Molecular Biology
Dual role of a GTPase conformational switch for membrane fusion by mitofusin ubiquitylationMitochondrial fusion requires a conformational change in α4 of the GTPase domain, followed by AAA-ATPase regulation, thus revealing striking mechanistic similarities between small and large GTPases.
Expression of AXL receptor tyrosine kinase relates to monocyte dysfunction and severity of cirrhosisImmune dysfunction determines morbidity and mortality in liver cirrhosis. Distinct AXL-expressing circulating monocytes, which regulate antimicrobial responses, expand with progression of the disease.
Refining the adipose progenitor cell landscape in healthy and obese visceral adipose tissue using single-cell gene expression profilingThis work dissects adipose progenitor cell (APC) heterogeneity in normal and obese adipose tissue using single-cell expression profiling. Novel APC subpopulations are identified and characterized.
Plasticity in salt bridge allows fusion-competent ubiquitylation of mitofusins and Cdc48 recognitionMitochondrial fusion requires an alternating salt bridge between CMT2A-associated disease residues that enable GTP hydrolysis; Fzo1 ubiquitylation then licenses post-fusion recycling by Cdc48.
Nrf2 signaling links ER oxidative protein folding and calcium homeostasis in health and diseaseOxidative protein folding in the ER generates ROS, leading to Nrf2-dependent feedback on protein folding via ER calcium level modulation. This feedback loop is suppressed in ALS-associated mutant astrocytes but can be rescued by dimethyl fumarate.
Conservation of cell-intrinsic immune responses in diverse nonhuman primate speciesThe transcriptomic response of diverse nonhuman primate (NHP) species to poly(I:C) is highly conserved, and this novel RNA sequencing dataset will help improve NHP genome annotations.
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.
Chromatin remodeler Fft3 plays a dual role at blocked DNA replication forksFft3, a member of the SNF2 family of ATPase-dependent enzymes, plays a dual role at DNA replication barriers in fission yeast by promoting both DNA resection and restart of blocked DNA replication forks.
HELZ directly interacts with CCR4–NOT and causes decay of bound mRNAsThe putative UPF1-like SF1 helicase HELZ directly interacts with the CCR4–NOT deadenylase complex to induce translational repression and 5′-to-3′ decay of bound mRNAs.
Mechanistic insights into the protective roles of polyphosphate against amyloid cytotoxicityThis study provides novel insights into the mechanisms by which presence of polyP alters the formation, structural properties, and cytotoxic effects of α-synuclein fibers.