Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lauren L. Daniele, John Y. S. Han, Ivy S. Samuels, Ravikiran Komirisetty, Nikhil Mehta, Jessica L. McCord, Minzhong Yu, Yekai Wang, Kathleen Boesze-Battaglia, Brent A. Bell, Jianhai Du, Neal S. Peachey, Nancy J. Philp
Summary: Glucose supply is crucial for the normal functioning and survival of retinal cells. This study demonstrates the essential role of glucose in maintaining and sustaining rod photoreceptor outer segments (OS), with minimal impact on cone photoreceptor cells.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dianlei Guo, Jiali Ru, Lijing Xie, Mingjuan Wu, Yingchun Su, Shiyong Zhu, Shujuan Xu, Bin Zou, Yanhong Wei, Xialin Liu, Yizhi Liu, Chunqiao Liu
Summary: The study discovered that Tmem138 plays a crucial role in the functional organization of photoreceptor connecting cilium (CC), which is essential for rhodopsin localization and outer segment (OS) biogenesis. Inactivation of Tmem138 leads to abnormal development of OS and degeneration of photoreceptor cells.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Jillian N. Pearring, Jorge Martinez-Marquez, Jason R. Willer, Eric C. Lieu, Raquel Y. Salinas, Vadim Y. Arshavsky
Summary: The study found that the targeted delivery of the rod cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channel to the outer segment uses the conventional secretory pathway and requires preassembly of its constituent alpha 1 and beta 1 subunits. The N-terminal glutamic acid-rich protein domain of CNG beta 1 encodes specific information targeting the channel to rod outer segments and connects the channel to photoreceptor disk rims through an interaction with peripherin-2. These findings reveal fine functional specializations within the CNG channel's structural domains and suggest that its sequestration to the outer segment plasma membrane requires an interaction with peripherin-2.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Taichi Kurita, Tomoaki Terabayashi, Shunsaku Kimura, Keiji Numata, Hirotaka Uji
Summary: Researchers successfully constructed single PNTs by modifying side-chains of helical peptides and investigated their piezoelectric properties. The piezoelectric response of a single PNT was found to be induced by deformation of their cyclic skeletons and was independent of the bundled structure.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paula Grenon, Gerardo R. Corradi, Guido D. Petrovich, Luciana R. Mazzitelli, Hugo P. Adamo
Summary: The study focused on the role of the arm-like domain in Spf1p P5A-ATPase, showing that it is not essential for hydrolytic activity but is needed for stabilizing the enzyme in a phosphorylation-ready conformation. The Darm mutant displayed reduced ATP hydrolysis and non-nucleotide substrate analog activity compared to the wild type enzyme.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Sangjin Yang, Jaeyeong Park, Seonghun Jeong, Yongjoon Cho, Mingyu Jeong, Jiyeon Oh, Seunglok Lee, Jeewon Park, Seong-Jun Yoon, Changduk Yang
Summary: This study presents two new isomeric nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) with different side chain engineering, and demonstrates that the positioning of fluorine atoms on the 2D outer side chains can significantly affect the thermal stability and performance of organic solar cells (OSCs). The NFA 4FY, with a diagonal stretching conformation and a higher dipole moment, exhibits better crystallinity and molecular packing, resulting in a higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) and excellent thermal stability compared to the NFA 2FY.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Dongmei Mai, Rongqing Chen, Ji Wang, Jiawei Zheng, Xiuping Zhang, Shaogang Qu
Summary: This study investigated the role of 14 crucial amino acid residues in TM2 of EAAT2, finding that mutations in these residues affect the localization, substrate affinity, and activity of EAAT2, thereby influencing its transporter function.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Michael Prosniak, Lawrence C. Kenyon, D. Craig Hooper
Summary: The difficulty in treating glioblastoma comes from its infiltrative growth and a population of therapy-resistant cells. By analyzing the expression of protein markers in tumor specimens, cells more likely to have these properties can be identified.
JOURNAL OF NEUROPATHOLOGY AND EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Zhi Pang, Ting Qi, Baolin Li
Summary: Two novel helical aromatic foldamer derivatives with different side chains were synthesized and characterized. Chemical modification of the foldamers significantly enhanced fluorescence due to intramolecular charge transfer. 1D helical self-assembly led to a redshift in emission wavelength and increased phosphorescence lifetimes in crystals.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paul Linsdell, Christina L. Irving, Elizabeth A. Cowley, Yassine El Hiani
Summary: Positively charged amino acid side-chains are important for anion binding and permeation through the CFTR chloride channel. The lysine residue K95 and arginine residue R134 within the pore play crucial roles in anion binding and conductance properties. Despite the importance of specific positive charges, it is the overall number of charges rather than their exact locations that control pore function.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Naijie Wang, Xiangqun Chen, Qiu Sun, Ying Song, Tiezhu Xin
Summary: A self-standing and flexible polyurethane-based single-ion conductor membrane was prepared by tethering the trifluoromethanesulfonamide anion to polyurethane. The polymer electrolyte exhibited excellent ionic conductivity, mechanical properties, lithium-ion transfer number, thermal stability, and a broad electrochemical window. Consequently, the plasticized electrolyte membrane showed exceptional stability and reliability in a Li||Li symmetric battery.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gwenaelle Conseil, Susan P. C. Cole
Summary: Specific mutations in the human multidrug resistance protein 1 (ABCC1) were found to affect both transport activity and expression levels, with mutations in the coupling helix residues having a smaller impact on transport activity and mutations in the flanking amino acid residues having a larger impact on expression levels.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Athmen Zenati, Ismail Kada, Gherici-Kaddour Zaouia
Summary: A new series of hybrid triblock copolymers based on hard-soft-hard segments were synthesized via RAFT polymerization and characterized by various analytical techniques. TBCs with different block ratios exhibited distinct morphologies, with TBC-5 containing a higher PDOPAM ratio generating a highly ordered cylindrical nanostructure.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paul Linsdell
Summary: Cystic fibrosis is caused by mutations in CFTR gene. The F337 amino acid within the selectivity filter plays a crucial role in the channel's conductivity and selectivity. Anion selectivity depends on side-chain size and hydrophobicity. Unique interactions between permeating Cl- ions and the native phenylalanine side-chain are important for channel's conductance.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE BIOLOGY
(2023)