Article
Neurosciences
Yin Zheng, Mei Yang, Xiaoqiao Chen, Gaoli Zhang, Shanshan Wan, Bingqiu Zhang, Jiechao Huo, Hui Liu
Summary: This study provides new insights into the pathogenesis of fetal alcohol syndrome by revealing the mechanisms of alcohol-induced astrocyte injury. It shows that TBCB is a critical factor in the formation of astrocyte processes and is regulated by the EB1/3 proteins at the microtubule plus-ends. The ERK1/2 signaling pathway is also found to be involved in the regulation of TBCB expression in astrocytes after alcohol injury.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xiangyu Fan, Richard J. McKenney
Summary: This study reveals the crucial role of a specialized kinesin tail domain in directing motor transport along specific microtubule tracks. The tail domain affects the initial motor-microtubule interaction and the processive motility, and its effect is enhanced when the motor domain is in the ADP state.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Paola Marzullo, Zlata Boiarska, Helena Perez-Pena, Anne-Catherine Abel, Beatriz Alvarez-Bernad, Daniel Lucena-Agell, Francesca Vasile, Maurizio Sironi, Karl-Heinz Altmann, Andrea E. Prota, J. Fernando Diaz, Stefano Pieraccini, Daniele Passarella
Summary: Maytansinol is a valuable precursor for the preparation of maytansine derivatives, and a series of novel derivatives with modifications of the maytansine scaffold were successfully obtained through acylation reaction. Characterization of these molecules by docking studies, biochemical evaluation, and determination of crystal structures in complex with tubulin shed further light on the chemical behavior of maytansinoids and confirm their relevance in the scenario of tubulin binders.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2022)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Gerard A. Marchal, Niels Galjart, Vincent Portero, Carol Ann Remme
Summary: The cardiac sodium channel Na(V)1.5 plays a vital role in cardiac excitability and its reduction can lead to dangerous arrhythmias. Studies have shown that Na(V)1.5 is distributed in specific patterns at the plasma membrane of cardiomyocytes, and it forms a complex with interacting proteins that regulate its function. These interactions are particularly important for the targeted delivery of Na(V)1.5 at specific subcellular domains and may have implications for the trafficking of other ion channels. Understanding these mechanisms can potentially lead to the development of new anti-arrhythmic therapies.
CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Caitlin Collins, Sun K. Kim, Rosa Ventrella, Herve M. Carruzzo, Juliana C. Wortman, Hyebin Han, Evelyn E. Suva, Jennifer W. Mitchell, Clare C. Yu, Brian J. Mitchell
Summary: Post-translational modification of tubulin plays a crucial role in regulating the penetrative capacity of cells undergoing radial intercalation. Modulating tubulin acetylation in intercalating cells alters developmental timing, with more acetylation leading to faster penetration. Cells preferentially penetrate higher-order vertices over tricellular vertices, indicating that lower-order vertices are more restrictive sites of insertion. Increasing tubulin acetylation shifts the accessibility of intercalating cells towards more restrictive junctions, as described by a geometric-based mathematical model.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ryota Ibusuki, Tatsuya Morishita, Akane Furuta, Shintaro Nakayama, Maki Yoshio, Hiroaki Kojima, Kazuhiro Oiwa, Ken'ya Furuta
Summary: This study developed a new protein and DNA-based system for intracellular transport, which can be used for multiplexed cargo transport and control on DNA nanotubes. This technology is expected to have significant applications in the future.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kaushik A. Palicha, Pavithra Loganathan, V. Sudha, S. Harinipriya
Summary: For the first time, electrochemical methods were used to study the response of tubulin monomers from plant source to charge perturbations. The results showed that tubulin extracted from plant source can be used as a semiconductor electrode material in energy conversion and storage applications.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jiri Prusa, Ahmed Taha Ayoub, Djamel Eddine Chafai, Daniel Havelka, Michal Cifra
Summary: In this study, it was found through computer simulation that a strong electric field can alter the structure of microtubules, opening up new possibilities for electromagnetic modulation of biological and artificial materials.
COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jiri Prusa, Michal Cifra
Summary: This study demonstrates, for the first time, that the motor domain of Kinesin-1 can be detached from a microtubule by an intense electric field within nanoseconds. The detachment is dependent on the direction and strength of the electric field. The results provide insights into the molecular interactions between electromagnetic fields and biomatter, with potential applications in biomedical and bio-nanotechnological control of protein nanomotors.
COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Xiaoyu Song, Fengrui Yang, Tongtong Yang, Yong Wang, Mingrui Ding, Linge Li, Panpan Xu, Shuaiyu Liu, Ming Dai, Changbiao Chi, Shengqi Xiang, Chao Xu, Dong Li, Zhikai Wang, Lin Li, Donald L. Hill, Chuanhai Fu, Kai Yuan, Pilong Li, Jianye Zang, Zhonghuai Hou, Kai Jiang, Yunyu Shi, Xing Liu, Xuebiao Yao
Summary: EB1 proteins form molecular condensates through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) to constitute the microtubule plus-end machinery, which is crucial for cellular dynamics and organelle movements.
NATURE CELL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Laurence Lafanechere
Summary: Microtubule-targeting compounds are effective in cancer therapy but come with adverse effects on non-cancerous cells. Advancements in understanding microtubule structure and dynamics have led to new therapeutic strategies for cancer and other diseases. Collaboration between chemists and biologists is key in selecting improved microtubule-targeting drugs.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yasuhiro Matsunaga, Sotaro Fuchigami, Tomonori Ogane, Shoji Takada
Summary: Observing the structural dynamics of biomolecules is vital for understanding their functions. High-speed atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a powerful method to study biomolecular behavior. However, AFM images are distorted by the tip shape, so knowing the correct tip shape is crucial for accurate analysis.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Jiayi Chen, Ekaterina Kholina, Agnieszka Szyk, Vladimir A. Fedorov, Ilya Kovalenko, Nikita Gudimchuk, Antonina Roll-Mecak
Summary: The study reveals that the stability of microtubules is influenced by the selective recruitment effect of modified microtubule subpopulations. It was found that tyrosination quantitatively tunes CLIP-170 density at the growing plus end, indicating a synergistic upregulation of dynamicity of tyrosinated microtubules by CLIP170 and EB1.
DEVELOPMENTAL CELL
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anis Senoussi, Jean-Christophe Galas, Andre Estevez-Torres
Summary: The study integrates reaction-diffusion and active matter mechanisms, controlling mechano-chemical coupling through dissipative DNA/enzyme reaction networks in an active gel, successfully designing a synthetic material mimicking the polarization mechanism in C. elegans oocytes.
Article
Biology
Yean Ming Chew, Robert A. Cross
Summary: Taxol has different effects on different single-isotype microtubule lattices. It stabilizes and expands α1β4 GDP-tubulin lattices, but only stabilizes α1β3 GDP-tubulin lattices. This isotype-specific action of taxol drives the gliding of segmented-isotype GDP-taxol microtubules along convoluted paths.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rozita Adib, Jessica M. Montgomery, Joseph Atherton, Laura O'Regan, Mark W. Richards, Kees R. Straatman, Daniel Roth, Anne Straube, Richard Bayliss, Carolyn A. Moores, Andrew M. Fry
Article
Oncology
Linda K. Rushworth, Kay Hewit, Sophie Munnings-Tomes, Sukrut Somani, Daniel James, Emma Shanks, Christine Dufes, Anne Straube, Rachana Patel, Hing Y. Leung
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hoor Ayub, Michelle Clare, Ivana Milic, Nikola P. Chmel, Heike Boening, Andrew Devitt, Thomas Krey, Roslyn M. Bill, Alice J. Rothnie
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES
(2020)
Article
Cell Biology
Francesca Bottanelli, Bruno Cadot, Felix Campelo, Scott Curran, Patricia M. Davidson, Gautam Dey, Ishier Raote, Anne Straube, Matthew P. Swaffer
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Alexander N. Baker, Sarah-Jane Richards, Collette S. Guy, Thomas R. Congdon, Muhammad Hasan, Alexander J. Zwetsloot, Angelo Gallo, Jozef R. Lewandowski, Phillip J. Stansfeld, Anne Straube, Marc Walker, Simona Chessa, Giulia Pergolizzi, Simone Dedola, Robert A. Field, Matthew Gibson
ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Giovanna Lizio, Mario Campana, Matteo De Poli, Damien F. Jefferies, William Cullen, Valery Andrushchenko, Nikola P. Chmel, Petr Bour, Syma Khalid, Jonathan Clayden, Ewan Blanch, Alison Rodger, Simon J. Webb
Summary: This study used various spectroscopic techniques to investigate the mechanism of action of peptides rich in Aib segments in cell membranes. The peptides were found to quickly orient in the membranes, with evidence of chiral interactions. Chiro-optical spectroscopies can help reveal the mechanism of action of antimicrobial peptides.
Correction
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Alexander Baker, Sarah-Jane Richards, Thomas Congdon, Muhammad Hasan, Collette Guy, Alexander Zwetsloot, Angelo Gallo, Jozef Lewandowski, Phillip Stansfeld, Anne Straube, Marc Walker, Simona Chessa, Giulia Pergolizzi, Simone Dedola, Robert Field, Matthew Gibson
ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Sergio Cespedes, Rachel A. Hand, Nikola Chmel, Graeme Moad, Daniel J. Keddie, Tara L. Schiller
Summary: The STMRT strategy was used to produce poly(ethylene glycol)-based model networks, allowing for the establishment of a structure-property relationship. The properties of the model networks can be finely tuned by manipulation of crosslink density and average polymer chain length.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Alexander N. Baker, Sarah-Jane Richards, Sarojini Pandey, Collette S. Guy, Ashfaq Ahmad, Muhammad Hasan, Caroline Biggs, Panagiotis G. Georgiou, Alexander J. Zwetsloot, Anne Straube, Simone Dedola, Robert A. Field, Neil R. Anderson, Marc Walker, Dimitris Grammatopoulos, Matthew Gibson
Summary: This study introduces a prototype flow-through device utilizing N-acetyl neuraminic acid-functionalized, polymer-coated, gold nanoparticles for the detection of SARS-COV-2, showing rapid and effective results with supporting evidence.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nida Siddiqui, Daniel Roth, Algirdas Toleikis, Alexander J. Zwetsloot, Robert A. Cross, Anne Straube
Summary: Intracellular transport is crucial for neuronal function and survival. This study investigates the single-molecule mechanics of KIF1C, an important neuronal transporter, and reveals the impact of pathogenic mutations on its cellular function and association with neuronal disease.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Marco Pinto Corujo, Pavel Michal, Rod Wesson, Don Praveen Amarasinghe, Alison Rodger, Nikola P. Chmel
Summary: This article discusses the challenge of background fluorescence in Raman spectroscopy and introduces an affordable custom made external photobleaching unit that can effectively remove the fluorescence signal causing degradation of signal-to-noise ratio. The unit was successfully used to remove impurities in a highly fluorescent bovine serum albumin protein solution, providing a solution to the problem in Raman spectroscopy analysis.
JOURNAL OF SPECTROSCOPY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marco Pinto Corujo, Vivian Lindo, Nikola Chmel, Alison Rodger
Summary: In this study, CD, IR, and Raman spectroscopies were applied to characterize antibody PTMs, showing that secondary structure remained the same after treatments and stability was affected by modifications. Raman and IR analysis detected differences between reference and deglycosylated proteins, indicating the presence of other PTMs.
CURRENT PROTEIN & PEPTIDE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Andrew M. Hickman, Nikola Chmel, Neil R. Cameron, Daniel J. Keddie, Tara L. Schiller
Summary: In this study, we investigated the preparation of polysiloxane networks using the Lewis acid catalysed Piers-Rubinsztajn (PR) reaction under ambient conditions. Our results showed that the use of linear or branched alkoxysilanes significantly influences the morphology and properties of the network polymers, and that having tertiary carbon alpha to the SiO reaction centre in the crosslinker can lead to exceptionally rapid network cure and enhanced storage modulus of the resulting materials.