R. Vafabakhsh

Structural analysis and conformational dynamics of a holo-adhesion GPCR reveal interplay between extracellular and transmembrane domains

This study uses cryo-EM and single-molecule FRET to show conformational coupling between the extracellular and transmembrane domains of an aGPCR, revealing how ECR dynamics influence receptor function.

The far extracellular CUB domain of the adhesion GPCR ADGRG6/GPR126 is a key regulator of receptor signaling

This study investigates how the CUB domain of ADGRG6 regulates receptor signaling by modulating conformational dynamics of the extracellular region.

The Physical Biology of Nucleolus Disassembly

The paper investigates the physical mechanisms of nucleolus disassembly during mitosis, identifying two distinct phases and proposing a universal design principle for biomolecular condensate disassembly.

Structural basis of TFIIIC-dependent RNA Polymerase III transcription initiation

The paper uses cryo-EM and smFRET to study the structure and dynamics of the TFIIIA-TFIIIC complex bound to the 5S rRNA promoter, revealing DNA bending and dissociation during transcription initiation.

Conformational fingerprinting of allosteric modulators in metabotropic glutamate receptor 2

The paper develops FRET sensors to study allosteric modulators in mGluR2, revealing how they alter receptor conformation and signaling.

A viral genome packaging ring-ATPase is a flexibly coordinated pentamer

The paper determines the composition of the bacteriophage T4 DNA packaging motor and shows that it can tolerate an inactive subunit, challenging the idea of strict coordination among motor subunits.