Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tristan Giraud, Sabine Bouguet-Bonnet, Marie-Jose Stebe, Lionel Richaudeau, Guillaume Pickaert, Marie-Christine Averlant-Petit, Loic Stefan
Summary: Peptide-based hydrogels, with ordered nanostructures formed through specific self-assembling processes, hold great promise in the biomedical field. The development of multicomponent peptide-based hydrogels presents a promising strategy to enhance their properties and design innovative materials.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maria Teresa Bueno-Carrasco, Jorge Cuellar, Marte I. Flydal, Cesar Santiago, Trond-Andre Krakenes, Rune Kleppe, Jose R. Lopez-Blanco, Miguel Marcilla, Knut Teigen, Sara Alvira, Pablo Chacon, Aurora Martinez, Jose M. Valpuesta
Summary: Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is a key enzyme in the synthesis of dopamine (DA) and other catecholamines. This study used Cryo-EM to determine the structures of human TH with and without DA, as well as S40 phosphorylated TH. The study revealed the inhibitory and stabilizing effects of DA, as well as the counteraction by S40 phosphorylation, providing insights into the regulatory mechanisms of TH and dopamine homeostasis.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
A. Diaz Casas, J. J. Cordoba, B. J. Ferrer, S. Balakrishnan, J. E. Wurm, B. Pastrana-Rios, W. J. Chazin
Summary: This article reports the characterization of the interaction between human CM and hPrp40A. It is shown that CaM binds to FF3 in a Ca2+-dependent manner, forming an extended non-globular state. These results are important for understanding the complex interplay of Ca2+ signaling and Ca2+ sensor proteins in modulating Prp40A-Htt function.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Robert C. Miller, Cody Cummings, Qingqiu Huang, Nozomi Ando, Richard E. Gillilan
Summary: This study investigates the use of continuously flowing SEC-SAXS under extreme high-pressure conditions for studying biological structure and function. The results demonstrate that reproducible chromatographic separations coupled directly to high-pressure BioSAXS can be achieved at pressures up to at least 100 MPa, and pressure-induced changes in folding and oligomeric state can be observed.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christina Wagner, Bernd Innthaler, Martin Lemmerer, Robert Pletzenauer, Ruth Birner-Gruenberger
Summary: Ion-exchange chromatography coupled to light scattering detectors is a fast and simple analytical method for assessing multiple critical quality attributes in gene therapy products. The method allows for comprehensive characterization of the products, serving as an orthogonal approach to other established analytical techniques.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Meijiao Ding, Xiaoyong He, Xuan Cheng, Ying Zhang, Fengjuan Yang
Summary: The novel in-situ Raman spectroscopic observation system was used to study the microscopic behaviors of lanthanum-doped lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) polycrystalline ceramic under a coupled mechanical-electrical load. The study found that the Raman intensity and polarization angle were related and that under the mechanical-electrical load, the Raman intensity decreased while the maximum value slightly increased.
JOURNAL OF ELECTROCERAMICS
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Sarjana Yadav, Ritu Bhardwaj, Prashant Mishra, J. P. Singh
Summary: In this study, a novel technique was developed for the separation and detection of hemozoin in malaria using a magnetic field-based ultra-thin layer chromatography (UTLC) coupled with surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The magnetic nature of hemozoin was exploited for its separation from a bacterial mixture, allowing for the early removal of co-infections. The developed method demonstrated high specificity and sensitivity, providing accurate results.
JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHY A
(2023)
Article
Immunology
James Z. Deng, Catherine Lancaster, Michael A. Winters, Katherine M. Phillips, Ping Zhuang, Sha Ha
Summary: Streptococcus pneumoniae bacterial infection can lead to serious diseases. Vaccines have been developed to prevent diseases caused by these bacteria. Multi-valent vaccines offer a stronger immune response in children. Size-exclusion chromatography method can be used to monitor the quality of vaccines.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Meghan Guzman, Anastasia Rugel, Reid S. Tarpley, Xiaohang Cao, Stanton F. McHardy, Philip T. LoVerde, Alexander B. Taylor
MOLECULAR AND BIOCHEMICAL PARASITOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Isara Laothamatas, Peng Gao, Anushka Wickramaratne, Carlo G. Quintanilla, Arianna Dino, Crystal A. Khan, Jen Liou, Carla B. Green
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2020)
Article
Parasitology
Anastasia R. Rugel, Meghan A. Guzman, Alexander B. Taylor, Frederic D. Chevalier, Reid S. Tarpley, Stanton F. McHardy, Xiaohang Cao, Stephen P. Holloway, Timothy J. C. Anderson, P. John Hart, Philip T. LoVerde
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2020)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Meghan A. Guzman, Anastasia R. Rugel, Reid S. Tarpley, Sevan N. Alwan, Frederic D. Chevalier, Dmytro P. Kovalskyy, Xiaohang Cao, Stephen P. Holloway, Timothy J. C. Anderson, Alexander B. Taylor, Stanton F. McHardy, Philip T. LoVerde
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Steve P. Meisburger, Da Xu, Nozomi Ando
Summary: Studying mixtures of biological macromolecules poses challenges, but utilizing the REGALS method can provide robust solutions, making it a valuable addition to the SAXS analysis toolkit.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kevin W. Sea, Alexander B. Taylor, Susan T. Thomas, Amir Liba, Isabelle B. Bergman, Stephen P. Holloway, Xiaohang Cao, Edith B. Gralla, Joan S. Valentine, P. John Hart, Ahmad Galaleldeen
Summary: The study characterizes the biophysical properties of a plant SOD1 from tomato chloroplasts and presents a unique crystal structure where zinc is found in the copper-binding site but not in the zinc-binding site. This alternate conformation of D83 appears to be responsible for the previously observed pH-dependent loss of zinc from the zinc-binding site of SOD1.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Da Xu, Steve P. Meisburger, Nozomi Ando
Summary: Correlated motions in proteins, arising from collective movements of residues, play a fundamental role in key properties of proteins. Recent breakthroughs in structural biology have enabled the capture of proteins undergoing complex conformational changes, shedding light on intrinsic correlated motions within a conformation. Total scattering now provides a bridge between theory and experiment, offering the opportunity to gain atomistic insight into correlated motions in proteins.
Article
Parasitology
Philip T. LoVerde, Sevan N. Alwan, Alexander B. Taylor, Jayce Rhodes, Frederic Chevalier, Timothy JC. Anderson, Stanton F. McHardy
Summary: Human schistosomiasis is a debilitating disease affecting millions globally, with drug resistance being a major concern. Scientists have identified novel drug derivatives effective against all species of the parasite, aiming to combat resistance and improve treatment outcomes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Meghan A. Guzman, Anastasia Rugel, Sevan N. Alwan, Reid Tarpley, Alexander B. Taylor, Frederic D. Chevalier, George R. Wendt, James J. Collins, Timothy J. C. Anderson, Stanton F. McHardy, Philip T. LoVerde
Summary: Oxamniquine has been reengineered to be effective against multiple Schistosoma species. The mode of action of its derivatives is confirmed to be conserved, and the expression of sulfotransferase in different species has been analyzed. The ability of multiple cells to express sulfotransferase is hypothesized to contribute to the effectiveness of the derivatives in killing adult worms.
Article
Biology
Audrey A. Burnim, Matthew A. Spence, Da Xu, Colin J. Jackson, Nozomi Ando
Summary: Ribonucleotide reductases (RNRs) are essential enzymes used by all free-living organisms and viruses for DNA precursor synthesis. Researchers identified a novel and distinct clade in the RNR family through structural alignment and phylogenetic analysis, and reported the most minimal RNR architecture to-date. The findings provide insights into the evolution of the RNR family and serve as a roadmap for future targeted studies.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nathaniel E. Clark, Adam Katolik, Anastasia Welch, Christoph Schorl, Stephen P. Holloway, Jonathan P. Schuermann, P. John Hart, Alexander B. Taylor, Masad J. Damha, William G. Fairbrother
Summary: The study shows that the RNA lariat debranching enzyme Dbr1 is capable of hydrolyzing branched RNAs containing a phosphorothioate linkage at a much slower rate than native phosphate linkages. The crystal structure of the enzyme in a product-bound state provides atomic details that can aid the design of inhibitors. Dbr1 inhibitors could have therapeutic potential for major diseases such as HIV, ALS, cancer, and viral encephalitis.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yashpal Rawal, Lijia Jia, Aviv Meir, Shuo Zhou, Hardeep Kaur, Eliza A. Ruben, Youngho Kwon, Kara A. Bernstein, Maria Jasin, Alexander B. Taylor, Sandeep Burma, Robert Hromas, Alexander V. Mazin, Weixing Zhao, Daohong Zhou, Elizabeth V. Wasmuth, Eric C. Greene, Patrick Sung, Shaun K. Olsen
Summary: This study reports cryogenic electron microscopy reconstructions of human BCDX2 in apo and ssDNA-bound states. The structures reveal the participation of the amino-terminal domains of RAD51B, RAD51C and RAD51D in inter-subunit interactions for complex formation and ssDNA-binding specificity. Single-molecule DNA curtain analysis provides insights into how BCDX2 enhances RAD51-ssDNA nucleoprotein filament assembly. Additionally, the cryogenic electron microscopy and functional analyses explain how RAD51C alterations found in patients with cancer inactivate DNA binding and the HR mediator activity of BCDX2.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Steve P. Meisburger, David A. Case, Nozomi Ando
Summary: This study presents a new experimental approach to capturing both structure and collective motions of proteins. The authors introduce two methods for robustly subtracting lattice disorder and successfully demonstrate the workflow's robustness. This work expands the capabilities of protein crystallography in interpreting diffuse scattering signals and studying protein dynamics.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)