Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Anusha Kishore, Lu Fan, Frank Stahl, Thomas Reichel, Karsten Krueger, Carsten Zeilinger
Summary: In this study, a multifunctional and robust assay for HSP90 alpha was developed using Streptavidin conjugated quantum dots as fluorophores. The masking of fluorescence technique was used to detect protein-ligand interactions and the presence of protein in biological samples. The results show that this approach is promising for rapid detection of complex biological samples.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Solange Flatt, Daniel Maria Busiello, Stefano Zamuner, Paolo de los Rios
Summary: ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are biological machines that perform crucial import or export of substrates across membranes, driven by ATP hydrolysis. We propose a model that shows ABC transporters are molecular realizations of autonomous Maxwell Demons, which use information to drive systems out of equilibrium. Our framework provides a bridge between the molecular-level description and the language of information theory for ABC transporters.
COMMUNICATIONS PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Stefano A. Serapian, Elisabetta Moroni, Mariarosaria Ferraro, Giorgio Colombo
Summary: Trap1 is an ATPase protein that plays a crucial role in cancer development by overseeing the correct folding of client proteins. Through computational investigations, it has been found that Trap1 adopts a distinctive asymmetric closed homodimeric conformation to facilitate ATP hydrolysis, with a catalytic glutamate deprotonating water molecule playing a key role in the process. Additionally, tyrosine has been identified as the main mediator favoring ATP hydrolysis in Trap1, providing insight into the protein's reactivity and potential for developing selective modulators of its activities.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Timothy R. Stachowski, Marcus Fischer
Summary: Protein flexibility is crucial in drug design, especially for targeting dynamic proteins like Hsp90. The analysis of Hsp90 alpha crystal structures revealed different conformations of the lid domain that accommodate chemically distinct ligands. This study highlights the importance of considering protein ensembles and warns against overinterpreting individual crystal structures in drug design.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Zenan Zhou, Han Yang, Xinxin Liang, Tao Zhou, Tao Zhang, Yang Yang, Jiadong Wang, Weibin Wang
Summary: C1orf112 complexed with FIGNL1 facilitates the disassembly of RAD51 filament, and C1orf112 plays an important role in RAD51 regulation in the HR step of ICL repair by FA pathway.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lorena Ilcu, Lukas Denkhaus, Anton Brausemann, Lin Zhang, Oliver Einsle
Summary: Mono- and multiheme cytochromes c in Escherichia coli are matured through covalent attachment of heme using the complex Ccm-system. Cryo-electron microscopic structures of the heme translocation complex CcmABCD from E. coli are reported, showcasing its mechanism of shuttling heme across the membrane to the heme chaperone CcmE. ATP hydrolysis at CcmA and a conserved heme-handling motif (WxWD) at CcmC facilitate the rotation and covalent attachment of heme.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Angeliki Giannoulis, Akiva Feintuch, Tamar Unger, Shiran Amir, Daniella Goldfarb
Summary: This study explored the binding of co-chaperone Sbal to yeast Hsp90 (yHsp90) and the conformational change of yHsp90 in the pre- and post-ATP hydrolysis states using DEER distance measurements. The results showed that Sba1 can induce a closed conformation in yHsp90, providing structural experimental evidence for the tuning of yHsp90 conformation by Sba1 binding.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Sabrina Chumpen Ramirez, Ruben Gomez-Sanchez, Pauline Verlhac, Ralph Hardenberg, Eleonora Margheritis, Katia Cosentino, Fulvio Reggiori, Christian Ungermann
Summary: During autophagy, Atg9 plays a critical role in establishing membrane contact sites and promoting lipid transfer. However, a specific mutation in Atg9 can impair autophagy progression by blocking phagophore expansion.
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Xuxu Yang, Jason Steck, Jiawei Yang, Yecheng Wang, Zhigang Suo
Summary: This study investigates the crack growth in heterogeneous degradation of plastic, specifically in the case of polylactic acid (PLA). The findings show that crack velocity is insensitive to load but sensitive to humidity and pH, providing valuable insights for the development of degradable plastics in healthcare and sustainability.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
John Paul Alao, Ikponwmosa Obaseki, Yaa Sarfowah Amankwah, Quinn Nguyen, Meghana Sugoor, Erin Unruh, Hannah Oluwaseun Popoola, Riina Tehver, Andrea N. Kravats
Summary: Grp94, an ER-localized molecular chaperone, undergoes large-scale conformational changes facilitated by ATP hydrolysis and nucleotide binding. Our simulations reveal that ATP binding promotes rigidity, while ATP hydrolysis or nucleotide removal enhances mobility and suppresses interdomain communication. We also identified potential regulatory roles of the flexible linker and residues important for signaling conformational change.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alejandro Gutierrez Cruz, Mafalda S. L. Aresta Branco, Brian A. Perrino, Kenton M. Sanders, Violeta N. Mutafova-Yambolieva
Summary: Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) is released in the bladder lumen during filling to regulate bladder excitability. Increased urinary ATP is suggested as a biomarker for bladder dysfunctions including overactive bladder, interstitial cystitis, and bladder pain syndrome. Altered urinary ATP might also be associated with voiding dysfunctions linked to disease states associated with metabolic syndrome.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexandra D. Gurzau, Christopher R. Horne, Yee-Foong Mok, Megan Iminitoff, Tracy A. Willson, Samuel N. Young, Marnie E. Blewitt, James M. Murphy
Summary: SMCHD1 is an epigenetic regulator that mediates gene expression silencing, and dimerization of its N-terminal ATPase and C-terminal SMC hinge domains plays a crucial role in its function. The targeted deletion of the N-terminal UBL domain disrupts the localization of SMCHD1 to chromatin in cells, indicating its importance for chromatin interaction.
BIOCHEMICAL JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Biology
Naima G. Sharaf, Mona Shahgholi, Esther Kim, Jeffrey Y. Lai, David G. VanderVelde, Allen T. Lee, Douglas C. Rees
Summary: NmMetQ is a lipoprotein that binds multiple methionine analogs and plays dual roles in bacterial transport processes, tethering to membranes via a lipid anchor. It has been found to stimulate the ATPase activity of NmMetNI and may also have additional functions on the bacterial surface.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jinseung Jeong, Byeongho Moon, Inhwan Hwang, Dong Wook Lee
Summary: Protein import into chloroplasts and mitochondria is influenced by the folding states of preproteins, with chloroplast machinery being more tolerant to different folding states, while mitochondrial machinery being specialized in translocating unfolded preproteins.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yuhuan Cui, Changning Sun, Guopeng Ding, Ming Zhao, Xin Ge, Wei Zhang, Yongfu Zhu, Zhili Wang, Qing Jiang
Summary: Electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) has attracted attention as a sustainable alternative to the energy intensive Haber-Bosch process for ammonia synthesis and wastewater treatment. However, the current NO3RR suffers from low ammonia yield and poor selectivity due to the lack of effective electrocatalysts. In this study, a bimodal nanoporous Ru-doped Cu catalyst is reported, which exhibits ultrahigh ammonia yield rate and Faradaic efficiency, outperforming most of the reported catalysts under similar conditions. The study provides a new avenue for the rational design of high-performance catalysts for NO3RR and other important applications.
SCIENCE CHINA-MATERIALS
(2023)