J. D. Smith

Structure-enabled enzyme function prediction unveils elusive terpenoid biosynthesis in archaea

The paper introduces EnzymeExplorer, a machine-learning pipeline that predicts enzyme function, discovering new terpenoid synthases in archaea and expanding their known taxonomic distribution.

Novel Insights into the Aortic Mechanical Properties of Mice Modeling Hereditary Aortic Diseases

This paper measures aortic rupture force in mouse models of hereditary aortic diseases to assess biomechanical integrity and drug effects.

Heterogeneous Tissue Modulus Improved Prediction of Mechanical Behavior in Osteoporotic Vertebral Cancellous Bone

This study shows that using specimen-specific heterogeneous tissue modulus improves predictions of mechanical behavior in osteoporotic vertebral cancellous bone compared to uniform or average modulus models.

Gasdermin D mediates inflammation-induced defects in reverse cholesterol transport and promotes atherosclerosis.

Losartan Increases Survival of the Fbn1mgR/mgR Mouse Model of Marfan Syndrome in and Age-Dependent Manner

This study shows that losartan improves survival in male Fbn1mgR/mgR mice when started at 50 days old but not at 24 days, while no benefit was seen in females.

The mitochondrial surface receptor Tom70 protects the cytosol against mitoprotein-induced stress

The paper identifies Tom70's role in recruiting cytosolic chaperones to the mitochondrial outer membrane to mitigate proteotoxicity from hydrophobic precursor proteins.

Lipidated poly(amino acid) nanostructures as versatile therapeutic delivery vehicles

The paper develops lipidated poly(amino acid) nanostructures for drug delivery, showing they can self-assemble and deliver doxorubicin to lymphoma cells.

SR-B1 uptake of HDL promotes prostate cancer proliferation and tumor progression

First eight residues of apolipoprotein A-I mediate the C-terminus control of helical bundle unfolding and its lipidation

This study shows that the first eight residues of apoA1 lower the barrier to helical bundle unfolding, enabling lipidation, while C-terminus deletion prevents this process.

Miltefosine increases macrophage cholesterol release and inhibits NLRP3-inflammasome assembly and IL-1β release.

This paper shows that Miltefosine increases macrophage cholesterol release and inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome assembly and IL-1β release.

MBOAT7-Driven Phosphatidylinositol Remodeling Promotes the Progression of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma.

This study identifies MBOAT7-driven phosphatidylinositol remodeling as a driver of clear cell renal cell carcinoma progression and highlights MBOAT7 as a potential therapeutic target.