Biophysics
Insight into the mechanism of DNA synthesis by human terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferaseThe role of metal ions and specific interactions of dNTP with active-site amino acid residues in the mechanisms underlying the recognition of nucleoside triphosphates by human terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase were revealed by pre–steady-state kinetics and molecular dynamics approaches.
Phospholipids alter activity and stability of mitochondrial membrane-bound ubiquitin ligase MARCH5This study shows that lipids can act as regulators for the ubiquitination process and can control the stability and activity of a membrane-embedded E3 ubiquitin ligase.
Structural basis of Nrd1–Nab3 heterodimerizationThe NMR structure of an Nrd1–Nab3 chimera describes the structural bases of Nrd1/Nab3 heterodimerization. Nrd1 embraces a bundle of helices in Nab3, building a large interface. Key mutations at that interface compromise cell fitness.
New insights into the phosphorylation of the threonine motif of the β1 integrin cytoplasmic domainThis study investigates phosphorylation of and kindlin recruitment by the double-threonine motif in the β1 integrin cytoplasmic tails.
Microfluidic characterisation reveals broad range of SARS-CoV-2 antibody affinity in human plasmaUsing microfluidic affinity profiling, we show how the antibody affinity varies significantly between different individuals after COVID-19 infection while the antibodies neutralise the virus.
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.