Molecular Biology
- Dimerization of kringle 1 domain from hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor provides a potent MET receptor agonist
We designed and characterized a potent full MET receptor agonist consisting of two recombinantly linked HGF/SF kringle 1 domains and demonstrated its potential in epithelial tissue regeneration.
- Drosophila insulator proteins exhibit in vivo liquid–liquid phase separation properties
Drosophila insulator proteins and the cohesin subunit Rad21 coalesce in vivo to form liquid-droplet condensates, suggesting that liquid–liquid phase separation mediates their function in 3D genome organization.
- Decreasing pdzd8-mediated mito–ER contacts improves organismal fitness and mitigates Aβ42 toxicity
The authors provide the first description of the impact of reducing pdzd8-mediated mito–ER contacts which prolongs lifespan, reduces age-related locomotor decline, and protects against mitochondrial toxins. pdzd8 loss is also protective against neuronal toxicity from Aβ42.
- PVT1 is a stress-responsive lncRNA that drives ovarian cancer metastasis and chemoresistance
PVT1 is a YAP1 dependent stress responsive lncRNA that promotes ovarian cancer metastasis and chemoresistance, making PVT1 a promising therapeutic target.
- The MLL3/4 complexes and MiDAC co-regulate H4K20ac to control a specific gene expression program
The MLL3/4 histone methyltransferase complexes and the histone deacetylase complex MiDAC regulate the histone mark H4K20ac to calibrate gene expression of a common set of target genes.
- KIF24 depletion induces clustering of supernumerary centrosomes in PDAC cells
Depletion of the centrosomal kinesin KIF24, known to restrain the assembly of primary cilia, suppresses multipolar spindle formation by clustering centrosomes in centrosome-amplified PDAC cells.
- Proteins implicated in muscular dystrophy and cancer are functional constituents of the centrosome
This study demonstrates that the muscular dystrophy-associated proteins dystrophin, utrophin, dysferlin, and calpain-3 localize to the centrosome and that their absence leads to excess centrosomes, compromised nuclear morphology, impaired centrosome orientation, and defective microtubule nucleation.
- Evolutionary association of receptor-wide amino acids with G protein–coupling selectivity in aminergic GPCRs
Evolutionary analyses of aminergic G protein–coupled receptors reveal receptor-wide potential determinants of G protein–coupling selectivity.
- DUSP4 protects BRAF- and NRAS-mutant melanoma from oncogene overdose through modulation of MITF
Our study demonstrates that in BRAF- and NRAS-mutant MITF-proficient melanoma, the DUSP4 MAPK phosphatase restricts MAPK activation and prevents oncogenic overdose through modulation of MITF function.