production and distribution of this drug is so expensive?". I have a few hypothesises, but won't write them here. I will find the answer anyways, but if you could give me a starting point or even a full answer, I would be really grateful. Thank you.

Hey Biotechnology Community,

I wanted to share some exciting news about the 2nd edition of the London Biotechnology Show, taking place on June 18-19, 2025, at ExCeL London.

This event brings together leading biotech companies, industry experts, and innovators to explore the latest advancements, share knowledge, and connect with key players in the field. Companies like Merck, Ellab UK, and Roche are already participating, making it a hub for impactful partnerships and cutting-edge insights.

Highlights of the event include:
🔹 The Hosted Buyer Program, connecting businesses with key decision-makers
🔹 Expert-led speaking presentations and panel discussions
🔹 Dedicated exhibit spaces to showcase innovations
🔹 Opportunities to engage with international biotech leaders

It’s a great platform for anyone passionate about the biotech industry and its future.

If you’re curious or want to learn more, feel free to reach out here, and we can connect further through LinkedIn or email. Let’s make 2025 a milestone year for your company!

In my western blot, instead of going with the manual that said I should use 1microlitre of antibody and 5mlit of tsbt, I used 5microlitre of antibody and 15mlit of tsbt. The ratio of buffer to antibody has not changed, but I was wondering if this might cause excessive antibody in sample? since in my results I get a very high background and also non-specific bindings

Hello everyone! I’ve been curious to know if there are others out there who are in my position and feeling the overwhelming work load a lab can bring to an individual/team.

I’m a lab supervisor for a biotech company and the work load has increased double what it used to be but with the same amount of people we’ve had for years. The higher ups tell us there’s going to be an increase next year for the company but that means we will work even more than we already are (10+ hours of OT per week). Does anyone else feel burnout from their lab? Is this normal? Is there another option for someone who studied Biochem that’s NOT lab work? I’d love to hear any and all options if you have any!

Hi!! I’m taking my first intro to biochemistry course and I’m not doing that well. I really want to work to do better in this course, and I was hoping if anyone had any links to perhaps practice problems or supportive videos on YouTube etc that will help solidify concepts please. Also, advice from anyone with more experience in the field would be appreciated!!

How useful to you all would a physical cell lysis tech be that: does not generate heat and can pellet cell debris in one step? Basically like a spin tube that can lyse cells and pellet at the same time. You could use whatever buffer you like, since it’s physical no lysis buffer would be needed.