A 2025 study by Randal Halfmann's team at the Stowers Institute of Medical Research published evidence that the polymerization of death fold proteins involves a burst of energy analogous to the energy release during liquid-to-crystal transitions (as in reusable hand warmers), and that this energetic release can drive a rapid chain reaction of polymerization.
October 16, 2025
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Study linking energy release from protein polymerization to the mechanism of death fold-driven cell death.