Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jiwei Liu, Frances Joan D. Alvarez, Daniel K. Clare, Jeffrey K. Noel, Peijun Zhang
Summary: Dynamin, belonging to the large GTPase superfamily, mediates vesicle fission during endocytosis. The cryoEM structure of a super-constricted two-start dynamin 1 filament provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of dynamin-mediated membrane scission, including key rotations and the role of elasticity theory.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Hayeon Sa, Junsu Lee, Hongil Jo, Dohyun Moon, Min Kim, Kang Min Ok, Tae-Soo You
Summary: Five ternary and quaternary Zintl phases were synthesized in the solid-solution system, characterized by complex crystal structures involving both cationic polyhedra and anionic frameworks. The crystal growth mechanism and site preferences of the substituted p-type double dopants were studied, with theoretical calculations supporting the observed effects. Additionally, changes in reaction conditions led to morphological shifts in the crystals, influenced by the inclusion of p-type Ge dopants. The Seebeck coefficient measurements indicated effective elimination of electron charge carriers by the p-type double dopants.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Kerry Gainor, Anne A. M. J. Becker, Yashpal S. Malik, Souvik Ghosh
Summary: The study detected multiple adenoviruses from fecal samples of small Indian mongooses, with most showing high homology to bovine adenovirus-6 and some being more closely related to reptilian atadenoviruses. The unique Mon-34, related to Mastadenovirus, formed a distinct branch in the phylogenetic analysis.
Article
Biophysics
Lara Clemens, Mikhail Kutuzov, Kristina Viktoria Bayer, Jesse Goyette, Jun Allard, Omer Dushek
Summary: The study measured the molecular reach of SHP-1 and found that it can achieve a longer reach by exploring multiple active conformations. Modeling showed that when receptor-SHP-1 complexes are coclustered, they can reach 90% of substrates. Furthermore, membrane recruitment increases the activity of SHP-1 by a 1000-fold increase in local concentration.
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhaotong Cong, Li-Nan Chen, Honglei Ma, Qingtong Zhou, Xinyu Zou, Chenyu Ye, Antao Dai, Qing Liu, Wei Huang, Xianqiang Sun, Xi Wang, Peiyu Xu, Lihua Zhao, Tian Xia, Wenge Zhong, Dehua Yang, H. Eric Xu, Yan Zhang, Ming-Wei Wang
Summary: This study reports the cryo-EM structures of GLP-1R bound to an ago-allosteric modulator, revealing how the modulator executes positive allosteric modulation by enhancing both agonist binding and G protein coupling.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Shi-Li Xia, Meng Li, Bing Chen, Chao Wang, Yong-Hong Yan, Meng-Qiu Dong, Yingchuan B. Qi
Summary: The neural circuits develop through a plastic phase orchestrated by genetic programs and environmental signals. A transmembrane protein called PAN-1 has been identified as essential for synaptic rewiring in C. elegans. The interaction between PAN-1 and MYRF on the cell membrane is crucial for the neuronal rewiring process.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xiaojie Chai, Jianwei Lian, Chao Wang, Xiaobing Hu, Jie Sun, Jun Jiang, Anquan Jiang
Summary: By controlling charge injection, stabilized H-H DWs, NDWs, and T-T DWs were achieved within a LiNbO3 transistor, expanding the application of domain walls in future nano-devices.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sylvia Nkombo Nkoula, Griselda Velez-Aguilera, Batool Ossareh-Nazari, Lucie Van Hove, Cristina Ayuso, Veronique Legros, Guillaume Chevreux, Laura Thomas, Geraldine Seydoux, Peter Askjaer, Lionel Pintard
Summary: This study reveals that nuclear pore complex (NPC) disassembly is a stepwise process involving both Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK-1)-dependent and -independent steps. PLK-1 targets multiple NPC subcomplexes by phosphorylating intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) of multivalent linker nucleoporins. The targeting of IDRs of multivalent linker nucleoporins is an evolutionarily conserved driver of NPC disassembly during mitosis.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xiao-Qi Sun, Gui-Ya Qin, Hui-Yuan Li, Heng-Yu Jin, Rui Wang, Hui Li, Ai-Min Ren, Jing-Fu Guo
Summary: Asymmetric aryl anthracene derivatives have unique physical and optoelectronic properties, but their poor crystal stacking patterns limit their application as high-performance organic semiconductors. A study on a series of these derivatives revealed that the vinyl-linker facilitates hole injection and the alkynyl-linker effectively reduces reorganization energy. The linear polarizability and permanent dipole moment of a single molecule play important roles in regulating molecular stacking modes and dimer transfer integrals. This research provides insights into the charge transport properties of asymmetric organic semiconductors and is essential for developing high-performance OSC materials.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
J. Ross Terrell, Samuel J. Taylor, Amelia L. Schneider, Yue Lu, Tyler N. Vernon, Suela Xhani, Ryan H. Gumpper, Ming Luo, W. David Wilson, Ulrich Steidl, Gregory M. K. Poon
Summary: Through characterizing 22 high-resolution co-crystallographic PU.1/DNA complexes, it was found that PU.1/Spi-1 can engage DNA with different affinities. Affinity is determined by direct readout on the 5' flank via a critical glutamine (Q226) sidechain and by indirect readout on the 3' flank by sequence dependent helical flexibility.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Qiuyan Chen, Manolo Plasencia, Zhuang Li, Somnath Mukherjee, Dhabaleswar Patra, Chun-Liang Chen, Thomas Klose, Xin-Qiu Yao, Anthony A. Kossiakoff, Leifu Chang, Philip C. Andrews, John J. G. Tesmer
Summary: GRKs selectively phosphorylate activated GPCRs for desensitization, with a conserved region at the GRK N terminus playing a crucial role. Cryo-EM reconstructions revealed the binding mechanism between GRK1 and Rho*, providing insights into how a small family of protein kinases can recognize and be activated by numerous GPCRs.
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Diana O. Nekrasova, Alexander A. Tsirlin, Marie Colmont, Oleg Siidra, Angel M. Arevalo-Lopez, Olivier Mentre
Summary: The study reveals that the lattice relaxation and insertion of neutral CuO species occur when replacing alkali metals with larger Rb and Cs ions. The magnetic properties show complex behavior of S = 1 Cu-14 spin clusters.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Su-Hwan Go, Dae-Su Kim, Jae-Min Eum, Ho-Sung Shin, Seok-June Chae, Sun-Woo Kim, Eun-Ji Kim, Jong-Un Woo, Sahn Nahm
Summary: Fe2O3-containing 0.96(K0.5Na0.5)(Nb0.93Sb0.07)-(0.04-x)CaZrO3-x(Bi, Ag)ZrO3 piezoceramics fabricated at 1090 degrees C in the range of 0.0 <= x <= 0.04 exhibit an ideal R-O-T multi-structure and nanodomains, leading to an extremely high piezoelectric constant of 680 +/- 10 pC/N.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dong Kyu Kim, Hyun Joo Lee, Jiwon Kong, Ha Yeon Cho, Sunghoon Kim, Beom Sik Kang
Summary: In this study, crystal structures of the human MRS catalytic main body and the complex of the GST domain and AIMP3 were determined. The structures reveal human-specific details of MRS and provide a dynamic model for understanding the domain orientation of MRS. This study suggests a dynamic switching between two possible MRS conformations based on the position of the GST domain relative to the catalytic main body.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yutaro Shiraishi, Yutaka Kofuku, Takumi Ueda, Shubhi Pandey, Hemlata Dwivedi-Agnihotri, Arun K. Shukla, Ichio Shimada
Summary: The study investigates the interactions between beta-arrestin 1 and a GPCR using NMR measurements, finding that the C tail-mediated interaction alone partially activates beta-arrestin 1, while the TM core- and C tail-mediated interactions together stabilize its activated conformation.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Review
Virology
Pedro J. de Pablo, Carmen San Martin
Summary: Understanding the assembly and disassembly of adenoviruses is challenging due to their complexity. Cryoelectron microscopy and atomic force microscopy have provided insights into the structure and function of adenoviruses, particularly the roles of core proteins.
CURRENT OPINION IN VIROLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Edward N. Baker, Charles S. Bond, Elspeth F. Garman, Janet Newman, Randy J. Read, Mark J. van Raaij
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Maria Benko, Koki Aoki, Niklas Arnberg, Andrew J. Davison, Marcela Echavarria, Michael Hess, Morris S. Jones, Gyozo L. Kajan, Adriana E. Kajon, Suresh K. Mittal, Iva I. Podgorski, Carmen San Martin, Goran Wadell, Hidemi Watanabe, Balazs Harrach
Summary: The family Adenoviridae consists of non-enveloped viruses with linear dsDNA genomes and medium-sized icosahedral capsids. Adenoviruses have been found in vertebrates from fish to humans. The family is divided into six genera, each of which is more prevalent in certain animal groups. The outcome of infection can range from subclinical to lethal disease.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Review
Virology
Abhimanyu K. Singh, Kalyan Das
Summary: Reverse transcriptase (RT) is a key enzyme in the life cycle of HIV. Structural studies using X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM have provided valuable insights into RT activities, inhibition, and drug resistance, contributing to the development of anti-HIV drugs.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Roberto Vazquez, Mateo Seoane-Blanco, Virginia Rivero-Buceta, Susana Ruiz, Mark J. van Raaij, Pedro Garcia
Summary: The antimicrobial activity of the endolysin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage JG004, termed Pae87, has been characterized. A high-resolution crystal structure of Pae87 complexed with a peptidoglycan fragment showed a separate substrate-binding region within the catalytic domain. An antimicrobial peptide-like region within the Pae87 C-terminus, named P87, was found to be able to actively disturb the outer membrane and display antibacterial activity by itself. Therefore, an antimicrobial mechanism for Pae87 is proposed in which the P87 peptide plays the role of binding to the outer membrane and disrupting the cell-wall function.
ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D-STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Abhimanyu K. Singh, Brent De Wijngaert, Marc Bijnens, Kris Uyttersprot, Hoai Nguyen, Sergio E. Martinez, Dominique Schols, Piet Herdewijn, Christophe Pannecouque, Eddy Arnold, Kalyan Das
Summary: A protocol for rapid structure determination of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) complexes by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has been optimized. Six structures of RT complexes with nonnucleoside inhibitors were determined, revealing important differences in structure and conformation. These differences have implications for understanding drug resistance mechanisms and drug design.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Ashrafali M. Ismail, Amrita Saha, Ji S. Lee, David F. Painter, Yinghua Chen, Gurdeep Singh, Gabriela N. Condezo, James Chodosh, Carmen San Martin, Jaya Rajaiya
Summary: In this study, the interaction between adenovirus protein pIIIa and host cellular proteins USP9x and RANBP2 was investigated. It was found that USP9x negatively regulates viral replication and protein expression, while RANBP2 is important for pIIIa transport and viral assembly. These findings have potential implications in the development of new antiviral therapeutics.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cristina Di Carluccio, Pablo Soriano Maldonado, Francesca Berni, Carla J. C. de Haas, A. Robin Temming, Astrid Hendriks, Sara Ali, Antonio Molinaro, Alba Silipo, Nina M. van Sorge, Mark J. van Raaij, Jeroen D. C. Codee, Roberta Marchetti
Summary: Wall teichoic acids (WTAs) are glycopolymers on the surface of bacteria and potential targets for antibody-based treatments. Research has uncovered the molecular and structural details of synthetic WTA fragments recognized by specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). The study highlights the importance of phosphate groups and residues in the WTA backbone for ligand specificity.
ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Aida Sanz Calderon, Miguel Cantero, Uxia Perez, Paula Ortega-Gonzalez, Carmen San Martin, Pedro. J. de Pablo, Miguel Manso Silvan, Mercedes Hernando-Perez
Summary: Studies on the adsorption of viruses on surfaces with optimized properties have attracted attention due to their influence on the retention, orientation, and stability of viral capsids. Additionally, viruses can be used as cages or vectors in various fields. The physical properties of virus nanocages, such as their mechanical response and surface charge distribution, are crucial for their applications. This study demonstrates the strong surface interactions of two viruses on homogeneous hydrophobic surfaces and compares their mechanical properties with those on mica and graphite surfaces. The functionalized surfaces are validated as platforms for the characterization of virus particles, contributing to the understanding of their physical properties.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Angela Rodriguez, Maria Maneiro, Emilio Lence, Jose M. Otero, Mark J. J. van Raaij, Paul Thompson, Alastair R. R. Hawkins, Concepcion Gonzalez-Bello
Summary: This study explores irreversible inhibition of DHQ1 enzyme by enhancing the electrophilicity of ligand and utilizing the acid-base properties of amino substituents. Compound 6, with a hydroxyamino substituent, serves as a time-dependent irreversible inhibitor, while compounds 7 and 8 do not allow enzyme modification. Crystal structures analysis and molecular dynamics simulation provide insights into the molecular basis of this inhibition. This research emphasizes the importance of achieving the correct geometry between the ligand and enzyme for selective covalent modification.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Natalia Martin-Gonzalez, Alfonso Gomez-Gonzalez, Mercedes Hernando-Perez, Michael Bauer, Urs F. Greber, Carmen San Martin, Pedro J. de Pablo
Summary: Protein V in human adenovirus connects the inner capsid surface to the outer genome layer, providing mechanical reinforcement and facilitating genome release.
Editorial Material
Biochemical Research Methods
Randy J. Read, Edward N. Baker, Charles S. Bond, Elspeth F. Garman, Mark J. van Raaij
ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D-STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biochemical Research Methods
Randy J. Read, Edward N. Baker, Charles S. Bond, Elspeth F. Garman, Mark J. van Raaij
ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION F-STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biochemical Research Methods
Mark van Raaij
ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION F-STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Randy J. Read, Edward N. Baker, Charles S. Bond, Elspeth F. Garman, Mark J. van Raaij