H. Venugopal

High-affinity PQQ import is widespread in Gram-negative bacteria

The paper identifies PqqU as a high-affinity PQQ importer in Gram-negative bacteria, showing its structural basis and widespread distribution across diverse environments.

Obtaining high-resolution cryo-EM structures using a common LaB6, 120-keV electron microscope equipped with a sub 200-keV optimised direct electron detector.

This paper demonstrates that a standard 120-keV TEM with a direct electron detector can achieve high-resolution cryo-EM reconstructions of various proteins.

Structural insights into the human P2X1 receptor and ligand interactions

This study determines the structure of the human P2X1 receptor in different ligand-bound states and identifies key residues involved in ligand binding and selectivity.

Quinone extraction drives atmospheric carbon monoxide oxidation in bacteria

This study identifies how Mo-CODH and CoxG in Mycobacterium smegmatis oxidize CO and transfer electrons to the respiratory chain via quinone transport.

Structure of a Rhs effector clade domain identifies new mechanistic insights into type VI secretion system toxin delivery.

The paper presents the structure of Tse15, a T6SS Rhs effector from Acinetobacter baumannii, revealing a novel mechanism for toxin delivery and activation involving auto-cleavage and domain interaction.

Dynamic PRC1-CBX8 stabilizes a porous structure of chromatin condensates

This study uses cryo-electron tomography to reveal that PRC1-CBX8 condensates are porous and dynamic, challenging the notion of rigid chromatin compaction in gene repression.

Cryo-EM structures of human arachidonate 12S-Lipoxygenase (12-LOX) bound to endogenous and exogenous inhibitors

This study determines the cryo-EM structures of human 12-LOX, revealing its oligomeric states, catalytic mechanism, and inhibitor binding, which informs drug development.

Energy extraction from air: structural basis of atmospheric hydrogen oxidation

This paper determines the structure of a mycobacterial hydrogenase and explains how it selectively oxidizes atmospheric H2 while avoiding O2, enabling energy extraction from air.

The neoepitope of the complement C5b-9 Membrane Attack Complex is formed by proximity of adjacent ancillary regions of C9

This study identifies the discontinuous quaternary neoepitope of the C9 protein in the complement C5b-9 complex using cryo-EM, revealing its formation through adjacent domains without major conformational changes.

Helical ultrastructure of the oncogenic metalloprotease meprin α in complex with a small molecule hydroxamate inhibitor

This study determines the high-resolution structure of meprin α, revealing its helical assembly and interactions with an inhibitor and fetuin-B, showing oligomerization enhances stability without affecting activity.

Structures of the human cholecystokinin 1 (CCK1) receptor bound to Gs and Gq mimetic proteins: insight into mechanisms of G protein selectivity

The paper determines cryo-EM structures of the CCK1R bound to Gs and Gq proteins, revealing conformational changes that enable promiscuous G protein coupling.

Dynamics of GLP-1R peptide agonist engagement are correlated with kinetics of G protein activation

The paper investigates how different GLP-1R agonists affect G protein activation kinetics through structural and functional analyses.

The cryo-EM structure of the neurofibromin dimer reveals the molecular basis for von Recklinghausen disease

This paper determines the cryo-EM structure of full-length NF1, revealing its autoinhibited conformation and providing insights into disease mechanisms and therapeutic strategies.

Metal Dependent Dynamic Equilibrium: A Regulatory Mechanism for M17 Aminopeptidases from Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax

This study identifies a metal-dependent dynamic equilibrium in M17 aminopeptidases from Plasmodium species that regulates hexamer formation and catalytic activity.

Differential GLP-1R binding and activation by peptide and non-peptide agonists

The paper compares the binding and activation of the GLP-1 receptor by peptide and non-peptide agonists, revealing structural and functional differences that inform drug design.

Structural basis for control of antibiotic production by bacterial hormones

This study determines the structural basis for hormone-controlled antibiotic production in Actinobacteria by solving the X-ray structure of an MmfR-AHFCA complex and elucidating DNA release mechanisms.

Automated cryo-lamella preparation for high-throughput in-situ structural biology

This paper introduces an automated method for preparing cryo-lamellae, increasing throughput from ~10 lamellae/day to 5 lamellae/hour with consistent quality for cryo-ET analysis.

The structure of Macrophage Expressed Gene-1, a phagolysosome immune effector that is activated upon acidification.

This paper determines the structure of MPEG-1, showing it forms a pre-pore complex and can perforate membranes under acidic conditions.