Article
Plant Sciences
Xiaoran Xin, Donghui Wei, Lei Lei, Haiyan Zheng, Ian S. Wallace, Shundai Li, Ying Gu
Summary: Cellulose is crucial for plant cell walls and plays an important role in various industries such as food, paper, textiles, and biofuel. This study identified the protein kinase CPK32 as a key regulator of cellulose biosynthesis and uncovered a novel mechanism by which phosphorylation controls the stability of cellulose synthase complexes (CSCs).
Article
Cell Biology
Mikayla R. Erdelsky, Sarah A. Groves, Charmi Shah, Samantha B. Delios, M. Bibiana Umana, Donald H. Maurice
Summary: Recent evidence suggests that cAMP signaling within the primary cilium plays a crucial role in promoting adipogenic differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. In this study, the researchers identified the specific cAMP phosphodiesterases expressed by these cells and found that inhibition of PDE4 promotes FFAR4-mediated adipogenesis. This work could potentially lead to the discovery of more targeted therapeutic approaches for controlling adipogenesis and differentiation of other stem cells.
CELLULAR SIGNALLING
(2024)
Article
Cell Biology
Mohammad Golam Sabbir, Carla G. Taylor, Peter Zahradka
Summary: This study revealed that CAMKK2 deletion inhibits cellular respiration in both HEK293 and HepG2 cells, leading to a shift towards aerobic glycolysis. Additionally, isolated mitochondria showed cell-type-specific enhancement or dampening of respiratory kinetics under CAMKK2 deletion conditions.
CELL COMMUNICATION AND SIGNALING
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yanxiang Meng, Jarrod J. Sandow, Peter E. Czabotar, James M. Murphy
Summary: This article discusses the role of phosphorylation, ubiquitylation, GlcNAcylation, proteolytic cleavage, and disulfide bonding in regulating necroptotic signaling, with a focus on RIPK1, RIPK3, and MLKL. Understanding of these post-translational modifications can be valuable in efforts to therapeutically modulate necroptosis.
CELL DEATH AND DIFFERENTIATION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Irene Vercellino, Leonid A. Sazanov
Summary: The enzymes of the mitochondrial electron transport chain play a vital role in cell metabolism, forming supercomplexes in vivo. The assembly factor SCAF1 is crucial in mediating the assembly of CIII2CIV, but not involved in the assembly of the respirasome. Assembling into supercomplexes enhances the catalytic efficiency of CIII2 and CIV, potentially fine tuning the electron transfer efficiency in the electron transport chain.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Cheng Chen, Xiaobing Zhang, Yisha Wang, Xinyu Chen, Wenjie Chen, Songsong Dan, Shiqi She, Weiwei Hu, Jie Dai, Jianwen Hu, Qingyi Cao, Qianyu Liu, Yinghua Huang, Baoming Qin, Bo Kang, Ying-Jie Wang
Summary: RNA processing and translation are identified as the most differentially regulated processes between naive and primed human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) through quantitative proteomics, phosphoproteomics, and acetylproteomics analyses. Naive hESCs have a more compact proteome and can translate selective mRNAs through both eIF4E-dependent and eIF4E-independent/eIF4A2-dependent pathways. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the potential of naive hESCs and the optimization of conditions for clinical applications.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nikita Shepelev, Olga Dontsova, Maria Rubtsova
Summary: Telomere length is associated with cell proliferative potential and is maintained by telomerase. Telomerase is activated during cellular division and plays a crucial role in processes like regeneration, immune response, embryonic development, and cancer progression. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of telomerase biogenesis and activity is important for manipulating telomerase and influencing these processes. This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms involved in telomerase regulation and the role of post-transcriptional and post-translational modifications in telomerase biogenesis and function in yeast and vertebrates.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Melissa M. Bollmeyer, Rachael E. Coleman, Sean H. Majer, Silas D. Ferrao, Kyle M. Lancaster
Summary: Cytochrome P460s are heme enzymes that oxidize hydroxylaminetonitrous oxide. They undergo maturation to active enzymes with spectroscopic and catalytic properties that match the wild-type cytP460. This maturation reaction does not require chaperones and is intrinsic to the protein. Accumulated data suggest the involvement of the secondary coordination sphere in enabling selective, complete maturation.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Angel Bago, M. Laura Cayuela, Alba Gil, Enrique Calvo, Jesus Vazquez, Antonio Queiro, Francisco J. Schopfer, Rafael Radi, Juan M. Serrador, Miguel A. Iniguez
Summary: Nitro-fatty acids (NO2-FAs) inhibit pro-inflammatory T cell functions by decreasing cell proliferation, expression of activation markers, and cytokine gene expressions. These effects are mediated through the inhibition of transcriptional activity of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) via regulation of the phosphatase activity of calcineurin (CaN). Furthermore, NO2-FAs nitroalkylate CaNA, disrupting functional CaNA/CaNB heterodimer formation and further inhibiting CaN phosphatase activity. These findings suggest that NO2-FAs may have therapeutic potential for modulating harmful T cell-mediated immune responses.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fu-Mei Duan, Li-Juan Fu, Yong-Heng Wang, Enoch Appiah Adu-Gyamfi, Ling-Ling Ruan, Zeng-Wei Xu, Shi-Quan Xiao, Xue-Mei Chen, Ying-Xiong Wang, Tai-Hang Liu, Yu-Bin Ding
Summary: The study revealed that THBS1 regulates the fusion of placental cells through the CD36-mediated cAMP signaling pathway, and its upregulation impairs placental formation leading to preeclampsia. Thus, THBS1 can serve as a therapeutic target for mitigating abnormal syncytialization and preeclampsia.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Libing Yu, Wenjing Li, Jian Chu, Chun Chen, Xijian Li, Wei Tang, Binyuan Xia, Zhonghua Xiong
Summary: Uranium as an emerging pollutant presents serious threats to ecological and human health, with the kidney identified as a major deposition site and sensitive target organ for its toxicity, which is associated with oxidative stress and mitochondrial respiration. This study found that cytochrome c oxidase and ATP synthase play key roles in uranium-induced toxicity by inhibiting their activities in the mitochondrial respiration pathway. These inhibitory effects could explain the generation of reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial alterations observed in uranium poisoning.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Patricia Pascual-Vargas, Patricia C. Salinas
Summary: The Wnt pathway regulates the formation and function of neuronal circuits through Frizzled receptors, with aberrant signaling linked to synaptic defects and neurodegenerative diseases. The localization and stability of Fzd receptors are crucial for determining Wnt function, with post-translational modifications playing a key role. However, only phosphorylation and glycosylation have been studied as mechanisms for modulating Fzd function in the central nervous system.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fang Yu, Jiangbo Wei, Xiaolong Cui, Chunjie Yu, Wei Ni, Jorg Bungert, Lizi Wu, Chuan He, Zhijian Qian
Summary: The RNA demethylase ALKBH5 serves as a key regulator in protecting cells from DNA damage and apoptosis during ROS-induced stress. ROS induces global mRNA N-6-methyladenosine levels by modulating ALKBH5 post-translational modifications, leading to the rapid induction of genes involved in DNA damage repair. Additionally, ROS activates the ERK/JNK/ALKBH5-PTMs/m(6)A axis in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in mice, indicating a physiological role of this pathway in maintaining genome stability.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maysam Mansouri, Preetam Guha Ray, Nik Franko, Shuai Xue, Martin Fussenegger
Summary: The development of novel strategies to program cellular behaviors is a central goal in synthetic biology. In this study, we have developed a programmable protease-mediated post-translational switch (POSH) control platform that allows rapid protein secretion on demand. Different stimuli, including plant-derived chemicals, clinically compatible chemicals, and remotely controllable inducers, can program protein secretion in engineered mammalian cells. This platform has potential applications in various fields, such as drug delivery and tissue engineering.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eugene Varfolomeev, Domagoj Vucic
Summary: Receptor interacting protein 1 (RIP1) kinase is a critical regulator of inflammation and cell death signaling, and its post-translational modifications, such as ubiquitination, phosphorylation, and cleavage, greatly impact its function in signaling pathways.
BIOCHEMICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Brandon P. Russell, David J. Vinyard
Summary: The Mn4CaO5 oxygen-evolving complex in Photosystem II is crucial for water oxidation. D1 residue R334 participates in proton release and interacts with PsbO. A D1-R334G mutant destabilizes the OEC but stabilizes the S2 intermediate.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexander A. Bulychev, Tatiana S. Strelets
Summary: Excitable cells of higher plants and characean algae respond to stressful stimuli by generating action potentials that influence chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthesis for an extended period of time. While plant leaves exhibit a reversible depression in the efficiency of photosystem II reaction after an individual action potential, characean algae show long-lasting oscillations of photosystem II reaction efficiency after firing an action potential. This study investigates the possible mechanisms behind these oscillations and suggests that they are a result of metabolic rearrangements in chloroplasts and the cyclosis cessation-recovery cycle induced by calcium influx during action potentials. The findings also indicate that fluidic communications between different cell regions play a role in these oscillations, and the inhibition of oscillations occurs when these communications are restricted or eliminated.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dmitry Zlenko, Elena A. Protasova, Georgy Tsoraev, Nikolai N. Sluchanko, Dmitry A. Cherepanov, Thomas Friedrich, Baosheng Ge, Song Qin, Eugene G. Maksimov, Andrew B. Rubin
Summary: The conformation of chromophores in isolated phycobiliproteins is heterogeneous, but not in the entire phycobilisome (PBS). Under low-energy excitation, there is no significant uphill energy transfer from the core to the peripheral rods of the PBS, while transfer from the terminal emitters to bulk allophycocyanin chromophores is highly probable.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Makio Yokono, Chiyo Noda, Jun Minagawa
Summary: This paper investigates the energy transfer between Photosystem II and Photosystem I in Arabidopsis thaliana, and finds that the fast spillover is reversibly regulated depending on pH.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS
(2024)
