Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jennifer Selinski, Renate Scheibe
Summary: Research on moonlighting enzymes has revealed that cytosolic enzymes can induce gene transcription after post-translational modifications and have additional functions. Small molecules play a role in fine-tuning redox switches, linking redox state, metabolism, and induction of new functions via nuclear gene expression.
ANTIOXIDANTS & REDOX SIGNALING
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Xin Chen, Rongfeng Zhu, Jinjin Zhong, Yongfa Ying, Wenxin Wang, Yating Cao, Hanyi Cai, Xiang Li, Jianwei Shuai, Jiahuai Han
Summary: Researchers used super-resolution microscopy to study the nanoscale structure of cellular necrosomes and discovered rod-shaped mosaic structures formed by RIP1 and RIP3 oligomers. They also revealed the roles and regulatory mechanisms of RIP1 and RIP3 in cell death.
NATURE CELL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Naba Abuhafez, Herve Ruffin, Raghu Kamaraj, Christian Bruneau, Rafael Gramage-Doria
Summary: A new method for the synthesis of 1,3-diene building blocks using ruthenium-catalyzed oxidative homo- and cross-coupling is reported, which mainly produces the E,E isomer. This methodology also allows for the synthesis of adipic acid ester derivatives in a one-pot fashion after in situ ruthenium-catalyzed hydrogenation.
CATALYSIS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Piyush Baindara, Md Bodruzzaman Sarker, Alexander P. Earhart, Santi M. Mandal, Adam G. Schrum
Summary: This article describes a model in which NOTCH may play a central role in lung infection during COVID-19. A pathway involving NOTCH signaling, furin, ADAM17, and ACE2 may increase viral entry and infection of SARS-CoV-2. NOTCH signaling can also upregulate IL-6 and pro-inflammatory mediators, and if it fails to turn down properly, it may inhibit airway regeneration during lung healing.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sachio Suzuki, Akinobu Nakamura, Yuka Hatano, Masaru Yoshikawa, Tatsuyuki Yoshii, Shunsuke Sawada, Kyoko Atsuta-Tsunoda, Kazuhiro Aoki, Shinya Tsukiji
Summary: This article reports a universal PM-targeting tag for protein translocation using loop-engineered eDHFR tag and m(D)cTMP pair. The method can be widely applied for conditional PM recruitment and activation of tag-fused signaling proteins with different fusion configurations, as well as reversibly and repeatedly controlling protein localization to generate synthetic signal oscillations.
CELL CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Physiology
Brendan McCarthy, Luke A. Henderson, Vaughan G. Macefield
Summary: This article aims to discuss brain regions involved in the processing of spatial information and to highlight the less widely known function of the vestibular system in regulating blood pressure through vestibulosympathetic reflexes. When transitioning from lying to standing, an increase in muscle sympathetic nerve activity prevents a drop in blood pressure associated with blood pooling in the feet. The vestibulosympathetic reflexes compensate for postural changes by interacting with the central sympathetic connectome, particularly the insula and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
COMPREHENSIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Qixu Cai, Menglong Zeng, Xiandeng Wu, Haowei Wu, Yumeng Zhan, Ruijun Tian, Mingjie Zhang
Summary: CaMKIIα plays a crucial role in synapses by interacting with Shank3 and GluN2B, regulating synaptic plasticity through the modulation of Ca2+ concentration and phosphatases. The shuttling of CaMKIIα between specific PSD subcompartments and PSD condensates controlled by protein phosphatases contributes to PSD assembly enlargement and structural long-term potentiation.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Jie Zang, Fei Ye, Sara M. o. Solbak, Lars J. Hoj, Mingjie Zhang, Anders Bach
Summary: The study focused on the druggability of the PSD-95 PDZ1-2 domain, using fragment screening to identify four promising fragments that could serve as starting points for small-molecule PDZ domain inhibitors optimization. The results demonstrate the successful application of fragment screening to PDZ1-2 of PSD-95, unveiling novel fragments with potential for drug development.
Article
Neurosciences
Yasunori Hayashi, Lenzie K. Ford, Luana Fioriti, Leeanne McGurk, Mingjie Zhang
Summary: LLPS is a new mechanism for cellular compartmentalization, recently gaining attention in neurobiology. It typically occurs between macromolecules with multivalent interactions, aiding in the formation of membraneless organelles.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jin Ye, Guichang Zou, Ruichi Zhu, Chao Kong, Chenjian Miao, Mingjie Zhang, Jianchao Li, Wei Xiong, Chao Wang
Summary: GABARAP and GABARAPL1 stabilize GABA(A) receptors by directly binding to the γ 2 subunit, promoting receptor trafficking pathways, and modulating receptor localization at synapses.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhe Feng, Bowen Jia, Mingjie Zhang
Summary: Recent extensive studies have indicated that nonmembrane bound organelles are likely assembled through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), driven by multivalent protein-protein and/or protein-nucleic acid interactions. Specific biomolecular interactions play a crucial role in the functions of diverse physiological condensates, suggesting that a combination of specific interactions and IDR-driven interactions is a common feature of biological condensation under physiological conditions.
Article
Neurosciences
Zhe Feng, Xiandeng Wu, Mingjie Zhang
Summary: Neuronal synapses consist of three compartments: presynaptic axon terminal, synaptic cleft, and postsynaptic dendrite, each densely packed with molecular machineries involved in synaptic transmission. Recent studies suggest that the assembly of these compartments is driven by liquid-liquid phase separation, forming membraneless substructures or assemblies.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hasan Cinar, Rosario Oliva, Haowei Wu, Mingjie Zhang, Hue Sun Chan, Roland Winter
Summary: The study reveals the high pressure sensitivity of the SynGAP/PSD-95 system and suggests that deep-sea organisms counteract this sensitivity to avoid neurological impairment. The findings offer insights into the neurological effects of hydrostatic pressure and potential strategies to alleviate pressure-induced neurological disorders.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Zhe Feng, Suho Lee, Bowen Jia, Tao Jian, Eunjoon Kim, Mingjie Zhang
Summary: The scaffold protein IRSp53 plays an important role in synapse development and synaptic plasticity. This study reveals that specific interactions between IRSp53 and its binding partners PSD-95 or Shank3 drive phase separation of complexes and promote synaptic enrichment of IRSp53 in mouse cortical neurons. The study also highlights the role of IRSp53 in actin filament formation and synaptic maturation. These findings provide mechanistic insights into the physiological roles of IRSp53 in synapse formation and function.
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Letter
Cell Biology
Yanan Wu, Min Zhang, Yizheng Yang, Xuyang Ding, Ping Yang, Kai Huang, Xinlin Hu, Mingjie Zhang, Xiaotian Liu, Hongjun Yu
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amit Kumar Gaurav, Marjia Afrin, Xian Yang, Arpita Saha, S. K. Abdus Sayeed, Xuehua Pan, Zeyang Ji, Kam-Bo Wong, Mingjie Zhang, Yanxiang Zhao, Bibo Li
Summary: Trypanosoma brucei is a protozoan parasite that causes human African trypanosomiasis. TbRAP1, a telomere protein, has been shown to silence VSG genes by binding to dsDNA. However, the mechanism by which TbRAP1 allows the expression of a single active VSG gene was unknown. In this study, the researchers unexpectedly discovered an RNA Recognition Motif (RRM) in TbRAP1, which is unprecedented for RAP1 homologs. They found that TbRAP1 RRM, assisted by a specific patch, can recognize and bind to the 3'UTR sequences of VSG genes. Mutating the conserved residues in RRM abolished RNA binding activity, significantly decreased the level of active VSG RNA, and derepressed silent VSG genes. Their findings suggest a monoallelic expression mechanism for VSG genes, in which the abundant RNA of the active VSG gene antagonizes TbRAP1's silencing effect.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Qixu Cai, Xiumin Chen, Shihan Zhu, Roger A. Nicoll, Mingjie Zhang
Summary: Calcium calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) is crucial for synaptic transmission and plasticity. The length of the unstructured linker between the kinase domain and the oligomerizing hub plays a crucial role in determining the ability of CaMKII to rescue defects in synaptic transmission and long-term potentiation. The phase separation capacity of CaMKII with GluN2B is critical for its cellular functions in the brain.
Article
Biology
Zeyu Shen, Bowen Jia, Yang Xu, Jonas Wessen, Tanmoy Pal, Hue Sun Chan, Shengwang Du, Mingjie Zhang, Rohit Pappu
Summary: Formation of membraneless organelles or biological condensates via phase separation expands the cellular organelle repertoire. In this study, an adaptive single-molecule imaging method was developed to track individual molecules in various biological condensates. The method enables measurements of concentrations, motion behavior, and molecular exchanges between condensed and dilute phases. The findings offer insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the assembly and dynamics of biological condensates.
Article
Biology
Xudong Chen, Bowen Jia, Shihan Zhu, Mingjie Zhang
Summary: The volume and electric strength of an excitatory synapse are correlated with the area of its postsynaptic density (PSD). The molecular mechanism underlying the communication between the PSD assembly and spine actin cytoskeleton is poorly understood. This study discovers that PSD condensates can promote actin polymerization and bundling, and the Homer scaffold protein and a positively charged actin-binding surface of the Homer EVH1 domain are essential for this process. The communication between PSD and spine cytoskeleton may be modulated by targeting the phase separation of the PSD condensates.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Meng Zhang, Aili Cao, Lin Lin, Ying Chen, Yuan Shang, Chao Wang, Mingjie Zhang, Jinwei Zhu
Summary: The truncated guanylate kinase (GK) domain of MAGI2 interacts with its adjacent PDZ0 domain to form a supramodule capable of recognizing phosphoproteins. Identification of a phosphorylation-dependent binding motif for PDZ0-GK leads to the discovery of previously unknown binding partners. The structure and function of the MAGI2-target complex is explored using an inhibitory peptide derived from the consensus motif, revealing the action mechanism of cryptic MAGI GKs and broadening our understanding of target recognition rules of phosphoprotein binding modules.
Article
Cell Biology
Guanhua Bai, Yu Wang, Mingjie Zhang
Summary: Inhibitory synapses, although lacking prominent PSDs, have been found to contain thin sheet-like PSDs. Gephyrin protein, when in complex with neurotransmitter receptors, can form condensed molecular assemblies through phase separation. The formation of iPSD condensates is regulated by phosphorylation of specific residues in gephyrin or binding of target proteins to the linker domain.
