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This is a searchable collection of scientific photos, illustrations, and videos. The images and videos in this gallery are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial ShareAlike 3.0. This license lets you remix, tweak, and build upon this work non-commercially, as long as you credit and license your new creations under identical terms.
6801: “Two-faced” Janus particle activating a macrophage
6801: “Two-faced” Janus particle activating a macrophage
A macrophage—a type of immune cell that engulfs invaders—“eats” and is activated by a “two-faced” Janus particle. The particle is called “two-faced” because each of its two hemispheres is coated with a different type of molecule, shown here in red and cyan. During macrophage activation, a transcription factor tagged with a green fluorescence protein (NF-κB) gradually moves from the cell’s cytoplasm into its nucleus and causes DNA transcription. The distribution of molecules on “two-faced” Janus particles can be altered to control the activation of immune cells. Details on this “geometric manipulation” strategy can be found in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences paper "Geometrical reorganization of Dectin-1 and TLR2 on single phagosomes alters their synergistic immune signaling" by Li et al. and the Scientific Reports paper "Spatial organization of FcγR and TLR2/1 on phagosome membranes differentially regulates their synergistic and inhibitory receptor crosstalk" by Li et al. This video was captured using epi-fluorescence microscopy.
Related to video 6800.
Related to video 6800.
Yan Yu, Indiana University, Bloomington.
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1084: Natcher Building 04
1084: Natcher Building 04
NIGMS staff are located in the Natcher Building on the NIH campus.
Alisa Machalek, National Institute of General Medical Sciences
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5843: Color coding of the Drosophila brain - video
5843: Color coding of the Drosophila brain - video
This video results from a research project to visualize which regions of the adult fruit fly (Drosophila) brain derive from each neural stem cell. First, researchers collected several thousand fruit fly larvae and fluorescently stained a random stem cell in the brain of each. The idea was to create a population of larvae in which each of the 100 or so neural stem cells was labeled at least once. When the larvae grew to adults, the researchers examined the flies’ brains using confocal microscopy. With this technique, the part of a fly’s brain that derived from a single, labeled stem cell “lights up.” The scientists photographed each brain and digitally colorized its lit-up area. By combining thousands of such photos, they created a three-dimensional, color-coded map that shows which part of the Drosophila brain comes from each of its ~100 neural stem cells. In other words, each colored region shows which neurons are the progeny or “clones” of a single stem cell. This work established a hierarchical structure as well as nomenclature for the neurons in the Drosophila brain. Further research will relate functions to structures of the brain.
Related to images 5838 and 5868.
Related to images 5838 and 5868.
Yong Wan from Charles Hansen’s lab, University of Utah. Data preparation and visualization by Masayoshi Ito in the lab of Kei Ito, University of Tokyo.
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1015: Lily mitosis 05
1015: Lily mitosis 05
A light microscope image of a cell from the endosperm of an African globe lily (Scadoxus katherinae). This is one frame of a time-lapse sequence that shows cell division in action. The lily is considered a good organism for studying cell division because its chromosomes are much thicker and easier to see than human ones. Staining shows microtubules in red and chromosomes in blue. Here, condensed chromosomes are clearly visible.
Related to images 1010, 1011, 1012, 1013, 1014, 1016, 1017, 1018, 1019, and 1021.
Related to images 1010, 1011, 1012, 1013, 1014, 1016, 1017, 1018, 1019, and 1021.
Andrew S. Bajer, University of Oregon, Eugene
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2733: Early development in Arabidopsis
2733: Early development in Arabidopsis
Early on, this Arabidopsis plant embryo picks sides: While one end will form the shoot, the other will take root underground. Short pieces of RNA in the bottom half (blue) make sure that shoot-forming genes are expressed only in the embryo's top half (green), eventually allowing a seedling to emerge with stems and leaves. Like animals, plants follow a carefully orchestrated polarization plan and errors can lead to major developmental defects, such as shoots above and below ground. Because the complex gene networks that coordinate this development in plants and animals share important similarities, studying polarity in Arabidopsis--a model organism--could also help us better understand human development.
Zachery R. Smith, Jeff Long lab at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies
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3451: Proteasome
3451: Proteasome
This fruit fly spermatid recycles various molecules, including malformed or damaged proteins. Actin filaments (red) in the cell draw unwanted proteins toward a barrel-shaped structure called the proteasome (green clusters), which degrades the molecules into their basic parts for re-use.
Sigi Benjamin-Hong, Rockefeller University
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2791: Anti-tumor drug ecteinascidin 743 (ET-743) with hydrogens 02
2791: Anti-tumor drug ecteinascidin 743 (ET-743) with hydrogens 02
Ecteinascidin 743 (ET-743, brand name Yondelis), was discovered and isolated from a sea squirt, Ecteinascidia turbinata, by NIGMS grantee Kenneth Rinehart at the University of Illinois. It was synthesized by NIGMS grantees E.J. Corey and later by Samuel Danishefsky. Multiple versions of this structure are available as entries 2790-2797.
Timothy Jamison, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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6583: Closeup of fluorescent C. elegans showing muscle and ribosomal protein
6583: Closeup of fluorescent C. elegans showing muscle and ribosomal protein
Closeup of C. elegans, tiny roundworms, with a ribosomal protein glowing red and muscle fibers glowing green. Researchers used these worms to study a molecular pathway that affects aging. The ribosomal protein is involved in protein translation and may play a role in dietary restriction-induced longevity. Image created using confocal microscopy.
View single roundworm here 6581.
View group of roundworms here 6582.
View single roundworm here 6581.
View group of roundworms here 6582.
Jarod Rollins, Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory.
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2354: Section of an electron density map
2354: Section of an electron density map
Electron density maps such as this one are generated from the diffraction patterns of X-rays passing through protein crystals. These maps are then used to generate a model of the protein's structure by fitting the protein's amino acid sequence (yellow) into the observed electron density (blue).
The Southeast Collaboratory for Structural Genomics
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2505: Influenza virus attaches to host membrane (with labels)
2505: Influenza virus attaches to host membrane (with labels)
Influenza A infects a host cell when hemagglutinin grips onto glycans on its surface. Neuraminidase, an enzyme that chews sugars, helps newly made virus particles detach so they can infect other cells. Related to 213.
Crabtree + Company
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2367: Map of protein structures 02
2367: Map of protein structures 02
A global "map of the protein structure universe" indicating the positions of specific proteins. The preponderance of small, less-structured proteins near the origin, with the more highly structured, large proteins towards the ends of the axes, may suggest the evolution of protein structures.
Berkeley Structural Genomics Center, PSI
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3309: Mouse Retina
3309: Mouse Retina
A genetic disorder of the nervous system, neurofibromatosis causes tumors to form on nerves throughout the body, including a type of tumor called an optic nerve glioma that can result in childhood blindness. The image was used to demonstrate the unique imaging capabilities of one of our newest (at the time) laser scanning microscopes and is of a wildtype (normal) mouse retina in the optic fiber layer. This layer is responsible for relaying information from the retina to the brain and was fluorescently stained to reveal the distribution of glial cells (green), DNA and RNA in the cell bodies of the retinal ganglion neurons (orange) and their optic nerve fibers (red), and actin in endothelial cells surrounding a prominent branching blood vessel (blue). By studying the microscopic structure of normal and diseased retina and optic nerves, we hope to better understand the altered biology of the tissues in these tumors with the prospects of developing therapeutic interventions.
Tom Deerinck, NCMIR
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3405: Disrupted and restored vasculature development in frog embryos
3405: Disrupted and restored vasculature development in frog embryos
Disassembly of vasculature and reassembly after addition and then washout of 250 µM TBZ in kdr:GFP frogs. Related to images 3403 and 3404.
Hye Ji Cha, University of Texas at Austin
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5793: Mouse retina
5793: Mouse retina
What looks like the gossamer wings of a butterfly is actually the retina of a mouse, delicately snipped to lay flat and sparkling with fluorescent molecules. The image is from a research project investigating the promise of gene therapy for glaucoma. It was created at an NIGMS-funded advanced microscopy facility that develops technology for imaging across many scales, from whole organisms to cells to individual molecules.
The ability to obtain high-resolution imaging of tissue as large as whole mouse retinas was made possible by a technique called large-scale mosaic confocal microscopy, which was pioneered by the NIGMS-funded National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research. The technique is similar to Google Earth in that it computationally stitches together many small, high-resolution images.
The ability to obtain high-resolution imaging of tissue as large as whole mouse retinas was made possible by a technique called large-scale mosaic confocal microscopy, which was pioneered by the NIGMS-funded National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research. The technique is similar to Google Earth in that it computationally stitches together many small, high-resolution images.
Tom Deerinck and Keunyoung (“Christine”) Kim, NCMIR
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6929: Mouse brain 1
6929: Mouse brain 1
A mouse brain that was genetically modified so that subpopulations of its neurons glow. Researchers often study mice because they share many genes with people and can shed light on biological processes, development, and diseases in humans.
This image was captured using a light sheet microscope.
Related to image 6930 and video 6931.
This image was captured using a light sheet microscope.
Related to image 6930 and video 6931.
Prayag Murawala, MDI Biological Laboratory and Hannover Medical School.
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2349: Dimeric association of receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase
2349: Dimeric association of receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase
Model of the catalytic portion of an enzyme, receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase from humans. The enzyme consists of two identical protein subunits, shown in blue and green. The groups made up of purple and red balls represent phosphate groups, chemical groups that can influence enzyme activity. This phosphatase removes phosphate groups from the enzyme tyrosine kinase, counteracting its effects.
New York Structural GenomiX Research Consortium, PSI
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1018: Lily mitosis 12
1018: Lily mitosis 12
A light microscope image of a cell from the endosperm of an African globe lily (Scadoxus katherinae). This is one frame of a time-lapse sequence that shows cell division in action. The lily is considered a good organism for studying cell division because its chromosomes are much thicker and easier to see than human ones. Staining shows microtubules in red and chromosomes in blue. Here, condensed chromosomes are clearly visible near the end of a round of mitosis.
Related to images 1010, 1011, 1012, 1013, 1014, 1015, 1016, 1017, 1019, and 1021.
Related to images 1010, 1011, 1012, 1013, 1014, 1015, 1016, 1017, 1019, and 1021.
Andrew S. Bajer, University of Oregon, Eugene
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3327: Diversity oriented synthesis: generating skeletal diversity using folding processes
3327: Diversity oriented synthesis: generating skeletal diversity using folding processes
This 1 1/2-minute video animation was produced for chemical biologist Stuart Schreiber's lab page. The animation shows how diverse chemical structures can be produced in the lab.
Eric Keller
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1284: Ion channels
1284: Ion channels
The body uses a variety of ion channels to transport small molecules across cell membranes.
Judith Stoffer
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6534: Mosaicism in C. elegans (White Background)
6534: Mosaicism in C. elegans (White Background)
In the worm C. elegans, double-stranded RNA made in neurons can silence matching genes in a variety of cell types through the transport of RNA between cells. The head region of three worms that were genetically modified to express a fluorescent protein were imaged and the images were color-coded based on depth. The worm on the left lacks neuronal double-stranded RNA and thus every cell is fluorescent. In the middle worm, the expression of the fluorescent protein is silenced by neuronal double-stranded RNA and thus most cells are not fluorescent. The worm on the right lacks an enzyme that amplifies RNA for silencing. Surprisingly, the identities of the cells that depend on this enzyme for gene silencing are unpredictable. As a result, worms of identical genotype are nevertheless random mosaics for how the function of gene silencing is carried out. For more, see journal article and press release. Related to image 6532.
Snusha Ravikumar, Ph.D., University of Maryland, College Park, and Antony M. Jose, Ph.D., University of Maryland, College Park
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2433: Fruit fly sperm cells
2433: Fruit fly sperm cells
Developing fruit fly spermatids require caspase activity (green) for the elimination of unwanted organelles and cytoplasm via apoptosis.
Hermann Steller, Rockefeller University
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1019: Lily mitosis 13
1019: Lily mitosis 13
A light microscope image of cells from the endosperm of an African globe lily (Scadoxus katherinae). This is one frame of a time-lapse sequence that shows cell division in action. The lily is considered a good organism for studying cell division because its chromosomes are much thicker and easier to see than human ones. Staining shows microtubules in red and chromosomes in blue. Here, two cells have formed after a round of mitosis.
Related to images 1010, 1011, 1012, 1013, 1014, 1015, 1016, 1017, 1018, and 1021.
Related to images 1010, 1011, 1012, 1013, 1014, 1015, 1016, 1017, 1018, and 1021.
Andrew S. Bajer, University of Oregon, Eugene
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3600: Fat cells (red) and blood vessels (green)
3600: Fat cells (red) and blood vessels (green)
A mouse's fat cells (red) are shown surrounded by a network of blood vessels (green). Fat cells store and release energy, protect organs and nerve tissues, insulate us from the cold, and help us absorb important vitamins.
This image was part of the Life: Magnified exhibit that ran from June 3, 2014, to January 21, 2015, at Dulles International Airport.
This image was part of the Life: Magnified exhibit that ran from June 3, 2014, to January 21, 2015, at Dulles International Airport.
Daniela Malide, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health
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2735: Network Map
2735: Network Map
This network map shows the overlap (green) between the long QT syndrome (yellow) and epilepsy (blue) protein-interaction neighborhoods located within the human interactome. Researchers have learned to integrate genetic, cellular and clinical information to find out why certain medicines can trigger fatal heart arrhythmias. Featured in Computing Life magazine.
Seth Berger, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
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2428: Colorful cells
2428: Colorful cells
Actin (purple), microtubules (yellow), and nuclei (green) are labeled in these cells by immunofluorescence. This image won first place in the Nikon 2003 Small World photo competition.
Torsten Wittmann, Scripps Research Institute
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1021: Lily mitosis 08
1021: Lily mitosis 08
A light microscope image of a cell from the endosperm of an African globe lily (Scadoxus katherinae). This is one frame of a time-lapse sequence that shows cell division in action. The lily is considered a good organism for studying cell division because its chromosomes are much thicker and easier to see than human ones. Staining shows microtubules in red and chromosomes in blue. Here, condensed chromosomes are clearly visible and lined up.
Related to images 1010, 1011, 1012, 1013, 1014, 1015, 1016, 1017, 1018, and 1019.
Related to images 1010, 1011, 1012, 1013, 1014, 1015, 1016, 1017, 1018, and 1019.
Andrew S. Bajer, University of Oregon, Eugene
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6810: Fruit fly ovarioles
6810: Fruit fly ovarioles
Three fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) ovarioles (yellow, blue, and magenta) with egg cells visible inside them. Ovarioles are tubes in the reproductive systems of female insects. Egg cells form at one end of an ovariole and complete their development as they reach the other end, as shown in the yellow wild-type ovariole. This process requires an important protein that is missing in the blue and magenta ovarioles. This image was created using confocal microscopy.
More information on the research that produced this image can be found in the Current Biology paper “Gatekeeper function for Short stop at the ring canals of the Drosophila ovary” by Lu et al.
More information on the research that produced this image can be found in the Current Biology paper “Gatekeeper function for Short stop at the ring canals of the Drosophila ovary” by Lu et al.
Vladimir I. Gelfand, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University.
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2327: Neural development
2327: Neural development
Using techniques that took 4 years to design, a team of developmental biologists showed that certain proteins can direct the subdivision of fruit fly and chicken nervous system tissue into the regions depicted here in blue, green, and red. Molecules called bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) helped form this fruit fly embryo. While scientists knew that BMPs play a major role earlier in embryonic development, they didn't know how the proteins help organize nervous tissue. The findings suggest that BMPs are part of an evolutionarily conserved mechanism for organizing the nervous system. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke also supported this work.
Mieko Mizutani and Ethan Bier, University of California, San Diego, and Henk Roelink, University of Washington
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2335: Virtual snow world
2335: Virtual snow world
Glide across an icy canyon, where you see smiling snowmen and waddling penguins. Toss a snowball, hear it smash against an igloo, and then watch it explode in bright colors. Psychologists David Patterson and Hunter Hoffman of the University of Washington in Seattle developed this virtual "Snow World" to test whether immersing someone in a pretend reality could ease pain during burn treatment and other medical procedures. They found that people fully engaged in the virtual reality experience reported 60 percent less pain. The technology offers a promising way to manage pain.
David Patterson and Hunter Hoffmann, University of Washington
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6993: RNA polymerase
6993: RNA polymerase
RNA polymerase (purple) is a complex enzyme at the heart of transcription. During this process, the enzyme unwinds the DNA double helix and uses one strand (darker orange) as a template to create the single-stranded messenger RNA (green), later used by ribosomes for protein synthesis.
From the RNA polymerase II elongation complex of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (PDB entry 1I6H) as seen in PDB-101's What is a Protein? video.
From the RNA polymerase II elongation complex of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (PDB entry 1I6H) as seen in PDB-101's What is a Protein? video.
Amy Wu and Christine Zardecki, RCSB Protein Data Bank.
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3270: Dopaminergic neurons from ES cells
3270: Dopaminergic neurons from ES cells
Human embryonic stem cells differentiated into dopaminergic neurons, the type that degenerate in Parkinson's disease. Image courtesy of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Related to images 3271 and 3285.
Jeannie Liu, Lab of Jan Nolta, University of California, Davis, via CIRM
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3626: Bone cancer cell
3626: Bone cancer cell
This image shows an osteosarcoma cell with DNA in blue, energy factories (mitochondria) in yellow, and actin filaments—part of the cellular skeleton—in purple. One of the few cancers that originate in the bones, osteosarcoma is rare, with about a thousand new cases diagnosed each year in the United States.
This image was part of the Life: Magnified exhibit that ran from June 3, 2014, to January 21, 2015, at Dulles International Airport.
This image was part of the Life: Magnified exhibit that ran from June 3, 2014, to January 21, 2015, at Dulles International Airport.
Dylan Burnette and Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz, NICHD
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3604: Brain showing hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease
3604: Brain showing hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease
Along with blood vessels (red) and nerve cells (green), this mouse brain shows abnormal protein clumps known as plaques (blue). These plaques multiply in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease and are associated with the memory impairment characteristic of the disease. Because mice have genomes nearly identical to our own, they are used to study both the genetic and environmental factors that trigger Alzheimer's disease. Experimental treatments are also tested in mice to identify the best potential therapies for human patients.
This image was part of the Life: Magnified exhibit that ran from June 3, 2014, to January 21, 2015, at Dulles International Airport.
This image was part of the Life: Magnified exhibit that ran from June 3, 2014, to January 21, 2015, at Dulles International Airport.
Alvin Gogineni, Genentech
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6985: Fruit fly brain responds to adipokines
6985: Fruit fly brain responds to adipokines
Drosophila adult brain showing that an adipokine (fat hormone) generates a response from neurons (aqua) and regulates insulin-producing neurons (red).
Related to images 6982, 6983, and 6984.
Related to images 6982, 6983, and 6984.
Akhila Rajan, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
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3541: Cell in two stages of division
3541: Cell in two stages of division
This image shows a cell in two stages of division: prometaphase (top) and metaphase (bottom). To form identical daughter cells, chromosome pairs (blue) separate via the attachment of microtubules made up of tubulin proteins (pink) to specialized structures on centromeres (green).
Lilian Kabeche, Dartmouth
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3414: X-ray co-crystal structure of Src kinase bound to a DNA-templated macrocycle inhibitor 2
3414: X-ray co-crystal structure of Src kinase bound to a DNA-templated macrocycle inhibitor 2
X-ray co-crystal structure of Src kinase bound to a DNA-templated macrocycle inhibitor. Related to 3413, 3415, 3416, 3417, 3418, and 3419.
Markus A. Seeliger, Stony Brook University Medical School and David R. Liu, Harvard University
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6604: Enzyme reaction
6604: Enzyme reaction
Enzymes speed up chemical reactions by reducing the amount of energy needed for the reactions. The substrate (lactose) binds to the active site of the enzyme (lactase) and is converted into products (sugars).
NIGMS
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6605: Soft X-ray tomography of a pancreatic beta cell
6605: Soft X-ray tomography of a pancreatic beta cell
A color-coded, 3D model of a rat pancreatic β cell. This type of cell produces insulin, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar. Visible are mitochondria (pink), insulin vesicles (yellow), the nucleus (dark blue), and the plasma membrane (teal). This model was created based on soft X-ray tomography (SXT) images.
Carolyn Larabell, University of California, San Francisco.
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6612: Ciclo circadiano de un adolescente típico
6612: Ciclo circadiano de un adolescente típico
Los ritmos circadianos son cambios físicos, mentales y conductuales que siguen un ciclo de 24 horas. Los ritmos circadianos típicos conducen a un nivel alto de energía durante la mitad del día (de 10 a.m. a 1 p.m.) y un bajón por la tarde. De noche, los ritmos circadianos hacen que la hormona melatonina aumente, lo que hace que la persona se sienta somnolienta.
Vea 6611 para la versión en inglés de esta infografía.
Vea 6611 para la versión en inglés de esta infografía.
NIGMS
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2368: Mounting of protein crystals
2368: Mounting of protein crystals
Automated methods using micromachined silicon are used at the Northeast Collaboratory for Structural Genomics to mount protein crystals for X-ray crystallography.
The Northeast Collaboratory for Structural Genomics
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2341: Aminopeptidase N from N. meningitidis
2341: Aminopeptidase N from N. meningitidis
Model of the enzyme aminopeptidase N from the human pathogen Neisseria meningitidis, which can cause meningitis epidemics. The structure provides insight on the active site of this important molecule.
Midwest Center for Structural Genomics, PSI
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6986: Breast cancer cells change migration phenotypes
6986: Breast cancer cells change migration phenotypes
Cancer cells can change their migration phenotype, which includes their shape and the way that they move to invade different tissues. This movie shows breast cancer cells forming a tumor spheroid—a 3D ball of cancer cells—and invading the surrounding tissue. Images were taken using a laser scanning confocal microscope, and artificial intelligence (AI) models were used to segment and classify the images by migration phenotype. On the right side of the video, each phenotype is represented by a different color, as recognized by the AI program based on identifiable characteristics of those phenotypes. The movie demonstrates how cancer cells can use different migration modes during growth and metastasis—the spreading of cancer cells within the body.
Bo Sun, Oregon State University.
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3421: Structure of Glutamate Dehydrogenase
3421: Structure of Glutamate Dehydrogenase
Some children are born with a mutation in a regulatory site on this enzyme that causes them to over-secrete insulin when they consume protein. We found that a compound from green tea (shown in the stick figure and by the yellow spheres on the enzyme) is able to block this hyperactivity when given to animals with this disorder.
Judy Coyle, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
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6927: Axolotl showing nervous system
6927: Axolotl showing nervous system
The head of an axolotl—a type of salamander—that has been genetically modified so that its developing nervous system glows purple and its Schwann cell nuclei appear light blue. Schwann cells insulate and provide nutrients to peripheral nerve cells. Researchers often study axolotls for their extensive regenerative abilities. They can regrow tails, limbs, spinal cords, brains, and more. The researcher who took this image focuses on the role of the peripheral nervous system during limb regeneration.
This image was captured using a light sheet microscope.
Related to images 6928 and 6932.
This image was captured using a light sheet microscope.
Related to images 6928 and 6932.
Prayag Murawala, MDI Biological Laboratory and Hannover Medical School.
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6518: Biofilm formed by a pathogen
6518: Biofilm formed by a pathogen
A biofilm is a highly organized community of microorganisms that develops naturally on certain surfaces. These communities are common in natural environments and generally do not pose any danger to humans. Many microbes in biofilms have a positive impact on the planet and our societies. Biofilms can be helpful in treatment of wastewater, for example. This dime-sized biofilm, however, was formed by the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Under some conditions, this bacterium can infect wounds that are caused by severe burns. The bacterial cells release a variety of materials to form an extracellular matrix, which is stained red in this photograph. The matrix holds the biofilm together and protects the bacteria from antibiotics and the immune system.
Scott Chimileski, Ph.D., and Roberto Kolter, Ph.D., Harvard Medical School.
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2539: Chromosome inside nucleus
2539: Chromosome inside nucleus
The long, stringy DNA that makes up genes is spooled within chromosomes inside the nucleus of a cell. (Note that a gene would actually be a much longer stretch of DNA than what is shown here.) See image 2540 for a labeled version of this illustration. Featured in The New Genetics.
Crabtree + Company
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3521: HeLa cells
3521: HeLa cells
Multiphoton fluorescence image of HeLa cells stained with the actin binding toxin phalloidin (red), microtubules (cyan) and cell nuclei (blue). Nikon RTS2000MP custom laser scanning microscope. See related images 3518, 3519, 3520, 3522.
National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research (NCMIR)
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6538: Pathways: The Fascinating Cells of Research Organisms
6538: Pathways: The Fascinating Cells of Research Organisms
Learn how research organisms, such as fruit flies and mice, can help us understand and treat human diseases. Discover more resources from NIGMS’ Pathways collaboration with Scholastic. View the video on YouTube for closed captioning.
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
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6775: Tracking embryonic zebrafish cells
6775: Tracking embryonic zebrafish cells
To better understand cell movements in developing embryos, researchers isolated cells from early zebrafish embryos and grew them as clusters. Provided with the right signals, the clusters replicated some cell movements seen in intact embryos. Each line in this image depicts the movement of a single cell. The image was created using time-lapse confocal microscopy. Related to video 6776.
Liliana Solnica-Krezel, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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6903: Young squids
6903: Young squids
Real-time movie of young squids. Squids are often used as research organisms due to having the largest nervous system of any invertebrate, complex behaviors like instantaneous camouflage, and other unique traits.
This video was taken with polychromatic polarization microscope, as described in the Scientific Reports paper “Polychromatic Polarization Microscope: Bringing Colors to a Colorless World” by Shribak. The color is generated by interaction of white polarized light with the squid’s transparent soft tissue. The tissue works as a living tunable spectral filter, and the transmission band depends on the molecular orientation. When the young squid is moving, the tissue orientation changes, and its color shifts accordingly.
This video was taken with polychromatic polarization microscope, as described in the Scientific Reports paper “Polychromatic Polarization Microscope: Bringing Colors to a Colorless World” by Shribak. The color is generated by interaction of white polarized light with the squid’s transparent soft tissue. The tissue works as a living tunable spectral filter, and the transmission band depends on the molecular orientation. When the young squid is moving, the tissue orientation changes, and its color shifts accordingly.
Michael Shribak, Marine Biological Laboratory/University of Chicago.
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