D. E. Otzen

Resilience and Charge-Dependent Fibrillation of Functional Amyloids: Interactions of Pseudomonas Biofilm-Associated FapB and FapC

This study investigates the resilience and charge-dependent fibrillation of Pseudomonas amyloids FapB and FapC, revealing their complex interactions and implications for biofilm persistence and potential applications.

Specific inhibition of α-synuclein oligomer generation and toxicity by the chaperone domain Bri2 BRICHOS

This study shows that the Bri2 BRICHOS domain inhibits α-synuclein oligomer formation and toxicity by suppressing secondary nucleation and binding oligomers, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease.

Secretome of Human Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells exerts protective impacts on the blood-brain barrier against alpha-synuclein aggregates using an in vitro model

A targetable N-terminal motif orchestrates α-synuclein oligomer to fibril conversion

This study identifies an N-terminal motif in α-synuclein oligomers that drives fibril conversion and shows how a mutation disrupts this process, offering a new therapeutic target.

Drug repurposing screens identifies compounds that inhibit α-synuclein oligomers' membrane disruption and block antibody interactions

Uncovering the universality of self-replication in protein aggregation and its link to disease.

The paper investigates self-replication in protein aggregates, finding it common in both functional and pathological contexts, with disease-related aggregates replicating faster than biological ones.

The optimal docking strength for reversibly tethered kinases

This study determines the optimal docking strength for kinases to enhance phosphorylation rates under specific conditions.

Functional amyloids in the microbiomes of a rat Parkinson's disease model and wild-type rats

The paper identifies functional amyloid proteins in the microbiomes of Parkinson's disease and wild-type rats, showing they form stable amyloid structures but do not promote SN aggregation.

Heparin promotes fibrillation of most phenol soluble modulin peptides from S. aureus: a possible strengthening of the bacterial biofilm

This study shows heparin promotes fibrillation of most PSM peptides from S. aureus, potentially strengthening biofilm formation.

Bi-directional protein-protein interactions control liquid-liquid phase separation of PSD-95 and its interaction partners

This study identifies the minimal peptide responsible for stargazin-mediated LLPS of PSD-95 and shows that pharmacological inhibitors can promote LLPS formation.

Adsorption of Azo Dyes by a Novel Bio-Nanocomposite Based on Whey Protein Nanofibrils and Nano-clay: Equilibrium Isotherm and Kinetic Modeling

This paper develops a bio-nanocomposite from whey protein nanofibrils and nano-clay for dye removal, showing high adsorption capacity and studying its equilibrium and kinetics.

Quantitating denaturation by formic acid: Imperfect repeats are essential to the stability of the functional amyloid protein FapC

The paper quantifies how formic acid denatures functional amyloid FapC and shows that imperfect repeats are essential for fibril stability.