Article
Fisheries
Wenxing Li, Gejie Zhao, Zhiyuan Jiao, Chao Xiang, Ying Liang, Wenshu Huang, Pin Nie, Bei Huang
Summary: A new fish interferon regulatory factor, IRF11, has been found to have antiviral properties that require its nuclear entry and DNA binding. The orthologs of IRF11 have been identified in lamprey and lancelet species, suggesting an ancient origin of this gene. Further characterization of the IRF11 gene in the Japanese eel revealed its antiviral activities and the involvement of specific residues in DNA binding and activation of the interferon promoter.
DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Natsumi Maruta, Yuri Trusov, Daisuke Urano, David Chakravorty, Sarah M. Assmann, Alan M. Jones, Jose R. Botella
Summary: XLG2, an unconventional G alpha subunit, plays a major role in plant defense through GTP-independent mechanisms. The XLG2(T476N) variant without GTP binding ability retains interactions with key proteins involved in defense responses, highlighting the diverse functions of XLG2 in Arabidopsis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sumit J. Bandekar, Chun-Liang Chen, Sandeep K. Ravala, Jennifer N. Cash, Larisa V. Avramova, Mariya V. Zhalnina, J. Silvio Gutkind, Sheng Li, John J. G. Tesmer
Summary: The Trio scaffold contains two GEF modules selective for Rac and RhoA GTPases, with the C-terminal region enhancing Rac1 GEF activity. Characterization of accessory Trio domains may provide alternate routes for developing therapeutics to inhibit Trio activity in human cancer.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Jiarong Wang, Bo Wu, Youjia Zhang, Liang Ge, Junfeng Wang
Summary: In this study, a 1D F-19 NMR-based method was developed for rapid detection of GEF activity of sGTPases, by tracking the conformational changes of the Arf6 switch region. This strategy could potentially be applied to monitor the conformational change of Arf6 or other sGTPase and detect the activities of sGTPase regulatory proteins in physiology and pathology environments.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Yan Wang, Yanhong Zhang, Sheng Zhang, Bokyung Kim, Vanessa L. Hull, Jie Xu, Preeti Prabhu, Maria Gregory, Veronica Martinez-Cerdeno, Xinhua Zhan, Wenbin Deng, Fuzheng Guo
Summary: PARP1 is an intrinsic driver for oligodendroglial development and myelination, with its depletion impairing differentiation and CNS myelination. The PARP1-mediated PARylation activity is necessary for OPC differentiation and enzymatic activity is required for oligodendrocyte and myelin regeneration. These findings suggest PARP1-mediated PARylation activity may be a potential therapeutic target for promoting OPC differentiation and remyelination in neurological disorders.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Na-Na Wang, Yang Li, Yi-Hao Chen, Rui Lu, Li Zhou, Yao Wang, Yong Zheng, Xue-Bao Li
Summary: This study reveals that the cotton-specific WRKY transcription factor GhWRKY16 plays a crucial role in fiber initiation and elongation by directly regulating the expression of key genes. Additionally, phosphorylation of GhWRKY16 by GhMPK3-1 is essential for the transcriptional activation of downstream genes during cotton fiber development.
Article
Cell Biology
Kasavajhala V. S. K. Prasad, Amira A. E. Abdel-Hameed, Qiyan Jiang, Anireddy S. N. Reddy
Summary: This study demonstrates that the DNA-binding activity of CAMTA3 is crucial for its role in mediating plant immune responses.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Renata Tisi, Michela Spinelli, Alessandro Palmioli, Cristina Airoldi, Paolo Cazzaniga, Daniela Besozzi, Marco S. Nobile, Elisa Mazzoleni, Simone Arnhold, Luca De Gioia, Rita Grandori, Francesco Peri, Marco Vanoni, Elena Sacco
Summary: The pan-Ras inhibitor cmp4 targets different Ras mutants and isoforms, reducing their ability to promote cancer cell proliferation. A mathematical model predicts that the inhibitor can cooperate with Cetuximab to effectively inhibit the proliferation of Cetuximab-resistant cancer cells.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Wenxin Song, Anne P. Beigneux, Anne-Marie L. Winther, Kristian K. Kristensen, Anne L. Gronnemose, Ye Yang, Yiping Tu, Priscilla Munguia, Jazmin Morales, Hyesoo Jung, Pieter J. de Jong, Cris J. Jung, Kazuya Miyashita, Takao Kimura, Katsuyuki Nakajima, Masami Murakami, Gabriel Birrane, Haibo Jiang, Peter Tontonoz, Michael Ploug, Loren G. Fong, Stephen G. Young
Summary: GPIHBP1 is an important protein in endothelial cells that transports LPL to the capillary lumen. Mutation in GPIHBP1 leads to accumulation on the endothelial cell surface and severe hypertriglyceridemia. The electrostatic interactions between HSPGs and GPIHBP1-bound LPL hinder the trafficking of GPIHBP1 across endothelial cells.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jo M. Vanoevelen, Jorgen Bierau, Janine C. Grashorn, Ellen Lambrichs, Erik-Jan Kamsteeg, Levinus A. Bok, Ron A. Wevers, Marjo S. van der Knaap, Marianna Bugiani, Junmei Hu Frisk, Rita Colnaghi, Mark O'Driscoll, Debby M. E. Hellebrekers, Richard Rodenburg, Carlos R. Ferreira, Han G. Brunner, Arthur van den Wijngaard, Ghada M. H. Abdel-Salam, Liya Wang, Constance T. R. M. Stumpel
Summary: The study reveals that impairing the biosynthesis of dTTP, a crucial DNA building block, leads to early-onset neurodegenerative disease characterized by severe microcephaly and growth retardation. Microcephaly, neuronal cell death, and early lethality were replicated in dtymk mutant zebrafish models. Furthermore, increased ribonucleotide incorporation in the genome and impaired responses to DNA damage were observed in these mutant zebrafish, providing novel insights into the pathophysiology of the disease. The loss-of-function of DTYMK was identified as the cause of this severe postnatal neurodegenerative disease, emphasizing the essential role of dTTP synthesis in maintaining genome stability and neuronal survival.
ACTA NEUROPATHOLOGICA
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Samuel Rivero-Hinojosa, Elena M. Pugacheva, Sungyun Kang, Claudia Fabiola Mendez-Catala, Alexander L. Kovalchuk, Alexander Strunnikov, Dmitri Loukinov, Jeannie T. Lee, Victor V. Lobanenkov
Summary: CTCF and BORIS interact and compensate in the male germline of mice to ensure appropriate activation of spermatogenesis-specific genes, with compound mutant males being sterile due to depletion of both proteins.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ranen Aviner, Kathy H. Li, Judith Frydman, Raul Andino
Summary: This study examines how viral pathogens manipulate host polysomes to synthesize viral proteins and hinder host protein production. By analyzing the interactions between viruses and host cells, the research identifies potential targets for selective antiviral interventions through targeting specialized viral polysomes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yue Liang, Garvit Bhatt, Lin Tze Tung, HanChen Wang, Joo Eun Kim, Marwah Mousa, Viktoria Plackoska, Katalin Illes, Anna A. Georges, Philippe Gros, Linda Henneman, Ivo J. Huijbers, Bhushan Nagar, Anastasia Nijnik
Summary: MYSM1 is a chromatin binding protein with deubiquitinase activity. Rare mutations in MYSM1 cause an inherited bone marrow failure syndrome. In a mouse model, the catalytic activity of MYSM1 was found to be critical for hematopoiesis and leukocyte development.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria K. Mateyak, Dongming He, Pragati Sharma, Terri Goss Kinzy
Summary: Phosphorylation of eEF1A affects its function, and mutation analysis confirms the importance of several phosphorylation sites, with the S289D mutant's activity being influenced by eEF1B alpha.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jiadong Sun, Gengxiang Zhao, Tatsiana Bylund, Myungjin Lee, Srikar Adibhatla, Peter D. Kwong, Gwo-Yu Chuang, Reda Rawi, Carole A. Bewley
Summary: Lectins, such as the therapeutic lectin griffithsin (GRFT), have the potential to bind to carbohydrates and glycan shields, making them promising for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. By studying the structure and activity of GRFT, researchers have identified a critical core structure that is important for antiviral activity and binding to high mannose glycans. This discovery may help in designing carbohydrate receptors and improving the affinity and stability of known lectins.
ACS CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)