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Structural biologists are first in world to visualize key cell protein

Phys · · 616 words · By Megan Burgasser
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What to know about Structural biologists are first in world to visualize key cell protein

Structural biologists at the University of Cincinnati have used cryogenic electron microscopy to visualize the structure of the regulator protein iRhom1 bound to the ADAM17 enzyme. The research provides insights into how these proteins function as molecular relays and identifies potential drug targets for treating chronic inflammatory diseases.

Propaganda risk 10%
Claims checked 14
Techniques found 0
Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center80%
Right20%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Structural biologists are first in world to visualize key cell protein Sadie Harley Scientific Editor Robert Egan Associate Editor University of Cincinnati structural biologists are the first in the world to visualize a key cell protein as part of newly…

Why it matters

The Seegar Lab has become the first to visualize the structure of a regulator protein, iRhom1, bound to the ADAM17 enzyme, using cryogenic electron microscopy housed in UC's Center for Advanced Structural Biology research facility.

Common ground

This follows the lab's work published last year that visualized the structure of ADAM17 bound to iRhom2.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

Structural biologists at the University of Cincinnati have used cryogenic electron microscopy to visualize the structure of the regulator protein iRhom1 bound to the ADAM17 enzyme. The research provides insights into how these proteins function as molecular relays and identifies potential drug targets for treating chronic inflammatory diseases.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-05-biologists-world-visualize-key-cell.html

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10%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 95%
Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 14 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 5
schedule Pending 4
help Insufficient Evidence 2
verified Verified By Reference 2
info Single Source 1
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Claim 1: “this latest research, published in Cell Reports, identified structural elements in both iRhom1 and iRhom2 that function as a molecular relay, transmitting information across the cell surface and linking intracellular signaling to the activation of ADAM17 enzymes at the cell surface.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web sources confirm the research was published in Cell Reports and identified structural elements in iRhom1 and iRhom2 acting as a molecular relay for ADAM17 activation.
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web search NEUTRAL — So this latest research, published in Cell Reports, identified structural elements in both iRhom1 and iRhom2 that function as a molecular relay, transmitting information across the cell surface and li…
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260522/Scientists-visual…
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web search NEUTRAL — The structural revelations of iRhom1’s interaction with ADAM17 offer invaluable clues into how cells fine-tune enzymatic activity amidst the dynamic signaling milieu within the body.
https://bioengineer.org/university-of-cincinnati-structural-…
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web search NEUTRAL — In all these cases, iRhom2 regulates ADAM17 activity. It is noteworthy that in the brain there is a clear separation of expression, with iRhom1 present in all cell types except for microglia, which ex…
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6451368/
schedule
Claim 2: “They found the variant was completely defective in supporting iRhom1-ADAM17 function.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 3: “The study's co-first authors are Joe Maciag, Ph.D., a research scientist in the Seegar Lab, and Joe Ungvary, a third-year cancer and cell biology graduate student.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources, including the study's author list and UC news reports, identify Joe Maciag and Joe Ungvary as the co-first authors.
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web search NEUTRAL — 4 days ago ... The study's co-first authors are Joe Maciag, PhD, a research scientist in the Seegar Lab, and Joe Ungvary, a third-year cancer and cell ...
https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2026/05/structure-of-key-ce…
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web search NEUTRAL — Ungvary, Joseph J. Maciag,. Hala F. Alnajjar, ...,. Jose Manuel Perez-Aguilar ... in this study are available from the corresponding author. Data and ...
https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/pdf/S2211-1247(26)00387-6.…
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web search NEUTRAL — 4 days ago ... The study's co-first authors, Joe Maciag, PhD, and Joe Ungvary ... Method of Research: Observational study. Keywords: Structural biology ...
https://bioengineer.org/university-of-cincinnati-structural-…
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Claim 4: “This follows the lab's work published last year that visualized the structure of ADAM17 bound to iRhom2.”
CORROBORATED
Web search results confirm the Seegar Lab previously resolved the structure of the ADAM17-iRhom2 complex, describing it as the 'first protein structures resolved at UC's Center'.
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web search NEUTRAL — The Seegar Lab’s work is just beginning. With the molecular blueprint of ADAM17 and iRhom2 now in hand, researchers will dive deeper—exploring how these proteins interact with others, how mutations mi…
https://www.sciencenewstoday.org/scientists-visualize-hidden…
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web search NEUTRAL — New Research Core Facility. The ADAM17-iRhom2 complex includes the first protein structures resolved at UC’s Center for Advanced Structural Biology, which was established in 2022. Seegar expressed, “W…
https://www.azolifesciences.com/news/20250616/Targeting-iRho…
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web search NEUTRAL — Why Structure Matters. ADAM17 is a membrane-bound enzyme found in every cell of the human body.The Seegar Lab is now planning its next steps, including deeper studies into how adapter proteins like iR…
https://cold-facts.org/2025/09/17/cryo-em-at-university-of-c…
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Claim 5: “Researchers also examined an iRhom1 mutation identified in a patient with cardiomyopathy.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
help
Claim 6: “ADAM17... exists only in a complex with iRhom1 and iRhom2.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided in the search results to confirm or deny whether ADAM17 exists exclusively in a complex with iRhom1 and iRhom2.
schedule
Claim 7: “Joseph N. Ungvary et al, Structural basis for ADAM17 activation by the iRhom1 pseudoprotease, Cell Reports (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2026.117309”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
help
Claim 8: “They found that the structures of both iRhom1 and iRhom2 are identical, as are their responses to intracellular signals”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided in the search results regarding whether the structures and signal responses of iRhom1 and iRhom2 are identical.
info
Claim 9: “Ectodomain shedding is the fundamental biological process in which enzymes, such as ADAM17, rapidly cleave and release other protein targets from the cell surface”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence provided for this claim consists of Mayo Clinic articles about kidney stones, which are completely irrelevant to the biological process of ectodomain shedding or ADAM17.
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web search NEUTRAL — Apr 4, 2025 · Kidney stones form in the kidneys. Symptoms may start as stones move into the ureters. The ureters are thin tubes that let urine pass from the kidneys to the bladder. Symptoms of kidney …
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kidney-stones…
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web search NEUTRAL — Apr 4, 2025 · Kidney stones that are too large to pass on their own may need more-extensive treatment. So might stones that cause bleeding, kidney damage or ongoing urinary tract infections. Treatment…
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kidney-stones…
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web search NEUTRAL — Dec 9, 2025 · Learn about kidney failure symptoms, tests, diagnosis and treatment options, including medicine, dialysis and kidney transplant.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-kidne…
schedule
Claim 10: “Dysregulated ADAM17 activity has been implicated in a wide spectrum of diseases such as chronic inflammation, cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
verified
Claim 11: “ADAM17 enzyme activity is essential in humans for proper tissue development and immune response”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia and scientific literature confirm ADAM17's role in regulating immune responses, inflammation, and tissue development.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A disintegrin and metalloprotease 17 (ADAM17), also called TACE (tumor necrosis factor-α-converting enzyme), is a 70-kDa enzyme that belongs to the ADAM protein family of disintegrins and metalloprote…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADAM17
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is an enzyme that can be found either attached to the membrane of cells (mACE2) in the intestines, kidney, testis, gallbladder, and heart or in a soluble form (s…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angiotensin-converting_enzyme_…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — L-selectin, also known as CD62L, is a cell adhesion molecule found on the cell surface of leukocytes, and the blastocyst. It is coded for in humans by the SELL gene. L-selectin belongs to the selectin…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L-selectin
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 12: “The Seegar Lab has become the first to visualize the structure of a regulator protein, iRhom1, bound to the ADAM17 enzyme, using cryogenic electron microscopy housed in UC's Center for Advanced Structural Biology research facility.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm the Seegar Lab used cryogenic electron microscopy at UC's Center for Advanced Structural Biology to visualize the iRhom1-ADAM17 structure.
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web search NEUTRAL — 1 day ago ... ... iRhom1, bound to the ADAM17 enzyme, using cryogenic electron microscopy housed in UC's Center for Advanced Structural Biology research facility.
https://phys.org/news/2026-05-biologists-world-visualize-key…
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web search NEUTRAL — 4 days ago ... The Seegar Lab has become the first to visualize the structure of a regulator protein, iRhom1, bound to the ADAM17 enzyme, using cryogenic ...
https://bioquicknews.com/university-of-cincinnati-structural…
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web search NEUTRAL — Dec 21, 2025 ... That was first of the many questions I had once I started my summer research with the Schiff Family Research Institute at Summit. Over the ...
https://www.summitcds.org/academics/summit-signatures/xxx-sc…
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Claim 13: “University of Cincinnati structural biologists are the first in the world to visualize a key cell protein as part of newly published research from the College of Medicine.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent web sources (EurekAlert!, University of Cincinnati news, and other reports) confirm that UC structural biologists are the first to visualize the iRhom1 protein bound to the ADAM17 enzyme.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Seegar Lab has become the first to visualize the structure of a regulator protein, iRhom1, bound to the ADAM17 enzyme, using cryogenic electron microscopy housed in UC’s Center for Advanced Struct…
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1129388
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Research from University of Cincinnati structural biologists has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. They used cryogenic electron microscopy to see two key protein s…
https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2025/06/uc-scientists-visua…
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web search NEUTRAL — “Our visualization of the iRhom1-ADAM17 complex provides a molecular framework explaining how signals are transferred across the membrane—a process fundamental to the enzyme’s regulation.
https://bioengineer.org/university-of-cincinnati-structural-…
verified
Claim 14: “regulating its activity is a drug target in treating chronic inflammatory diseases.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Scientific sources and web results explicitly state that ADAM17 is recognized as a potential therapeutic target for multiple diseases, including inflammatory and cancer-related conditions.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — A disintegrin and metalloprotease 17 (ADAM17), also called TACE (tumor necrosis factor-α-converting enzyme), is a 70-kDa enzyme that belongs to the ADAM protein family of disintegrins and metalloprote…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADAM17
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is an enzyme that can be found either attached to the membrane of cells (mACE2) in the intestines, kidney, testis, gallbladder, and heart or in a soluble form (s…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angiotensin-converting_enzyme_…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK 1), also known as ERK2, is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the MAPK1 gene.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAPK1
+ 3 more evidence sources
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.