India, Aug. 13 -- National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela, Researchers have uncovered how natural sugar-like molecules in the human body can alter the behavior of Bone Morphogenetic Protrin-2 (BMP-2), a protein responsible for bone formation and repair. Published in the prestigious journal Biochemistry, the findings of this research can be used for advanced treatments in bone and cartilage regeneration, improved implants, and more effective protein-based medicines.

From building tissues, and supporting chemical reactions, to acting as signals between cells, proteins carry out various functions in the human body. However, for best productivity, they need to be folded or unfolded into precise three-dimensional shapes. Understanding...