Biochemistry

Discovery could lead to new fungicides to protect rice crops

February 13, 2023
By Robert Sanders | UC Berkeley media relations

healthy rice field

Blast disease destroys between 10% and 35% of the world’s rice harvest each year. A new discovery could lead to fungicides that block the pathogen, Magnaporthe oryzae, from entering the leaves. This photo of a healthy rice field was taken in Chengdu, China, in 2019. (Photo credit: Nicholas Talbot)

A fungus that plagues rice crops worldwide gains entry to plant cells in a way that leaves...

An adjuvant made in yeast could lower vaccine cost and boost availability

May 8, 2024
By Robert Sanders | Berkeley News
Biosynthesis in yeast produces a cheaper immune-boosting ingredient of many vaccines.

ACS Publications names Chris Chang as the next Editor-in-Chief of Accounts of Chemical Research

November 14, 2023
ACS Press Release
Beginning in 2024, Professor Christopher J. Chang will take the helm as Editor-in-Chief of Accounts of Chemical Research.

Summer intern Arjun Garapaty designs microfluidic device

September 9, 2022
Story courtesy MRI Global

Arjun Garapaty at MRI Global

Arjun Garapaty during his summer internship at MRIGlobal. Photo courtesy of MRIGlobal.

Arjun Garapaty thinks big. It wasn’t that long ago that he earned a perfect score on his ACT test… as a sophomore in high school. Now a sophomore at University of California,...

Tiny microbes could brew big benefits for green biomanufacturing

May 10, 2023
By Theresa Duque | Lawrence Berkeley National Lab

Green industrial illustration

A team of scientists from the College of Chemistry and Berkeley Lab find a new route in bacteria to decarbonize industry. The discovery could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the manufacturing of fuels, drugs, and chemicals. Specifically, the team is looking at a metabolic process in bacteria that could be a sustainable source of carbon-based...

In Memoriam: John E. Hearst

October 25, 2022
UC Berkeley, College of Chemistry Press Release

John Hearst in his office -- undated photo

John Hearst in his office. Undated photo by Dennis Galloway. Collection of the College of Chemistry.

John E. Hearst, distinguished colleague and professor emeritus of chemistry, passed away this morning at the age of 87.

John was born in Vienna, Austria on July 2, 1935. He completed his B.E. in...

Sanjay Kumar named QB3-Berkeley director

September 5, 2022
UC Berkeley Office for the Vice Chancellor for Research | Press Release

Sanjay Kumar

Professor Kumar photographed at UC Berkeley. (Photo Annie Lin)

This week UC Berkeley’s office for the Vice Chancellor for Research announced that Professor Sanjay Kumar has been selected to serve as the next director of the...

At the interface of quantum and classical behavior in enzyme catalysis

May 8, 2022
UC Berkeley, College of Chemistry Press Release

Judith Klinman

Chancellor's Professor Judith Klinman was this year's G.N. Lewis guest lecturer at the College of Chemistry. Prof. Klinman discussed her remarkable career of over five decades of chemical research and some of her important discoveries. Prof. Klinman joins a group of honored scientists going back...

Genetically modified rice could emit fewer greenhouse gases

January 3, 2022
Eric Roston | Bloomberg

Rice planting

Photo: Worker planting rice. (Adobe Stock)

Fifteen years after their initial meeting to discuss what has become the CRISPR revolution, Professors Jill Banfield and Jennifer Doudna of UC Berkeley,...

"Self-destructing plastic" wins top Prize in Create the Future contest

October 7, 2021
SAE Media Group | Press Release

Example of film

Over 300 million tons of plastic are produced annually – equivalent to the entire weight of the human population. Less than 10% is recycled; most end up in landfills. A research team in the lab of Professor Ting Xu, Professor of Materials Science & Engineering and...