A. Nakagawa

Chemical inhibition of stomatal differentiation by perturbation of the master-regulatory bHLH heterodimer via an ACT-Like domain

This study identifies Stomidazolone as a chemical inhibitor of the bHLH heterodimer MUTE-SCREAM, disrupting stomatal differentiation in plants.

Comparative analysis of two Caenorhabditis elegans kinesins KLP-6 and UNC-104 reveals common and distinct activation mechanisms in kinesin-3

This study compares KLP-6 and UNC-104, two Caenorhabditis elegans kinesin-3 proteins, revealing that autoinhibition release triggers dimerization and processive movement in UNC-104 but not in KLP-6.

SARS-CoV-2 ORF8 is a viral cytokine regulating immune responses

This study shows that SARS-CoV-2 ORF8 protein acts as a cytokine that promotes lung inflammation and immune dysregulation in COVID-19, suggesting it as a potential therapeutic target.

The SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant is poised to acquire complete resistance to wild-type spike vaccines

The paper shows the Delta variant can escape NTD antibodies and gain infectivity when specific RBD mutations are present, suggesting the need for updated vaccines.

An intramolecular scrambling path controlled by a gatekeeper in Xkr8 phospholipid scramblase

The paper determines the structure of Xkr8-Basigin phospholipid scramblase at 3.8 Å resolution, revealing a gatekeeper tryptophan residue essential for phospholipid scrambling.

An infectivity-enhancing site on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is targeted by COVID-19 patient antibodies

This study identifies an NTD site on SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that enhances infectivity when targeted by antibodies, and finds these antibodies are present in hospitalized patients and some uninfected donors.