Structural Biology
- Interconnections between m6A RNA modification, RNA structure, and protein–RNA complex assembly
This review summarizes current knowledge and future directions on the mechanisms that govern the interplay between m6A RNA modification, RNA folding, and protein–RNA interactions, focusing on the mechanisms and available quantitative information.
- Structural insights into the complex of oncogenic KRas4BG12V and Rgl2, a RalA/B activator
The work reports the KRas4BG12V oncogenic mutation alters the binding kinetics with Rgl2, a RalA/B activator, and the V12 resides at the KRas4B(G12V)•Rgl2 complex interface in the crystal structure.
- Structure shows that the BIR2 domain of E3 ligase XIAP binds across the RIPK2 kinase dimer interface
The structure of RIPK2 kinase bound to the XIAP BIR2 domain reveals the essential role of the RIPK2 dimer in NOD2 signalling and explains the mechanism of anti-inflammatory drugs targeting this complex.
- Catalytic mechanism of the zinc-dependent MutL endonuclease reaction
The catalytic mechanism for the DNA cleavage activity of the mismatch repair system endonuclease MutL has been identified, which provides a clue as to how cadmium inhibits its activity.
- A SAM-key domain required for enzymatic activity of the Fun30 nucleosome remodeler
Biochemical data suggest that the SAM-key domain of the budding yeast remodeler Fun30 is required for its nucleosome remodeling activity by regulating the catalytic ATPase.
- The C-terminal tail of CSNAP attenuates the CSN complex
The study demonstrates inhibition of the COP9 signalosome (CSN) complex by a peptide derived from CSNAP, the smallest CSN subunit. The peptide displaces the endogenous CSNAP subunit from the complex, leading to a CSNAP null phenotype that attenuates CSN activity.
- Structural insights into CED-3 activation
They report cryo-EM structures of CED-4 and three CED-4/CED-3 complexes with multiple oligomeric states. CARD–CARD interaction between CED-4 and CED-3 is essential for CED-3 activation and the newly reported dynamic organization of CED-4 regulates the onset of apoptosis.
- Disulfide stabilization reveals conserved dynamic features between SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 spikes
SARS-CoV-1 spike protein is stabilized with engineered disulfide bonds, and cryo-EM imaging of these stabilized S-trimers reveals rare spike conformations.
- Distant sequence regions of JBP1 contribute to J-DNA binding
Structural modeling and mutagenesis reveal that the N-terminus and DNA-binding domain of JBP1 recognize base-J, enabling replication of this epigenetic marker by JBP1’s thymidine hydroxylase domain.
- 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.