An illustration depicting the mechanism of the Crunch cell targeting system developed by researchers at Kyoto University. A blue silhouette of a person stands on the left. On the right is a magnified image of inside the body, where purple malignant cells have yellow proteins on their surface. A green adaptor protein depicted as being attracted to the yellow proteins is flying to the cells, while an orange phagocyte is attached to the adaptor protein.
| 2 min read
Researchers modified a protein in the cell elimination pathway to create a targeted system for destroying disease-causing cells, called Crunch.

phagocytosis

Microscopy image of a hair follicle shaft with clusters of orange debris surrounded by a group of green cells. Purple cells surround the hair root.

Stem Cells Dine on Dying Neighbors to Keep Tissues Fit 

Epithelial cells and fungal spores are marked with fluorescent dyes. Cells have an irregular shape and are shown in green and blue colors. Spores are spherical in shape and are labeled green if they are surrounded by p11 protein. A protein in mature phagosomes is labeled violet.

Fungal Spores Hijack a Host Protein to Escape Death

Illustration showing the path result of Eukaryogenesis

Infographic: Evolutionary Leaps Leading to Modern Eukaryotes

A microscope image of Legionellales bacteria infecting a protozoan

Ancestral Bacteria May Have Invaded Early Eukaryotic Cells

The adaptive and innate immune responses collaborate to attack T-cell resistant cancer cells

LabTalk Podcast - Phagocidal Macrophages: A New Battle Tactic Against Resistant Cancers

800x560-oct-5-2021

Technique Talk: Live-Cell Imaging Strategies to Quantify Phagocytosis

Microglia Tamp Down Neurogenesis

Inner Ear Undertakers

All Systems Go

Trending

An old medical illustration features the ear in the center with nerves of the head shown in yellow.

The Ear as a Therapeutic Gateway to the Vagus Nerve

Photo of John Calhoun crouches within his rodent utopia-turned-dystopia

Universe 25 Experiment

3D illustration showing three differently colored semi-translucent cells, representing different T cell subtypes, on a black background. A purple cell is in the front on the right, a red cell is on the left, and a blue cell sits behind the red one.

T Cell Nomenclature Gets an Update

A yellow-colored frozen frog.

Freeze-Tolerant Frogs Power Organ Cryopreservation Strategies

Multimedia

Skip the Wait for Protein Stability Data with Aunty

Skip the Wait for Protein Stability Data with Aunty

Unchained Labs
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Thermo Scientific X and S Series General Purpose Centrifuges

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Illustration of a developing fetus surrounded by a clear fluid with a subtle yellow tinge, representing amniotic fluid.
January 2026, Issue 1

What Is the Amniotic Fluid Composed of?

The liquid world of fetal development provides a rich source of nutrition and protection tailored to meet the needs of the growing fetus.

View this Issue
Skip the Wait for Protein Stability Data with Aunty

Skip the Wait for Protein Stability Data with Aunty

Unchained Labs
Graphic of three DNA helices in various colors

An Automated DNA-to-Data Framework for Production-Scale Sequencing

illumina
Exploring Cellular Organization with Spatial Proteomics

Exploring Cellular Organization with Spatial Proteomics

Abstract illustration of spheres with multiple layers, representing endoderm, ectoderm, and mesoderm derived organoids

Organoid Origins and How to Grow Them

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Biotium Launches GlycoLiner™ Cell Surface Glycoprotein Labeling Kits for Rapid and Selective Cell Surface Imaging

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Thermo Scientific X and S Series General Purpose Centrifuges

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VANTAstar Flexible microplate reader with simplified workflows

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