Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nunziata Maio, Bernard A. P. Lafont, Debangsu Sil, Yan Li, J. Martin Bollinger, Carsten Krebs, Theodore C. Pierson, W. Marston Linehan, Tracey A. Rouault
Summary: Research has shown that the catalytic subunit nsp12 of the SARS-CoV-2 RdRp complex ligates two iron-sulfur metal cofactors which are essential for viral replication and interaction with the viral helicase. Oxidation of these clusters by TEMPOL inhibits RdRp activity and blocks SARS-CoV-2 replication in cell culture, indicating that these iron-sulfur clusters could be targeted for therapy of COVID-19.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alicia Broto, Erika Gaspari, Samuel Miravet-Verde, Vitor A. P. Martins dos Santos, Mark Isalan
Summary: This study provides a robust genetic toolkit for Mycoplasma, demonstrating the application of gene circuit engineering to control and limit the growth of Mycoplasma. The synthetic gene circuits developed were found to be stable and robust in the long-term, laying the foundation for developing viable biosafety systems using a synthetic Mycoplasma chassis.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Moshuqi Zhu, Qiaofeng Yao, Zhihe Liu, Jian Liu, Minghua Liu, Minnan Long, Jianping Xie
Summary: In this study, white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs) based on aggregation-induced emission (AIE) of Au nanoclusters (NCs) induced by ionic liquids were fabricated. By electrostatically bonding Au NCs with ionic liquids, both blue emission from the ionic liquids and enhanced cluster emission through intercluster AIE mechanism were achieved. The overall white emission of the composites was further improved by encapsulating them into nanogels templated by cationic chitosan.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Armelle Vigouroux, Thibault Meyer, Anais Naretto, Pierre Legrand, Magali Aumont-Nicaise, Aurelie Di Cicco, Sebastien Renoud, Jeanne Dore, Daniel Levy, Ludovic Vial, Celine Lavire, Solange Morera
Summary: The species-specific region SpG8-1b plays a critical role in controlling the transition between rhizospheric and pathogenic lifestyles of the plant pathogen. The transcriptional regulator Atu1419, belonging to the VanR group of GntR superfamily, represses genes in the HCAs catabolic pathway and is regulated by the effector molecule N5,N10-methylenetetrahydrofolate. The study sheds light on the allosteric mechanism of transcription employed by this GntR repressor.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Martin Boerner, Daniel Fuhrmann, Jennifer Klose, Harald Krautscheid, Berthold Kersting
Summary: The study demonstrates that the oxidation of thiophenolate bridges can be achieved using ethereal hydroperoxides, resulting in different complexes. The oxygenation reactions proceed efficiently without complex disintegration, yielding various sulfenate complexes.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ashley N. Hersey, Valerie E. Kay, Sumin Lee, Matthew J. Realff, Corey J. Wilson
Summary: Allosteric transcription factors (aTFs) are widely used in various biological and biotechnological processes. The lactose repressor (LacI) is one of the most commonly used aTFs and has been extensively studied in understanding allosteric communication. This perspective focuses on using LacI as a model to engineer alternate functions related to allostery, such as protein DNA interactions, protein-ligand interactions, and phenotypic mechanisms. Design rules and heuristics for each design goal will be summarized, with the extrapolation of these rules to engineer other aTFs from the broader LacI/GalR family of TFs.
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Valeriy Yu Verchenko, Anna Stepanova, Alexey Bogach, Andrei Mironov, Andrei Shevelkov
Summary: Transition metal-based layered compounds with van der Waals gaps between structural layers are important for spintronic applications. Fe5AsTe2, a layered van der Waals telluride, exhibits weak inherent ferromagnetism and can be synthesized through high-temperature reactions. This material has potential for spin manipulation and quantum logic interfaces.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Tingting Cui, Lin Qin, Fangyu Fu, Xing Xin, Huijie Li, Xikui Fang, Hongjin Lv
Summary: A new carbon-free pentadecanuclear Fe-containing polyoxometalate has been synthesized and demonstrated high catalytic activity in hydrogen production under photocatalytic conditions. The catalyst showed structural stability and achieved a high hydrogen production rate, showcasing promising potential in sustainable energy applications.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Xiao-Hong Li, Xian-Wei Wu, Yuan Wang, Wei-Na Wu
Summary: In this study, two complexes and their precursors were synthesized and structurally determined. The results showed that these complexes have different binding modes and affinities for DNA, and one of the complexes exhibited strong inhibitory effects on tumor cells.
CHINESE JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rachelle M. Smith, Ian Colliard, Mehran Amiri, Miguel A. Galindo, May Nyman
Summary: Engineered DNA-metal complexes and superstructures can create nanowires with unique luminescence and conductivity properties. This study investigates the potential of polyoxometalates (POMs) to connect metal-DNA complexes, disrupt polymerization, and control the dimensionality and nuclearity of silver chains and clusters.
CRYSTAL GROWTH & DESIGN
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xin Tang, Yifan Zhang, Guanchao Wang, Chunxiao Zhang, Fang Wang, Jiawen Shi, Tianlong Zhang, Jianping Ding
Summary: The mTORC1 complex is a central regulator of cell growth and metabolism, and SAMTOR functions as a sensor for S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to regulate mTORC1 activity. In this study, the crystal structures of SAMTOR in its apo form and bound to SAM were determined, revealing the mechanism of SAM sensing and its functional role in mTORC1 signaling.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nina Urbeliene, Matas Tiskus, Giedre Tamulaitiene, Renata Gasparaviciute, Ringaile Lapinskaite, Vykintas Jauniskis, Jurgis Sudzius, Rita Meskiene, Daiva Tauraite, Emilija Skrodenyte, Gintaras Urbelis, Justas Vaitekunas, Rolandas Meskys
Summary: Prokaryotic homo-tetrameric CDAs were found to catalyze nucleophilic substitutions, producing uridine and corresponding amide, amine, carbamate, thiol, or alcohol as leaving groups. The volume of the binding pocket of CDAs is related to the bulkiness of the leaving group, which is determined by the flexible beta 3 alpha 3 loop of CDAs. CDAs with broad substrate activity participate in the salvage and/or catabolism of variously modified pyrimidine nucleosides, expanding our knowledge of cellular turnover and pharmacokinetics.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Craig C. Laing, Jiahong Shen, Daniel G. Chica, Shelby A. Cuthriell, Richard D. Schaller, Chris Wolverton, Mercouri G. Kanatzidis
Summary: The three new rhenium chalcohalide cluster compounds exhibit high thermal stability under vacuum and semiconductor properties, showing photoluminescence in the red to near-IR range. Importantly, they have different central wavelengths in their photoluminescence and different average lifetimes.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Arthur Haffner, Otto E. O. Zeman, Thomas Braeuniger, Dirk Johrendt
Summary: Recent studies have shown that quaternary phosphidosilicates with sodium and barium exhibit remarkable ion conduction capabilities, but the crystal structures may lack sufficient pathways for fast sodium ion conductivity.
DALTON TRANSACTIONS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Carla Sanz-Frasquet, J. Rafael Ciges-Tomas, Christian Alite, Jose R. Penades, Alberto Marina
Summary: This study reveals how Stl interacts with different types of dUTPases through structural specificity to regulate the life cycle of SaPI and helper phage.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Patrick Walter, Ariel Mechaly, Julien Bous, Ahmed Haouz, Patrick England, Josephine Lai-Kee-Him, Aurelie Ancelin, Sylviane Hoos, Bruno Baron, Stefano Trapani, Patrick Bron, Gilles Labesse, Helene Munier-Lehmann
Summary: Tuberculosis claims over one million lives each year. Developing new antibiotics is a feasible approach to address drug resistance. Bacterial UMP kinase, which is essential for bacterial survival and has no human counterpart, serves as a promising target for novel antibiotic discovery. This study provides a detailed description of the UTP-binding site of a typical Gram-positive behaving UMP kinase, shedding light on the allosteric regulation of this enzyme and offering valuable insights for future drug discovery strategies.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Charline Fagnen, Ludovic Bannwarth, Iman Oubella, Dania Zuniga, Ahmed Haouz, Eric Forest, Rosa Scala, Said Bendahhou, Rita De Zorzi, David Perahia, Catherine Venien-Bryan
Summary: In this study, the effect of mutation on a highly conserved residue in a KirBac channel was investigated. The crystal structure and conformational flexibility of the mutant KirBac3.1 W46R were analyzed, and the in silico method was used to study the detailed dynamical view of the mutant during gating. Functional assays were also performed. The comparison between the wild type KirBac and the mutant W46R provided insights into the structural and dynamical clues and the mechanism of action of the mutation that leads to the gain of function.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Akaash K. Mishra, Jan Hellert, Natalia Freitas, Pablo Guardado-Calvo, Ahmed Haouz, J. Maximilian Fels, Daniel P. Maurer, Dafna M. Abelson, Zachary A. Bornholdt, Laura M. Walker, Kartik Chandran, Francois-Loic Cosset, Jason S. McLellan, Felix A. Rey
Summary: This study reveals the structure and neutralization mechanism of the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus membrane fusion glycoprotein Gc, providing important molecular insights for the development of virus-specific medical countermeasures.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Souheyla Benfrid, Kyu-Ho Park, Mariano Dellarole, James E. Voss, Carole Tamietti, Gerard Pehau-Arnaudet, Bertrand Raynal, Sebastien Brule, Patrick England, Xiaokang Zhang, Anastassia Mikhailova, Milena Hasan, Marie-Noelle Ungeheuer, Stephane Petres, Scott B. Biering, Eva Harris, Anavaj Sakuntabhai, Philippe Buchy, Veasna Duong, Philippe Dussart, Fasseli Coulibaly, Francois Bontems, Felix A. Rey, Marie Flamand
Summary: The NS1 protein of the dengue virus forms a high-affinity complex with human high-density lipoproteins (HDL), leading to inflammation and accumulation in plasma of dengue patients.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Francisco J. Fernandez, Jorge Santos-Lopez, Ruben Martinez-Barricarte, Javier Querol-Garcia, Hector Martin-Merinero, Sergio Navas-Yuste, Martin Savko, William E. Shepard, Santiago Rodriguez de Cordoba, M. Cristina Vega
Summary: This study reveals the structural basis of the interaction between human opsonin iC3b and the von Willebrand A inserted domain of the alpha chain of CR3, providing insights into complement activation and pathogen clearance by macrophages.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marie-Christine Vaney, Mariano Dellarole, Stephane Duquerroy, Iris Medits, Georgios Tsouchnikas, Alexander Rouvinski, Patrick England, Karin Stiasny, Franz X. Heinz, Felix A. Rey
Summary: The flavivirus envelope proteins prM and E are involved in the assembly of immature particles and their maturation into infectious virions. The HSP40 chaperonin is responsible for the generation of the prM moiety. The X-ray structure of the tick-borne encephalitis virus reveals the mechanism of fusion activation involving the pH sensing loop and pr-binding pocket.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Quentin Gaday, Daniela Megrian, Giacomo Carloni, Mariano Martinez, Bohdana Sokolova, Mathilde Ben Assaya, Pierre Legrand, Sebastien Brule, Ahmed Haouz, Anne Marie Wehenkel, Pedro M. Alzari
Summary: This study provides important insights into the mechanism of action of Cg1735 and Cg1604 in Corynebacteriales, demonstrating that Cg1604 activates PG hydrolysis by relieving the autoinhibition of Cg1735. These data contribute to understanding how as yet unidentified intracellular cell division signals regulate PG hydrolysis in this bacterial class.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Antoine Gedeon, Nour Ayoub, Sebastien Brule, Bertrand Raynal, Gouzel Karimova, Muriel Gelin, Ariel Mechaly, Ahmed Haouz, Gilles Labesse, Helene Munier-Lehmann
Summary: Inosine 5' -monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) is an enzyme that oxidizes inosine 5' monophosphate into xanthosine 5'-monophosphate. It consists of a core domain for catalytic reaction and a less-conserved Bateman domain. Two classes of bacterial IMPDHs have been classified based on their oligomeric and kinetic properties, with MgATP acting as an activator for Class I and a modulator of oligomeric state for Class II. Analysis of deleted variants and chimeras revealed the Bateman domain's role in the different properties of the two classes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ignacio Fernandez, Lasse Toftdal Dynesen, Youna Coquin, Riccardo Pederzoli, Delphine Brun, Ahmed Haouz, Antoine Gessain, Felix A. Rey, Florence Buseyne, Marija Backovic
Summary: This paper presents the X-ray structure of the receptor binding domain (RBD) from a simian Foamy virus, providing insights into the viral entry mechanism.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Alexia L. M. Royer, Andrew A. Umansky, Marie-Maude Allen, Julian R. Garneau, Maicol Ospina-Bedoya, Joseph A. Kirk, Gregory Govoni, Robert P. Fagan, Olga Soutourina, Louis-Charles Fortier
Summary: Therapeutic bacteriophages are being considered as alternatives to treat Clostridioides difficile infections. The surface layer protein A (SlpA) is identified as a common receptor used by many phages, which is a significant discovery for the rational design of therapeutic phage cocktails.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Batiste Boeda, Vincent Michel, Raphael Etournay, Patrick England, Stephane Rigaud, Heloise Mary, Samy Gobaa, Sandrine Etienne-Manneville
Summary: Using an organ-on-chip model, this study elucidates the role of SCRIB in controlling cell and tissue shape during gut epithelium differentiation. The results show that SCRIB acts as a scaffold for SHROOM2/4 and ROCK1, controlling myosin polarization and playing a critical role in apical cell shape and epithelial morphogenesis.
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Pierre-Alexandre Lacotte, Sandrine Denis-Quanquin, Eva Chatonnat, Julie Le Bris, David Leparfait, Thierry Lequeux, Isabelle Martin-Verstraete, Thomas Candela
Summary: The dlt operon encodes proteins responsible for modifying the structure of bacteria, altering the physicochemical properties of the cell surface and reducing sensitivity to antibiotics.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Osvaldo Burastero, George Draper-Barr, Bertrand Raynal, Maelenn Chevreuil, Patrick England, Maria Garcia Alai
Summary: Dynamic light scattering (DLS) is widely used in assessing particle homogeneity and size distribution in samples. Raynals, a user-friendly software utilizing Tikhonov-Phillips regularization, is introduced for analyzing single-angle DLS data. The software's performance is evaluated on simulated and experimental data from various DLS instruments. It helps understand the limitations and resolution of DLS measurements and is particularly useful in quality control and aggregate detection in biological sample preparation. Raynals also offers flexible data presentation and allows export of publication-quality figures, and is available for free academic use online.
ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D-STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Mariano Martinez, Julienne Petit, Alejandro Leyva, Adria Sogues, Daniela Megrian, Azalia Rodriguez, Quentin Gaday, Mathildeb Ben Assaya, Maria Magdalena Portela, Ahmed Haouz, Adrien Ducret, Christophe Grangeasse, Pedro M. Alzari, Rosario Duran, Anne Marie Wehenkel
Summary: This study discovered two members of the division apparatus in Corynebacterium glutamicum, Glp and GlpR, highlighting the crucial communication between the division and elongation machineries that could be targeted for anti-mycobacterial drug development. Furthermore, the study revealed that Corynebacteriales have evolved a protein scaffold to control cell division and morphogenesis.
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Polina Muzyukina, Anton Shkaruta, Noemi M. Guzman, Jessica Andreani, Adair L. Borges, Joseph Bondy-Denomy, Anna Maikova, Ekaterina Semenova, Konstantin Severinov, Olga Soutourina
Summary: CRISPR-Cas systems provide prokaryotic hosts with adaptive immunity against mobile genetic elements. Many bacteriophages encode anti-CRISPR (Acr) proteins that inhibit host defense. This study reports the discovery of a novel Acr protein, AcrIB2, which efficiently inhibits interference by the host's CRISPR-Cas system.
