Article
Cell Biology
Mao Zhang, Cheng Zhu, Yuanyuan Duan, Tongbao Liu, Haoping Liu, Chang Su, Yang Lu
Summary: A unique group of PP2C phosphatases from fungi and plants have been found to sense CO2, but not HCO3-, to control diverse cellular programmes. They have intrinsically disordered regions (IDR) that form reversible liquid-like droplets through phase separation and are activated in response to elevated environmental CO2 in an IDR-dependent manner.
NATURE CELL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Samantha H. Sarni, Jorjethe Roca, Chen Du, Mengxuan Jia, Hantian Li, Ana Damjanovic, Ewelina M. Malecka, Vicki H. Wysocki, Sarah A. Woodson
Summary: RNA-binding protein Hfq stabilizes its hexamer through a network of intrinsically disordered interactions between the core and flexible C-terminal domains (CTDs). This network is perturbed by RNA binding, but partially compensated by RNA interactions with multiple surfaces of Hfq.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rosamaria Pennisi, Maria Musarra-Pizzo, Zhixiang Lei, Grace Guoying Zhou, Maria Teresa Sciortino
Summary: The paper has been amended and the revised version can be accessed through a link at the top of the paper.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Meghan T. Harris, Michael T. Marr II
Summary: Cells activate stress response pathways to survive adverse conditions by inhibiting global translation and utilizing alternative methods of translation initiation, such as IRES. Cellular IRESs have been identified in many stress response transcripts. eIF5B promotes IRES activity through its N-terminal region via a non-canonical mechanism.
Article
Immunology
Jeffrey Seow, Sreedam C. Das, Rodrigo A. V. Morales, Ricardo Ataide, Bankala Krishnarjuna, Mitchell Silk, David K. Chalmers, Jack Richards, Robin F. Anders, Christopher A. MacRaild, Raymond S. Norton
Summary: The malaria vaccine candidate MSP2 has shown promise in clinical trials, with potential for reducing parasite densities. By focusing on the conserved regions of MSP2, the immune response can be directed towards more accessible and favorable epitopes. The structure-based approach in peptide vaccine design has the potential to be applied not only to MSP2-based malaria vaccines, but also to other intrinsically disordered antigens.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jianhui Liu, Fariza Zhorabek, Xin Dai, Jinqing Huang, Ying Chau
Summary: Researchers have designed synthetic hybrids that mimic the characteristics of membraneless organelles by combining short oligopeptides and dextran. These hybrids undergo liquid-liquid phase separation, forming micron-sized liquid droplets. The droplets can recruit other biomolecules and provide a favorable environment for biochemical reactions, similar to natural membraneless organelles.
ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Manon Batista, Ellen I. M. Donker, Cecile Bon, Myriam Guillien, Adriana Caisso, Lionel Mourey, Jean -Marie Francois, Laurent Maveyraud, Didier Zerbib
Summary: Knr4/Smi1 proteins are specific to the fungal kingdom and their deletion leads to hypersensitivity to anti-fungal agents and various stresses. Knr4 is involved in multiple signaling pathways in S. cerevisiae and interacts with several proteins in these pathways. Structural analysis revealed that Knr4 contains intrinsically disordered regions and a structured globular domain interrupted by a disordered loop.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Baoshuan Shang, Lin Wang, Xingxing Yan, Yanjun Li, Changhao Li, Chaohua Wu, Tian Wang, Xiang Guo, Suk Won Choi, Tianru Zhang, Ziying Wang, Chun-Yip Tong, Taerin Oh, Xiao Zhang, Zhiye Wang, Xu Peng, Xiuren Zhang
Summary: Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) SAID1/2 are potential dentin sialophosphoprotein-like proteins, but their functions are unknown. SAID1/2 were found to be negative regulators of SERRATE (SE), a core factor in miRNA biogenesis complex. They promote SE phosphorylation and degradation, sequester pri-miRNAs from microprocessor, and inhibit pri-miRNA processing.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marta Vicioso-Mantis, Raquel Fueyo, Claudia Navarro, Sara Cruz-Molina, Wilfred F. J. van Ijcken, Elena Rebollo, Alvaro Rada-Iglesias, Marian A. Martinez-Balbas
Summary: This study uncovers the essential role of the coactivator JMJD3 in the assembly and gene activation of enhancer-clusters. The involvement of the intrinsically disordered region in JMJD3 in the formation of biomolecular condensates is demonstrated using live-cell imaging techniques. These findings shed light on the relationship between the 3D-conformation of chromatin and the TGF beta-driven response during mammalian neurogenesis.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eleanor Elise Paul, Kay Ying Lin, Nathan Gamble, Amy Wei-Lun Tsai, Simon H. K. Swan, Yu Yang, Matthew Doran, Assen Marintchev
Summary: Translation initiation in eukaryotes involves complex interactions between eIFs and ribosomal preinitiation complex. This study reveals the importance of intramolecular contact rearrangement in PIC remodeling, mediated by specific regions of eIF5. Phosphorylation of eIF5 by CK2 enhances its affinity for eIF2 and may contribute to translation and cell proliferation.
BIOPHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Saumyak Mukherjee, Lars V. Schaefer
Summary: This study investigates the thermodynamic contributions of water and protein molecules to the formation of FUS protein condensates through atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. The results reveal that solvation entropy and protein-protein interactions are the main driving forces for the formation of FUS condensates.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Brandon D. Schweibenz, Swapnil C. Devarkar, Mihai Solotchi, Candice Craig, Jie Zheng, Bruce D. Pascal, Samantha Gokhale, Ping Xie, Patrick R. Griffin, Smita S. Patel
Summary: This study uncovers a proofreading mechanism utilized by RIG-I in recognizing specific viral RNAs. The intrinsically disordered linker CHL plays a crucial role in electrostatically antagonizing non-specific RNAs and stabilizing the CARD2:Hel2i interface.
Article
Biology
Shih-Hui Chiu, Wen-Lin Ho, Yung-Chen Sun, Jean-Cheng Kuo, Jie-rong Huang
Summary: The intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) among paralogs have different physicochemical properties but converge on the same biophysical function. The diversity of IDRs can lead to different traits, but they ultimately evolve to achieve a converged function.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Luiza Mamigonian Bessa, Serafima Guseva, Aldo R. Camacho-Zarco, Nicola Salvi, Damien Maurin, Laura Marino Perez, Maiia Botova, Anas Malki, Max Nanao, Malene Ringkjobing Jensen, Rob W. H. Ruigrok, Martin Blackledge
Summary: The genome replication and transcription processes of SARS-CoV-2 are important targets for inhibiting the virus. The interaction between the nucleoprotein (N) and the amino-terminal ubiquitin-like domain of nsp3 (Ubl1), which is a cofactor of the replication-transcription complex, has been described at the atomic level. This interaction involves two linear motifs in the linker domain of N, which fold N around Ubl1 to regulate binding to RNA. The identification of these motifs provides future targets for developing innovative strategies against COVID-19.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Deepshikha Verma, Veena Hegde, John Kirkpatrick, Teresa Carlomagno
Summary: The discovery of a fuzzy protein-RNA complex formed by the intrinsically unfolded protein PYM and RNA suggests that specific interactions can occur without well-defined intermolecular interfaces. The first 160 amino acids of PYM (PYM1-160) were shown to be intrinsically disordered and capable of binding RNA independently of its nucleotide sequence. This fuzzy protein-RNA complex down-regulates PYM activity by blocking its interaction with the exon junction complex (EJC), thus enabling PYM to bind to a variety of diverse interaction partners.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2023)
