Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michal Tracz, Wojciech Bialek
Summary: Protein ubiquitination, initially known for its role in proteolysis, is now recognized as essential for various cellular processes. Different types of ubiquitin linkages, beyond the commonly studied K48- and K63-linked chains, are equally important and are receiving increasing attention in recent research.
CELLULAR & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lukas Pluska, Ernst Jarosch, Henrik Zauber, Andreas Kniss, Anita Waltho, Katrin Bagola, Maximilian von Delbrueck, Frank Loehr, Brenda A. Schulman, Matthias Selbach, Volker Doetsch, Thomas Sommer
Summary: The assembly of specific polymeric ubiquitin chains on target proteins is crucial for regulating cellular processes, but the mechanisms behind selective synthesis of these chains remain unclear. The E2 enzymes Ubc1 and Ube2K interact preferentially with ubiquitin chains linked through lysine 63 (K63), facilitating the selective assembly of K48/K63-branched ubiquitin conjugates. The activity of the UBA domain in these enzymes is linked to cellular proteostasis maintenance.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Madeleine Strickland, Susan Watanabe, Steven M. Bonn, Christina M. Camara, Mary R. Starich, David Fushman, Carol A. Carter, Nico Tjandra
Summary: The protein Tsg101 plays a critical role in viral budding and endocytic sorting. It has been found that Tsg101 can recognize both monoubiquitin and several diubiquitins, with a preference for K63-linked diubiquitin. Mutations in different binding sites of Tsg101 result in distinct phenotypes regarding the recruitment of its partners.
Article
Cell Biology
Yi-Ting Wang, Ting-Yu Liu, Chia-Hsing Shen, Shu-Yu Lin, Chin-Chun Hung, Li-Chung Hsu, Guang-Chao Chen
Summary: Excessive generation and accumulation of highly reactive oxidizing molecules can lead to oxidative stress and damage to cellular components. Autophagy, through degradation and recycling of damaged components, plays a role in reducing oxidative damage and maintaining redox homeostasis. This study reveals the coordination between TRAF6 E3 ubiquitin ligase and A20 deubiquitinase in regulating ATG9A ubiquitination and autophagy activation in response to oxidative stress. The findings shed light on the importance of K48/K63-linked ubiquitination of ATG9A in the regulation of oxidative stress-induced autophagy.
Article
Biology
Lu Zhu, Qing Zhang, Ciro D. Cordeiro, Sudeep Banjade, Richa Sardana, Yuxin Mao, Scott D. Emr
Summary: The study reveals a novel ubiquitination modification implemented by Rsp5 adaptor proteins, which controls the recruitment and activity of Rsp5 to facilitate the turnover of membrane proteins.
Article
Cell Biology
Yafei Guo, Qin Li, Gang Zhao, Jie Zhang, Hang Yuan, Tianyu Feng, Deqiong Ou, Rui Gu, Siqi Li, Kai Li, Ping Lin
Summary: TRIM31 functions as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer by stabilizing and activating p53, inhibiting the proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer cells. The interaction between TRIM31 and p53 plays a critical role in regulating p53 ubiquitination, suggesting a promising therapeutic strategy for treating breast cancer by restoring TRIM31 expression.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Jun Ni, Chenyang Guan, Hua Liu, Xian Huang, Jinnan Yue, Hongrui Xiang, Zhenyan Jiang, Yuexiao Tao, Wenyi Cao, Jiamin Liu, Zhengting Wang, Yugang Wang, Xuefeng Wu
Summary: Ubc13 is crucial for NLRP3 inflammasome activation by promoting site-specific K63-linked ubiquitination of NLRP3. Targeting Ubc13 could be an effective therapeutic strategy for treating aberrant NLRP3 inflammasome activation-induced pathogenesis.
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ai Kaiho-Soma, Yoshino Akizuki, Katsuhide Igarashi, Akinori Endo, Takuji Shoda, Yasuko Kawase, Yosuke Demizu, Mikihiko Naito, Yasushi Saeki, Keiji Tanaka, Fumiaki Ohtake
Summary: The study reveals that the ubiquitin ligase TRIP12 and K29/K48-branched ubiquitin chains play crucial roles in targeted protein degradation, accelerating the degradation process induced by PROTACs. This cooperative mechanism is unique and enhances the efficiency of degrading neo-substrates.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Isshin Shiiba, Keisuke Takeda, Shun Nagashima, Naoki Ito, Takeshi Tokuyama, Shun-Ichi Yamashita, Tomotake Kanki, Toru Komatsu, Yasuteru Urano, Yuuta Fujikawa, Ryoko Inatome, Shigeru Yanagi
Summary: MITOL regulates Parkin-mediated cell death by promoting ubiquitination of Parkin at lysine 220 residue, leading to its proteasomal degradation and controlling mitophagy. Deletion of MITOL results in accumulation of active phosphorylated Parkin in the ER, causing FKBP38 degradation and increased cell death.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fang Qi, Xin Zhang, Likun Wang, Caixia Ren, Xuyang Zhao, Jianyuan Luo, Dan Lu
Summary: In this study, the researchers discovered that NEURL3 serves as an E3 ubiquitin ligase for IRF7, playing a crucial role in the positive regulation of IRF7 in host antiviral immune signaling.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Malcolm A. Leissring, Carlos M. Gonzalez-Casimiro, Beatriz Merino, Caitlin N. Suire, German Perdomo
Summary: Hepatic insulin clearance and the activity of insulin-degrading enzyme might be involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and the development of IDE inhibitors as therapeutics for diabetic patients has garnered attention.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carlos M. Gonzalez-Casimiro, Beatriz Merino, Elena Casanueva-Alvarez, Tamara Postigo-Casado, Patricia Camara-Torres, Cristina M. Fernandez-Diaz, Malcolm A. Leissring, Irene Cozar-Castellano, German Perdomo
Summary: IDE is not only involved in insulin clearance, but also plays important roles in insulin secretion and sensitivity.
Article
Cell Biology
Qinqin Jiang, Martina Foglizzo, Yaroslav Morozov, Xuejiao Yang, Arindam Datta, Lei Tian, Vaughn Thada, Weihua Li, Elton Zeqiraj, Roger A. Greenberg
Summary: This study reveals that RAP80 and BRCC36 are autologous DUB substrates in the BRCA1-A complex, providing an explanation for the evolution of matching ubiquitin-binding and hydrolysis activities within a single macromolecular assembly.
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ayesha M. Patel, E. Neil G. Marsh
Summary: The study demonstrates that viperin activates a component of the protein ubiquitination machinery, enhancing TRAF6's ubiquitin transfer activity and increasing important polyubiquitinated forms, suggesting a potential role as an agonist of immune signaling pathways.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Malcolm A. Leissring
Summary: There are still many important unresolved questions in the field of IDE, such as how IDE interacts with extracellular substrates, its localization and functional roles within the cell, and how it avoids getting clogged and losing activity. The author provides personal insights and experimental strategies to address these challenges, aiming to advance the research on the physiology and pathophysiology of IDE with the development of new technologies and specific reagents.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Grazia Raffaella Tundo, Diego Sbardella, Francesco Oddone, Giuseppe Grasso, Stefano Marini, Maria Grazia Atzori, Anna Maria Santoro, Danilo Milardi, Francesco Bellia, Gabriele Macari, Grazia Graziani, Fabio Polticelli, Paolo Cascio, Mariacristina Parravano, Massimo Coletta
Summary: Carfilzomib has been found to target Insulin-Degrading Enzyme (IDE) in vitro, which has interactions with proteasomes in cells. The inhibitory effect of Carfilzomib on IDE is 10-fold lower than on 20S proteasomes. Additionally, the interaction of IDE with 20S enhances the inhibitory power of Carfilzomib on proteasomes. Silencing the IDE gene significantly reduces the cytotoxicity of Carfilzomib in rMC1 cells.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gabriele Antonio Zingale, Alessia Distefano, Giuseppe Grasso
Summary: In recent years, the scientific community has been adopting a unified and holistic approach to tackle different diseases grouped under the label of conformational diseases. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) has played a significant role in investigating the biomolecular mechanisms involved in these diseases, particularly in the case of Alzheimer's disease. This review aims to provide an exhaustive list and critical perspective of the various uses of SPR in studying conformational diseases, in order to develop new therapeutic strategies.
CURRENT MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carola Rando, Giuseppe Grasso, Dibakar Sarkar, Michele Francesco Maria Sciacca, Lorena Maria Cucci, Alessia Cosentino, Giuseppe Forte, Martina Pannuzzo, Cristina Satriano, Anirban Bhunia, Carmelo La Rosa
Summary: The role of hydrogen bonding in the stability of ion-channel-like pores formed by pentapeptides containing a GXXXG motif was investigated. Molecular dynamics simulations, quantum mechanics, and experimental biophysical techniques revealed that the stability of the pores is maintained by a C alpha-H...O hydrogen bond formed between a glycine in the GXXXG sequence and another amino acid in a neighboring α-helix.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Gabriele Antonio Zingale, Alessia Distefano, Irene Pandino, Nunzio Tuccitto, Valentina Oliveri, Massimiliano Gaeta, Alessandro D'Urso, Alfio Arcoria, Giuseppe Grasso
Summary: In the field of conformational diseases, monitoring peptide and protein aggregation is crucial for understanding physiological pathways and pathological processes. A new experimental method based on the fluorescent properties of carbon dots upon protein binding is introduced to monitor protein aggregation. The proposed methodology allows for monitoring the initial stages of insulin aggregation under different experimental conditions without potential disturbances or molecular probes.
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Alessandro Auditore, Nunzio Tuccitto, Giuseppe Grasso, Olivier Monasson, Elisa Peroni, Antonino Licciardello
Summary: Surface functionalization with biological molecules is a promising method for developing new biomaterials. Characterization of biological materials is challenging, but time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry provides detailed chemical information. In this study, multivariate analysis was used to extract information from ToF-SIMS spectra of peptides, allowing distinction of different peptides.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Roberta Panebianco, Maurizio Viale, Fabrizio Loiacono, Valeria Lanza, Danilo Milardi, Graziella Vecchio
Summary: Metal terpyridine complexes have attracted significant interest in various fields, and the biological activity of terpyridine and its metal complexes has received considerable attention. To improve their water solubility and target them in cancer cells, we synthesized new terpyridine derivatives of trehalose and glucose. The glucose derivative and its copper(II) and iron(II) complexes exhibited antiproliferative activity, while the trehalose residue reduced the cytotoxicity. Additionally, we evaluated the ability of the parent terpyridine ligands and their copper complexes to inhibit proteasome activity as an antineoplastic mechanism.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Mariagrazia Fortino, Gioacchino Schifino, Adriana Pietropaolo
Summary: Chiral materials have unique properties and optical activity, making them highly interesting in various fields. This tutorial demonstrates how theoretical simulations can be used to predict and interpret chiroptical data, as well as identify chiral geometries, to enhance the development of chiral materials.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alessandro D'Urso, Roberto Purrello, Alessandra Cunsolo, Danilo Milardi, Caterina Fattorusso, Marco Persico, Maria Gaczynska, Pawel A. Osmulski, Anna Maria Santoro
Summary: Many chronic diseases, including cancer and neurodegeneration, are associated with proteasome dysregulation. The proteasome activity plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular proteostasis and is controlled by the gating mechanism and its conformational transitions. This study suggests that electronic circular dichroism (ECD) can be used as a convenient method to monitor proteasome conformational changes related to gating phenomena.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Grazia Raffaella Tundo, Giuseppe Grasso, Marco Persico, Oleh Tkachuk, Francesco Bellia, Alessio Bocedi, Stefano Marini, Mariacristina Parravano, Grazia Graziani, Caterina Fattorusso, Diego Sbardella
Summary: Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) is a key enzyme involved in the degradation of insulin and other amyloidogenic peptides. Its role in curing diabetes and Alzheimer's disease has long been anticipated, but its exact role in degrading amyloidogenic proteins is not yet clearly defined. Recently, novel non-proteolytic functions of IDE have been proposed. A better understanding of the structure-function relationship of IDE may help solve existing paradoxes and lead to new therapeutic approaches.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francesco Bellia, Valeria Lanza, Irina Naletova, Barbara Tomasello, Valeria Ciaffaglione, Valentina Greco, Sebastiano Sciuto, Pietro Amico, Rosanna Inturri, Susanna Vaccaro, Tiziana Campagna, Francesco Attanasio, Giovanni Tabbi, Enrico Rizzarelli
Summary: A series of copper(II) complexes varying the molecular weight of Hyaluronic acid (Hy, x = 200 or 700 kDa) conjugated with carnosine (Car) were synthesized and characterized. The metal complexes showed excellent Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) mimicking activity. The presence of non-functionalized Hyaluronic acid OH groups enhanced the scavenger activity of the copper(II) complexes.
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Vincenzo Mangini, Giulia Grasso, Benny Danilo Belviso, Michele F. M. Sciacca, Valeria Lanza, Rocco Caliandro, Danilo Milardi
Summary: The study reveals that copper and zinc ions have an impact on the stability and structure of polyubiquitin chains, with copper ions leading to protein destabilization and dimer aggregation, and zinc ions having a more significant effect on protein structure and dynamics. This study enhances our understanding of Ub chain recognition mechanisms and highlights the potential of targeting metal-mediated disruptions in Ub signaling for treating diseases associated with abnormal protein accumulation.
DALTON TRANSACTIONS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Mariagrazia Fortino, Alessandro Mattoni, Adriana Pietropaolo
Summary: Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites are excellent materials for solar cell applications due to their tunability and ease of synthesis. Chiral hybrid perovskites are attracting interest for their potential applications in optoelectronics and spintronics, but how chiral bias is generated is still unclear.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gabriele Antonio Zingale, Valentina Oliveri, Giuseppe Grasso
Summary: The widespread use of silver as an antimicrobial agent has led to the development of silver ion resistance in certain bacterial strains, which poses a serious threat to health systems. In order to understand the mechanistic features of resistance, we studied the interaction between silver and the periplasmic metal-binding protein SilE, which is involved in bacterial silver detoxification. Our findings demonstrate that a model peptide called SP2 in SilE is capable of binding silver ions through histidine and methionine residues in two binding sites. We propose a model where SP2 binds two silver ions when the Ag+/SP2 concentration ratio is >=10.0. Based on our observations, we also suggest that the two binding sites of SP2 have different affinities for silver.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dan He, Yawen Li, Fuwen Zhao, Yuze Lin
Summary: High trap density in organic solar cells leads to localized charge carriers and reduced carrier lifetime, limiting device efficiency. This feature article summarizes the recent advances of trap suppression by material design and device engineering.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Olivier Monfort, Arshitha Madhusudhan, Martin Motola
Summary: This article presents the advantages of coupling photocatalysis and Fenton-based processes for environmental remediation and discusses their synergy. It critically examines the simultaneous triggering of these two processes and provides insights into research approaches. The study aims to enhance understanding of this complex process and highlight the potential integration of new catalysts in current wastewater treatment technology.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Manideepa Dhar, Chittaranjan Mishra, Avijit Das, Uttam Manna
Summary: An approach of 'polymerization of monomers in its aggregated form' has been introduced to tailor the water wettability of fibrous and porous substrates, achieving hydrophobicity to superhydrophobicity transition, as well as patterned wettability. This facile chemical method provides a durable coating with adjustable and patterned wettability for various potential applications.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Saswat Ranjan Bhoi, Chhanda Debnath, Shikha Gandhi
Summary: In this article, a novel catalytic reaction using Pd(0) and Bronsted acid is reported for the synthesis of biologically important imidazolidinone-fused N-heterocycles through redox-neutral intramolecular N-allylation of indoles and pyrroles with alkynes. This atom-economical method is applicable to a wide range of substrates and eliminates the need for leaving groups or oxidizing agents commonly used in traditional allylation reactions.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Longkun Chen, Mingshuai Zhang, Meichen Liu, Zhuoyuan Liu, Yuetong Qiu, Zhilai Zhang, Fuchao Yu, Jiuzhong Huang
Summary: In this study, an efficient Rh(III)-catalyzed selective mono- and dual-C-H bond functionalization/cyclization with iodonium ylide as the sole coupling partner was demonstrated. Fused benzodiazepine skeletons were obtained in excellent yields, providing an improved approach to dual C-H unsymmetrical functionalization.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Alice Kennett, Sven Epple, Gabriella van der Valk, Irene Georgiou, Evelyne Gout, Romain R. Vives, Angela J. Russell
Summary: This study presents the design and synthesis of sulfated disaccharide inhibitors based on IdoA(2S)-GlcNS(6S), which showed potent inhibition of Sulf-2. The results suggest that IdoA(2S)-GlcNS(6S) is the shortest fragment size required for effective inhibition of Sulfs, and a trisulfated disaccharide is identified as the minimal fragment size of heparan sulfate for effective endosulfatase inhibition.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mauro Garbini, Andrea Brunetti, Riccardo Pedrazzani, Magda Monari, Massimo Marcaccio, Giulio Bertuzzi, Marco Bandini
Summary: The self-adaptability of galvanostatic electrolysis was found to be helpful in a multistage chemo- and diastereoselective electrochemically promoted cyclodimerization of chalcones. Through a series of reductive events, densely functionalized cyclopentanes with five contiguous stereocenters were obtained (25 examples, yields up to 95%, dr values up to >20:1). Further experimental and electrochemical investigations indicated the crucial role of dynamic kinetic resolution of the aldol intermediate in the reaction mechanism.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dhananjay S. Nipate, Neha Meena, Prakash N. Swami, Krishnan Rangan, Anil Kumar
Summary: In this study, the synthesis of functionalized benzo[a]phenazines and indazolo[2,3-a]quinolines was achieved through Rh(III)-catalyzed oxidative annulation of 2-arylquinoxalines and 2-aryl-2H-indazoles with allyl alcohols. The method showed a wide substrate scope, excellent functional group tolerance, good to high yields of annulated products, and the capability for scaled-up synthesis. A tentative mechanism of the annulation reaction was proposed based on a preliminary mechanistic investigation.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ruonan Zhang, Abudukadi Tudi, Xia Yang, Xuping Wang, Zhihua Yang, Shujuan Han, Shilie Pan
Summary: A new lead tellurium borate material with a unique fundamental building block [B4O10] was synthesized and found to exhibit high birefringence. The structure-property relationship was discussed using first-principles calculations.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Amresh Kumar Singh, Baishali Thakurta, Anupam Giri, Monalisa Pal
Summary: This study introduces three key concepts for the quick synthesis of large-scale high-quality 2D materials films and their utilization in device fabrication.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Reina Hagiwara, Shun Nishimura, Kosuke Okeyoshi
Summary: A copolymer-conjugated nanocatalytic system has been developed to improve electron transfer and enhance photoinduced H2 generation.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
