Table of Contents
Interviews
Research Articles
- Intranasal soluble ACE2 improves survival and prevents brain SARS-CoV-2 infection
A soluble ACE2 protein bioengineered to have extended duration of action and enhanced affinity for SARS-CoV-2 provides markedly improved survival and organ protection when administered intranasally. Reducing brain SARS-CoV-2 titers is an important determinant of therapeutic efficacy.
- The pro-inflammatory response to influenza A virus infection is fueled by endothelial cells
A co-culture model of human primary endothelial cells and organoid-derived epithelial cells shows that endothelial cells are abortively infected by influenza A virus but can drive the pro-inflammatory response.
- Low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein 1 (LRP1) as an auxiliary host factor for RNA viruses
Plasma membrane–located low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein 1 (LRP1 or CD91) is a host factor that supports the early infection stages of a spectrum of RNA viruses.
- The cytochrome b carboxyl terminal region is necessary for mitochondrial complex III assembly
Synthesis/assembly of Cytb, encoded in the mitochondrial DNA, are regulated by the Cytb C-terminus. It modifies the interaction Cytb-Cbp3/Cbp6 to control Cytb and respiratory complex III biogenesis.
- BAZ2A-RNA mediated association with TOP2A and KDM1A represses genes implicated in prostate cancer
BAZ2A-mediated repression in prostate cancer is regulated by the RNA-binding TAM domain. The BAZ2A-TAM domain, in association with RNA, promotes the interaction with TOP2A and KDM1A that serves to repress genes critical to prostate cancer progression.
- SIRT6 overexpression in the nucleus protects mouse retinal pigment epithelium from oxidative stress
Oxidative stress causes a rapid translocation of SIRT6 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm leading to nuclear SIRT6 depletion and results in RPE damage that is more severe in the central region in mice.
- The C-type lectin domain of CD62P (P-selectin) functions as an integrin ligand
The lectin domain of CD62P specifically binds to and activates integrins. CD62P-integrin interactions may function in a diverse set of cell–cell adhesions given that integrins are widely expressed.
- Structural insights into ubiquitin chain cleavage by Legionella ovarian tumor deubiquitinases
Legionella possesses OTU deubiquitinases (Lot DUBs), which hinder the host ubiquitin system. We performed structural and biochemical analyses on the Lot DUBs and explained how Lot DUBs are different from other OTU-DUBs.
- Myc controls NK cell development, IL-15-driven expansion, and translational machinery
Myc ablation in vivo impacts immature NK cells’ ribosomagenesis and development. Accordingly, mice with NK cells lacking Myc exhibit impaired anticancer immunity.
- The histone H4K20 methyltransferase SUV4-20H1/KMT5B is required for multiciliated cell differentiation in Xenopus
Cilia tufts on Xenopus larval epidermis are generated through a burst of ciliogenic gene transcription, which depends on conversion of monomethylated to dimethylated histone H4 lysine 20 by SUV4-20H1.
- Deletion of SERF2 in mice delays embryonic development and alters amyloid deposit structure in the brain
Pleiotropic consequences of deletion of SERF in mice reveals biological functions in cell growth and development and supports the existence of biological modifiers of amyloid polymorphisms in the brain.
- Recursive splicing discovery using lariats in total RNA sequencing
Using a stringent approach to map lariat reads, this study provides evidence for recursive splicing in a broader range of intron sizes than previously reported and details a new location for recursive splicing at the distal end of exons.
- Gapless provides combined scaffolding, gap filling, and assembly correction with long reads
gapless is a new tool for combined execution of correction, scaffolding and gap filling using PacBio or Oxford Nanopore reads.
- Activation of XBP1 but not ATF6α rescues heart failure induced by persistent ER stress in medaka fish
Accumulation of misfolded proteins in the ER (ER stress) causes the development and progression of various diseases, and fully activated XBP1, a transcription factor downstream of IRE1 in the unfolded protein response, cures persistent ER stress–induced heart failure in medaka.
- Cohesin SMC1β promotes closed chromatin and controls TERRA expression at spermatocyte telomeres
Cohesin SMC1β; ensures silencing at chromosome ends, restricts TERRA expression and RNA-DNA hybrid formation, and prevents telomer damage.
- Z-flipon variants reveal the many roles of Z-DNA and Z-RNA in health and disease
Z-DNABERT uses the transformer algorithm to map genomic Z-DNA. We validate the approach using chemical footprinting data from live cells. We show the utility of the approach by mapping the Z-flipons discovered to Mendelian disease variants and various quantitative traits.
- Prostaglandin F2α regulates mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy in the bovine corpus luteum
This study investigates the early effects of PGF2α signaling on mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy in bovine corpora lutea. Luteolytic mediator PGF2α, via PKC/ERK and AMPK signaling, activates mitochondrial fission and promotes PINK–Parkin mitophagy, placing mitochondria as novel targets in response to PGF2α.
- CNN2 silencing inhibits colorectal cancer development through promoting ubiquitination of EGR1
In colorectal cancer (CRC), CNN2 was found to form a complex with YAP1 and EGR1, thus regulating EGR1 expression and promoting CRC, which could be considered as a potential therapeutic target for CRC.
- Functional characterization of C21ORF2 association with the NEK1 kinase mutated in human in diseases
This study shows that the endogenous NEK1 kinase and C21ORF2 form a tight complex in human cells and characterises the functional significance of the association of the two partner proteins.
Methods
- BiFCo: visualizing cohesin assembly/disassembly cycle in living cells
A novel strategy developed in fission yeast to visualise only-assembled cohesin complex loading/unloading cycles in eukaryotic chromosomes in living cells.
- Estimation of crossbridge-state during cardiomyocyte beating using second harmonic generation
This article describes a new method to evaluate the actomyosin activity in living cardiomyocytes during beating based on nonlinear scattering microscopy, which will be useful for elucidating cardiomyopathy mechanisms, efficacy of an intervention, and others.