Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hsiang-Ting Lei, Xuelang Mu, Johan Hattne, Tamir Gonen
Summary: mTORC1 functions as a central hub for regulating metabolism and cellular responses, while SLC38A9 acts as a lysosomal amino acid transporter that senses arginine levels to activate mTORC1. The crystal structure of SLC38A9 revealed a significant conformational change in the N-terminal domain, suggesting a mechanism for mTORC1 activation involving N-plug insertion and Rag GTPase binding regulated by luminal arginine levels. This study provides important insights into how nutrient sensing by SLC38A9 activates the mTORC1 pathways in response to dietary amino acids.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Antonio Magri, Giovanni Tabbi, Irina Naletova, Francesco Attanasio, Giuseppe Arena, Enrico Rizzarelli
Summary: Ctr1 regulates copper uptake and distribution, with its N-terminal amino acid sequence Ctr1((1-14)) containing ATCUN and His5-His6 binding motifs forming Cu2+ homobinuclear complexes. Ascorbate cannot reduce Cu2+ bound to ATCUN, but can reduce Cu2+ bound to His5-His6. Furthermore, the anti-Ctr1 extracellular antibody recognizes Ctr1((1-14)) differently from Ctr1((1-25)).
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dan Zhou, Mengmeng Liang, Yonglian Xia, Chao Li, Mingzheng Huang, Shuming Peng, Yi Huang
Summary: This study investigated the roles of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in vanadium speciation and reduction. The results showed that EPS played a major role in the extracellular reduction of V5+ into V(4+). The amide in protein/polypeptide and carboxyl in fulvic acid-like substances were found to be responsible for the reduction of V5+. In addition, the intracellular reduction was achieved by transporting V(5+) into the cells and releasing V4+ by intracellular reductases. The reducing capacity of EPS depended on its molecular weight and components, with small molecules such as fulvic acid-like substances and amino acids having higher reducing capacity compared to larger EPS structures. Besides reduction, EPS components also had supporting functions.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Li-Juan Liu, Zhi-Yuan Wang, Zhao-Yang Wang, Rui Wang, Shuang-Quan Zang, Thomas C. W. Mak
Summary: Atomically precise copper clusters with different core structures were developed and studied, and it was found that the ditetrahedron-shaped cluster exhibited higher CO2 reduction activity and selectivity.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zsolt Szabo, Marton Peter, Laszlo Heja, Julianna Kardos
Summary: Astrocytes play a central role in modulating excitatory signals and inhibiting epileptic discharges through Glu-GABA exchange. Putrescine, derived from astrocytes, can be converted to GABA and enhance gap junction channel communication. Copper signaling influences the transformation of putrescine to GABA, impacting neuronal excitability and the tripartite synapse activity.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hang Xu, Erkai He, Willie J. G. M. Peijnenburg, Lan Song, Ling Zhao, Xiaoyun Xu, Xinde Cao, Hao Qiu
Summary: This study highlights the significant role of microbial EPS as reducing agents and electron transfer mediators for cupric reduction and cuprous formation in natural environments. EPS from different microbial species showed varied electron transfer ability, with c-type cytochromes playing a major role in copper transformation for Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 EPS, while functional groups like phenolic and amide dominated Cu(II) reduction for Bacillus subtilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae EPS.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Athira Ravi, Sateesh Mulkapuri, Samar K. K. Das
Summary: A three-dimensional polyoxometalate compound with dual active sites for bifunctional electrocatalysis (HER and OER) has been synthesized and characterized.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Anna Rola, Paulina Potok, Magdalena Mos, Elzbieta Gumienna-Kontecka, Slawomir Potocki
Summary: Infections caused by Candida species have become dangerous and difficult to cure due to sophisticated mechanisms of resistance. Understanding the mechanisms of metal homeostasis in Candida species is important. Two important factors, AMT1 and MAC1, are associated with metal homeostasis. By studying the properties of complexes formed by two model peptides with Zn(II) and Cd(II), we found significant differences in stability between the Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes of the peptides, indicating that Cd(II) is not an efficient surrogate for Zn(II).
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Elena Gazzarrini, Kevin Rossi, Francesca Baletto
Summary: The study investigates the impact of the formation process of Cu nanoparticles on the distribution of adsorption sites and their activity. Annealed or coalesced nanoparticles show a homogeneous distribution of non-equivalent adsorption sites, while atom-by-atom grown nanoparticles exhibit a more marked occurrence of adsorption sites corresponding to adatoms and small islands on specific facets.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jose Guillermo Rivera de la Cruz, Marc Fontecave
Summary: The electrochemical CO2 reduction is a sustainable method for the production of chemicals such as ethylene or ethanol. However, designing selective catalysts is challenging. The use of single site copper nitrogen doped carbon materials with porphyrin-like Cu graphene structures has shown improvement in the production of multi carbon products, especially ethanol. But during the reaction, the porphyrin-like Cu sites temporarily convert into metallic copper nanoclusters, making it difficult to understand the role of each phase. In this study, computational models were used to describe the experimental phases of the single atom catalyst (Cu-N-C material), and the electrochemical reduction of CO2 to ethanol and ethylene was investigated. Based on the computed free energies of reaction, it was found that the Cu nanoclusters exhibited superior performance for CO reduction compared to the single site and showed high activity for ethanol production, indicating them as the active phase responsible for the catalytic performance.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hongwei Deng, Chenyan Guo, Penghui Shi, Guohua Zhao
Summary: This study demonstrated the enhanced production of CO and C-2 products using an amino-modified Cu2O catalyst in electrocatalytic CO2RR. Experimental and computational analysis confirmed the promoting effect of amino modification on C2H4 production, offering a new perspective for the application of such catalysts in the field of CO2RR.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Raffaella Scanga, Mariafrancesca Scalise, Nadia Marino, Francesco Parisi, Donatella Barca, Michele Galluccio, Chiara Brunocilla, Lara Console, Cesare Indiveri
Summary: LAT1 is a membrane transporter that has been extensively studied due to its role in supplying essential amino acids to the brain and fetus, as well as its association with nervous system and embryo abnormalities. This study identifies a new substrate, Cu-histidinate, and explores a non-traditional uni-port mechanism for its transport. The LAT1-mediated transport of Cu-histidinate may have significant implications for the treatment of copper dysmetabolism diseases and cancer.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Yang Zhou, Saghar Mowlazadeh Haghighi, Jonathon R. Sawyer, Victor J. Hruby, Minying Cai
Summary: Melanocortin receptors (MCRs), a family of G protein-coupled receptors, regulate important physiological functions. Drug development targeting MCRs is hindered by a lack of selective ligands. This study presents synthetic pathways to introduce conformational constraints, resulting in improved selectivity for hMC1R and hMC4R subtypes.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Wei Wang, Jing-Zhe Li, Shi-Jian Luo, Zi-Xuan Yao, Kuan-Guan Liu
Summary: Using atomic precisely structurally characterized clusters as electrocatalysts provides structure information about the active intermediate during the electrocatalytic N-2 reduction reaction (NRR) process. A Cu4 cluster, named [(bpy)(4)Cu-4(C10H8SO3)(4)(OH)(4)]center dot 4H(2)O, has demonstrated excellent NRR performance, possibly attributed to its unique core structure and additional mu(3)-OH groups.
INORGANICA CHIMICA ACTA
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Vivianne K. Ocampo-Restrepo, Lucas G. Verga, Juarez L. F. Da Silva
Summary: In this study, the impact of CuZn alloys on the mechanism and selectivity of CO2 and CO electroreduction to C-2 products was investigated using density functional theory calculations and the computational hydrogen electrode model. The preferred pathway for ethanol and ethylene formation on both Cu-55 cluster and Cu42Zn13 alloy involves a common intermediate, CH2CHO*. Cu-55 cluster exhibits higher ethanol selectivity compared to Cu42Zn13 alloy, which can be attributed to the stronger adsorption of intermediates on Cu42Zn13. The d states of Zn are found to be involved in the adsorption of intermediates, enhancing the interaction.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rupam Paul, Sourav Banerjee, Samarpita Sen, Pratiksha Dubey, Saptarshi Maji, Anand K. Bachhawat, Rupak Datta, Arnab Gupta
Summary: Copper is essential for life, but excessive amounts can be toxic. Leishmania parasites have high tolerance to copper stress and employ LmATP7 to survive in host macrophages. The interaction between Leishmania and macrophages involves upregulation of host ATP7A and increased expression of LmATP7. Overexpression of LmATP7 enhances parasite survivability within macrophages.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Santanu Das, Ameena Mohammed, Taniya Mandal, Saptarshi Maji, Jay Verma, Ruturaj, Arnab Gupta
Summary: Mutation in ATP7B gene can cause Wilson disease (WD), and some mutations can affect the localization and transport function of the protein, leading to different clinical manifestations.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Basudeb Mondal, Abinash Padhy, Saptarshi Maji, Arnab Gupta, Sayam Sen Gupta
Summary: Stimuli-responsive cross-linked nanocarriers that induce lysosomal cell death have been synthesized and attracted the attention of researchers in the biomedical field. These nanocarriers have advantages such as remaining intact during blood circulation and reaching the target site via receptor-mediated endocytosis, enhancing therapeutic efficacy and reducing side effects.
BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Saptarshi Maji, Marinella Pirozzi, Raviranjan Ruturaj, Raviranjan Pandey, Tamal Ghosh, Santanu Das, Arnab Gupta
Summary: In hepatocytes, the ATP7B protein is located on the trans-Golgi network and transports excess copper out of the cell through lysosomal exocytosis. Our study reveals that ATP7B can be found in the endolysosomal compartment of hepatocytes even in the absence of copper or after copper chelation. These ATP7B-containing lysosomes are in close proximity to the TGN. ATP7B is distributed between the acidic sub-domain of the TGN and the TGN-proximal lysosomes. We also discovered that ATP7B is recycled to the TGN-proximal lysosomes instead of returning to the TGN after copper chelation, suggesting the importance of these lysosomes in the retrograde pathway of ATP7B.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sameek Singh, Wenzhi Tian, Zachary C. Severance, Santosh K. Chaudhary, Viktoriya Anokhina, Basudeb Mondal, Rajaiah Pergu, Prashant Singh, Uttam Dhawa, Santanu Singha, Amit Choudhary
Summary: Living systems regulate biochemical processes through proximity. Inspired by this, bifunctional modalities have been developed to redirect cellular processes. An emerging example is molecules that induce ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation of a protein of interest, sparking discovery for other bifunctional modalities. Recent advances include modalities that can change protein phosphorylation, glycosylation, and acetylation states, modulate gene expression, and recruit components of the immune system. This review highlights non-degradation bifunctional modalities with potential to revolutionize disease treatment and explore new aspects of biology in basic research.
CHEMICAL SOCIETY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kaustav Chakraborty, Sumanta Kar, Bhawana Rai, Reshma Bhagat, Nabanita Naskar, Pankaj Seth, Arnab Gupta, Ashima Bhattacharjee
Summary: This study investigates the role of copper in the differentiation of neurons and glia and the associated pathways. The findings show that copper triggers ERK1/2 activation and neurite generation during neuronal differentiation, while glial differentiation involves sequestration of copper into endosomes. The study highlights the importance of copper-dependent ERK1/2 phosphorylation in neuronal viability.