Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
ShengQi Xiang, Cecilia Pinto, Marc Baldus
Summary: Membrane proteins play important biological roles by forming complexes in cell membranes. This study focuses on understanding the role of the lipoprotein BamC in the assembly of the beta-barrel assembly machinery (BAM) complex in lipid bilayers. By developing a selective preparation scheme and using proton-detected solid-state NMR methods, the researchers were able to investigate the structure and dynamics of BamC embedded in the entire BAM complex in lipid bilayers. This approach provides insights into the formation and functioning of membrane protein complexes.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Meenakumari Muthuramalingam, Sean K. Whittier, Wendy L. Picking, William D. Picking
Summary: Shigella, a human-restricted pathogen causing bacillary dysentery, primarily relies on a type III secretion system (T3SS) consisting of multiple components and proteins for its virulence. Studying the T3SS injectisome in Shigella and related systems helps to understand its pathogenic mechanisms and develop prevention strategies.
Article
Immunology
Shoichi Tachiyama, Ryan Skaar, Yunjie Chang, Brittany L. Carroll, Meenakumari Muthuramalingam, Sean K. Whittier, Michael L. Barta, Wendy L. Picking, Jun Liu, William D. Picking
Summary: Shigella flexneri, the causative agent of bacillary dysentery, utilizes a type III secretion system as its primary virulence factor to inject effector proteins into host cells. The cytoplasmic sorting platform of the injectisome, specifically the Spa33 pods, plays a critical role in substrate selection and secretion energizing. Through biophysical analyses, a model of Spa33 heterotrimers within the SP pods is proposed, suggesting how two distinct complexes come together to form complete pod structures during the recruitment of T3SS secretion substrates.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emily Z. Guo, Jorge E. Galan
Summary: Type III secretion systems are multiprotein molecular machines essential for the virulence of bacterial pathogens. The injectisome mediates the delivery of bacterially encoded proteins into eukaryotic target cells. The structure of the needle tip complex and its interaction with the needle filament are crucial for the translocation of effector proteins.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Alireza Felegary, Shahram Nazarian, Emad Kordbacheh, Javad Fathi, Mohamad Ebrahim Minae
Summary: This study evaluated the antibody response and protection of a recombinant chimeric protein against Shigella, finding that the protein produced in E. coli could be a promising candidate for vaccine development against Shigella. The chimeric protein showed high antibody response and neutralization ability against the bacterial toxin, providing significant protection in immunized mice against both S. flexneri and S.dysentery.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Raphael Sierocki, Bakhos Jneid, Maria Lucia Orsini Delgado, Marc Plaisance, Bernard Maillere, Herve Nozach, Stephanie Simon
Summary: Salmonella and Shigella are significant pathogens causing enteric infections, particularly in developing countries, and the development of broadly protective therapies is essential due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains. By targeting needle tip proteins SipD for Salmonella and IpaD for Shigella, a monoclonal antibody was identified to have good cross-protection prophylactic efficacy, providing potential for the development of cross-protective therapeutic agents.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Elizabeth A. Rucks
Summary: Type III secretion systems (T3SS) are utilized by Gram-negative pathogens to deliver effector proteins into target eukaryotic cells for manipulating cell functions and enhancing pathogenesis. This review will discuss the history, biochemical characterization, and function of chlamydial T3SS, as well as the use of heterologous/surrogate models for studying it. The review will also cover the history of chlamydial effectors and recent advances in the field.
MICROBIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eduardo Soto, Jorge E. Galan, Marfa Lara-Tejero
Summary: In this study, an extensive in vivo cross-linking strategy aided by structure modeling was used to investigate the sorting platform complex of type III secretion systems. The assembly process of this bacterial structure was mapped using identified cross-links as signatures for pairwise intersubunit interactions and systematic genetic deletions. Insights generated by this study could be used for the rational development of antivirulence strategies against medically important bacterial pathogens.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Poyin Chen, Brian C. Russo, Jeffrey K. Duncan-Lowey, Natasha Bitar, Keith T. Egger, Marcia B. Goldberg
Summary: Shigella species use a type 3 secretion system to deliver virulence factors into host cells through a pore formed by IpaB and IpaC proteins. IpaB plays a crucial role in forming and organizing the pore channel, allowing for efficient delivery of virulence proteins into host cells during infection. This study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the function of the Shigella translocon during infection.
Article
Microbiology
Navoun Silue, Francois-Xavier Campbell-Valois
Summary: Shigella utilizes a Type III Secretion Apparatus to translocate proteins into host cells, including two newly discovered chromosomal genes - icaR and icaT, which can also be activated by MxiE and IpgC. These genes are secreted by T3SA independently of chaperones, and have orthologs in various E. coli strains belonging mainly to phylogroups A, B1, D, and E.
Article
Microbiology
Zhi Xiong Zeng, Lu Yi Liu, Shui Bing Xiao, Jin Fang Lu, Ying Li Liu, Jing Li, Yuan Ze Zhou, Li Jing Liao, Duan You Li, Ying Zhou, Pin Nie, Hai Xia Xie
Summary: This study reveals the interaction between EscE and EsaH in Edwardsiella piscicida, and their role in stabilizing the T3SS needle protein EsaG. The EscE-EsaH complex acts as cochaperones and controls the secretion of T3SS needle protein EsaG, which in turn leads to the secretion of middle and late T3SS substrates. This research provides new insights into the regulation of protein secretion in E. piscicida.
Article
Microbiology
Thomas E. Wood, Kathleen A. Westervelt, Jessica M. Yoon, Heather D. Eshleman, Roie Levy, Henry Burnes, Daniel J. Slade, Cammie F. Lesser, Marcia B. Goldberg
Summary: The effector protein OspB of Shigella spp. is a cysteine protease that modulates the TORC1 signaling pathway to promote infection. The study provides insights into the mechanism of action of OspB and its role in Shigella pathogenesis.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhiwei Qin, Yuming Xie, Xiangchen Meng, Delai Qian, Cheng Shan, Dongxin Mao, Gang He, Zhen Zheng, Long Wan, Yongxian Huang
Summary: This study proposes a high-speed mechanical polishing method to address the interfacial issues caused by Li2CO3 impurities in solid-state lithium batteries. The polishing improves the contact of the Li/LLZTO interface, reduces interfacial resistance, and enhances Li-ion transport. Li cells assembled with polished LLZTO demonstrate good cycling stability, while SSLBs with LiFePO4 cathode exhibit superior discharge capacity and cycling performance.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Caiyan He, Shenhui Li, Bin Jiang, Fang Chen, Wei Hu, Feng Deng
Summary: In this study, the surface hydrophobicity and guest solvent permeability of PDMS-coated MIL-53 were characterized using solid-state NMR. It was found that the PDMS-coated MIL-53 showed hydrophobic behavior towards water and could accommodate various solvents. Two types of solvents inside and outside the pore of PDMS-coated MIL-53 were identified using two-dimensional H-1-H-1 NMR experiments. The membrane thickness of PDMS-coated MIL-53 and the permeability of aromatic solvents were also determined. This work provides valuable insights into the application of hydrophobic layer-coated MOFs in catalysis and separation.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yusuke Morino, Hikaru Sano, Tsukasa Takahashi, Norihiko Miyashita, Atsushi Sakuda, Akitoshi Hayashi
Summary: Sulfide-based solid electrolytes (SEs) in all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries have attracted much attention due to their high lithium ionic conductivity, plasticity, and thermal stability. However, the generation of toxic hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas upon moisture exposure is a major issue with SEs. This study investigated the degradation mechanism and surface state of moisture-exposed sulfide-based SEs at the molecular and atomic levels. The results revealed the presence of surface hydrogen components such as LiOH, LiOH·xH2O, thiol groups, and unreacted H2O cluster adsorbates.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Vlastimil Jirasko, Alons Lends, Nils-Alexander Lakomek, Marie-Laure Fogeron, Marco E. Weber, Alexander A. Malar, Susanne Penzel, Ralf Bartenschlager, Beat H. Meier, Anja Bockmann
Summary: NS5A, a membrane-associated protein involved in the life cycle of Hepatitis C virus, exhibits high flexibility in a lipidic environment, and organization of dimers in lipids requires a novel type of self-interaction.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Radoslaw Chaber, Aneta Kowal, Pawel Jakubczyk, Christopher Arthur, Kornelia Lach, Renata Wojnarowska-Nowak, Krzysztof Kusz, Izabela Zawlik, Sylwia Paszek, Jozef Cebulski
Summary: This study aimed to establish new biomarkers for early screening of pediatric leukemia by using FTIR spectroscopy, and identified significant differences between BCP-ALL patients and non-neoplasm children in terms of protein structures, peak area ratios, and spectral phase shifts. These promising results suggest that FTIR spectroscopy may have future potential for early screening of BCP-ALL in children.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nadide Altincekic, Sophie Marianne Korn, Nusrat Shahin Qureshi, Marie Dujardin, Marti Ninot-Pedrosa, Rupert Abele, Marie Jose Abi Saad, Caterina Alfano, Fabio C. L. Almeida, Islam Alshamleh, Gisele Cardoso de Amorim, Thomas K. Anderson, Cristiane D. Anobom, Chelsea Anorma, Jasleen Kaur Bains, Adriaan Bax, Martin Blackledge, Julius Blechar, Anja Bockmann, Louis Brigandat, Anna Bula, Matthias Buetikofer, Aldo R. Camacho-Zarco, Teresa Carlomagno, Icaro Putinhon Caruso, Betul Ceylan, Apirat Chaikuad, Feixia Chu, Laura Cole, Marquise G. Crosby, Vanessa de Jesus, Karthikeyan Dhamotharan, Isabella C. Felli, Jan Ferner, Yanick Fleischmann, Marie-Laure Fogeron, Nikolaos K. Fourkiotis, Christin Fuks, Boris Fuertig, Angelo Gallo, Santosh L. Gande, Juan Atilio Gerez, Dhiman Ghosh, Francisco Gomes-Neto, Oksana Gorbatyuk, Serafima Guseva, Carolin Hacker, Sabine Haefner, Bing Hao, Bruno Hargittay, K. Henzler-Wildman, Jeffrey C. Hoch, Katharina F. Hohmann, Marie T. Hutchison, Kristaps Jaudzems, Katarina Jovic, Janina Kaderli, Gints Kalnins, Iveta Kanepe, Robert N. Kirchdoerfer, John Kirkpatrick, Stefan Knapp, Robin Krishnathas, Felicitas Kutz, Susanne zur Lage, Roderick Lambertz, Andras Lang, Douglas Laurents, Lauriane Lecoq, Verena Linhard, Frank Loehr, Anas Malki, Luiza Mamigonian Bessa, Rachel W. Martin, Tobias Matzel, Damien Maurin, Seth W. McNutt, Nathane Cunha Mebus-Antunes, Beat H. Meier, Nathalie Meiser, Miguel Mompean, Elisa Monaca, Roland Montserret, Laura Marino Perez, Celine Moser, Claudia Muhle-Goll, Thais Cristtina Neves-Martins, Xiamonin Ni, Brenna Norton-Baker, Roberta Pierattelli, Letizia Pontoriero, Yulia Pustovalova, Oliver Ohlenschlaeger, Julien Orts, Andrea T. Da Poian, Dennis J. Pyper, Christian Richter, Roland Riek, Chad M. Rienstra, Angus Robertson, Anderson S. Pinheiro, Raffaele Sabbatella, Nicola Salvi, Krishna Saxena, Linda Schulte, Marco Schiavina, Harald Schwalbe, Mara Silber, Marcius da Silva Almeida, Marc A. Sprague-Piercy, Georgios A. Spyroulias, Sridhar Sreeramulu, Jan-Niklas Tants, Kaspars Tars, Felix Torres, Sabrina Toews, Miguel A. Trevino, Sven Trucks, Aikaterini C. Tsika, Krisztina Varga, Ying Wang, Marco E. Weber, Julia E. Weigand, Christoph Wiedemann, Julia Wirmer-Bartoschek, Maria Alexandra Wirtz Martin, Johannes Zehnder, Martin Hengesbach, Andreas Schlundt
Summary: The international COVID19-NMR consortium aims to gather scientific expertise worldwide to provide new approaches for understanding the molecular components of SARS-CoV-2. By making viral proteins and RNAs available, the consortium accelerates research on the virus and provides protocols for large-scale production. The NMR investigations and resources disclosed through the consortium offer valuable insights and tools for further studies on SARS-CoV-2.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Morgane Callon, Alexander A. Malar, Sara Pfister, Vaclav Rimal, Marco E. Weber, Thomas Wiegand, Johannes Zehnder, Matias Chavez, Riccardo Cadalbert, Rajdeep Deb, Alexander Dapp, Marie-Laure Fogeron, Andreas Hunkeler, Lauriane Lecoq, Anahit Torosyan, Dawid Zyla, Rudolf Glockshuber, Stefanie Jonas, Michael Nassal, Matthias Ernst, Anja Bockmann, Beat H. Meier
Summary: Advancements in nuclear magnetic resonance, especially in biomolecular applications, have been driven by the increase in magnetic-field strengths, resulting in improved resolution and sensitivity of NMR spectra. The availability of persistent superconducting magnets at higher magnetic field strengths has opened up new possibilities for studying proteins and other complex biological systems.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR NMR
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Alexander A. Malar, Laura A. Volker, Riccardo Cadalbert, Lauriane Lecoq, Matthias Ernst, Anja Bockmann, Beat H. Meier, Thomas Wiegand
Summary: This study demonstrates that fast temporal stabilization of a magnetic field is achievable by actively stabilizing the temperature of the magnet bore. It allows quantification of the weak temperature dependence of proton chemical shift, which is diagnostic for hydrogen bond presence. Hydrogen bonding plays a crucial role in molecular recognition events, however, direct detection remains challenging due to resolution limitations.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2021)
Article
Biology
Jimena Perez-Vargas, Elin Teppa, Fouzia Amirache, Bertrand Boson, Remi Pereira de Oliveira, Christophe Combet, Anja Bockmann, Floriane Fusil, Natalia Freitas, Alessandra Carbone, Francois-Loic Cosset
Summary: The study reveals that ERp57 plays a critical role in triggering HBV fusion and infection, and identifies a potential allosteric cross-strand disulfide bond in the HBV S glycoprotein as well as a fusion peptide in the preS1 domain of the HBV L glycoprotein.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Samuel Ellick, Christianne Wicking, Thomas Hancock, Samuel Whitmarsh, Christopher J. Arthur, Paul J. Gates
Summary: This study successfully applied field ionisation mass spectrometry and data science techniques to determine the ratio of different base oils in lubricant mixtures. This methodology can be applied to resolve the ratio of complex mixtures and has significant value in lubricant design.
RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexander A. Malaer, Morgane Callon, Albert A. Smith, Shishan Wang, Lauriane Lecoq, Carolina Perez-Segura, Jodi A. Hadden-Perilla, Anja Bockmann, Beat H. Meier
Summary: This study investigates the dynamics of the hepatitis B virus capsid using solid-state NMR. The results show that nanosecond dynamics can be accurately captured by MD simulations, while NMR has blind spots in the range between nanosecond and microsecond dynamics. The combination of all-atom MD simulations and NMR techniques can reliably characterize motions in the range of nanoseconds to microseconds.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marie-Laure Fogeron, Lauriane Lecoq, Laura Cole, Roland Montserret, Guillaume David, Adeline Page, Frederic Delolme, Michael Nassal, Anja Boeckmann
Summary: This study established the phosphorylation sites in the human hepatitis B virus large envelope protein and suggested their potential functional role in viral life cycle. Further investigation on the mechanism of virion formation or cell entry is warranted.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Morgane Callon, Alexander A. Malar, Lauriane Lecoq, Marie Dujardin, Marie-Laure Fogeron, Shishan Wang, Maarten Schledorn, Thomas Bauer, Michael Nassal, Anja Bockmann, Beat H. Meier
Summary: This study reports a new solid-state NMR technique that allows for the detection and characterization of the C-terminal domain of the hepatitis B virus capsid protein. It extends the capabilities of solid-state NMR and can provide insights into other flexible protein domains.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Yang Yang, Loic Delcourte, Marie-Laure Fogeron, Anja Bockmann, Lauriane Lecoq
Summary: This study reports the NMR assignments of an N-terminally truncated form of S-HDAg (S-Delta 60) and reveals that it is partially disordered with two well-defined alpha-helices in the central structured region.
BIOMOLECULAR NMR ASSIGNMENTS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Denis Lacabanne, Thomas Wiegand, Margot Di Cesare, Cedric Orelle, Matthias Ernst, Jean-Michel Jault, Beat H. Meier, Anja Boeckmann
Summary: This study investigates the detailed mechanism of ATP hydrolysis in ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters using P-31 solid-state NMR. The results reveal that in the prehydrolytic state, ATP binds tightly to both ATP-binding sites. In the transition state, the symmetry of the dimer is broken and only one site is tightly bound to ADP:Mg2+:vanadate. In the posthydrolytic state, weak binding is observed for both sites. These findings provide insights into the conformational changes and dynamics of BmrA during ATP hydrolysis.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Atitaya Hitakarun, Maia Kavanagh Williamson, Nathamon Yimpring, Wannapa Sornjai, Nitwara Wikan, Christopher J. J. Arthur, Julien Pompon, Andrew D. D. Davidson, Duncan R. R. Smith
Summary: This study determined the lipid profiles of dengue virus (DENV) virions derived from two different cell lines and found distinct differences between them. The results also provided insights into the lipid changes in infected cells. This research is the first to describe the lipid composition of DENV virions produced in mammalian and mosquito cells.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kornelia Lach, Aneta Kowal, Marta Perek-Polnik, Pawel Jakubczyk, Christopher J. Arthur, Wioletta Bal, Monika Drogosiewicz, Bozenna Dembowska-Baginska, Wieslawa Grajkowska, Jozef Cebulski, Radoslaw Chaber
Summary: This study evaluated the potential of FTIR spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool for medulloblastoma (MB). The results showed significant differences in FTIR spectra between MB and normal brain tissue, indicating that FTIR spectroscopy can be used to differentiate them to some extent. Therefore, it may be a valuable method to expedite and enhance histological diagnosis.
Article
Polymer Science
Ulric Conway, Alexander D. Warren, Christopher J. Arthur, Paul J. Gates
Summary: The main goals in the analysis of synthetic polymers include determining molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, and chemical structure. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry is a commonly used technique, and using carbon-based matrices with polyethylene glycol polymers doped with LiCl is an effective method for analyzing low molecular weight polymers.
