C. J. Jackson

Ancestral reconstruction of polyethylene terephthalate degrading cutinases reveals a rugged and unexplored sequence-fitness landscape

This study uses ancestral sequence reconstruction to explore PET-degrading cutinase sequence space, revealing diverse evolutionary pathways and the effectiveness of LASE in mapping fitness landscapes.

Origin Of Evolutionary Bifurcation In An Enzyme

The paper describes how two distinct enzymes evolved from a common ancestor through different mutational paths, leading to divergent molecular and phenotypic outcomes.

Ultrahigh-affinity transport proteins from ubiquitous marine bacteria reveal mechanisms and global patterns of nutrient uptake

The paper identifies ultrahigh-affinity transport proteins in SAR11 bacteria, revealing their molecular mechanisms and global patterns of nutrient uptake in the ocean.

The complex inhibitory mechanism of glycomimetics with human heparanase

This study investigates the complex inhibitory mechanism of PPS on HPSE, revealing multiple overlapping binding events influenced by oligosaccharide length and protein structure changes.

A broad-spectrum macrocyclic peptide inhibitor of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein

This paper discovers a macrocyclic peptide that inhibits SARS-CoV-2 and related sarbecoviruses by targeting a conserved site in the spike protein, offering a potential broad-spectrum antiviral.

Asymmetric ene-reduction of α,β-unsaturated compounds by F420-dependent oxidoreductases A (FDOR-A) enzymes from Mycobacterium smegmatis

This study characterizes FDOR-A enzymes from Mycobacterium smegmatis, showing their ability to asymmetrically reduce α,β-unsaturated compounds with high enantioselectivity.

Predicting antiviral resistance mutations in SARS-CoV-2 main protease with computational and experimental screening

This study identifies resistance mutations in SARS-CoV-2 main protease to the drug Nirmatrelvir using computational screening and experimental validation.

Rugged fitness landscapes minimize promiscuity in the evolution of transcriptional repressors

The paper characterizes the rugged fitness landscape of transcriptional repressors, showing rapid specificity switching and the role of regulatory crosstalk in shaping evolutionary paths.

Nitroimidazopyrazinones with oral activity against tuberculosis and Chagas disease in mouse models of infection

This paper evaluates nitroimidazopyrazinone derivatives for antitubercular and antiparasitic activity, showing selectivity against M. tuberculosis and efficacy against T. cruzi in mouse models.

The role of evolutionarily metastable oligomeric states in the optimization of catalytic activity

This paper investigates how trimerization and a C-terminal extension optimized the catalytic activity of cyclohexadienyl dehydratase through evolutionarily metastable oligomeric states.

Nuclear genome of a pedinophyte pinpoints genomic innovation and streamlining in the green algae

This study presents the nuclear genome of a pedinophyte green alga, revealing genome streamlining and expansion in different lineages of Chlorophyta.

Discovery of Antiviral Cyclic Peptides Targeting the Main Protease of SARS-CoV-2 via mRNA Display

This study identifies cyclic peptides targeting SARS-CoV-2 main protease using mRNA display, showing antiviral activity in vitro.

Electrodetection of small molecules by conformation-mediated signal enhancement

This paper develops an electrochemical biosensing platform that uses conformational changes in solute-binding proteins to enhance signal detection of small molecules like leucine and glycine.

Substrate dynamics contribute to enzymatic specificity in human and bacterial methionine adenosyltransferases

This study investigates how substrate conformational dynamics influence enzymatic specificity in human and bacterial methionine adenosyltransferases, revealing differences in catalytic promiscuity and identifying a new metabolite in cancer cells.

Adenylnucleotide-mediated binding of the PII-like protein SbtB contributes to controlling activity of the cyanobacterial bicarbonate transporter SbtA

This study identifies SbtB as a regulator of bicarbonate transporter SbtA activity in cyanobacteria, showing its response to adenylate energy charge through adenylnucleotide-mediated binding.

Structural and functional characterization of a putative de novo gene in Drosophila

The paper characterizes a de novo gene in Drosophila, showing its structural features and role in male fertility through biochemical and evolutionary analyses.

Mutational and biophysical robustness in a pre-stabilized monobody

This paper grafts binding loops from an Adnectin onto a pre-stabilized FN3Con scaffold to create a stable monobody that binds VEGFR2 with high affinity and long-term stability.

A computationally designed fluorescent biosensor for D-serine

The paper designs a fluorescent biosensor for D-serine by engineering an SBP with improved affinity, specificity, and thermostability, enabling its use in measuring D-serine concentrations in brain slices.

Cellular and structural basis of synthesis of the unique intermediate dehydro-F420-0 in mycobacteria

This study resolves the biosynthesis pathway of F420 in mycobacteria by showing phosphoenolpyruvate, not 2-phospholactate, is the precursor and identifies the structural mechanism of dehydro-F420-0 production.

Consensus mutagenesis and ancestral reconstruction provide insight into the substrate specificity and evolution of the front-end Δ6-desaturase family

This study uses consensus mutagenesis and ancestral reconstruction to analyze the substrate specificity and evolutionary adaptation of Δ6-desaturases in marine algae.

Altered conformational sampling along an evolutionary trajectory changes the catalytic activity of an enzyme

The paper investigates how remote mutations alter conformational sampling along an evolutionary trajectory, increasing catalytic activity in an enzyme.

The evolution of human SIRT1 for multi-specificity is enabled by active-site adaptation

This study investigates the molecular basis and evolution of multi-specificity in SIRT1, finding that active-site adaptations enable the inclusion of p53 as a substrate.

Avid binding by B cells to the Plasmodium circumsporozoite protein repeat suppresses responses to protective subdominant epitopes

The paper shows that B cells avidly bind to the Plasmodium CSP repeat domain, suppressing responses to protective epitopes, and that truncated CSP molecules induce broader immune responses and better protection.

Structural basis for the allosteric regulation of the SbtA bicarbonate transporter by the PII-like protein, SbtB, from Cyanobium sp. PCC7001

This paper investigates how the PII-like protein SbtB regulates the bicarbonate transporter SbtA in Cyanobium sp. PCC7001 through allosteric interactions involving nucleotides and calcium.

Neoproterozoic origin and multiple transitions to macroscopic growth in green seaweeds

This study uses phylogenomic analysis to determine the origin and diversification of green seaweeds, finding they originated in the late Tonian/Cryogenian and diversified during the Ordovician.

Phospho-tuning immunity through Denisovan, modern human, and mouse TNFAIP3 gene variants

The paper identifies TNFAIP3 variants in humans, Denisovans, and mice that modulate A20 phosphorylation, revealing a genetic mechanism for balancing immunity and microbial tolerance.

Overcoming insecticide resistance through computational inhibitor design

The paper designs boronic acid inhibitors to overcome insecticide resistance by targeting carboxylesterases in pests, significantly enhancing insecticide efficacy and reducing usage.

T-dependent B cell responses to Plasmodium induce antibodies that form a high-avidity multivalent complex with the circumsporozoite protein

The paper investigates how T-dependent B cells produce antibodies that form a high-avidity multivalent complex with Plasmodium falciparum CSP, revealing structural and immunological insights.