Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Liliana Edith Rojas-Candelas, Jose Jorge Chanona-Perez, Juan Vicente Mendez Mendez, Jose Antonio Morales-Hernandez, Hector Alfredo Calderon Benavides
Summary: This study evaluated the influence of pH changes on the morphometric parameters and conformational structure of casein micelles. It was found that the morphology and secondary structure of casein micelles strongly depend on pH. Atomic force and cryo-transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the changes in average roughness, size, and shape of the micelles at different pH levels. Raman spectroscopy was also used to evaluate the folding and unfolding of casein molecules, which correlated well with the morphometric changes of the micelles.
MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Miguel Ricardo Leung, Tzviya Zeev-Ben-Mordehai
Summary: The different oligomeric forms of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) have defined cellular and subcellular distributions. While crystal structures of AChE and BChE have been available for many years, structures of the physiologically relevant cholinesterase tetramer were only recently solved by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). The next frontier in cholinesterase structural biology is to image membrane-anchored ChE oligomers directly in their native environment - the cell.
JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xuyuan Kuang, Kyle Nunn, Jennifer Jiang, Paul Castellano, Uttara Hardikar, Arianna Horgan, Joyce Kong, Zhiqun Tan, Wei Dai
Summary: Studies have shown that mHTT can spread between cells, leading to the propagation of misfolded protein pathology. By using correlative light and electron microscopy and cryo-electron tomography, researchers identified the structure of transmissive mHTT species and highlighted the potential role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the transmission process.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Simon Schiffer, Eva Scheidler, Tim Kiefer, Ulrich Kulozik
Summary: The study found that adding low amounts of calcium at low temperatures can reduce the casein content in milk serum, while adjusting pH separately has a minor effect on casein concentration and composition in the serum.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Domenica Farci, Patrycja Haniewicz, Dario Piano
Summary: The study found that the S-layer in Deinococcus radiodurans has crystalline regularity in all layers of the cell envelope, indicating its importance as a structural and functional scaffold.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Miguel Ricardo Leung, Marc C. Roelofs, Ravi Teja Ravi, Paula Maitan, Heiko Henning, Min Zhang, Elizabeth G. Bromfield, Stuart C. Howes, Bart M. Gadella, Hermes Bloomfield-Gadelha, Tzviya Zeev-Ben-Mordehai
Summary: This study utilized advanced cryo-imaging techniques to analyze the internal structures of sperm flagella from three mammalian species, revealing novel ways in which microtubule inner proteins are connected. The importance of the base structure for flagellar beating, as well as the coupling of outer dense fibers to microtubules, was demonstrated. Mammalian sperm flagella are decorated at multiple scales, with key structures at the nano- and micrometer levels.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Meijing Li, Ishita Tripathi-Giesgen, Brenda A. Schulman, Wolfgang Baumeister, Florian Wilfling
Summary: Selective macroautophagy is a process in which cytosolic material is enclosed in a double membrane organelle and transported to a lytic compartment for degradation. This study used cryo-electron tomography to observe the formation of phagophores around damaged Salmonella-containing vacuoles (SCVs). Host cells generated multiple phagophores at the site of SCVs and established contact with the endoplasmic reticulum for membrane formation and expansion.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dou Wu, Jingying Huang, Hao Zhu, Zhe Chen, Yongping Chai, Jingyi Ke, Kexin Lei, Zhao Peng, Ranhao Zhang, Xueming Li, Kaiyao Huang, Wei Li, Chengtian Zhao, Guangshuo Ou
Summary: The formation and regeneration of cilia require new protein synthesis. The study found that flagellar genes are transcriptionally activated early but translationally repressed late in the process. Additionally, sphingolipid metabolism enzymes were identified as essential regulators for ciliogenesis, and their interaction with the ciliary membrane and axoneme was suggested to be crucial for cilium formation.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Linhua Tai, Guoliang Yin, Fei Sun, Yun Zhu
Summary: The nuclear pore complex (NPC) is a large protein assembly that penetrates the nuclear membrane. Recent breakthroughs in cryo-EM and artificial intelligence-based modeling have allowed for improved understanding of the complex structure of the NPC. This review article summarizes the history and latest advancements in studying the architecture of the NPC, as well as future directions for research.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Tingting Yang, Dasong Liu, Peng Zhou
Summary: The temperature-dependent dissociation of human micellar 13-casein and its phosphorylation degrees were studied. Lower phosphorylation degrees of 13-casein isoforms may form a frame through hydrophobic interactions, attached with more highly phosphorylated isoforms and colloidal calcium phosphate via calcium bridges for forming human micelles.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Zohar Eyal, Leilah Krounbi, Oz Ben Joseph, Emanuel M. Avrahami, Iddo Pinkas, Hadas Peled-Zehavi, Assaf Gal
Summary: Biomineralization processes exhibit varying levels of control over crystallization. Coccoliths, calcified scales formed by unicellular algae, are a model for highly controlled crystallization. This study explores the relationship between base plate and coccolith properties and reveals that the combination of base plate and the chemical environment inside the cell plays a pivotal role in the exquisite control over the crystallization process.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Julika Radecke, Raphaela Seeger, Anna Kadkova, Ulrike Laugks, Amin Khosrozadeh, Kenneth N. Goldie, Vladan Lucic, Jakob B. Sorensen, Benoit Zuber
Summary: This study used cryo-electron tomography to observe the intermediate steps following synaptic stimulation, and found that during the early fusion stage after stimulation, synaptic vesicles undergo morphological changes to establish contact with the plasma membrane. The subsequent late fusion stage results in fusion pore opening and collapse of the synaptic vesicles. These morphological observations likely correspond to the transition of synaptic vesicles from one functional pool to another.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Xuefeng Du, Haohan Wang, Zhenxi Zhu, Xiangrui Zeng, Yi-Wei Chang, Jing Zhang, Eric Xing, Min Xu
Summary: In this study, a Hybrid Active Learning (HAL) framework is proposed to alleviate the labeling burden by querying a large pool of unlabeled subtomograms. HAL framework utilizes uncertainty sampling and a discriminator to optimize subtomogram selection, achieving comparable testing performance with less labeled resources.
Review
Cell Biology
K. Tanuj Sapra, Ohad Medalia
Summary: The eukaryotic cell cytoskeleton is a crucial structural scaffold that supports various biochemical and cellular functions, with the intermediate filament networks playing a key role in providing unique mechanical properties and increasing resilience under mechanical pressure. Mutations in intermediate filaments can lead to architectural integrity and functional issues in cellular processes, highlighting their importance in maintaining cellular function. The remarkable mechanical feature of intermediate filaments lies in their ability to transform under stress, making them one of the strongest and most resilient mechanical entities in nature.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sergio O. Serna-Hernandez, Zamantha Escobedo-Avellaneda, Rebeca Garcia-Garcia, Magdalena De Jesus Rostro-Alanis, Jorge Welti-Chanes
Summary: The study analyzed the effects of high-pressure processing on casein micelles, showing that increased pressure and treatment time led to fragmentation, shape alterations, and agglomeration of the micelles. It was also found that the presence of fat in whole milk samples had a bioprotective effect.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
G. L. Voronin, G. Ning, J. N. Coupland, R. Roberts, F. M. Harte
Summary: High-pressure-jet processing can alter the physiochemical properties of low-fat ice cream by changing the density, particle size, rheological behavior, hardness, and melting rate. This treatment disrupts casein micelles and fat droplets, leading to unique microstructures and potentially enhanced properties of the ice cream.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
D. M. Goulder, F. M. Harte
Summary: The study showed that adding low concentrations of calcium-binding salts can effectively prevent low-temperature gelation in milk protein concentrates (MPC), with sodium polyphosphate and sodium monophosphate being the most effective. All MPC samples exhibited shear-thinning behavior, with salt addition reducing viscosity and impacting gel formation.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
G. Lewis, J. N. Coupland, F. M. Harte
Summary: HPJ treatment causes a strong association between fat and casein proteins, with fat being entrapped by casein proteins in very small domains.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Stiphany Tieu, Federico Harte
Summary: This study aimed to improve acid and rennet milk gelation properties by mild thermal and pH changes to skim milk. The results indicated that increasing the pH at heating can enhance the gel strength and reduce the gelation time of the milk gel at lower heating temperatures.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
D. Perez, F. Harte, T. Lopez-Pedemonte
Summary: The above studies investigate the effects of heat treatment and ionic strength on the functionality of whey proteins, the gelation of 13-lactoglobulin/alpha-lactalbumin blends, the role of whey components in the kinetics and thermodynamics of 13-lactoglobulin unfolding and aggregation, the influence of NaCl concentration and protein concentration on the heat-induced gelation of whey protein isolates, the thermal denaturation of 13-lactoglobulin and its relationship with protein concentration at different pH levels, and the temperature dependence of acidity constants in relation to separation selectivity in capillary electrophoresis.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
G. Lewis, L. R. Bodinger, F. M. Harte
Summary: The effect of ethanol concentration and temperature on milk casein dissociation was investigated. A custom-made continuous monitoring unit was used to demonstrate the efficiency and precision of the experiments. Ethanol increased the hydrophobicity of the proteins at high temperatures.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Karen Keel, Federico M. Harte, Julio Berbejillo, Tomas Lopez-Pedemonte
Summary: This study investigates the controlled Maillard reaction (MR) to further glycosylate glycomacropeptide (GMP), improving its viscosity and foaming properties without negatively affecting solubility.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
N'Toia C. Hawkins, James L. Kizziah, Asma Hatoum-Aslan, Terje Dokland
Summary: In this study, the structure of the complete virion of the Staphylococcus epidermidis-infecting phage Andhra was determined using high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy. The findings provide insights into critical features for virion assembly, host recognition, and penetration.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Liz Astorga Oquendo, Grace Lewis, Ehsan Mahdinia, Federico Harte
Summary: High-pressure jet (HPJ) processing had a significant impact on the structural and physicochemical properties of soy protein isolates (SPIs) and pea protein isolates (PPIs), leading to the dissociation of large protein bodies into smaller aggregates and improving the solubility and foaming capacity of the proteins.
FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Peter Tandy, Kurt Lamour, Caroline Placidi de Bortoli, Rodney Nagoshi, Scott J. Emrich, Juan Luis Jurat-Fuentes
Summary: The Fall Armyworm is a highly polyphagous pest that has become a global super-pest and threatens food and fiber production. Transgenic crops producing insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are used for controlling this pest. DNA-based resistance screening is a promising tool for monitoring resistance to Bt crops.
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
M. M. D. Pinto, R. Ferreira dos Santos, S. A. De Bortoli, W. Moar, J. L. Jurat-Fuentes
Summary: In this study, no fitness costs were found in a dsRNA-resistant colony of the Colorado potato beetle, compared to the parental strain and a susceptible reference strain. This information is crucial for effective insect resistance management plans for dsRNA insecticides applied topically to potato leaves.
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Swati Mishra, William Moar, Juan Luis Jurat-Fuentes
Summary: This study compared the activity of four insecticides among different CPB strains, with abamectin showing the highest activity against all three CPB strains. However, no differences were observed between the dsRNA-resistant and susceptible CPB strains for any of the tested compounds. Overall, these results indicate a lack of cross-resistance to commonly used chemical insecticides in the dsRNA-resistant CPB strain.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Juan Sebastian Angel-Salazar, Claudia Echeverri-Rubiano, Jairo Rodriguez-Chalarca, Jershon Lopez-Gerena, Rafael Ferreira dos Santos, Juan Luis Jurat-Fuentes, Alexandra M. Revynthi, German Vargas
Summary: This study developed a bioassay method using fresh corn tissue to evaluate the efficacy of Cry1Ac insecticidal protein on various Diatraea species. The results showed high mortality and growth inhibition in all tested species, validating the use of this method to assess the control of these insect pests with other entomopathogenic substances.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Fangneng Huang, Ying Niu, Tiago Silva, Sebe Brown, Tyler Towles, Dawson Kerns, Juan Luis Jurat-Fuentes, Graham P. Head, Matthew Carroll, Wade Walker, Shucong Lin
Summary: Resistance to Cry toxins in the corn earworm/bollworm Helicoverpa zea poses a challenge for controlling this pest in the U.S.A. In a maize hybrid expressing Cry1A.105, Cry2Ab2, and Vip3Aa, unexpected survival and injury of H. zea were observed in Louisiana in 2021. Investigation revealed high resistance to Cry1A.105, moderate resistance to Cry2Ab2, but high susceptibility to Vip3Aa in H. zea populations from the affected plots.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Dawson D. Kerns, Fei Yang, David L. Kerns, Scott D. Stewart, Juan Luis Jurat-Fuentes
Summary: This study identified a Vip3Aa-resistant strain of Helicoverpa zea and revealed that the resistance is associated with altered Vip3Aa receptor. Understanding this resistance mechanism is important for managing current commercial Bt traits and developing future transgenic traits.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
