Biophysics
Dynamic closed states of a ligand-gated ion channel captured by cryo-EM and simulationsCryo-EM structures and molecular simulations of a pentameric ligand-gated ion channel, GLIC, in resting and activating conditions implicate protonation sites and altered dynamics in sequential gating.
Stoichiometry of Rtt109 complexes with Vps75 and histones H3-H4The work determines the relative and absolute stoichiometry of a 5-chain protein complex involved in histone chaperoning and acetylation. Using sedimentation velocity and light scattering, it uncovers a dynamic equilibrium of complex self-association.
MERLIN: a novel BRET-based proximity biosensor for studying mitochondria–ER contact sitesMERLIN is a novel biosensor that generates a BRET signal with a signal-to-noise ratio that is sufficient to enable sensing the proximity between the mitochondria and the ER without forcing interaction or establishing artificial connections at the MERCs.
Resolving kinesin stepping: one head at a timeThis study shows for the first time a qualitative difference in the stepping of a heterodimeric motor and the asymmetric influence of autoinhibition on the stepping of one of the heads.
Plasmalogen loss caused by remodeling deficiency in mitochondria31P NMR unveils cell type–dependent losses of plasmalogen in the chain remodeling–deficient brain, liver, kidney, and lymphoblast in association with aberrant mitochondrial function and morphology.
KAP1 is an antiparallel dimer with a functional asymmetryThis study reveals the architecture of human KAP1 by integrating molecular modeling with small-angle X-ray scattering and single-molecule experiments. KAP1 dimers feature a structural asymmetry at the C-terminal domains that has functional implications for recruitment of HP1.
PRDM9 forms a trimer by interactions within the zinc finger arrayPRDM9 forms a trimer as a soluble protein and in complex with DNA mediated by the ZnF domain. Five ZnFs are already sufficient for multimerization and only one DNA molecule is complexed in the trimer.
ATP hydrolysis by KaiC promotes its KaiA binding in the cyanobacterial circadian clock systemATP hydrolysis in the KaiC hexamer triggers the exposure of its C-terminal segments into the solvent so as to capture KaiA, providing mechanistic insights into the circadian periodicity regulation.
Mesenchymal stromal cell activation by breast cancer secretomes in bioengineered 3D microenvironmentsThis study shows the activation of tumour-associated mesenchymal stromal cells by breast cancer secretomes in bioengineered 3D microenvironments using comprehensive multiomics analysis methods.
KIF18A's neck linker permits navigation of microtubule-bound obstacles within the mitotic spindleThe length of KIF18A's neck linker permits navigation of obstacles along K-fibers within the mitotic spindle and is required for the timely alignment and segregation of mitotic chromosomes.